Raymond Albert "Ray" Kroc (October 5, 1902 – January 14, 1984) was an
American businessman and philanthropist. He joined
McDonald's in 1954 and built it into the most successful
fast food operation in the world. Kroc was included in
Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century, and amassed a fortune during his lifetime. He owned the
San Diego Padres baseball team from 1974 until his death in 1984. Similar to another fast-food giant, KFC founder
Harland Sanders, Kroc's success came later in life when he was past his 50th birthday.