Featured Image Credit: Joe Raedle / Staff / Getty
When it comes to tech industry leaders and their own products, there's often a surprising disconnect between what they sell and what they consume.
Tech titans like Microsoft founder Bill Gates, late Apple CEO Steve Jobs, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai famously don't encourage unlimited device use for their own children.
In fact, some leaders like Mark Cuban install special routers in the house that allow him to monitor when his children are using the internet.
However, in the fast-food world, the situation is quite different.
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In a recent post on Instagram, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said he’s been asked how often he eats at the iconic fast-food chain.
“I would tell you it’s a lot, probably three or four times a week,” he said. “Sometimes it might be a breakfast. Sometimes it might be a lunch. But hey, one of the perks of the job—you get to eat at McDonald’s a lot.”
To be fair, Kempczinski has found ways to maintain his fitness despite his frequent McDonald's consumption.
In October 2021, he published a LinkedIn post titled 'My Marathon Motivation: Supporting Others in Times of Need,' in which he discussed his long history of running marathons since he was 22.
Kempczinski became CEO of McDonald's in November 2019, replacing former CEO Steve Easterbrook following an executive shake-up.
Since taking over, Kempczinski's leadership has been tested by a series of economic crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic, to years of inflation and, now, more financially-conscious customers.
McDonald's has rolled out various promotions specifically targeting lower-income customers who've been priced out of regular visits. The most notable example is the $5 meal deal, a 2024 introduction that proved successful heading into 2025.
Earlier this year, the company also reduced prices on combo meals after customers complained they'd become too expensive.
Kempczinski acknowledged the issue during an earnings call, saying: "You’re seeing combo meals priced over $10, and that absolutely is negatively shaping value perceptions.”
He added: “Particularly with middle- and lower-income consumers, they’re feeling under a lot of pressure right now. There’s a lot of commentary around, ‘What’s the state of the economy, how’s it doing right now?’ And what we see is, it’s really kind of a two-tier economy.
"If you’re upper-income, earning over $100,000, things are good […] What we see with middle- and lower-income consumers, it’s actually a different story.”
It seems sharing eating habits comes with the territory for restaurant CEOs as other industry leaders have been similarly transparent about what they order at their own establishments.
Before becoming CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol said his go-to order at Chipotle was a chicken burrito bowl with white rice, fajita veggies, pico de gallo, and 'a little' cheese. This was accompanied by a barbacoa quesadilla, chips and guacamole.
“It’s probably a little too much food for my age,” Niccol told Fortune last year. “But, you know, it’s hard to resist.”
