Peggy Cherng

Peggy Cherng Net Worth

Peggy Cherng was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States and is the co-CEO of the $2.8 billion Chinese fast food chain Panda Express, which has nearly 2,000 locations. She and her husband Andrew opened the first Panda Express in 1983 and she has since built the company's systems to streamline operations and track customer feedback. In 2017, the Cherngs donated $30 million to Caltech's medical engineering department.

Age, Biography and Wiki

Birth Place Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Type Private Subsidiary
Industry Food service
Genre Chinese cuisine
Founded October 1983; 34 years ago (1983-10) Glendale, California, U.S.
Founder Andrew Cherng Peggy Cherng
Headquarters 1683 Walnut Grove Avenue, Rosemead, California, U.S.
Number of locations 2,000+ (2017)
Area served United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Guatemala
Products American Chinese cuisine
Revenue $2 billion (March 2014)
Number of employees 24,995 (2014)
Parent Panda Restaurant Group
Website pandaexpress.com

💰 Net worth: $2.5 Billion (2024)

5 billion fast-food chain Panda Express. She co-founded the company in 1983 with her husband, Andrew, and has played a pivotal role in its growth and success. Cherng's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to providing quality Chinese-American cuisine have propelled Panda Express to become one of the largest Chinese food chains in the world. Her net worth is a testament to her business acumen and commitment to excellence. Despite her immense success, Cherng remains humble and actively promotes philanthropic initiatives, reflecting her commitment to making a positive impact in the world.

2015 $1.5 Billion
2016 $1.5 Billion
2017 $1.8 Billion
2018 $1.8 Billion

Biography/Timeline

1971

The Panda Restaurant Group, parent company of Panda Inn, Panda Express, and Hibachi-San, was founded by Andrew Cherng and Peggy Cherng and Andrew's Father, Master Chef Ming Tsai Cherng. Andrew Cherng and his Father are from the Yangzhou region of China's Jiangsu province, while Peggy was born in Burma and raised in Hong Kong. Both Andrew and Peggy Cherng are alumni of Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas (where they first met). Peggy Cherng received her B.S. degree in applied mathematics from Oregon State University in 1971, and her M.S. in Computer Science and Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Andrew Cherng also received his M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Missouri.

1973

In 1973, when Andrew's parents moved to the United States, Andrew went into Business with his Father and opened their first Panda Inn restaurant in Pasadena, California. At the beginning, Business was lacking to the degree that Andrew had to offer special deals and freebies so that customers would dine at Panda Inn. In 1982, Peggy joined Andrew in the restaurant Business. While operating Panda Inn, Andrew became acquainted with then-UCLA head football coach Terry Donahue, as well as Terry's brother Dan, who happened to be in the real estate Business. It was because of this connection that in 1983, Donahue Schriber Real Estate, the manager of the Glendale Galleria, invited the Cherngs to develop a fast-food version of Panda Inn for the Galleria's food court, and Panda Express was launched that October. A second location was opened two years later at the Westside Pavilion in 1985. The chain has steadily expanded across the United States since then. Chef Andy Kao claims to have developed the original Chinese-American orange chicken recipe at a Panda Express in Hawaii in 1987.

1980

At first, Panda Express restaurants were found solely in food courts in major shopping malls. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Cherngs began experimenting with supermarket-based branches, through a deal with Vons, and then stand-alone restaurant locations. In 1997, the company opened its first stand-alone, drive-through restaurant, in Hesperia, California. Today less than 2% of its restaurants are in malls.

2000

In 2000, they launched Panda Cares to give back to the community. They provide funding, food and volunteer services to children in need and disaster relief efforts.

2005

In 2005, Panda Express began to open units in food courts on college campus, some of which participate in the residential student meal plans.

2008

In 2008, the Cherngs were the recipients of the City of Angels Award, given by the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce, for their contributions to the greater Los Angeles area.

2009

On November 23, 2009, it was announced that Panda Express had selected Trusonic to provide Asian themed background music to its store locations.

2011

Panda Express also operates in Canada, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, South Korea & United Arab Emirates. The first location in Mexico opened in Mexico City in September 2011.

2013

In October 2013, the first Panda Express located in Canada opened its doors on Hunt Club Road in Nepean, Ontario. The first location in Calgary was opened in October 2016.

2014

On May 26, 2014, it was reported by Arabian Business news that Panda Express would be opening a restaurant in the United Arab Emirates. The first Panda Express restaurant in the Middle East was open in Dubai in November 2014.

2016

Panda Express previously had eight locations in Japan that were operated under a franchise agreement that later lapsed. In November 2016, the company returned to the country by opening a new location in Kawasaki. This new location is operated as part of a joint partnership with Ippudo.

2017

In December 2017, Panda Express had opened the chain's 2,000th location, which is located in New York City near Columbia University.

Some Peggy Cherng 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.