McDonald's introduced the Big Mac in 1967.
The sandwich was created by franchisee Jim Delligatti, who operated several McDonald's restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. He developed a larger burger with two beef patties, a middle bun layer, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a special sauce. McDonald's first sold it in the Pittsburgh region before making it available nationally in 1968.
The Big Mac became a major branding asset because its name, layered shape, and distinctive advertising made it easy to identify. The “Big Mac” name was selected from suggestions by a McDonald's company secretary, Esther Glickstein Rose.
A common mix-up is the launch date: 1967 refers to the regional introduction, while 1968 refers to national availability in the United States. The Quarter Pounder is another famous McDonald's burger, but it was introduced later, in 1971.