{"product_id":"ray-joan-the-man-who-made-the-mcdonalds-fortune-and-the-woman-who-gave-it-all-away","title":"Ray \u0026 Joan: The Man Who Made the McDonald's Fortune and the Woman Who Gave It All Away","description":"The movie The Founder, starring Michael Keaton, focused the spotlight on Ray Kroc, the man who amassed a fortune as the chairman of McDonald’s. But what about his wife Joan, the woman who became famous for giving away his fortune? Lisa Napoli tells the fascinating story behind the historic couple.\n\nRay \u0026amp; Joan is a quintessentially American tale of corporate intrigue and private passion: a struggling Mad Men–era salesman with a vision for a fast-food franchise that would become one of the world’s most enduring brands, and a beautiful woman willing to risk her marriage and her reputation to promote controversial causes that touched her deeply.\n\nRay Kroc was peddling franchises around the country for a fledgling hamburger stand in the 1950s—McDonald’s, it was called—when he entered a St. Paul supper club and encountered a beautiful young piano player who would change his life forever. The attraction between Ray and Joan was instantaneous and instantly problematic. Yet even the fact that both were married to other people couldn’t derail their roller coaster of a romance.\n\nTo the outside world, Ray and Joan were happy, enormously rich, and giving. But privately, Joan was growing troubled over Ray’s temper and dark secret, something she was reluctant to publicly reveal. Those close to them compared their relationship to that of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. And yet, this volatility paved the way for Joan’s transformation into one of the greatest philanthropists of our time. A force in the peace movement, she produced activist films, books, and music and ultimately gave away billions of dollars, including landmark gifts to the Salvation Army and NPR.\n\nTogether, the two stories form a compelling portrait of the twentieth century: a story of big business, big love, and big giving.\u003cbr\u003eASIN: 1101984953\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: 31UIGP006DZJ_ns\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Napoli, Lisa\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact  including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Blue Vase Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43320396709949,"sku":"31UIGP006DZJ_ns","price":6.94,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/4225\/9261\/files\/1101984953-0.jpg?v=1783113039","url":"https:\/\/www.bluevasebooks.com\/products\/ray-joan-the-man-who-made-the-mcdonalds-fortune-and-the-woman-who-gave-it-all-away","provider":"Blue Vase Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}