McDonald's vs Morgan Stanley: Founders, CEOs and History
McDonald's was founded in 1940 by Maurice James McDonald, Richard James McDonald, Ray Kroc and is led by Chris Kempczinski. Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley and is led by Ted Pick.
Company facts
McDonald's
- Founded
- 1940
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Current CEO
- Chris Kempczinski
- Employees
- 150,000
Morgan Stanley
- Founded
- 1935
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, United States
- Current CEO
- Ted Pick
- Employees
- 83,000
Founders
McDonald's
Maurice James McDonald
Maurice "Mac" McDonald co-founded McDonald's with his brother Richard in 1940, opening a barbecue drive-in in San Bernardino, California.
Richard James McDonald
Richard McDonald co-founded McDonald's and played a leading role in the 1948 redesign that turned a local drive-in into the template for modern fast food.
Ray Kroc
Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955 and built the franchising organization that made the brand famous far beyond California.
Morgan Stanley
Henry S. Morgan
Henry S. Morgan co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 after the Glass-Steagall Act required J.P. Morgan & Co. to separate its securities business from commercial banking.
Harold Stanley
Harold Stanley (1885-1963) co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 alongside Henry S. Morgan. Following the passage of the Glass-Steagall Act, which forced banks to separate commercial and investment banking, Stanley left J.P. Morgan & Co.
CEOs and their tenures
McDonald's
- Ray Kroc1967–1973
CEO
Under Kroc's executive leadership, McDonald's scaled from a regional drive-in licensing experiment into an international enterprise with over 2,500 locations and $1 billion in annual systemwide sales by the end of his CEO tenure in 1973.
Source - Fred Turner1974–1987
CEO
Turner expanded McDonald's from roughly 2,500 restaurants in 1974 to over 10,000 across 45 countries by 1987, multiplying systemwide sales from $1.9 billion to over $14 billion.
Source - Michael R. Quinlan1987–1998
CEO
During Quinlan's 11-year CEO tenure, McDonald's expanded from approximately 10,000 to over 24,000 restaurants globally, and annual systemwide sales rose from $14.3 billion in 1987 to $36 billion in 1998.
Source - Jack M. Greenberg1998–2002
CEO
Greenberg pushed global restaurant count past 30,000, but rapid store expansion cannibalized existing franchisees and kitchen complexity slowed drive-thru service.
Source - James R. Cantalupo2003–2004
CEO
Under Cantalupo's leadership, McDonald's launched the global 'I'm Lovin' It' campaign and introduced premium salads, driving 11 consecutive months of positive same-store sales growth.
Source - Charlie Bell2004–2004
CEO
During Bell's seven-month tenure, McDonald's generated 7.5% global comparable sales growth in 2004, its strongest operational performance in over a decade.
Source - Jim Skinner2004–2012
CEO
Skinner generated roughly 250% total shareholder returns between 2004 and 2012. Annual systemwide sales expanded from $46 billion to $86 billion, McCafé was rolled out internationally, and the company completed the complete divestiture of Chipotle, Boston Mark…
Source - Don Thompson2012–2015
CEO
Rapid menu proliferation complicated kitchen operations and pushed drive-thru wait times to historical highs.
Source - Steve Easterbrook2015–2019
CEO
Easterbrook refranchised over 4,000 company-owned locations to lift franchised ownership from 81% to approximately 93%, expanding operating margin from 29% to 43%.
Source - Chris Kempczinski2019–present
CEO
Since becoming CEO in November 2019, Kempczinski executed the 'Accelerating the Arches' framework, growing FY2025 consolidated revenue to $26.885 billion and net income to $8.563 billion.
Source
Morgan Stanley
- James Gorman2010–2023
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gorman's tenure moved Morgan Stanley toward recurring fee revenue. He became executive chairman after stepping down as CEO and left the board at the end of 2024.
Source - Ted Pick2024–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Under Pick, Morgan Stanley reported record 2025 net revenues of $70.6B and record Q2 2026 results.
Source
Timeline: McDonald's and Morgan Stanley side by side
1935Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley Founded
Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley officially launch the top investment bank following the historic Glass-Steagall split.
1940McDonald's
First McDonald's Opens in San Bernardino
Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald's restaurant on May 15, 1940 in San Bernardino, California. The original drive-in gave the brothers a live operating laboratory before they stripped the model down to a faster, lower-cost menu.
1948McDonald's
Speedee Service System Introduced
The brothers simplified operations in 1948 around 15-cent hamburgers, shakes, and fries.
1955McDonald's
Ray Kroc Opens Des Plaines Restaurant
Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955 after becoming the brothers' franchise agent. That restaurant became the base for converting a California operating idea into a national franchise system.
