Whether you’re a loyal Burger King customer or just an occasional visitor, these surprising facts show there’s more to this fast-food giant than meets the eye. From its humble beginnings to its global presence today, Burger King’s story is one of innovation, adaptation, and, of course, flame-broiled goodness.
Here are 12 surprising facts about the home of the Whopper that might just change the way you see those iconic blue roofs.
It Wasn’t Always Called “Burger King”
The fast-food giant we know today started as “Insta-Burger King” in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1953 by Keith Cramer and Matthew Burns. The name came from the “Insta-Broiler”, a (patented) cooking device that could produce a whopping 400 burgers per hour.
David Edgerton, who became a franchisee owner of Insta-Burger King in 1954 after taking over a Miami location, partnered with James McLamore later that year in the hopes of expanding his franchise. McLamore sold his existing restaurants to join the venture.
After the original Insta-Burger King company collapsed in 1959 due to financial mismanagement, Edgerton and McLamore purchased the company and rebranded it by simplifying the name to “Burger King”. They were able to acquire national franchising rights to the company in 1961.
The Whopper Predates McDonald’s Big Mac by Over a Decade
While many assume the Whopper was created to compete with McDonald’s Big Mac, the timeline tells a different story. This signature sandwich was introduced in 1957, a full 11 years before McDonald’s launched the Big Mac in 1968. It was rolled out by Franchisee owners James McLamore and David Edgerton while they were still operating as franchisees of Insta-Burger King.
The quarter pounder became a part of the franchisee menu for multiple reasons; It was McLamore and Edgerton’s direct response to competitors’ bigger, better-tasting burgers, a way to make their menu more expansive, and also to distinguish their franchisee from other burger joints that were open.
The Flame-Broiler Has a Violent Origin Story
The iconic flame-broiled taste that distinguishes Burger King from its competitors came from a moment of pure frustration. Co-owner David Edgerton reportedly became so irritated with the temperamental Insta-Broiler machine that he attacked it with a hatchet and vowed to create something better.
He ended up creating what came to be known as “The Flame-Broiler”, which he reportedly built in his garage, and thus was born BK’s distinctive flame-broiled flavor that everybody loves to this day.
In Australia, It’s Not Burger King at All
If you’re craving a Whopper in Australia, don’t look for a Burger King sign. Down Under, the chain operates under the name “Hungry Jack’s” due to a trademark dispute with an existing company that already owned the Burger King name in the country back in the early days of Burger King’s expansion.
The alternative name comes from one of its franchisees, Jack Cowin, who secured Burger King’s Australian rights in 1971, and chose the name “Hungry Jack’s” after a Pillsbury pancake mix brand called Hungry Jack (Pillsbury at this point owned BK) and his own first name.
Despite Burger King’s later attempts to reclaim its brand in Australia during the 1990s (after the original trademark lapsed), Hungry Jack’s prevailed in a landmark 2001 legal battle. This case centered on Burger King’s breach of contract and failure to act in good faith. The court ruled in favor of Hungry Jack’s, leading to Burger King transferring its Australian operations to Hungry Jack’s in 2002. The name has remained iconic in Australia, with 475 locations as of 2025.
There’s an Unaffiliated Burger King in Illinois
In Mattoon, Illinois, you can find a Burger King restaurant that has absolutely no connection to the global chain. This independent Burger King existed way before the franchise tried to expand into the town, and due to trademark laws, the restaurant maintains its right to use the name locally. Walking into this place and eating here must feel like stepping into a parallel universe version of the fast-food giant.
Celebrities Get Unlimited Free Food with the “Gold Card”
Here’s something that might make Burger King fans a tad jealous. Some celebrities hold what’s known as the “BK Crown Card,” which the media very appropriately calls the “Gold Card”. This super exclusive card entitles them to a lifetime of unlimited free meals at BK locations. Notable cardholders include Hugh Laurie, Jay Leno, George Lucas, Jennifer Hudson, and Robert Downey Jr.
However, only 12 people are confirmed to have received the card, all with significant ties to Burger King (e.g., brand partnerships, personal stories).
There’s an 800-Calorie Secret Menu Item Called the “Suicide Burger”
For the truly adventurous (or insatiably hungry), Burger King offers an off-menu monster called the “Suicide Burger.” This artery-challenging creation packs four burger patties, four slices of cheese, bacon, and special sauce into a single sandwich, totaling around 800 calories. It’s not officially advertised, but if you ask for it, many locations will probably make it for you.
The Chain Once Released a Meat-Scented Cologne
In one of its more unusual marketing moves, Burger King once released a cologne called “Flame” that was designed to smell like flame-broiled meat because nothing says “attractive” quite like smelling like you’ve been standing over a grill all day. Whether this move was ingenious or laughable, the fact that we’re talking about it probably accounts for something.
The cologne, launched in 2008, was marketed as “the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat” and was briefly sold for $3.99 at Ricky’s stores in New York City and online before selling out and appearing on eBay for inflated prices.
Burger King Pioneered Movie Tie-In Promotions
While movie merchandise tie-ins are commonplace today, Burger King was a pioneer in this marketing strategy. In 1977, the chain collaborated with Star Wars to sell character glasses, setting a trend that would become standard practice across the fast-food industry. This was the first time a fast-food chain partnered with a major film franchise for promotional merchandise.
The success of the campaign pretty much set the template for future fast-food/movie partnerships, such as McDonald’s later collaborations with Disney and Star Trek. Interestingly, Burger King repeated the Star Wars glass promotion for The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) films.
Burger King Serves 11 Million Customers Daily
Despite living in the shadow of McDonald’s as the “second-largest fast-food hamburger chain,” Burger King’s global reach is impressive. The chain serves approximately 11 million customers every day across its 19,000 locations in 100+ countries worldwide (and the BK website states this very explicitly). That’s a lot of Whoppers and a whole lot of burgers!
The “Burn That Ad” Campaign Let Customers Virtually Torch Competitors
In one of its boldest marketing moves, Burger King launched an augmented reality campaign in Brazil called “Burn That Ad.” Customers who used the Burger King app could point it at Mc Donald’s ads and watch them virtually burn away, revealing a coupon for a free Whopper.
The AR feature tied directly to Burger King’s flame-grilled branding, contrasting with McDonald’s flat-grill method. The campaign resulted in a 55% rise in in-app sales, with the BK Express app becoming Brazil’s most downloaded app (during the campaign), and over 400,000 competitor ads being burned. The campaign also won 9 Cannes Lions Awards, 3 CLIO Awards, and a Grand Prix at WAVE Festival.
BK Has Pulled Numerous Marketing Stunts Over the Years
If the previous items on this list are any indication, it’s not hard to guess that Burger King has developed a reputation for bold and sometimes bizarre marketing campaigns. From the fiery “Angry Whopper” to Halloween-themed black-bun burgers, the chain consistently pushes the envelope with its promotions.
More recently, BK introduced the Whopperito—a burger-burrito hybrid—that further highlights its willingness to experiment with unconventional menu items. These attention-grabbing stunts have become a hallmark of Burger King’s brand identity, ensuring we can never predict what the company will do next.