fbpx

Michael Delligatti, the man who invented the Big Mac, has died

Michael Delligatti - the father of the Big Mac hamburger

McDonald's most famous hamburger, the Big Mac, has lost its father. Michael "Jim" Delligatti, once the owner of the McDonald's franchise in Uniontown (Pennsylvania, USA), created the popular burger with two beef patties back in 1967. During this time, it became one of the most recognizable American exports and a symbol of capitalism.

Hamburger Big Mac is a brand unto itself. Hamburger McDonald's is in 1967 came up with Michael “Jim” Delligatti, who died a few days ago at the age of 98. According to the testimony of his son, he is the father of the most famous McDonald's hamburger, which squeezes between toasted sesame buns two beef steaks, cheese, pickles, iceberg lettuce, onion and sauce, afforded at least several decades one per week. Even almost 50 years later it is the recipe remained unchanged.

The Big Mac in 1968.
The Big Mac in 1968

A burger that has approx. 540 calories and 34 grams of fat, was created because Delligatti's guests wanted bigger burgers. And the Big Mac that is was born became an instant hit, so McDonald's already has it in 1968 included in its offer elsewhere. It was originally sold 45 cents each. Everything else is history. If you ask his son, Delligatti also came up with the name, but the official story says that the name in 1985 invented by 21-year-old McDonald's secretary Esther Glickstein Rose, after one of the directors asked her for a proposal in a meeting. The case regarding the name will have a judicial epilogue.

READ MORE: Why does Coca-Cola at McDonald's taste better than bought elsewhere?


From 1967 to the present, McDonald's has sold billions of Big Mac hamburgers. Annually, 550 million or one every 17 seconds! Bojda Delligatti, who also helped shape McDonald's breakfast menu, did not receive any commissions from the sale.

Gallery - from the history of the Big Mac hamburger:

With you since 2004

From 2004 we research urban trends and inform our community of followers daily about the latest in lifestyle, travel, style and products that inspire with passion. From 2023, we offer content in major global languages.