Table of Contents

Quick Facts

Fact	Details
Full Name	Zach McLeroy
Age	64
Birthplace	Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Profession	Entrepreneur, Restaurateur, Investor
Known For	Co-Founder of Zaxby’s
Estimated Net Worth	Approximately $1 billion
Primary Source of Wealth	Zaxby’s
Marital Status	Divorced
Current Role	Chairman of Zaxby’s

Introduction

Zach McLeroy’s net worth is estimated at approximately $1 billion in 2026, according to Forbes. His fortune was built primarily through Zaxby’s, the chicken restaurant chain he co-founded with longtime friend Tony Townley in 1990. Forbes identifies fast food as McLeroy’s primary source of wealth and describes his fortune as self-made.

McLeroy’s wealth story began with an $8,000 personal investment and a small restaurant in Statesboro, Georgia. Over the following decades, Zaxby’s developed into a major franchised restaurant brand. In 2020, Goldman Sachs acquired a significant stake in the company, creating a major liquidity event for McLeroy while allowing him to retain a substantial ownership interest.

Today, McLeroy remains involved with Zaxby’s as chairman while also pursuing real-estate development and philanthropic initiatives.

Zach McLeroy Net Worth

Zach McLeroy has an estimated net worth of $1 billion as of 2026. Forbes reported the $1 billion real-time figure on September 10, 2026, and lists McLeroy among the world’s billionaires.

However, his net worth should be viewed as an estimate rather than a publicly audited personal balance sheet. Zaxby’s is a privately held company, meaning its ownership and valuation are not disclosed through the same public-market filings available for listed corporations.

The foundation of McLeroy’s fortune is his ownership in Zaxby’s. He and Tony Townley founded the business in 1990 after each contributing $8,000 toward the initial venture.

The Goldman Sachs Deal

One of the most important events in McLeroy’s financial history occurred in 2020, when Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking made a significant investment in Zaxby’s.

Forbes reports that McLeroy sold 20% of his stake for an estimated $400 million while retaining a 30% interest in the company. Townley sold his entire stake as part of the transaction.

The transaction provided McLeroy with substantial liquidity while allowing him to remain connected to the company he had built.

Restaurant Business reported that Zaxby’s had more than 900 locations in 17 states around the time of the Goldman Sachs transaction and that U.S. system sales had reached approximately $1.9 billion in 2019.

How Zach McLeroy Built His Wealth

McLeroy’s fortune was not primarily created through a conventional executive salary. His wealth developed through business ownership, company growth, franchising, and the increasing value of Zaxby’s.

The basic progression was:

$8,000 startup investment → First Zaxby’s restaurant → Franchise expansion → National brand growth → Goldman Sachs investment → Retained ownership → Additional business interests

This distinction is important when discussing net worth. Zaxby’s sales are company revenue and should not be treated as McLeroy’s personal income. His wealth is connected to his ownership interests and other assets.

Income Sources

Zaxby’s Ownership

Zaxby’s is the central source of McLeroy’s estimated fortune.

McLeroy and Townley opened the first restaurant in Statesboro, Georgia, in 1990. The business subsequently expanded through company-operated locations and franchising.

Goldman Sachs Investment

The 2020 Goldman Sachs transaction generated an estimated $400 million for McLeroy from the sale of 20% of his stake, according to Forbes. He retained another 30% interest.

Franchise Growth

Franchising played an important role in transforming Zaxby’s from a local restaurant concept into a large regional and national brand.

Restaurant Business reported that Zaxby’s had more than 900 locations across 17 states in 2020.

Real Estate

McLeroy also has business interests in real estate. He co-founded The Leaven Group in 2021.

The company describes itself as a community-focused real-estate developer with projects involving mixed-use, multifamily and value-add/reuse developments, along with acquisitions and joint ventures in the Southeast.

Executive Compensation

McLeroy served as Zaxby’s CEO for decades, but a reliable current figure for his personal annual salary is not publicly available.

Rather than assigning an unsupported salary figure, it is more accurate to focus on the ownership interests that have been publicly documented as major components of his wealth.

Acting and Music Income

There is no reliable evidence that acting income or music royalties represent significant sources of McLeroy’s fortune.

Music does, however, have an interesting place in his entrepreneurial story. McLeroy sold his drum set to help finance his initial $8,000 contribution to Zaxby’s. Restaurant Business reported that he later joked that he had exchanged one drumstick for another.

Brand Endorsements and Social Media

There is no credible public evidence that traditional celebrity endorsements or social-media income contribute materially to McLeroy’s estimated billion-dollar fortune.

His publicly documented wealth is primarily associated with entrepreneurship, Zaxby’s ownership and other business interests.

Early Life and Education

Zach McLeroy was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. The Leaven Group describes him as having roots in the Georgia community and says he now lives in the Atlanta area.

His early experiences helped shape his approach to business and service. The McLeroy Family Foundation says he worked on a Georgia chicken farm as a teenager, an experience that contributed to the values of discipline, service and stewardship that later became important to his business philosophy.

Zach McLeroy has an estimated net worth of $1 billion as of 2026. Forbes reported the $1 billion real-time figure on September 10, 2026, and lists McLeroy among the world’s billionaires.

