Colonel Harland Sanders - KFC, Story & Death (2024)

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Colonel Harland Sanders - KFC, Story & Death? ›

At the age of 90, the Colonel was stricken with leukemia. Until his death in 1980, he traveled 250,000 miles a year, visiting the KFC empire that he had founded. KFC remains the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain.

Colonel Sanders officially started KFC when he turned 40, back in 1930. He bought a roadside motel in Corbin, Kentucky, and started serving his southern style chicken. But Colonel Sanders didn't perfect his unique blend of 11 herbs and spices that are still used today, and still top secret, until 1939.

By branding himself as "Colonel Sanders", Harland became a prominent figure of American cultural history and his image remains widely used in KFC advertising to this day. However, the company's rapid expansion overwhelmed the aging Sanders and he sold it to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr.

KFC expanded internationally and he sold the company for two million dollars ($15.3 million today). Even today, Sanders remains central in KFC's branding and his face still appears in their logo. His goatee, white suit and western string tie continue to symbolize delicious country fried chicken all over the world.

The lawsuit claimed that Heublein prevented Sanders from franchising his new restaurant and that it was unlawfully using his image for products he didn't develop. The lawsuit was eventually settled for $1 million and the couple was allowed to keep their eatery.

In fact, holding on to a job was a struggle for the young colonel. His 20s and 30s were a string of failed jobs and unsuccessful business ventures. He had a short-lived legal career, which ended swiftly after he got into a fight with his own client. He then had a job selling insurance, but was fired from that too.

Yum Brands Inc., is a restaurant company that owns quick-service chains Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, as well as fast-casual brand The Habit Burger Grill.

Nearly 60-years-old, he would spend days at a restaurant, peddling his chicken technique, cooking for customers, and often sleeping in the back of his car. At 73, he sold KFC for $2 million. He was not a billionaire, but he lived in comfort for the remainder of his years.

The company's rapid expansion to more than 600 locations became overwhelming for the aging Sanders. In 1964, then 73 years old, he sold the Kentucky Fried Chicken corporation for $2 million ($19.6 million today) to a partnership of Kentucky businessmen headed by John Y.

KFC's original name was "Kentucky Fried Chicken." It was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1952 in North Corbin, Kentucky. The name "Kentucky Fried Chicken" was chosen to reflect the Colonel's signature style of cooking chicken, which he had perfected over many years.

Did KFC apologize for no chicken? ›

The fast-food chain used a full-page ad in British newspapers to apologize for shutting down hundreds of restaurants this week because it ran out of chicken. The bright red advertisem*nt showed an empty bucket with the chain's initials scrambled to say "FCK" on it, alongside an apology.

Accoding to a clebrity “net worth” resource, Colonel Sanders sold his company (in 1964) to investors for $2 million. And he was worth $3.5 million ($10.1 million inflation adjusted) at the time of his death in 1980.

Monosodium Glutamate, more commonly known as MSG, is a controversial ingredient and is generally considered safe for consumption. However, the customer was outraged at her discovery, taking to social media to express her displeasure, sparking many to question whether the ingredient is good for you or not.

Colonel Harland David Sanders (September 9, 1890 – December 16, 1980) was an American businessman and founder of fast food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (also known as KFC). He later acted as the company's brand ambassador and symbol. His name and image are still symbols of the company.

“I've only had two rules. Do all you can and do it the best you can.” The Colonel was undeniably a real-life example of how passion, hard work, and a commitment to quality can lead to success. This is reflected in the house rules that guide us to this day: Be Your Best Self.

Colonel Sanders Hated Kentucky Fried Chicken's Food

After franchising more than 600 locations he sold off the company in 1964, but would remain a goodwill ambassador until his death.

At the time of his death, Colonel Sanders' net worth was $3.5 million. That's the same as around $10 million today after adjusting for inflation. Perhaps not as much as you'd guess considering the fact that today KFC's annual revenue tops $23 BILLION.