The McDonald Brothers
From a movie theater to a hot dog stand in 1937, the brothers delved into the barbecue business before deciding on a burger bar in San Bernardino, California. Within the next six years after changing to the "Speedee Service" in '48, the brothers sold twenty-one franchises and nine outlets before placing an order that would change the business forever. Ray Kroc, a salesman at the time, answered their call for eight milkshake mixers. By 1961, the brothers sold their name to Kroc for $2.7 million.
''Up until the time we sold, there was no mention of Kroc being the founder,'' Richard McDonald told The Wall Street Journal in 1991. ''If we had heard about it, he would be back selling milkshake machines.'' -New York Times
"There was really nothing for us to do in the hamburger business, the company was doing everything. we sat in an office, sort of twiddled our thumbs." -Richard McDonald