The McDonald's Gold Card mystery began after actor Rob Lowe told Jimmy Kimmel Live about it on Wednesday. After that, many commoners started wondering how to get one even without the celebrity status.
Apparently, it's not that easy.
According to Lowe, he got his McDonald's Gold Card through a friend's connection, and that it allows him unlimited McDonald's food at the Santa Barbara and Goleta chains for a year.
"My buddy in Santa Barbara, his dad was one of the original McDonald's franchisee and he invented the Egg McMuffin. He invented it and that to me is the greatest human achievement," Lowe said.
"He invented Ronald McDonald. He's the guy that said to Ray Kroc you should have like a pedophile creepy looking clown," he added.
While McDonald's may give its Gold Card only to select VIPs, it doesn't mean card holders have to be rich and famous, although two other rich and famous holders include Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, according to Food Beast.
It appears that Rob Lowe's McDonald's Gold Card was given to him by the owner of McDonald's chains in Santa Barbara and Goleta, California. Lowe can only use the card at these locations.
According to the Business Insider, Lowe's McDonald's Gold Card came from David Peterson, Lowe's friend whose father created the McMuffin, Lowe's friend is now a McDonald's franchisee himself, which is why he was able to give Lowe his card.
Herb Peterson, who passed away in 2008, was apparently became a fast food legend after he invented the first Egg McMuffin in 1972 The debut of the product took place at the Santa Barbara McDonald's that he co-owned with son David, who was vice president at D'Arcy Advertising at the time, eventually became a franchisee and operator of six McDonald's locations.
Local news station KEYT reported that earlier this year, David's McDonald's locations became some of the first to launch "taste-crafted" sandwiches. As such, he was also given the authority to hand out McDonald's Gold Cards at his own locations. Lowe isn't the only high-profile person to receive the card, but he is the first one to make his public.
The fame factor is subjective when getting a McDonald's Gold Card. McDonald's franchisees in the U.S. appear to hand out the local heroes their own version of the "Gold Card."
People who were awarded with the McDonald's Gold Card include:
- Larry Crandell
According to SantaBarbara.com, Peterson gave him a card for his 90th birthday. Crandell's get free food at McDonald's for life. He became somewhat of a celebrity in Santa Barbara after raising millions of dollars for the community when he was a volunteer and expert emcee.
- Warren Buffett
Buffet told CNBC his McDonald's Gold Card only applies in Omaha.
In May 2013, Ramsay rescued three kidnapped women and left his half-eaten Big Mac. His McDonald's Gold Card, which lasted for a year and applied to all U.S. locations. However, his card allows him free food in Ohio locations for the rest of his life.
- Andrew Hammond
The Ottawa Senators goalie, also nicknamed the Hamburglar, received his McDonald's Gold Card in March from an Ottawa franchisee who was the father of his former coach.
There have also been cases where a McDonald's Gold Card, that applies to any McDonald's branch in the world, was given completely for free, but they are only two.
This includes Mitt Romney's father. In a 2012 campaign trail, Romney said his father had a "little pink card" that gives him free McDonald's for life. According to McDonald's, founder Ray Kroc gave Romney the card for an unknown reason. The company did note that Kroc had been fond of giving out Lifetime "Be Our Guest" cards to various people throughout the years.
McDonald's also said that another bona fide McDonald's Gold Card holder is Bill Gates. Warren Buffett said that Gates' card applies worldwide.
While it may seem like a huge feat before an ordinary person can acquire the McDonald's Gold Card, they are still real, and there's always a chance that a franchisee would give them out to you.
