McDonald's is less a hamburger chain than a franchising and real estate company. The overwhelming majority of its restaurants are run by independent operators who pay rent and royalties, giving the corporation high-margin, annuity-like revenue while franchisees carry the operating costs. The brand serves tens of millions of customers daily across more than a hundred countries, supported by heavy investment in digital ordering, delivery and its loyalty program. Consistency and scale have kept the golden arches a global habit since 1955.