Raising Cane's: The Origin Story of the $22 Billion Empire

In his early 20s, Todd Graves, dismissed by banks as a naive kid with a bad idea, turned his fanatic vision for chicken fingers into Raising Cane's. Now, Graves is worth $22 billion, and with over 900 locations, Raising Cane’s is one of America's fastest-growing fast-food chains.

Join Forbes’ Senior Editor Chase Peterson-Withorn for a firsthand look at Graves’ chicken finger journey - from the original "mothership" to celebrity deals with stars like Post Malone, and how relentless hard work transformed a simple meal into a nationwide phenomenon.

00:00 The Birth Of Graves’ Billion Dollar Idea
05:48 A Best Friend, A Blood Pact And A Wild Adventure
11:37 Breaking Ground For The First Raising Cane’s
14:18 How The Chicken’s Made: A Restaurant And Kitchen Tour
19:52 Breaking [Garlic] Bread With A Billionaire
26:23 1990s Flashback: A Tour Of Graves' Apartment HQ
29:51 Hard Decisions: Graves Continues The Hustle On His Own
33:00 From Two Restaurants To 900 In Three Decades
39:38 A Treehouse Built For A Chicken King

Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2025/09/24/how-the-raising-canes-founder-built-a-22-billion-chicken-finger-empire-thats-snoop-doggs-favorite-fast-food-chain/

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