9 Interesting Facts About McDonald's Big Mac

You’re probably familiar with the jingle. The thought of that iconic sauce may trigger its taste in your mouth, thanks to pure memory. But how much do you really know about the McDonald’s Big Mac? From its origin as a clever invention by a franchisee to its surprising role in global economic studies, here are some juicy facts about this legendary burger.

1. The Big Mac took inspiration from The Big Boy's signature sandwich.

In 1967, franchise owner Jim Delligatti was managing several McDonald’s locations in the Pittsburgh area, but noticed that the standard McDonald's burger wasn’t enough to satisfy the hardworking blue-collar workers nearby. A competitor, the Big Boy, offered a heartier sandwich with two patties, a split sesame seed bun, lettuce, sauce, and cheese. Delligatti decided to adjust the recipe, adding pickles, onions, and creating his own version of the sauce. “This wasn’t like discovering the lightbulb,” he was quoted in John F. Love’s book, McDonald’s Behind The Arches. “The bulb was already there. All I did was screw it in the socket.”

2. The Big Mac Gained Popularity Quickly

Originally named “The Big Mc,” Delligatti’s creation first made its debut in his hometown of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, priced at 45 cents. (When adjusted for inflation, that would be about $6 today.) The burger was an instant success, quickly attracting the attention of McDonald’s CEO Ray Kroc, who made it a nationwide offering in 1968. The towering burger became an immediate favorite, accounting for 19 percent of all total sales in 1969. By the 25th anniversary of the signature sandwich in 1993, 14 billion Big Macs had been sold. By 2020, the Big Mac was available in 200 countries, with estimates suggesting 900 million sold globally each year, or 2.4 million daily.

3. The Big Mac Almost Went by the Name “The Aristocrat.”

McDonald’s executives, initially unimpressed with the name “Big Mc,” considered more glamorous alternatives like “The Aristocrat” and “Blue Ribbon Burger.” History was made when 21-year-old secretary Esther Glickstein Rose offered her suggestion: The Big Mac. For years, it was believed that Delligatti or some McDonald’s executive came up with the name. But in 1985, during the fast-food chain’s 30th anniversary celebrations, McDonald’s officially credited Rose for her contribution, recognizing her with a plaque engraved with images of the Big Mac and the Golden Arches.

4. The Big Mac’s Special Sauce Has Evolved Over the Years.

After the Big Mac became a national sensation, the McDonald’s corporation began refining the recipe, experimenting with two versions of the special sauce in its locations. In 1972, the winning version was declared and named “Big Mac Sauce recipe ‘72.’” This sauce, nicknamed “special sauce” in a 1974 ad campaign, remained the standard until McDonald’s altered the formula in 1991 (possibly to reduce costs). However, this new version of the sauce met with failure, much like New Coke, and in 2004, McDonald’s CEO Fred Turner decided to bring back the original recipe.

5. The Big Mac’s Special Sauce Secrets Were Unveiled After 45 Years.

Over the years, many have speculated that the Big Mac sauce was simply regular Thousand Island salad dressing, but the recipe stayed a mystery through all its versions—until 2012, when McDonald’s executive chef Dan Coudreaut revealed the ingredients in a YouTube video. The recipe consisted of mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, white wine vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. So yes, it’s pretty much the same as Thousand Island dressing.

6. Bottles of Big Mac Sauce Have Sold for Thousands on eBay.

Even after the secret was out, the original sauce continued to fetch high prices. Occasionally, McDonald’s puts bottles of the sauce up for sale, with the proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities. In February 2015, the first bottle from a limited run of 200 was auctioned on eBay and sold for over $15,000 USD. The following year, a similar auction on eBay UK saw the highest bid reach $100,000. Although that bid was later declared a hoax, the runner-up bids still exceeded $69,000 USD.

7. The Big Mac Has Global Variations.

The original Big Mac recipe remains faithful to the ’74 jingle: two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a sesame seed (twice-sliced) bun. However, McDonald’s presents a range of variations around the world. In India, the beef patties were initially swapped with lamb, and later replaced with chicken for the Maharaja Mac. In Israel, a Kosher version of the Big Mac is served without cheese. Japan once offered a special option where the second patty could be replaced with a tomato or a grilled egg.

The Mega Mac, available in various countries, features a larger patty and an extra slice of cheese, while the Son of Mac (also known as Mini Mac or Baby Mac) comes with a single patty and no middle bun slice. In 2016, McDonald’s introduced a spicier alternative to the classic special sauce with the Sriracha Big Mac, though it was eventually discontinued.

8. The Big Mac Became an Economic Benchmark.

In 1986, The Economist introduced the 'Big Mac Index' to compare currency exchange rates between different countries. Since the burger was available in so many places, it provided a straightforward method to compare currency values in a consistent way (or burgers to burgers). As The Economist noted in 2021, 'Burgernomics was never meant to be a perfect tool for identifying currency imbalances, but simply a way to make exchange rate theory more understandable.' Despite its humble beginnings, the Big Mac index has become an internationally recognized standard, appearing in various economic textbooks and the subject of numerous academic studies.

9. There’s a Big Mac museum in Pennsylvania.

Just forty miles south of where the original Big Mc was sold, the Delligatti family constructed a tribute to their role in McDonald's global rise. On August 23, 2007, the Big Mac Museum Restaurant opened its doors in North Huntington, Pennsylvania. This operating fast-food establishment is home to exhibits such as a wall-mounted timeline tracing the Big Mac's history, a life-sized bust of Jim Delligatti, a bobblehead of the lesser-known McDonald's mascot, Officer Big Mac, vintage packaging, and a special display honoring September 25, 1992, when Pittsburgh's mayor Sophie Masloff officially named the city 'Big Mac USA' for a day. The star attraction is a massive 14-by-12-foot Big Mac statue, perfect for taking souvenir photos.