The Founder

Question: Two questions are puzzling me. 1. Considering the tactics that Ray used to take control of McDonald's from the brothers, couldn't it be said that he cheated and conned the brothers out of their restaurant? 2. When Ray visits Mac in the hospital, he offers him a blank check to which the brothers agree. Why would they agree to such a thing instead of fighting to get their restaurant back?

Answer: 1. Yes, he pretty much cheated them out of their restaurant, royalties, intellectual property, etc. 2. Ray elaborates on this towards the end of the film when is on the phone with them. He's generated so much revenue from his real estate venture that he can afford to tie them up in court for years and drown them in legal fees if they decided to sue him for breach of contract. This is why they decide to surrender the company and everything that came with it in exchange for $1 million each and 1% perpetuity, the latter of which they never received.

Phaneron

Question: What happened to the McDonald brothers at the end of the film? How much money did each of the McDonald brothers receive?

Answer: They only received the $2.7 million buyout. Ray Kroc never gave them any of the 1% annual royalties he promised them in their handshake agreement.

Phaneron

Factual error: As Ray is driving around the country selling his machines, we see town mileage signs that are green with white lettering. In the early 50s they were white with black lettering.

ebogus

More mistakes in The Founder

Harry J. Sonneborn: Mr. Kroc, if you're not making money hand over fist, something's terribly wrong.

More quotes from The Founder

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