Before becoming a restaurant entrepreneur, McLeroy worked in mortgage banking. At age 28, he decided to pursue a different path and eventually partnered with Tony Townley to launch Zaxby’s.

His early investment came partly from selling his $8,000 drum set. Townley contributed another $8,000, giving the partners a combined $16,000 to launch their first restaurant.

Career Journey

1990: Zaxby’s Is Founded

McLeroy and Tony Townley opened the first Zaxby’s restaurant in Statesboro, Georgia.

The two longtime friends each contributed $8,000 to the venture.

1994: Franchising Begins

Zaxby’s began franchising in 1994, providing the company with a model for expanding beyond its original Georgia locations.

2000s: Regional Expansion

During the following decade, Zaxby’s expanded throughout the Southeast and developed a large network of franchised and company-operated restaurants.

2019: Strong Sales Growth

Restaurant Business reported approximately $1.9 billion in U.S. system sales for Zaxby’s in 2019, demonstrating the scale the business had reached before the Goldman Sachs transaction.

2020: Goldman Sachs Investment

Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking acquired a significant stake in Zaxby’s.

According to Forbes, McLeroy sold 20% of his stake for an estimated $400 million and retained a 30% interest.

Restaurant Business reported that the company had more than 900 locations across 17 states at the time.

2021: New Business Ventures

McLeroy co-founded The Leaven Group, a real-estate development company focused on community-oriented projects in the Southeast.

2022: CEO Transition

McLeroy stepped down as CEO and transitioned to chairman of Zaxby’s.

Bernard Acoca became the company’s first external CEO, while McLeroy continued providing leadership as chairman.

2026: Billion-Dollar Net Worth

Forbes currently estimates McLeroy’s net worth at approximately $1 billion.

Major Achievements

McLeroy’s most significant documented achievements include:

Co-founding Zaxby’s in 1990.
Building Zaxby’s from a single Georgia restaurant into a major multi-state restaurant brand.
Expanding the company through franchising.
Leading Zaxby’s for more than three decades.
Completing the significant Goldman Sachs investment in 2020.
Retaining a substantial ownership position after the Goldman Sachs transaction.
Transitioning from CEO to chairman while remaining involved with Zaxby’s.
Co-founding The Leaven Group in 2021.
Establishing the McLeroy Family Foundation to support charitable and community initiatives.

The Leaven Group also notes that Zaxby’s received recognition from Forbes in 2021 and that Franchise Times recognized the Goldman Sachs partnership as a Dealmakers of the Year transaction.

Assets and Lifestyle

McLeroy’s public profile is more closely associated with business ownership and community development than with celebrity-style luxury spending.

His publicly documented business interests include:

Zaxby’s
Real-estate development
Commercial and multifamily property projects
Private investments
Philanthropic activities

The Leaven Group says its portfolio includes mixed-use, multifamily and value-add/reuse projects, along with opportunistic acquisitions and joint-venture investments.

Specific details about McLeroy’s private residences, vehicles, aircraft and other luxury assets are not sufficiently documented by authoritative public sources. For that reason, unsupported claims about his lifestyle should be avoided.

Personal Life

Forbes lists Zach McLeroy as divorced.

The Leaven Group says McLeroy lives in the Atlanta area and has three children. It also describes family and faith as important parts of his life.

McLeroy has also developed a significant philanthropic profile through the McLeroy Family Foundation.

The foundation says its work focuses on creating opportunities for communities with untapped potential and supporting areas such as housing insecurity, youth development, community health, veterans’ needs and anti-trafficking initiatives.

Zach McLeroy Net Worth Growth Timeline

Because Zaxby’s is privately held and McLeroy’s complete personal financial records are not public, precise historical net-worth figures cannot be independently established for every year.

The following timeline therefore focuses on documented business and wealth milestones, rather than inventing annual net-worth estimates.

Year	Major Wealth or Business Milestone
1990	Co-founded Zaxby’s with Tony Townley
1994	Zaxby’s began franchising
2019	Zaxby’s generated about $1.9 billion in U.S. system sales
2020	Goldman Sachs acquired a significant stake; McLeroy sold 20% of his stake for an estimated $400 million
2020	McLeroy retained a reported 30% stake
2021	McLeroy co-founded The Leaven Group
2022	Transitioned from CEO to chairman of Zaxby’s
2026	Forbes estimates his net worth at approximately $1 billion

What Is Zach McLeroy’s Biggest Source of Wealth?

Zaxby’s is the primary source of Zach McLeroy’s estimated wealth.

The important factor is not simply the amount of money Zaxby’s generates in sales. McLeroy’s fortune was built through his ownership of the business as its value increased over decades.

The 2020 Goldman Sachs transaction illustrates this clearly. McLeroy was able to monetize part of his ownership for an estimated $400 million while retaining a significant stake in the company.

This makes his wealth story fundamentally an equity-ownership story rather than a salary story.

Zach McLeroy and Zaxby’s: Why the Business Became So Valuable

Zaxby’s growth came from several interconnected factors.

