Todd Graves calls himself a fry cook and cashier. While those things might be true sometimes, the Baton Rouge, La., native and founder of Raising Cane’s is also a billionaire.
He’s so rich that Bloomberg recently named him the wealthiest man in Louisiana.
According to the Raising Cane’s website, Graves had a college dream of opening a restaurant that served only chicken finger meals. Professors and banks alike were skeptical, but he held on to his dream and worked as a boilermaker to save up money. In 1996, he opened the first location near LSU – named after his friend’s golden retriever, Raising Cane.
Over the following years, Raising Canes continued to grow. Today, it serves its chicken fingers, signature sauce and Texas toast at more than 700 locations.
Raising Cane’s has also developed a celebrity fanbase, including Courtney Cox and her daughter Coco Arquette. Rapper Post Malone also has a celebrity partnership with the brand and this Friday, Graves hinted that something might be in the works with NFL player and Taylor Swift beau Travis Kelce.
“Graves, 51, maintains an ownership interest of almost 90% in the closely held business, bond offering documents reviewed by Bloomberg show,” said the outlet. “That stake, along with dividends he’s received, are worth $7.6 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making him the richest person in Louisiana and the 307th-wealthiest in the world.”
In addition to his roles as fry cook, cashier and CEO, Graves also hosts the “Secret Sauce” show for A&E. He “meets people from all walks of life to learn about their paths to success,” on the show, according to a description.