Jimmy John Liautaud
Restaurateurs

Jimmy John Liautaud Net Worth

Jimmy John Liautaud is the founder and chairman of the popular 'Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich' chain. He was born in 1964 in Arlington Heights, Illinois and had a dream of becoming an entrepreneur. After much research, he decided to set up a sandwich shop and worked hard to build up the brand name and value. His hard work paid off and the one-store sandwich shop expanded to over 2500 outlets. His brand has been highly successful, with an impressive 83% millennial brand loyalty according to YouGov BrandIndex. Jimmy John Liautaud has achieved his dream of becoming an entrepreneur and is now one of the top entrepreneurs in the world.
Jimmy John Liautaud is a member of Restaurateurs

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Founder of Jimmy John Gourment Sandwich Chain.
Birth Day January 12, 1964
Birth Place Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States, United States
Age 60 YEARS OLD
Birth Sign Aquarius
Occupation Owner of Jimmy John's Franchise, LLC
Years active 1983–present
Known for Founding Jimmy John's sandwich chain
Spouse(s) Leslie Liautaud
Parent(s) James P. Liautaud Gina Gudaityte Liautaud

💰 Net worth: $1.7 Billion (2024)

Jimmy John Liautaud, the renowned founder of the Jimmy John Gourmet Sandwich Chain in the United States, is anticipated to have a staggering net worth of $1.7 billion by 2024. With his incredible entrepreneurial skills and unwavering determination, he has successfully established a thriving business empire that has captivated sandwich enthusiasts across the nation. Known for his innovative approach to fast food and commitment to quality, Liautaud's chain has seen remarkable growth and popularity, leading to his remarkable wealth. From its humble beginnings, Jimmy John Liautaud's visionary leadership has catapulted his brand to new heights, making him a true icon in the American food industry.

Biography/Timeline

1964

Jimmy John Liautaud was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois on January 12, 1964. His Father is James Liautaud, longtime Entrepreneur, and his mother is Gina Gudaityte Liautaud. He has two brothers, Greg and Robby Liautaud, and a sister, Lara Liautaud Berry. He was born the third of four siblings. He attended Elgin Academy, a private prep school in Elgin, Illinois. During high school he became close with and was influenced by the dean of the academy, James Lyons.

1983

After Liautaud graduated from high school in 1982, his Father offered him a loan of $25,000 to open a Business on the condition that if the Business failed, he would enlist in the US Army. Although his Father wanted him to enlist, he agreed to loan him the money in exchange for a 48% stake in the Business. Initially he wanted to open a hot dog stand, but after visiting numerous such stands throughout the summer of 1982, he realized that $25,000 would not be enough for such a venture. After a chance encounter at a sandwich shop, Jimmy John realized that he could open a sandwich shop within his available budget by purchasing premium meats at a neighborhood market and baking his own bread. With the help of his family as tasters, he decided to put four types of sandwiches on his original menu. On January 13, 1983 Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches opened in Charleston, Illinois. Due to the poor location of his first store, Liautaud decided to include delivery of his sandwiches to boost sales. He began by bringing samples door-to-door to the nearby Eastern Illinois University dorms. By the end of his first year, the restaurant started making a profit. At the end of his second year, Liautaud was able to purchase his father’s share in the Business and he became Jimmy John’s owner in full. The Business continued to grow, and he was able to open his second and third shops in 1986 and 1987, respectively.

1988

In 1988, Liautaud met businessman Jamie Coulter. At the time, Coulter was a Pizza Hut Franchisee, and later became the Chairman, Founder, and CEO of Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon and other chains. Coulter helped Liautaud take his Business to the next level. In 1994 he sold his first Jimmy John’s franchise. When franchising began, Liautaud had 10 Jimmy John's stores.

2002

By 2002, the company had about 200 stores, 10% of which were corporate stores that the Jimmy John’s owner oversaw himself. Sales at the stores managed by Liautaud were outpacing the franchised stores by a wide margin. Together with his partner, and now Jimmy John’s President & CEO, James North, he visited 70 of the poorest-performing stores. After 18 months of getting the stores “back to basics” and instilling in them “some of that initial spark”, he was able to help the stores become more profitable.

2003

In 2003, he was named to Chicago’s “40 Under 40” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

2004

In 2004, he was named the Ernst & Young Food & Beverage Entrepreneur of the Year in Illinois. The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges composed of local community and Business Leaders. In the same year, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the National CEO Conference and inducted into the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization Hall of Fame.

2007

In 2007, Liautaud delivered the commencement speech at his alma mater, now known as the Liautaud-Lyons Upper School, a program of Elgin Academy.

2008

In 2008, Liautaud donated $1 million to his high school, Elgin Academy, on one condition: that the building constructed using his donation bear not only his name, but also the name of the man who had been the dean of the school when Liautaud attended: James Lyons.

2011

In 2011, Liautaud and his wife pledged $1 million toward the construction of the new Champaign County YMCA.

2012

In 2012, Liautaud was awarded the Nation’s Restaurant News Golden Chain award for outstanding accomplishments that have benefited consumers in the food industry.

2014

In July 2014, Liautaud donated $1 million to the Folds of Honor Foundation, an organization that supports the families of fallen Soldiers.

2015

Liautaud is an avid hunter and Fisherman. In an interview in 2015 with the Chicago Tribune, Liautaud said that the largest misconception about him is that people still connect him to 10-year-old photos of him posing with big game. According to Liautaud, he used to hunt big game in Africa on legally organized safaris, but he no longer does. During the interview with the Tribune, the subject made "[Liautaud's] eyes well up with tears." In 2015, his hunting prompted people to call for a boycott of his Business.

2016

In December 2016, Liautaud and his wife Leslie established the Liautaud Family Foundation in order to make donations to a variety of charitable causes. The Foundation's first donation was $200,000 to fund a building expansion for Crisis Nursery, an emergency childcare facility for families in crisis. In January 2018, Crisis Nursery announced that the Liautauds had made an additional matching grant offer of up to $100,000 to help cover an approximate $300,000 deficit from an unpaid state grant.

2017

In March 2017, he was named Franchise Times' "Dealmaker of the Year" for the deal that brought Roark Capital Group in as the company's new majority owner. Beth Ewen, FT's editor-in-chief called the deal "one of the best private equity deals of all time in the restaurant Business." In December of that year, Liautaud was chosen to receive the Horatio Alger Award for 2018. The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans recognizes people who have overcome personal challenges to achieve personal and professional success.

2018

In January 2018, Liautaud donated over $45,000 to shore up health, wellness, and fine arts initiatives at several Champaign Unit 4 schools.

2019

Liautaud is a member of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.

Some Jimmy John Liautaud images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.