The Man Who Has The World Record For Eating Big Macs Is Still Going Strong

It’s been nearly a quarter of a century since 70-year-old Don Gorske first got his name in the Guiness Book of World Records for a rather unusual feat. He’d eaten more McDonald’s Big Macs than anyone else … and he isn’t resting on his laurels

34,000 and counting

When Gorske first started pursuing his fast-food passion, he ate as many as nine of the double-decker burgers daily. More recently, he’s cut down quite a bit, but still eats one for lunch and one for dinner.

Here’s what his ongoing record looks like:

• He’s already passed the 34,000 mark
• Last year alone, he added 728 to his total
• He keeps all the receipts and boxes

After eating his first Big Mac more than 50 years ago, Gorske knew he’d found his ideal meal and immediately started keeping track of how many he consumed.

“In that moment, I said, ‘I’m going to probably eat these for the rest of my life,’” he recalled. “I threw the cartons in the back seat and started counting them from day one.”

Defying the odds

You might be thinking that his unorthodox diet doesn’t sound very healthy. And Gorske has heard it all before.

“Many people thought I’d be dead by now,” he explained. “But instead, I’ve been a record holder for my 24th year — one of Guinness World Records’ longer-running record holders, so that’s pretty cool to me.”

Each burger packs a whopping 590 calories and is packed with fat, so experts don’t recommend following his lead. Nevertheless, Gorske says he doesn’t eat much besides the burgers (not even McDonald’s legendary fries!) and walks six miles a day to help maintain his health.

Chris Agee March 4th, 2024

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