The McDonald’s Gold Card Is Real, But Very Few People Have It
A McDonald’s Gold Card is one of those rare perks that you might swear is a myth because very few people have ever seen one in person, but it actually exists. The card gives holders free McDonald’s meals, sometimes for decades and sometimes for life. It functions as a genuine pass for complimentary meals given to a select few, often as a personal gesture rather than a corporate promotion. According to confirmed reports, only a few people have the card: Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Regis Philbin, Larry Crandell, Charles Ramsay, Rob Lowe, and George Romney. For one of them, it’s a pass that works anywhere in the world.
How The Gold Card Became McDonald’s Rarest Perk
The Gold Card dates back to the early days of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc, who occasionally gave lifetime “Be Our Guest” cards to friends and business associates. These cards served as open invitations for free food at any time. Over the years, that small tradition evolved into what is now called the McDonald’s Gold Card.
The company has never disclosed exactly how many exist. In 2007, Warren Buffett revealed during a CNBC interview that it allows him to eat for free at any McDonald’s in Omaha, Nebraska, for life. Bill Gates confirmed years later in a TikTok video with chef Nick DiGiovanni that he also has one card that is valid worldwide.
He mentioned that McDonald’s sent him the card shortly after Buffett received his and added that he seldom uses it since he prefers to pay for his meals.
Who Else Has Ever Held One
Other famous names have received local or temporary Gold Cards. In 2015, Rob Lowe showed his on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and explained that it was a gift from David Peterson, son of Herb Peterson, the inventor of the Egg McMuffin. Lowe’s card granted him free meals at restaurants in Santa Barbara and Goleta, California, until it expired in 2016.
The late Regis Philbin also owned one, given in the 1990s after he appeared in a McDonald’s advertisement. His card provided lifetime free meals, though it was limited to specific locations.
Franchise owners have been known to issue similar cards to local figures or celebrities. For example, Larry Crandell, a well-known community fundraiser in Santa Barbara, was awarded a Gold Card on his 90th birthday by David Peterson.
In Ohio, Charles Ramsey—the man who helped rescue three kidnapped women in 2013—received free McDonald’s for life at local restaurants as thanks for his heroism.
That same year, Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond, nicknamed “The Hamburglar,” was given a lifetime Gold Card by a local franchisee in Ottawa, Canada, who happened to be his former coach’s father. Even earlier, George Romney, father of politician Mitt Romney, held a pink “Be Our Guest” card personally gifted by McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc.
In 2022, McDonald’s tapped into public curiosity about the Gold Card for a holiday promotion by allowing contest winners to receive two free meals a week for 50 years. It was a playful nod to the legend, but didn’t carry the same lifetime privileges as the original cards held by Gates and Buffett.
The Reality Behind The Myth
Image via Canva/dimaberlinphotos
Whenever the topic of the Gold Card resurfaces, people have strong opinions. Some find it amusing, while others question why the wealthiest people receive free food. Social media reactions to Gates’s recent confirmation included comments like “the less you need the money, the more things are free.”
Both Gates and Buffett have said the card is more of a novelty than a necessity. Buffett once joked that his family has Christmas dinner at McDonald’s, while Gates said he rarely uses his card at all.
The McDonald’s Gold Card can’t be earned or bought. Official versions today mention two free meals a week for 50 years, but the original lifetime cards owned by Gates and Buffett—one local, one global—are unmatched in their exclusivity. For everyone else, free fries remains a fantasy, and the drive-thru window still ends with a total on the screen.