Ray Kroc’s first wife, Ethel Fleming, and he divorced in 1961. After their divorce, Ethel led a private life and little is publicly known about her later years.
Ray Kroc, the man credited with the global expansion of McDonald’s, was married to Ethel Fleming in 1922. Their marriage lasted for almost 39 years before they parted ways. The relationship reportedly suffered due to Kroc’s unrelenting focus on his business and his long hours at work, which put a strain on their marriage. Ethel preferred a quieter life, which was increasingly at odds with Kroc’s ambitions.
After the divorce, Ethel received a settlement, which included stock in McDonald’s. However, she largely stayed out of the public eye, and there is not much information available about her life post-divorce. Ray Kroc went on to marry two more times. His second marriage was to Jane Dobbins Green, a union that also ended in divorce. His third wife was Joan Kroc, with whom he was married until his death in 1984. Joan Kroc was a philanthropist who inherited Ray’s fortune and made significant charitable contributions, including a substantial donation to the Salvation Army to build community centers across the country.
