As the undisputed titan of the global fast-food industry, McDonald's continues to dominate the leaderboard in 2026. Not only is it the only giant in the sector to surpass the $100 billion annual revenue mark, but its earnings are more than double those of its closest competitor.

Interestingly, while McDonald's menu is globally standardized, its business model has long shifted from merely 'selling burgers' to 'selling real estate.' By relying on rent from its thousands of franchised locations, it has effectively become one of the largest property operators in the world. This massive revenue gap highlights a fundamental truth in the fast-food industry: economies of scale are everything. McDonald's continues to fortify its impenetrable market moat by selling over 75 burgers every single second across the globe.