Harland David Sanders (1890–1980) was an American businessman and founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). He worked various jobs before selling fried chicken from a roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky during the Great Depression. He created his secret recipe and patented pressure fryer method.
In 1952, the first KFC franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah. In 1964, Sanders sold KFC for $2 million, kept Canadian operations, and became a brand ambassador. Later, he criticized KFC’s food quality, calling it “God-damned slop“.
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Colonel Sanders Net Worth
Colonel Harland Sanders had a net worth of $3.5 million (around $10 million today). He founded KFC during the Great Depression, creating his secret recipe and pressure fryer method. Though not in the military, he earned an honorary Kentucky Colonel title.
In 1964, at age 73, Sanders sold KFC for $2 million (about $15 million today), but stayed as brand ambassador and kept control in Canada. Today, KFC earns over $23 billion annually.
Early life
Harland David Sanders was born on September 9, 1890, near Henryville, Indiana, to Wilbur David and Margaret Ann Sanders. He was the oldest of three children. His mother, of Irish and Dutch descent, was a devout Christian who warned against alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and whistling on Sundays.
After his father’s death in 1895, his mother worked at a tomato cannery, leaving Harland to cook and care for his siblings. By age seven, he was skilled at cooking. In 1899, his mother married Edward Park, later widowed again.
Career
In 1952, Harland Sanders franchised his secret recipe Kentucky Fried Chicken to Pete Harman in South Salt Lake, Utah. Harman’s restaurant sales tripled in the first year, with 75% from fried chicken. Don Anderson coined the name Kentucky Fried Chicken. Sanders sold his North Corbin restaurant at age 65 after Interstate 75 reduced traffic.
With limited savings, he traveled the US franchising, often sleeping in his car. In 1959, Sanders and Claudia opened a new restaurant and headquarters in Shelbyville.
Personal life
After being recommissioned as a Kentucky colonel in 1950 by Governor Lawrence Wetherby, Harland Sanders adopted the title and signature look: a goatee, black frock coat (later a white suit), and a black ribbon bow tie. He called himself “Colonel,” and his associates accepted the title seriously.
For his last 20 years, Sanders wore only this outfit, bleaching his mustache and goatee to match his white hair. John Y. Brown Jr. praised him as a visionary and showman. Sanders was also a Freemason.
Who owns KFC now?
KFC is currently owned by Yum! Brands, one of the world’s largest restaurant companies. Yum! Brands also owns other major chains like Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. As a subsidiary, KFC operates under Yum!’s corporate structure, with its global operations managed from Louisville, Kentucky.
Yum! focuses on expanding KFC’s international presence while maintaining its core identity built around fried chicken and the secret recipe of Colonel Harland Sanders. The company continues to grow in markets like China, India, and Africa.
Conclusion
Colonel Harland Sanders’ story is one of resilience and innovation. His legacy, encapsulated in his secret chicken recipe and the global brand KFC, continues to influence the fast-food industry.
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FAQs about Colonel Sanders Net Worth
- What was Colonel Sanders’s net worth at the time of his death? $3.5 million, equivalent to about $10 million today.
- Why is Colonel Sanders famous? For founding and being the face of KFC.
- How did Colonel Sanders accumulate his wealth? Through the development and franchising of KFC.
- Where did Colonel Sanders live? He spent his later years in Kentucky.
- Was Colonel Sanders married? Yes, he was married twice in his lifetime.
