MCDONALDS CORP

Overview

McDonald’s Corporation is a global quick-service restaurant company that operates through franchised and company-operated restaurants. Its menu is centered on burgers, chicken, fries and beverages, including products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, World Famous Fries and Chicken McNuggets. Approximately 95% of its 45,356 restaurants were franchised at year-end 2025.[1]+2

The company operates in more than 100 countries, organized into the U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate segments.[1][4] Its stated purpose is “to feed and foster communities,” and its mission is “to make delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone.” [5] McDonald’s reported total revenues of $26.885 billion for 2025.[6] Its official website reported more than 150,000 company employees globally at year-end 2024.[7] [1]+6

Products & services

McDonald’s menu includes hamburgers and cheeseburgers such as the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder with Cheese; fish and chicken sandwiches including Filet-O-Fish, McChicken, McCrispy and McSpicy; Chicken McNuggets; and World Famous Fries. Breakfast offerings include Egg McMuffin, Sausage McMuffin with Egg, McGriddles, biscuit and bagel sandwiches, oatmeal, hash browns, burritos and hotcakes. Other products include shakes, McFlurry desserts, sundaes, soft-serve cones, cookies, pies, soft drinks, coffee and McCafé beverages; availability varies by market.[8][9] The U.S. Big Mac is described as having two 100% beef patties and Big Mac Sauce, and McCafé offers coffee and espresso drinks.[10][11]

Product initiatives include “Best Burger,” operational and formulation changes intended to make burgers hotter, juicier and tastier, and expansion of McCrispy into strips and wraps in some markets.[2] Service offerings include app-based mobile ordering and payment, pickup, personalized offers and loyalty rewards, as well as McDelivery through the app and delivery partners.[12]+4 Drive-thru service was available at nearly 29,000 restaurants globally, including more than 95% of U.S. locations, according to 2025 reporting.[17]

In 2025, reported revenue comprised $16.548 billion from franchised restaurants, $9.690 billion in sales at company-operated restaurants and $0.647 billion in other revenue—approximately 61.6%, 36.0% and 2.4% of total revenue, respectively. These are revenue-source categories, not a breakdown of sales by individual food or beverage product.[18][19] [8]+15

Geographic presence

McDonald’s reports three operating segments: the U.S.; International Operated Markets, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.K.; and International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate, which includes developmental-licensee and affiliate markets, equity-method investments in China and Japan, and corporate activities. In the second quarter of 2026, 95% of U.S. restaurants and 90% of International Operated Markets restaurants were franchised.[20][21]

For 2025, revenue was $10.825 billion in the U.S. (40.3% of total), $13.633 billion in International Operated Markets (50.7%), and $2.427 billion in International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate (9.0%).[6] At year-end 2025, the company had 45,356 restaurants worldwide: 13,706 in the U.S., 10,845 in International Operated Markets and 20,805 in International Developmental Licensee markets. The latter segment included 97 markets; notable country counts included China (7,740 restaurants) and Japan (3,025).[3]+2 McDonald’s principal executive offices are in Chicago, Illinois.[24] [20]+6

Business segments

McDonald’s Corporation reports three geographic operating segments, and evaluates their performance using operating income. The U.S. segment covers its U.S. business; International Operated Markets includes countries where McDonald’s operates and franchises restaurants, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.K.; International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate primarily comprises developmental-licensee and affiliate markets, together with corporate activities and equity-method investments in China and Japan.[25]+2

For 2025, reported segment revenue was $10.825 billion for the U.S. (about 40.3% of total revenue), $13.633 billion for International Operated Markets (about 50.7%), and $2.427 billion for International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate (about 9.0%). The shares are approximate calculations using total revenue of $26.885 billion as the denominator.[6] [25]+6

Company history

McDonald’s traces its origins to 1940, when brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened a drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. In 1948, they introduced the Speedee Service System. Ray Kroc became their franchise agent in 1954 and opened his first McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955; in 1961, he acquired the brothers’ business rights for $2.7 million.[27]

The company began international expansion in 1967, opening restaurants in Canada and Puerto Rico; its first Japanese restaurant followed in 1971. Major menu and service milestones included the Big Mac, introduced regionally in 1967 and nationwide in 1968, the Egg McMuffin and first drive-thru in 1975, and the Happy Meal in 1979.[27]+4

McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in Russia in 1990. In 2006, it separated from its Chipotle investment through a split-off exchange offer, and it reported selling its Boston Market investment in 2007.[32]+2

In 2015, Steve Easterbrook succeeded Don Thompson as CEO; Chris Kempczinski succeeded Easterbrook in 2019. McDonald’s announced its exit from Russia in 2022 and agreed to sell its restaurant portfolio there to local licensee Alexander Govor.[35]+2 [27]+9

Sources

• MCDONALDS CORP — Full financial report (2025 Y)
  14 citations

  [1][2][4][6][8][9][12][13][17][18][19][24][25][26]
• MCDONALDS CORP — Additional data (2025 Y)
  3 citations

  [3][22][23]
• MCDONALDS CORP — Full financial report (2026 Q 2)
  3 citations

  [5][20][21]
• corporate.mcdonalds.com[7]
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• www.mcdonalds.com[15]
• www.mcdonalds.com[16]
• corporate.mcdonalds.com[27]
• corporate.mcdonalds.com[28]
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• mcdonalds.mediaroom.com[33]
• mcdonalds.mediaroom.com[34]
• corporate.mcdonalds.com[35]
• corporate.mcdonalds.com[36]