Raymond Albert Kroc (October 5, 1902 – January 14, 1984) was an American businessman, widely regarded as the "Founder of McDonald's" for his role in turning the singular hamburger stand into the most successful global fast food corporation by revenue.

Kroc was impressed with the efficiency and speed of the restaurant's operations, and he convinced the brothers to allow him to franchise the concept.

Following the United States' entry into World War I, he lied about his age in order to enlist with the American Red Cross as an ambulance driver.

[11][12] During the 1920s and throughout the Great Depression, Kroc worked a variety of jobs, including a paper-cup salesman, a Florida real estate agent, and a pianist in multiple bands.

[12][13] After World War II, Kroc found employment as a milkshake mixer salesman for the foodservice equipment manufacturer Prince Castle.

They had met as ambulance attendant trainees in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, during World War I. Kroc wrote, "I have very recently taken over the national franchise of the McDonald's system.

Writer Eric Schlosser, writing in his book Fast Food Nation, believes that this is a doctored retelling of the transaction by some McDonald's marketing executives.

[19] At the closing, Kroc became annoyed that the brothers would not transfer to him the real estate and rights to the original San Bernardino location.

[21] Kroc maintained the assembly line "Speedee Service System" for hamburger preparation that was introduced by the McDonald brothers in 1948.

He set strict rules for franchisees on how the food was to be made, portion sizes, cooking methods and times, and packaging.

One day, while sitting in his yacht in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he read in the newspaper that the San Diego Padres were for sale.

[26][27] In Kroc's first year of ownership in 1974, the Padres lost 102 games yet drew over one million in attendance, the standard of box office success in the major leagues during that era.

[27] On April 9, 1974, while the Padres were on the brink of losing a 9–5 decision to the Houston Astros in the season opener at San Diego Stadium, Kroc took the public address microphone in front of 39,083 fans.

[27][30] In 1979, Kroc's public interest in future free agent players Graig Nettles and Joe Morgan drew a $100,000 fine from Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

[33] They won the NL pennant that year against his hometown team Chicago Cubs and played in the 1984 World Series, which they lost to the Detroit Tigers.

[34] The Kroc Foundation supported research, treatment and education about various medical conditions, such as alcoholism, diabetes, arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

[36] A lifelong Republican, Kroc believed firmly in self-reliance and staunchly opposed government welfare and the New Deal.

[35] Upon her death in 2003, her remaining $2.7 billion estate was distributed among a number of nonprofit organizations, including $1.5 billion donation to The Salvation Army to build 26 Kroc Centers, along with a $200 million donation to National Public Radio as she believed deeply in the power of public radio.

[10] Kroc's acquisition of the McDonald's franchise as well as his "Kroc-style" business tactics are the subject of Mark Knopfler's 2004 song "Boom, Like That".