Who Owns McDonald's in 2023? The Truth Behind the Fast-Food Giant

The McDonald's Business Model: More Than Just a Fast-Food Chain

Well, if you're wondering who owns McDonald's in 2023, you're not alone. I’ve been curious about this too. Honestly, when you think about McDonald's, you might picture it as one of the world’s largest fast-food chains, but its ownership structure is a bit more complex than just one person or company holding all the power. It’s a mix of franchise ownership, corporate management, and public shareholders. Let's dive into it, shall we?

The Role of the Corporation

McDonald's, at its core, is primarily owned by shareholders. The corporation itself—McDonald's Corporation—operates the global brand and oversees the strategic direction. But here's the twist: the company doesn’t own most of its locations directly. It operates as a franchise-based model, which means many McDonald's restaurants are owned and run by individual franchisees, not the company itself.

When I first heard that, I was shocked. I always assumed McDonald's was like some corporate monolith that ran everything. But nope, the vast majority of its outlets are franchised. It makes sense now because McDonald's can expand rapidly without having to take on all the direct costs and risks. Franchisees shoulder a lot of the day-to-day work, while McDonald's Corporation enjoys the perks of a global brand.

Who Are McDonald's Major Stakeholders?

The Shareholders: McDonald's Is a Publicly Traded Company

If you own McDonald's stock, congratulations—you technically "own" a piece of the company! McDonald's is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "MCD." So, in 2023, ownership of McDonald's is spread across institutional investors, individual shareholders, and even mutual funds. When I checked recently, big players like The Vanguard Group and BlackRock hold significant stakes in the company. It's kind of like a big club, but with a lot of different members.

The McDonald’s Founders and Early Investors

Okay, so this is where it gets interesting. While Ray Kroc is often credited as the founder of McDonald's, the company’s origins actually trace back to Richard and Maurice McDonald, who opened the first McDonald's restaurant in 1940. Kroc, who joined the company in 1954, played a huge role in turning McDonald's into the global powerhouse it is today. But the McDonald brothers originally sold their rights to Kroc for $2.7 million. Can you imagine?

As for the McDonald brothers, they didn’t become billionaires from the deal, but Kroc—he did, eventually. Some of his descendants still hold shares, although Kroc passed away in 1984.

The Role of Franchisees in McDonald's Ownership

How the Franchise Model Works

Honestly, I didn’t quite understand how McDonald's could have so many locations without owning most of them until I looked deeper into the franchise model. In 2023, around 93% of McDonald's restaurants are owned by franchisees. This means independent business owners are responsible for running most of the McDonald's locations worldwide, but they do so under the umbrella of McDonald's Corporation.

Franchisees pay McDonald’s a franchise fee and a percentage of their revenue in exchange for the right to use the McDonald’s brand, recipes, and operating model. In return, McDonald's Corporation provides marketing, training, and general oversight. So, in a sense, McDonald's is a shared business, with different groups working together. But the corporation is still the main driver of branding and strategic decisions.

The Benefits and Drawbacks for Franchisees

One of my buddies, who used to work as a manager at a McDonald’s franchise, explained that while being a franchisee offers great earning potential, it’s also pretty tough. Franchisees have to adhere to strict rules set by McDonald's Corporation. They also don’t have the same flexibility as an independent business owner—everything from the menu to the décor is standardized. But, hey, it's McDonald’s. The brand is already established, which makes attracting customers a lot easier than starting from scratch.

How McDonald's Makes Money: The Franchise and Real Estate Model

Real Estate: The Hidden Power of McDonald's

Here’s something that really surprised me when I dug into McDonald's ownership structure: McDonald's owns a ton of real estate. In fact, the company has one of the largest portfolios of real estate in the world. Even though it doesn’t operate most of its restaurants directly, McDonald's owns the land and buildings where many of these franchises operate. Franchisees pay rent to McDonald’s for this property, which provides a steady stream of income for the company. So, not only does McDonald's make money from selling food, but it also earns from property leasing.

I remember chatting with a financial analyst who pointed out that McDonald’s real estate holdings were one of the main reasons why the company is so financially stable. That real estate is a valuable asset, especially in prime locations.

Conclusion: Who Owns McDonald's in 2023?

So, in 2023, who really owns McDonald's? It’s a mix of different entities. The corporation itself is publicly traded, with major institutional investors holding substantial shares. McDonald’s operates on a franchise model, so individual franchisees own the majority of the restaurants. And, as I learned, the company’s extensive real estate holdings provide a solid financial foundation.

In the end, McDonald's ownership is spread out across a broad base, from public shareholders to franchisees and the corporation itself. It’s one of the most fascinating examples of how a global brand can thrive through collaboration with independent owners while still maintaining tight control over its brand and strategy.

So, next time you grab a Big Mac, you’ll know a little more about who’s behind the golden arches!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.