Who created the Big Mac, the McDonald's burger that became a global brand icon?

Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac, the McDonald's burger that became a global brand icon.

Delligatti was a McDonald's franchisee in the Pittsburgh area who developed the double-decker sandwich to offer a more substantial menu item. The burger used two beef patties, a sesame-seed bun, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the sauce later widely associated with the Big Mac.

The sandwich first appeared in Delligatti's restaurants in 1967 and was introduced nationally the following year. Its name, distinctive construction, and memorable advertising helped make it one of the most recognizable products in fast food.

Ray Kroc is often credited broadly with building McDonald's into a major corporation, but he did not invent the Big Mac. Fred Turner was another important McDonald's executive, while Michael James Delligatti was Jim Delligatti's son, not the burger's creator.