Skip to main content
C
CorpDigest
Search

McDonald's vs Volkswagen: 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. Volkswagen was founded in 1937 by Ferdinand Porsche and is led by Oliver Blume.

Company facts

McDonald's

Founded
1940
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Current CEO
Chris Kempczinski
Employees
150,000

Volkswagen

Founded
1937
Headquarters
Wolfsburg, Germany
Current CEO
Oliver Blume
Employees
663,000

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.

McDonald's founders in full

Volkswagen

  • Ferdinand Porsche

    Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951) was an Austrian-born automotive engineer who had worked for Lohner, Austro-Daimler and Daimler-Benz before opening his own design office in Stuttgart in 1931.

Volkswagen founders in full

CEOs and their tenures

McDonald's

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. Don Thompson2012–2015

    CEO

    Rapid menu proliferation complicated kitchen operations and pushed drive-thru wait times to historical highs.

    Source
  9. 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
  10. 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
McDonald's CEO history in full

Volkswagen

  1. Hermann Münch1946–1947

    Chief Executive Officer

    Early executive involved in the incredibly complex immediate post-war administration of the completely destroyed factory under British military control.

    Source
  2. Heinrich Nordhoff1948–1968

    Chief Executive Officer

    The absolute legendary post-war architect who took the ruins of the VW factory and transformed the Beetle into a massive, globally beloved cultural icon and economic miracle.

    Source
  3. Kurt Lotz1968–1971

    Chief Executive Officer

    Early post-war leader who began the critical process of diversifying VW's lineup beyond relying entirely on a single model (the Beetle).

    Source
  4. Rudolf Leiding1971–1975

    Chief Executive Officer

    Crucial CEO who managed the extremely difficult, highly risky transition away from the iconic but severely outdated Beetle toward modern, front-wheel-drive water-cooled cars (like the Golf).

    Source
  5. Toni Schmücker1975–1982

    Chief Executive Officer

    Guided the company through the severe financial crises of the 1970s, ensuring the successful launch and massive adoption of the original VW Golf.

    Source
  6. Carl Hahn1982–1993

    Chief Executive Officer

    As CEO in the 1980s, he executed the massive, highly strategic acquisitions of SEAT and Skoda, laying the foundation for VW's absolute dominance in Europe.

    Source
  7. Ferdinand Piëch1993–2002

    Chief Executive Officer

    As the legendary, absolutely ruthless patriarch (and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche), he transformed VW from a struggling mass-market brand into the most powerful automotive conglomerate on Earth.

    Source
  8. Bernd Pischetsrieder2002–2006

    Chief Executive Officer

    Serving as CEO from 2002 to 2006, he oversaw the incredibly complex integration of massive luxury brands like Bugatti and Bentley into the VW Group portfolio.

    Source
  9. Martin Winterkorn2007–2015

    Chief Executive Officer

    As the notoriously demanding, absolutely feared CEO, he oversaw massive global expansion but fostered a culture of absolute terror that led engineers to cheat rather than admit failure.

    Source
  10. Matthias Müller2015–2018

    Chief Executive Officer

    As CEO during the darkest period in modern VW history, he initiated the massive cultural purge of the toxic, highly secretive engineering culture that caused the cheating scandal.

    Source
  11. Herbert Diess2018–2022

    Chief Executive Officer

    Serving as CEO, he forcefully dragged the massive, highly bureaucratic legacy automaker into the Tesla era, though his abrasive style alienated the powerful Porsche-Piëch families.

    Source
  12. Oliver Blume2022–present

    Chairman of the Board of Management

    He also ran Porsche AG alongside the group role until Michael Leiters took over as Porsche CEO on January 1, 2026, leaving Blume focused on Volkswagen Group.

    Source
Volkswagen CEO history in full

Timeline: McDonald's and Volkswagen side by side

  1. 1937Volkswagen

    Volkswagen founded

    Volkswagen was founded under the German Labour Front as part of a state-directed people's car program.

  2. 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.

  3. 1945Volkswagen

    Wolfsburg restarted

    British military administration helped restart peacetime production at Wolfsburg after World War II.

  4. 1948McDonald's

    Speedee Service System Introduced

    The brothers simplified operations in 1948 around 15-cent hamburgers, shakes, and fries.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 1965Volkswagen

    Audi foundation added

    Volkswagen acquired Auto Union from Daimler-Benz, creating the foundation for modern Audi.

  9. 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.

  10. 1974Volkswagen

    Golf production begins

    The Golf gave Volkswagen a modern front-engine, front-wheel-drive compact platform after the Beetle era.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 2012Volkswagen

    Porsche consolidated

    Porsche became a controlled sport-luxury profit anchor within Volkswagen Group.

  14. 2015Volkswagen

    Matthias Müller becomes CEO

    Matthias Müller became CEO of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft in 2015. Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 2015 to 2018.

  15. 2015Volkswagen

    Emissions Scandal

    US regulators accused Volkswagen in September 2015 of fitting diesel cars with software that cheated emissions tests.

  16. 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.

  17. 2018Volkswagen

    Herbert Diess becomes CEO

    Herbert Diess became CEO of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft in 2018. Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 2018 to 2022.

  18. 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.

  19. 2022Volkswagen

    Oliver Blume becomes chairman

    Oliver Blume became chairman of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft in 2022. He also ran Porsche AG alongside the group role until Michael Leiters took over as Porsche CEO on January 1, 2026, leaving Blume focused on Volkswagen Group.

  20. 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.

  21. 2024Volkswagen

    Rivian software joint venture

    Volkswagen and Rivian launched a software joint venture targeting next-generation electrical architecture.

  22. 2025McDonald's

    $26.9B FY2025 Revenue

    McDonald's reported $26.885 billion in FY2025 revenue and $8.563 billion in net income.

  23. 2025Volkswagen

    Revenue reaches ~$364B (EUR321.9B)

    Volkswagen reported ~$364 billion (EUR321.9 billion) in sales revenue, ~$10.1 billion (EUR8.9 billion) in operating result, and 8.984 million deliveries.

Acquisitions

McDonald's

  • Dynamic Yield2019$300M
  • Apprente2019Undisclosed
  • Boston Market2000$173.5M
  • Donatos Pizza1999Undisclosed
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill stake1998Undisclosed
All McDonald's acquisitions

Volkswagen

  • Porsche AG2012Undisclosed
  • Bentley Motors1998Undisclosed
  • Auto Union / Audi1965Undisclosed
All Volkswagen acquisitions

Questions about McDonald's vs Volkswagen

Who is the CEO of McDonald's Corporation and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?

McDonald's Corporation is led by Chris Kempczinski and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft is led by Oliver Blume. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.

When was McDonald's Corporation founded vs Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1937 — 3 years before McDonald's Corporation, which was founded in 1940. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft'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 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?

McDonald's Corporation employs approximately 150,000 people, while Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft employs approximately 663,000. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft has the larger workforce at 663,000 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 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft headquartered?

McDonald's Corporation is headquartered in United States and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft is headquartered in Germany. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.

Who founded McDonald's Corporation and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?

McDonald's Corporation was founded by Maurice James McDonald, Richard James McDonald, Ray Kroc. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft was founded by Ferdinand Porsche.

Which company has a longer operating history — McDonald's Corporation or Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft has been operating for approximately 89 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 Volkswagen overview

Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.