McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac sandwich in 1967.
The sandwich was created by franchisee Jim Delligatti, who operated restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a sesame-seed bun, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the sauce now associated with the product. The design gave McDonald’s a larger, more distinctive hamburger for customers seeking a substantial meal.
The Big Mac first appeared in the United States and was later rolled out internationally. Its name became one of McDonald’s strongest product brands, supported by memorable packaging, advertising, and the Big Mac Index, an informal economic comparison created by The Economist in 1986. The Big Mac should not be confused with the Quarter Pounder, which is a separate McDonald’s hamburger brand.