Franchisee Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac in 1967, and the sandwich became a major McDonald's brand symbol.
Delligatti operated McDonald's restaurants in the Pittsburgh area and developed the larger sandwich to compete with other oversized hamburgers. The Big Mac used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and sauce. Its distinctive three-part bun gave it a recognizable appearance unlike the standard hamburger.
The sandwich first appeared at Delligatti's restaurant in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, before being introduced more broadly. It became nationally available in the United States in 1968. The product's name and layered construction helped turn it into more than a menu item: it became one of the most recognizable identifiers of McDonald's.
People sometimes credit Ray Kroc with inventing the Big Mac because he led the company during its expansion. Kroc approved the product's wider rollout, but Delligatti is credited with its creation.