Ray Kroc, founder and chairman of McDonald's Corporation, stands outside one of his franchises, holding a hamburger and a drink.Bettman/Getty ImagesMcDonald's is among the most iconic and successful brands worldwide.Ray Kroc, a Multimixer salesman, stumbled upon the original McDonald's brothers' burger restaurant in 1954.Kroc became McDonald's first franchisee and transformed the restaurant into a global empire.The McDonald brothers opened their small restaurant in 1940 with a simple menu: burgers, fries, and beverages like their "Triple Thick Milkshakes."Ray Kroc, a Multimixer salesman, saw the restaurant's potential and became McDonald's first franchise agent.In 1955, Kroc founded McDonald's System, Inc., which would later become the McDonald's Corporation.