| Name: | Jimmy John Liautaud |
| Net Worth: | $ 1.7 billion |
| Source of Wealth: | Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich |
| Born: | January 12, 1964 |
| Country: | USA |
| Spouse: | Leslie Liautaud |
| Children: | Spencer Liautaud, Lucy Liautaud, Freddy Liautaud |
| Residence: | Chigaco, Illinois, USA |
| Private Jet: | Bombardier Global 5000 (N83JJ, N83FF) |
| Yacht | Rock It |
He is the founder of Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches. It is a franchised sandwich restaurant chain. He was born in January 1964. He is married to Leslie, they have 3 children (Spencer, Lucy, and Freddy). He opened the doors to his first sub shop in Charleston in 1983 after graduating high school.
With a US$ 25,000 loan from his father he first planned to open a hot dog stand. He found out that he needed US$ 45.000. This was exceeding his budget.
He walked into a sandwich shop and saw only a refrigerator, a meat slicer, an oven, and a cash register. He decided to switch to sandwiches. In a few year’s time, he opened additional shops and began franchising in 1994.
In 2002 Jimmy John’s had 160 stores open. The 500th Jimmy John’s opened in 2007, the 1,000th in 2010. And in 2016 Jimmy John’s reached 2,500 stores. He is planning to open another 1,300 restaurants. Read his interesting story here.
The franchise shops pay 6% of their sales in royalties. And 4.5% in advertising fees as franchise cost to Jimmy John’s Franchise. The initial investment to become a franchisee is around US$ 350k. Of which US$ 30k as an initial fee. More info here.
In 2016 Liautaud sold a majority share in the company to Roark Capital. Jimmy still owns 35%.
The company Jimmy John’s realizes an estimated US$ 1.3 billion in annual sales. With earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization of about US$ 150 million annually.
In October 2015 plans for an initial public offering –
He is an active philanthropist donating time and money to Folds of Honor Foundation, Dental Clinics, and schools. And many other Community Organizations. In 2016 the Liautaud Family Foundation was founded. Which donated US$ 200,000 to a nursery for families in crisis.
Liautaud is a car collector who owns 7 Ferraris. He also owns the rare LaFerrari. He drives with a license plate that reads “SUBDUDE”.
In 2015 Liautaud became under fire. As photos showed up on Twitter of him posing with dead big game animals. Such as a rhinoceros, a leopard, and elephants. However, he quickly explained that these photos were more than 10 years old. And that he stopped hunting on big African Game.
His wife Leslie Liautaud is an author. She has written several novels and thrillers. Such a BLACK BEAR LAKE (2014). And the psychological thriller BUTTERFLY PINNED (2017).
10 Facts about James John Liautaud
you probably didn’t know
1 He planned to open a hot-dog stand but the investments were too high.
2 He switched to sandwiches with just a refrigerator, a meat slicer, an oven.
3 He started in 1983 and began franchising in 1994.
4 There are now 2,500 Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich shops.
5 In 2016 he sold a majority share to Roark Capital.
6 His net worth is now US$ 1.7 billion.
7 His yacht was delivered in 2014 by Dutch builder Feadship.
8 The yacht’s name is a reference to the Jimmy John work ethics: rock it!
9 His yacht is listed for sale as he is building a larger yacht.
10 He owns at least 3 private jets: N83FF, N15UB, 215UB, and a helicopter N83JJ.
Liautaud was born in Illinois. He owns a relatively modest house there. He also owns a house in Chicago. He and his wife Leslie also own a summer house in Key Largo, Florida.
He is owner of the yacht Rock It
He owns several private jets. A 2009 Lear Jet with registration N25UB (‘5UB’ referring to SUB for Sub Sandwich). A 2014 Lear Jet with registration N15UB. A 2014 Bombardier Global 5000 BD700 private jet. With registration N83FF. The 83 is relating to the founding of JJs in 1983 and FF to the Freaky Fast delivery.
A Bombardier Global 5000 –
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