McDonald's vs Starbucks: 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. Starbucks was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, Gordon Bowker and is led by Brian Niccol.
Company facts
McDonald's
- Founded
- 1940
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Current CEO
- Chris Kempczinski
- Employees
- 150,000
Starbucks
- Founded
- 1971
- Headquarters
- Seattle, Washington
- Current CEO
- Brian Niccol
- Employees
- 381,000
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.
Starbucks
Jerry Baldwin
Jerry Baldwin is a fiercely visionary American coffee pioneer, highly astute culinary entrepreneur, and the profoundly influential co-founder fundamentally responsible for architecting the absolute original historical bedrock of the massive Starbucks coffee em…
Zev Siegl
Zev Siegl co-founded Starbucks in 1971 and helped turn a specialty coffee idea into a functioning retail business.
Gordon Bowker
Gordon Bowker co-founded Starbucks and played a central role in the company's early brand identity.
CEOs and their tenures
McDonald's
- Ray Kroc1967–1973
CEO
By prioritizing radical operational simplification and large digital integration across the global franchise network, he successfully transformed the organization into a profoundly modern enterprise.
Source - Fred Turner1974–1987
CEO
By prioritizing radical operational simplification and large digital integration across the global franchise network, he successfully transformed the organization into a profoundly modern enterprise.
Source - Jim Skinner2004–2012
CEO
By prioritizing radical operational simplification and large digital integration across the global franchise network, he successfully transformed the organization into a profoundly modern enterprise.
Source - Steve Easterbrook2015–2019
CEO
By prioritizing radical operational simplification and large digital integration across the global franchise network, he successfully transformed the organization into a profoundly modern enterprise.
Source - Chris Kempczinski2019–present
CEO
By prioritizing radical operational simplification and large digital integration across the global franchise network, he successfully transformed the organization into a profoundly modern enterprise.
Source
Starbucks
- Gordon Bowker1971–1987
Co-Founder
Co-founded the original Seattle coffee roasting company and shaped its early culture around premium coffee craft, laying the foundation that Howard Schultz later transformed globally.
Source - Howard Schultz1987–2023
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Schultz left the board in 2023 and holds the title of chairman emeritus. His interim return in 2022-2023 bridged the transition to Laxman Narasimhan, whose short tenure ended with Brian Niccol's hiring in 2024.
Source - Brian Niccol2024–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Under Niccol, Starbucks returned to comparable sales growth in fiscal 2026, with Q3 global comps up 7.9% and FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance raised to $2.55-$2.65.
Source - Cathy Smith2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
CFO overseeing the financial side of Back to Starbucks, including the China joint venture proceeds and debt tender offers in 2026.
Source
Timeline: McDonald's and Starbucks side by side
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.
1971Starbucks
Starbucks opens in Seattle
Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker opened the original Starbucks near Pike Place Market.
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.
1987Starbucks
Howard Schultz acquires Starbucks
Schultz bought Starbucks and shifted the model toward espresso beverages and coffeehouse expansion.
1992Starbucks
Starbucks goes public
Starbucks listed on NASDAQ and used public-market capital to scale nationally and internationally.
1996Starbucks
International expansion begins
Starbucks opened its first international store in Japan, proving the concept could travel outside North America.
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.
2018Starbucks
Nestle Global Coffee Alliance
The Nestle alliance expanded Starbucks packaged coffee reach beyond company-operated stores.
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.
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.
2024Starbucks
Brian Niccol named CEO
Starbucks named Brian Niccol chairman and CEO as traffic and operational pressure increased.
2025McDonald's
$26.9B FY2025 Revenue
McDonald's reported $26.885 billion in FY2025 revenue and $8.563 billion in net income.
2025Starbucks
FY2025 revenue reaches $37.184B
Starbucks reported FY2025 net revenues of $37.184B and net earnings of $1.856B.
2026Starbucks
China joint venture with Boyu Capital closes
On April 2, 2026, funds managed by Boyu Capital took a 60% stake in Starbucks China retail operations; Starbucks kept 40% and the brand.
2026Starbucks
China joint venture closes
Boyu Capital took a 60% stake in Starbucks China retail operations on April 2, 2026; Starbucks retained 40% and the brand rights.
2026Starbucks
Q3 FY2026 comparable sales up 7.9%
Global comparable sales rose 7.9% and Starbucks raised fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $2.55-$2.65.
Acquisitions
McDonald's
- Dynamic Yield2019$300M
- Apprente2019Undisclosed
- Boston Market2000$173.5M
- Donatos Pizza1999Undisclosed
- Chipotle Mexican Grill stake1998Undisclosed
Starbucks
- 23.5 Degrees Topco Limited2024Undisclosed
- Teavana2012$620M
- Evolution Fresh2011$30M
- Coffee Equipment Company2008Undisclosed
Questions about McDonald's vs Starbucks
Who is the CEO of McDonald's Corporation and Starbucks Corporation?
McDonald's Corporation is led by Chris Kempczinski and Starbucks Corporation is led by Brian Niccol. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was McDonald's Corporation founded vs Starbucks Corporation?
McDonald's Corporation was founded in 1940 — 31 years before Starbucks Corporation, which was founded in 1971. McDonald's Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Starbucks Corporation.
How many employees does McDonald's Corporation have compared to Starbucks Corporation?
McDonald's Corporation employs approximately 150,000 people, while Starbucks Corporation employs approximately 381,000. Starbucks Corporation has the larger workforce at 381,000 employees, compared to McDonald's Corporation's 150,000. 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 Starbucks Corporation headquartered?
Both McDonald's Corporation and Starbucks Corporation are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded McDonald's Corporation and Starbucks Corporation?
McDonald's Corporation was founded by Maurice James McDonald, Richard James McDonald, Ray Kroc. Starbucks Corporation was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, Gordon Bowker.
Which company has a longer operating history — McDonald's Corporation or Starbucks Corporation?
McDonald's Corporation has been operating for approximately 86 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Starbucks Corporation has been in operation for around 55 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 Starbucks overview