1961McDonald's
Hamburger University Opens
Hamburger University opened in the basement of an Elk Grove Village, Illinois restaurant in 1961. The training program mattered because it formalized the standards and operating routines that franchisees needed to deliver a consistent experience.
1961McDonald's
Kroc Buys the Brothers' Company
McDonald's says it acquired the rights to the brothers' company in 1961 for $2.7 million. The deal gave Kroc control of the name and system, setting up the real estate-backed franchise model that later defined parent-company economics.
1968McDonald's
Big Mac Added to National Menu
The Big Mac, developed by owner-operator Jim Delligatti of Pittsburgh, was added to the national menu in 1968. It became a durable core product and a recognizable signal of the company's ability to turn franchisee ideas into systemwide menu platforms.
1975McDonald's
Egg McMuffin Builds Breakfast
The Egg McMuffin, created by owner-operator Herb Peterson of Santa Barbara, California, was added to the national menu in 1975. It helped turn breakfast into a major daypart rather than leaving the restaurants dependent on lunch and dinner traffic.
1996Morgan Stanley
Acquired Van Kampen American Capital
Morgan Stanley acquired Van Kampen American Capital in 1996.
1997Morgan Stanley
Merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co
Morgan Stanley merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co in February 1997.
2003McDonald's
I'm Lovin' It Campaign Launches
McDonald's launched its global "I'm lovin' it" marketing campaign in 2003, its first worldwide brand campaign.
2008Morgan Stanley
Bank Holding Company Conversion
Facing total catastrophic collapse, the firm converts into a traditional bank holding company to survive the global financial crisis.
2009Morgan Stanley
The Smith Barney Acquisition
then-CEO James Gorman masterminds the acquisition of Smith Barney, instantly creating a dominant retail wealth management leader.
2017McDonald's
Global McDelivery Day with UberEATS
McDonald's marked Global McDelivery Day in 2017 to support the broader launch of McDelivery with UberEATS. Delivery expanded restaurant reach beyond the counter and drive-thru, while also adding packaging, marketplace-fee, and kitchen-throughput challenges.
2018Morgan Stanley
Acquired Mesa West
Morgan Stanley acquired Mesa West in March 2018.
2019McDonald's
Dynamic Yield Acquisition
McDonald's agreed to acquire Dynamic Yield in 2019 to personalize drive-thru menu boards, kiosks, and app experiences using signals such as time of day, weather, restaurant traffic, and trending items.
2020Morgan Stanley
E*TRADE Acquisition
Morgan Stanley dominates the self-directed brokerage market by acquiring E*TRADE for $13 billion.
2021Morgan Stanley
Acquired Eaton Vance
Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for $7 billion. Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for about $7B, completed in March 2021, adding Parametric, Calvert, and Atlanta Capital.
2024McDonald's
Quarter Pounder E. Coli Outbreak
U.S. Public health agencies linked a 2024 E. Coli outbreak to slivered onions served on McDonald's Quarter Pounders in affected states.
2024Morgan Stanley
Ted Pick Appointed CEO
Following a competitive internal succession, Ted Pick takes the helm to heavily drive the integration strategy.
2025McDonald's
$26.9B FY2025 Revenue
McDonald's reported $26.885 billion in FY2025 revenue and $8.563 billion in net income.
Acquisitions
McDonald's
- Dynamic Yield2019$300M
- Apprente2019Undisclosed
- Boston Market2000$173.5M
- Donatos Pizza1999Undisclosed
- Chipotle Mexican Grill stake1998Undisclosed
Morgan Stanley
- Eaton Vance2021$7B
- E*TRADE2020$13B
- Smith Barney2009Undisclosed
Questions about McDonald's vs Morgan Stanley
Who is the CEO of McDonald's Corporation and Morgan Stanley?
McDonald's Corporation is led by Chris Kempczinski and Morgan Stanley is led by Ted Pick. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was McDonald's Corporation founded vs Morgan Stanley?
Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 — 5 years before McDonald's Corporation, which was founded in 1940. Morgan Stanley's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger McDonald's Corporation.
How many employees does McDonald's Corporation have compared to Morgan Stanley?
McDonald's Corporation employs approximately 150,000 people, while Morgan Stanley employs approximately 83,000. McDonald's Corporation has the larger workforce at 150,000 employees, compared to Morgan Stanley's 83,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are McDonald's Corporation and Morgan Stanley headquartered?
Both McDonald's Corporation and Morgan Stanley are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded McDonald's Corporation and Morgan Stanley?
McDonald's Corporation was founded by Maurice James McDonald, Richard James McDonald, Ray Kroc. Morgan Stanley was founded by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley.
Which company has a longer operating history — McDonald's Corporation or Morgan Stanley?
Morgan Stanley has been operating for approximately 91 years, making it the more established of the two companies. McDonald's Corporation has been in operation for around 86 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the McDonald's vs Morgan Stanley overview