People become billionaires through different businesses, but everyone starts small. No one succeeds in achieving a fortune in a day or two. It takes years and even decades to become a billionaire. Plus, the amount of hard work and risk people take can’t be counted. It’s a difficult process, and very few people have succeeded in achieving this. Some people become billionaires through construction businesses, while others become billionaires through IT Companies. Some people run multiple companies and their combined income makes them a billionaire, while others depend on a single company and achieve outstanding figures. Our article covers a man who became a billionaire through a single business. This man established a strong foothold in the restaurant industry and made wonders.
The person we’re gonna talk about in our article is Zach McLeroy. This man ran a business in the restaurant industry and became a billionaire after 3 decades of hard work. Zach McLeroy’s journey is worth reading. We’ll write a comprehensive essay on how this man achieved a fortune. At Hakkak Pedia, you’ll discover everything about Zach McLeroy’s Biography, Early Life, Career, Net Worth, Personal Life, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, etc. This will be a detailed article. Therefore, please begin reading because we will reveal some interesting information about Zach McLeroy, and that information will excite you internally. Let’s begin.
Who is Zach McLeroy?
We gave a small introduction of Zach McLeroy, but we will provide a comprehensive summary of this man. Zach McLeroy is an American Businessman and Entrepreneur who was born on August 1, 1962, in Athens, Georgia, USA. He is the Founder of Zaxby’s and the Former CEO of this company. Today, he serves as Zaxby’s Chairman, but he remained in the CEO position for 32 years. Zach McLeroy Founded Zaxby’s in 1990 in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Before this, he was an average individual who came into this world and was sent to school by his parents. He was in the 7th grade when he met Tony Townley (Zaxby’s Co-Founder and Former Chief Strategy Officer) and became friends with him. He completed his primary education at a high school and went to the University of Georgia to complete his graduation. He got a Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia and began his career in 1990. He made a name for himself in the restaurant industry after completing his studies. Today, Zach McLeroy is a billionaire with some outstanding wealth figures. We’ll write a comprehensive essay on this man’s career afterward. We gave you a brief introduction about this man. Let’s continue further.
Zach McLeroy’s Net Worth
| Net Worth | $1 Billion |
| Profession | Businessman & Entrepreneur |
Zach McLeroy’s Biography
| Full Name | Zach McLeroy |
| Date of Birth | August 1, 1962 |
| Birthplace | Athens, Georgia, USA |
| Age | 64 Years (As of 2026) |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Wife | Carol Ann (Former) |
| Kids | 3 (Hudson McLeroy) |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
Career
Zach McLeroy’s professional journey began in 1990. He completed his education and stepped into the competitive world of business. He had zero wealth figures when he started his business, but he succeeded in creating a history in the restaurant industry by becoming a billionaire. Reaching this position is hard, and everyone on this earth wants to achieve it, but nobody is willing to put in the immense efforts and resilience. However, Zach McLeroy put in vast efforts and showed resilience in his work. The reward he got is $1 billion. That’s a considerable number, and not everyone can achieve this. This man succeeded in achieving it, but how? That’s a big journey on which we will brief you now. We’ll begin from 1990 and brief you till the end. The information we will share with you is well-researched and accurate. We’ll describe his path gracefully and intensely. Therefore, please give us a thumbs up because we’re about to reveal everything about Zach McLeroy’s Career.
The Musician Dream
Most people say that Zach McLeroy began his career by working in the restaurant industry, but that’s wrong because Zach McLeroy wanted to become a successful musician. He practiced a little bit, but gave up because his interest in becoming a businessman prompted him to leave this work and try his luck at it. Therefore, Zach McLeroy abandoned the process and started to think about what business he should step into. The business selection wasn’t yet done. He had yet to decide about the industry. He had decided that he would become a successful businessman, but the industry he wanted to pick was still unexplored. Finally, he decided to put his foot in the restaurant industry.
Beginning The Work in The Restaurant Industry
Zach McLeroy didn’t found Zaxby’s after quitting his musical journey. He started his work in this industry to discover its potential and understand its whereabouts. You can’t step into any industry when you don’t know the working process. Zach McLeroy was clever. He didn’t invest his money straight away, but started his work as a regular worker to understand the ups and downs. He spent some time in this work as a regular worker and learned a lot from this. Finally, in 1990, Zach McLeroy came into the position to start his own startup. Most websites have written that Zach McLeroy began his business in 1990, but no one has shared that this man wanted to become a musician before that. After quitting the musical journey, Zach McLeroy stepped into the restaurant industry. He spent some time working as a regular worker and finally came into a position to start his own startup in this industry. Afterward, he founded Zaxby’s and began his work in this industry. What happened next is worth reading because wonderful events started to occur in Zach McLeroy’s Career when he began in 1990. The real journey starts right now. Therefore, please keep reading because we’ll be sharing the starting point of this man’s career.
