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Don Gorske

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Don Gorske
Gorske in 2006
Born1953 or 1954 (age 70–71)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
OccupationRetired correctional officer
Known forRecord holder of having eaten the most Big Macs
Spouse
Mary Gorske
​
(m. 1976)​
Children1

Don Gorske (born 1953 or 1954)[1] is an American world record holder known as the "ultimate Big Mac fan," having eaten over 34,128[2] such hamburgers from the U.S. fast food chain McDonald's in his lifetime (as of March 2024), earning him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.[1][3] A resident of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Gorske claims the Big Mac constitutes 90–95% of his total solid food intake. He is featured in the documentaries Super Size Me (2004) and Don Gorske: Mac Daddy (2005), and is the author of 22,477 Big Macs (2008).

Diet

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Gorske claims that after getting his first car, the first place he went to was the McDonald's on Military Road in his hometown of Fond du Lac on May 17, 1972.[4][5] He purchased and ate three Big Macs at lunchtime. He returned two more times to consume nine Big Macs the same day he discovered the burger. He further claims to have eaten 265 Big Macs the following month, an average of 8.5 Big Macs daily. If true, this would equal over 4,600 calories and 247 grams of fat daily, for 143,100 calories and 16.9 pounds (7.7 kg) of fat in one month. He also claims to drink almost nothing but Coca-Cola and, according to Super Size Me, he rarely eats the fries. At first, Don kept all the boxes of Big Macs he ate in the back of his car. In addition, he has a statue of Ronald McDonald in his yard. Gorske had a single Burger King Whopper sandwich in 1984 and never ate one again. Gorske tried the Whopper after his friend bet him $5 to do so, later spending the winnings on Big Macs.

In 2003, Gorske ate 741 Big Macs, an average of 2.03 Big Macs daily. Gorske is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 185 pounds (84 kg), and claims a cholesterol level of 140. Daily consumption of two Big Macs amounts to 1,080 calories, according to McDonald's published nutritional information,[6] compared to the USDA recommendation of 2,200 calories per day.[7] Gorske consumes mainly calorie-rich food, but he maintains a stable weight by consuming fewer calories daily than the average American. He says his taste buds have always fluctuated in sensitivity, so he often eats a Big Mac without being able to taste it.[8]

Gorske commented in 2008 that his obsessive–compulsive disorder is what fuels his love of Big Macs, noting he also records when and where he eats his Big Macs in a notebook he always carries and that he has kept every burger receipt in a box full.[4]

On May 17, 2011, Gorske ate his 25,000th Big Mac at his favorite McDonald's restaurant in Fond du Lac.[9] On his birthdays, he puts candles in a Big Mac like a cake, and when Christmas time comes around, he treats himself to more Big Macs while his family has more traditional Christmas food. He claims that since he ate his first Big Mac, there have only been eight days on which he did not eat a single Big Mac. One of these days was when his mother died, and he did not eat a Big Mac to respect her request.[4] Other days included a "snow day" when McDonald's was unable to open due to snow, a Thanksgiving, days he was traveling and could not find a McDonald's, and various days Gorske had to stay at work past midnight. Gorske has since started keeping an "emergency stash" of Big Macs in his freezer for emergencies and snow days.[10]

Gorske ate his 30,000th Big Mac on May 4, 2018.[11] On May 17, 2022, Gorske celebrated 50 years of eating Big Macs nearly every day since May 1972.[12]

By March 2024, Gorske had surpassed eating 34,000 Big Macs.[2]

Gorske claims to skip breakfast, and the only other food he eats is a small evening snack such as ice cream, a fruit bar, or potato chips. Gorske also does not order any side dishes with his Big Macs and takes half dozen mile walks daily.[13] His favorite food other than Big Macs used to be lobster, but in 2024, Gorske, said the last time he ate it was "over 28 years ago."[2]

Personal life and health

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Gorske was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin.[14] Gorske met his wife, Mary, in September 1973, and he proposed to her in the parking lot of a McDonald's three years later. Gorske ate a Big Mac before the start of their wedding ceremony.[10] The couple had a son, Gideon.[15]

Gorske was employed as a correctional officer at Waupun Correctional Institution for 25 years, retiring in May 2011.[16] Just before retirement, at his first doctor visit since 1985, his cholesterol level was 156 mg/dl, below the average of 208 mg/dl.[16]

Appearances

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He appeared in the documentary Super Size Me. In the DVD extras for the film, it is revealed he works as a correctional officer. He also makes a cameo appearance in cartoon form in the film.

In 2006, Gorske appeared as a contestant on the game show I've Got a Secret. Celebrity panelist Billy Bean guessed the Big Mac as Gorske's food of choice.

On May 25, 2009, Gorske was featured on The Rachael Ray Show.

To celebrate eating his 25,000th Big Mac, he appeared on The Kyle & Jackie O Show on May 20, 2011, and Lopez Tonight on May 23, 2011.[17]

The Netflix series History 101 featured Gorske to start its 2020 episode examining fast food.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fond du Lac's Don Gorske eats milestone 30,000th Big Mac". Fond du Lac Reporter. May 6, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018. ...said Gorske, a 64-year-old retired prison guard.
  2. ^ a b c Atwal, Sanj (February 29, 2024). "70-year-old Don Gorske extends record after eating 34,000th Big Mac". guinessworldrecords.com. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "Most Big Mac® burgers eaten in a lifetime". Guinness World Records. December 31, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Man says he's eaten 23,000 Big Macs since 1972". Associated Press. September 9, 2008. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  5. ^ Roznik, Sharon (December 8, 2016). "Don Gorske gobbles 29,000th Big Mac". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  6. ^ "McDonald's USA Nutrition Information". Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2008.
  7. ^ FoodReview, Winter 2002, Volume 25, Issue 3 Archived 2007-01-03 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Plummer, Russell (May 16, 2011). "Fond du Lac man prepares to eat 25,000th Big Mac". Gannett Wisconsin Media. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011.
  9. ^ "Man eats 25,000th Big Mac, 39 years after his 1st". USA Today. May 21, 2011.
  10. ^ a b "A BIG, Big Mac habit". CNN. May 20, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  11. ^ Roznik, Sharon (May 4, 2018). "Fond du Lac's Don Gorske eats milestone 30,000th Big Mac". Action Reporter Media (USA Today Network). Wisconsin. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  12. ^ Suggitt, Connie (May 18, 2022). "Man celebrates 50 years of eating a Big Mac every day". Guinness World Records. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "US man extends record for most Big Macs eaten in a lifetime to over 34,000 | Wisconsin | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Nelson, Joe (May 5, 2018). "Wisconsin man sets world record for Big Macs eaten in a lifetime". Bring Me the News. Edina, Minnesota. Retrieved May 27, 2024. Gorske, 62, was born in Green Bay and currently lives in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
  15. ^ Phelps, Nathan (May 17, 2022). "50 years of Big Macs: Wisconsin man keeps his fast food streak strong". Fond du Lac, Wisconsin: Spectrum News 1. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Plummer, Russell (November 5, 2011). "Fond du Lac's Big Mac man expected to hit 25,000 milestone today". The Reporter. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  17. ^ Gorske, Don (May 20, 2011). "The Kyle & Jackie O Show". Today Network (Interview). Interviewed by Kyle & Jackie O. Sydney, Australia: 2DayFM.
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