The Big Mac, created by franchisee Jim Delligatti, became a major McDonald's brand symbol after its 1967 introduction. Its distinctive two-beef-patty format made it more than a menu item: it became one of the company's most recognizable names.
Delligatti operated McDonald's restaurants in the Pittsburgh area and developed the sandwich to appeal to customers seeking a larger meal. The original sandwich used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the sauce now commonly called Big Mac sauce.
The Big Mac was first sold in selected markets before its national rollout in the United States. Its three-part bun and layered construction gave McDonald's a product with a highly identifiable appearance and vocabulary.
The burger's branding later supported the Big Mac Index, an informal economic comparison created by The Economist in 1986. That use demonstrates how strongly the product name entered popular culture beyond restaurant advertising.