Ray Kroc bought the McDonald’s company from its founding brothers in 1961.
Kroc had become the brothers’ national franchise agent after encountering their highly efficient San Bernardino restaurant in the 1950s. He helped expand the operating system through franchising, standardized procedures, consistent restaurant design, and strict control of the customer experience.
In 1961, Kroc purchased the business from Richard and Maurice McDonald. The acquisition gave him control of the company and allowed the McDonald’s name, visual identity, and service model to expand rapidly across the United States and later around the world.
Kroc is sometimes described as the founder of McDonald’s, but the original restaurant and operating system were created by the McDonald brothers. Kroc’s major historical role was turning their local concept into a large-scale franchised corporation with a powerful, consistent brand.