Launching Zaxby’s (1990)
Zach McLeroy decided to step into the restaurant industry in 1990. He spent some time researching and finding the brand’s name. Zaxby’s name seemed to be the perfect fit for him after a few days of research. Therefore, Zach McLeroy decided on Zaxby’s as the final name for his brand. This was the word nobody knew in 1990, but Zach McLeroy was ready to put in every effort to make this brand successful. Zach McLeroy had no money when he started his brand. He sold his musical instrument for $8000 and invested that money in launching Zaxby’s. He wasn’t alone. His friend from the 7th grade was with him. Town Townley was his name, and these 2 friends launched Zaxby’s in 1990 in Statesboro, Georgia.
The purpose of launching this brand was to provide people with Chicken Fingers, French Fries, and Texas Toast. Multiple other hotels and restaurants offered these luxuries, and Zaxby’s entered the competition after 1990. The first branch of this label was established in March 1990, in Statesboro, Georgia. The location that seemed perfect to Zach McLeroy and Town Townley was near the Georgia Southern University Campus. Zach McLeroy’s professional journey began with zero wealth figures. He had no money to launch his brand. Therefore, he sold his musical instruments for $8000 and invested that money in the launch. He trusted his friend and the 2 of them entered the competitive industry with full effort. Zaxby’s didn’t compromise on quality. The products this brand delivered were outstanding, and people were surprised by the delicious items it provided. This journey lasted 4 years, and they succeeded in making their name known in some of Georgia’s most famous cities. Zaxby’s earned widespread acclaim for its delicious food. People not only ate Zaxby’s products, but also recommended them to others. This was making Zach McLeroy’s brand famous.
Opening a Franchise in Kentucky (1994)
Zach McLeroy and Town Townley worked hard for 4 years and put in immense efforts to make their business successful. They had achieved some success over the past 4 years and gained positive outcomes from their efforts. They succeeded in making Zaxby’s name famous in Georgia, but covering a single state wasn’t enough. They wanted to make Zaxby’s more famous by opening locations in other states in the USA. This time, they picked Kentucky and opened a branch there. The city they chose was Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. In 1994, they opened a branch to expand their business into other states. Fortunately, they succeeded in establishing a strong foothold in Kentucky because they had already worked in this industry for 4 years. They had earned enough experience after working in this industry. Satisfying their clients and marketing their products was easier for them. Plus, they never compromised on quality. Hence, the marketing became easier because customers recommended their products to others.
This chain grew, and Zaxby’s name came into the spotlight for its outstanding food. Zach McLeroy’s and Town Townley’s work in Kentucky continued for a long time. They entered Kentucky in 1994 while continuing their work in Georgia. Zaxby’s business in these 2 states grew like a racehorse because it delivered high-quality food to its customers. Zaxby’s succeeded in opening multiple branches in Georgia and Kentucky. People who loved fast food were recommending Zaxby’s items to others. This not only made Zaxby’s famous but also grew Zach McLeroy’s Net Worth. They stayed in these 2 states until 2013, but they decided to expand their business into other states in the USA after establishing a strong foothold in Georgia and Kentucky. Zaxby’s entered the market in 1990 and remained in Georgia and Kentucky until 2013. However, Zach McLeroy and Town Townley decided to cover areas outside of the Southeastern United States. Hence, they decided to set up their operation in Utah.
Moving To Utah (2013)
Zach McLeroy and Town Townley decided to set up their operation in Utah in 2013. They had achieved outstanding figures by operating in Georgia and Kentucky, but moving to Utah proved helpful because they achieved massive appreciation for doing this. In 2013, they opened multiple branches across Utah. This business had helped these 2 people generate outstanding income. Therefore, opening multiple branches in Utah was easy for them because they were in a strong position. Numerous other investors approached them for franchises because the results were outstanding. They were offering franchises to them. Doing this helped them open countless branches in Utah. Zaxby’s name became famous in multiple cities in Georgia, Kentucky, and Utah. Covering 3 states isn’t a walk in the park, but Zach McLeroy made his brand’s name famous across 3 states. Doing this was helping him earn a massive amount of money. This process continued smoothly, and Zach McLeroy adopted new marketing strategies to make his brand more famous. What happened next is even more interesting. Therefore, please keep reading.
Offering Sponorships (2015)
In 2015, Town Townley, the Former Chief Strategist, decided to offer sponsorships to students studying in schools, colleges, and universities. This marketing strategy wasn’t seeming perfect because Zaxby’s wasn’t offering sponsorships to big teams, including Real Madrid and Manchester United. They were offering sponsorships to small teams of students in school, college, and university teams. Students who actively participated in sports at their schools, colleges, and universities were getting sponsored. However, big teams weren’t getting sponsored. This strategy seemed not to work, but it worked 100% fine and delivered more than expected. Zaxby’s distributed an unlimited number of shirts to students at schools, colleges, and universities. The sports they picked were basketball and football. This marketing strategy helped Zaxby’s gain fame, and the finance board saw a drastic increase in revenue.
