Crazy Facts About McDonald’s

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve considered myself a McDonald’s enthusiast, which means I’ve been happily coming here for quite a few years. So I actually thought I knew most of the ins and outs of Maccie, but nothing could be further from the truth; I genuinely didn’t know these five things.

In fact, I didn’t believe them either, so I double-checked everything, but seriously: these five facts are really true.

The 5 Things You Never Knew About McDonald’s

1. A new McDonald’s opens somewhere in the world every 14.5 hours
That really is an insane amount, isn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s not known how many close every day, but now I’m seriously wondering how many more McDonald’s locations we’ll have in 50 years…

2. The same number of people eat McDonald’s every day as live in the United Kingdom
That’s 68 million people in both cases — Meine Gute, what a number.

3. Bill Gates gets free McDonald’s for life
Remarkable, because I assume he could afford to pay for it… But Bill Gates is one of the lucky people who has a McDonald’s Gold Card, just like actor Rob Lowe and Warren Buffet. And that card gives you free Maccie for life; I’m feeling very jealous right now.

4. McNuggets have names
You probably already knew that there are only four nugget shapes if you’re a McDonald’s fan. But all four also have their own ‘name’: bone, bell, ball and boot.

5. The first menu item ever… Was a hot dog
Excuuuuse me? I had no idea they ever sold hot dogs at McDonald’s, let alone that it was the first menu item EVER. Yet it’s really true; McDonald’s actually started as a hot dog stand, until they switched to burgers in the 1930s.