First, McLeroy and Townley developed a focused restaurant concept around chicken, particularly chicken fingers and wings.

Second, the company expanded through franchising, allowing the brand to grow without relying entirely on corporate capital.

Third, the founders maintained a strong connection with franchisees and communities.

Finally, the company’s scale attracted institutional investment.

When Goldman Sachs invested in Zaxby’s in 2020, Restaurant Business reported that the chain had more than 900 locations and operated in 17 states.

The investment was designed to help accelerate expansion and move Zaxby’s toward becoming a broader national brand.

Philanthropy

McLeroy’s activities extend beyond commercial business.

Through the McLeroy Family Foundation, he supports organizations focused on improving opportunities for underserved communities.

The foundation identifies areas including:

Economic mobility
Education and workforce opportunities
Housing insecurity
Youth development
Community health
Veterans
Anti-trafficking initiatives

The foundation describes its philosophy around three central goals: instilling hope, unlocking potential and enriching lives.

Interesting Facts About Zach McLeroy

He founded Zaxby’s with his longtime friend Tony Townley. The two had known each other since seventh grade, according to Forbes.
His first Zaxby’s investment was $8,000. Townley contributed an equal amount.
He sold his drum set to fund the restaurant. The $8,000 from the drum set became McLeroy’s contribution to the startup.
Zaxby’s started in Statesboro, Georgia. The first restaurant opened there in 1990.
Goldman Sachs invested in Zaxby’s in 2020. McLeroy sold 20% of his stake for an estimated $400 million.
McLeroy retained a 30% stake after the transaction. Forbes identifies this as part of the 2020 deal.
He did not completely leave Zaxby’s after stepping down as CEO. He continued as chairman.
He entered real-estate development. McLeroy co-founded The Leaven Group in 2021.
His philanthropic work is organized through a family foundation. The McLeroy Family Foundation supports organizations working in several community-focused areas.
Music remained an interest even after his entrepreneurial career took off. McLeroy has said he still loves music despite selling his original drums to finance Zaxby’s.

FAQs

What is Zach McLeroy’s net worth in 2026?

Zach McLeroy’s estimated net worth is approximately $1 billion in 2026, according to Forbes. Because much of his wealth is connected to private-company interests, the figure is an estimate rather than a publicly audited personal balance sheet.

How did Zach McLeroy become a billionaire?

McLeroy built his fortune primarily by co-founding Zaxby’s and retaining a significant ownership interest as the restaurant company expanded. A major Goldman Sachs investment in 2020 also allowed him to monetize part of his stake.

Does Zach McLeroy still own Zaxby’s?

Forbes reports that McLeroy sold 20% of his stake in 2020 while retaining a 30% interest. Zaxby’s is privately held, so its ownership structure is not disclosed through public-company filings.

How much did Zach McLeroy receive from the Goldman Sachs deal?

Forbes estimates that McLeroy received $400 million for the 20% stake he sold to Goldman Sachs in 2020.

Who founded Zaxby’s?

Zaxby’s was founded in 1990 by Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley. The first restaurant opened in Statesboro, Georgia.

Is Zach McLeroy still the CEO of Zaxby’s?

No. McLeroy transitioned from CEO to chairman, while Bernard Acoca became CEO.

What other business does Zach McLeroy have?

McLeroy co-founded The Leaven Group, a real-estate development company focused on projects in the Southeast. Its portfolio includes mixed-use, multifamily and value-add/reuse developments.

Where does Zach McLeroy live?

The Leaven Group says McLeroy resides in the Atlanta area.

How old is Zach McLeroy?

Forbes currently lists Zach McLeroy as 64 years old.

Does Zach McLeroy have children?

The Leaven Group says McLeroy has three children.

What is Zach McLeroy’s biggest source of wealth?

Zaxby’s is the primary source of McLeroy’s estimated fortune. His wealth is largely connected to his ownership interest in the restaurant business and the value created as the company expanded.

Does Zach McLeroy make money from social media?

There is no reliable public evidence that social-media income represents a significant portion of McLeroy’s wealth. His publicly documented fortune is primarily connected to Zaxby’s and other business interests.

Is Zach McLeroy self-made?

Forbes classifies McLeroy’s source of wealth as fast food, self-made. His fortune originated from building Zaxby’s with Tony Townley from their initial $16,000 combined investment.

Final Takeaway

Zach McLeroy’s estimated $1 billion net worth in 2026 is the result of more than three decades of entrepreneurship. His financial journey began with an $8,000 contribution toward a small restaurant in Georgia and ultimately developed into a major ownership position in Zaxby’s.

The 2020 Goldman Sachs investment became a defining financial milestone, with Forbes estimating that McLeroy received $400 million for selling 20% of his stake while retaining another 30%.

Today, his business activities extend beyond restaurants through The Leaven Group, while his philanthropic work continues through the McLeroy Family Foundation.

For readers researching Zach McLeroy’s net worth, the central lesson is straightforward: his fortune was created primarily through long-term equity ownership, franchising, business expansion and strategic investment, rather than through a conventional salary or celebrity income.

Zach McLeroy Net Worth: The Billion-Dollar Zaxby’s Story