Michael 'Jim Delligatti' has moved on from the Golden Arches to the Pearly Gates.

Media outlets are reporting the passing of McDonald's franchise owner Michael 'Jim' Delligatti, who created the beloved Big Mac at his Uniontown, Pa., restaurant in the late 60s. He was 98.

Delligatti experimented with his franchise's burgers and added a second patty and six other ingredients. CNN Money reports that it took him two years to perfect the 'secret sauce.' Deligatti introduced the Big Mac at his restaurant in 1967 and it was available nationwide a year later.

McDonald's sells 900 million Big Macs a year worldwide and it can be found in more than 100 countries.

Delligatti eventually owned 48 McDonald's restaurants in western Pennsylvania.

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