Don Gorske
American Big Mac enthusiast
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Donald Gorske[1] (born 1953 or 1954)[2] is an American man who holds the Guinness world record for having eaten the most McDonald's Big Mac hamburgers, at over 35,000.[2][3]
1953 or 1954 (age 72–73)
Don Gorske | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donald Gorske 1953 or 1954 (age 72–73) Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Occupation | Corrections officer |
| Known for | Record holder of having eaten the most Big Macs |
| Spouse |
Mary (m. 1976) |
| Children | 1 |
Big Macs
On May 17, 1972, after getting his first car, Gorske visited the McDonald's on Military Road in his hometown of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, eating 5 Big Macs that day.[4][5] He has eaten a Big Mac almost every day since then,[6] eating his 25,000th Big Mac in 2011,[7] his 30,000th in 2018,[8] and his 35,000th in 2025.[9] He has missed eight days in that span due to bad weather, work and family obligations, and consequently keeps a home stash of frozen Big Macs for emergencies.[10] "I love Big Macs so much I'll keep eating them until I die," he said in 2018. "If I live as long as my dad I'll pass 40,000."[11] His favorite food other than Big Macs used to be lobster, but in 2024, Gorske said the last time he ate it was "over 28 years ago."[12] As of March 2024, he has eaten a Big Mac at every MLB ballpark, NFL stadium, and NASCAR stadium.[1]
Gorske entered the public eye due to his appearance in Morgan Spurlock's 2004 film Super Size Me, which explored the negative consequences of fast food.[11]
Health
A 2018 profile listed Gorske as 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg), with a below-average cholesterol level.[11] He says he maintains a stable weight by consuming fewer calories than the average American, skipping breakfast, and walking 6 miles (9.7 km) daily.[13][14] Aside from Big Macs, the only other food he eats is a small evening snack such as ice cream, fruit bars, or potato chips.[13] He attributes his Big Mac devotion to obsessive–compulsive disorder, noting that he catalogs all his McDonald's receipts and keeps a detailed log of all Big Macs eaten.[4]
Personal life
Gorske was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin.[15] He met his wife Mary in 1973, later proposing to her in a McDonald's parking lot in 1976 and eating a Big Mac before the start of their wedding that December.[10] The couple has a son together.[16]
Gorske was employed as a corrections officer at Waupun Correctional Institution for 25 years before retiring in 2011.[17]