- Richard and Maurice McDonald started 15 cent hamburger stands with golden arches in California which became very popular. Ray Kroc, a milkshake machine salesman, bought the world franchise rights and expanded McDonald's globally. - McDonald's now has over 35,000 outlets worldwide, 1.9 million employees, and $25.4 billion in annual revenue. Its core values are quality, service, cleanliness and value. - McDonald's diversified its menu and used intensive marketing campaigns to fuel its global growth. However, it may face risks from increasing health conscious consumers seeking healthier options and greater competition in the fast food sector.