Five Guys CEO says he paid out $1.5M bonus to staff — so he wouldn’t get shot
The CEO of fast-food chain Five Guys says he awarded employees a $1.5 million bonus after a promotion celebrating the company’s 40th anniversary did not go as planned.
Jerry Murrell, 82, who founded the burger chain four decades ago, said he decided to reward staff after the company mishandled a buy-one-get-one-free promotion that drew far more customers than expected.
Murrell said the bonus — divided among about 1,500 workers — was given out following the issues that arose during the anniversary event.
“I didn’t want anybody shooting me in the back or anything after the first day, because we really screwed it up,” Murrell said in an interview with Fortune magazine. “We had no idea that we were going to get that kind of response.”
Murrell did not elaborate on the remark, but it appeared to reference the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot outside a hotel in Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2024.
The case drew national attention after authorities arrested suspect Luigi Mangione following a manhunt. Mangione was taken into custody at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and is awaiting trial in both state and federal courts.
Murrell, whose estimated net worth exceeds $400 million, joked that he preferred giving the money to employees rather than spending it elsewhere.
“My wife still looks at me like I’m stupid,” Murrell said. “But I thought it was worth it. They worked so hard. They were so overwhelmed.”
Murrell has led Five Guys since opening the first location in Arlington, Virginia, in 1986.
The February promotion marking the company’s 40th anniversary quickly drew massive demand. Five Guys’ mobile app crashed as customers tried to claim the deal, and some restaurants ended the offer early as they struggled to keep up with the crowds. The problems sparked complaints on social media.
On Feb. 18, the company issued an apology, acknowledging the problems and thanking employees for their efforts.
“We let you down, and we’re sorry,” the company said in a statement. “You visited our restaurants in overwhelming numbers, and we weren’t ready for you. We didn’t meet our own standards, and that’s not something we take lightly. So we’re asking for a do-over.”
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