The Big Mac gave McDonald's a major global brand icon after its 1967 debut.
The sandwich was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald's franchisee in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a middle section of bun, cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, and special sauce. McDonald's introduced it nationally in the United States in 1968, after its earlier regional launch.
The Big Mac became more than a menu item. Its name, distinctive three-part bun, and advertising made it one of the company's most recognizable products. The Big Mac Index later used its price as an informal way to compare purchasing power between currencies.
A common date mix-up concerns 1967 and 1968: the sandwich debuted in the Pittsburgh area in 1967 and received a U.S. national launch in 1968.