IMG College helped Zaxby’s secure these sponsorships, and Zaxby’s succeeded in spreading its brand name across different states in the USA. Zaxby’s didn’t just make agreements with various colleges. Its contract with Clemson University helped it gain more prominence. This university offered shirts to its male and female basketball and football teams. Zaxby’s sponsored the Heart of Dallas Bowl, which is played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. This brand selected athletes from various sports, including Joey Clanton and John Wes Townley. Joey Clanton is an American Race Car Driver, and John Wes Townley was a former American Professional Stock Car Racing Driver. Sponsoring these 2 big names isn’t a walk in the park. It requires extraordinary effort and unlimited cash to sponsor an athlete who performs outstandingly well at the NASCAR Truck Series. Zaxby’s sponsored multiple other athletes in different sports, which helped the brand gain prominence. This marketing strategy put Zaxby’s in a strong position, as the brand had earned widespread appreciation. Zach McLeroy remained a winner because he succeeded in packing more figures into his Net Worth. He became a billionaire after this venture ended.
Selling Shares To Goldman Sachs (2020)
In 2020, Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley decided to sell their shares to Goldman Sachs, a well-known American multinational investment bank. Tony Townley sold his entire stake to this firm and had his name removed from Zaxby’s. However, Zach McLeroy sold 20% of his shares, but was paid $400 million. He still owns 30% of the business, but this was Zach McLeroy’s highest payday because getting paid $400 million in a single day isn’t possible for everyone. Lucky people see this day in their lives, and Zach McLeroy was one of the few who did. This deal helped Zach McLeroy add $400 million to his Net Worth. This made him a super-rich man, but he didn’t become a billionaire in 2020. His struggle continued until he became a billionaire.
Stepping Down From The CEO Position (2022)
Zach McLeroy stepped down as CEO in 2022. Bernard Acoca took this position, whereas Zach McLeroy became Zaxby’s Chairman. He still owned a significant share in this thriving business, but stepping down as CEO and becoming a Chairman didn’t seem like the right decision. However, this decision proved helpful, as the new CEO, Bernard Acoca, achieved massive success. Zach McLeroy had a 30% share in this business. Hence, the new CEO’s achievements helped Zach McLeroy on his billionaire journey. The work continued under the supervision of Bernard Acoca, and this man benefited from it.
Opening a Store in Cambridge (2024)
Zaxby’s opened a store in Cambridge, Maryland, in 2024 under the supervision of Bernard Acoca. This brand had established a name for itself in Georgia, Kentucky, and Utah. It had opened its branches in 941 different locations. This number, 941, seems simple to read, but expanding your business into 941 places across the USA isn’t easy. It’s impossible for millions of people, but Zach McLeroy succeeded. He expanded his business to 941 locations across various cities in the USA. He stepped down as the CEO in 2022, but Bernard Acoca continued the work, and big things happened in 2024. In 2024, this brand opened a store in Cambridge, Maryland, USA. The number of locations after Zaxby’s took its first steps in Maryland rose to 970. The increase in locations helped Zach McLeroy deposit more wealth into his bank accounts. Finally, the day came when this man became a billionaire. This man became a billionaire on which day? It’s a mystery that we will uncover right now.
Becoming a Billionaire (2025)
Zach McLeroy became a billionaire on April 1, 2025. It means it took him 35 years to become a billionaire. Earning this achievement was hard, but this man succeeded. However, he gave 35 years of his life to achieve this milestone. Most people quickly give up, but this man continued his work despite facing ups and downs. Zaxby’s opened 941 branches under the supervision of Zach McLeroy. This was a considerable number, but achieving this number seems impossible to everyone. However, this man successfully achieved this figure. Today, people consider Zach McLeroy a role model for his phenomenal achievements. Everyone wants to read this man’s story because it’s worth reading. He started with $8000 and became a billionaire. That sounds impossible, but you might not think so after reading our article. We’ve given you the complete career direction of your role model. I think you enjoyed reading it.
That’s how Zach McLeroy’s Net Worth reached $1 billion. Earning this figure wasn’t easy. He spent 35 years of his life and succeeded at 63. Today, this man needs no introduction because people like him don’t need to introduce themselves. Such people have fans, and fans are responsible for presenting their role models to others. Zach McLeroy actively participates in philanthropic work, but it isn’t tied to his career. We’ve given detailed information about his career. Hopefully, you have enjoyed reading his journey.
Personal Life
Zach McLeroy married Carol Ann, but he parted ways with his wife. He has 3 kids. We’ve tried hard to find information about his kids, but we’ve only found details about 1 of them. Hudson McLeroy is Zach McLeroy’s son. We know this boy because he was in a relationship with Ariana Biermann. We were unable to find information about his 2 kids. We’ll show up with their names if we find information about them.
Conclusion
This was a detailed article about Zach McLeroy. We’ve covered everything about this man. The explanation that took time was Zach McLeroy’s Career. This man started with $8000 and became a billionaire. That’s an outstanding achievement that very few people succeed in. That’s all for now. I hope you have enjoyed reading our detailed article on this man. We’ve worked hard to discover the best information and share it with you. Therefore, please praise us for our hard work. Thanks for visiting our website. Take Care and Stay Healthy!