Who created the Big Mac, McDonald’s most famous branded burger, in 1967?

Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac in 1967.

Delligatti was a McDonald’s franchisee in the Pittsburgh area who developed a larger double-decker hamburger with a distinctive middle bun. The sandwich used two beef patties, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the sauce later widely known as Big Mac sauce.

The Big Mac was first sold at Delligatti’s Uniontown, Pennsylvania, restaurant in 1967. McDonald’s added it to its national menu in 1968, turning a franchisee’s regional idea into one of the company’s defining products.

Ray Kroc is often incorrectly credited as the creator because he led McDonald’s expansion. Kroc supported the product’s growth, but Delligatti originated the sandwich. The Big Mac’s name and construction later became important parts of McDonald’s product branding.