J immy John Liautaud is a self-made American billionaire who is the founder of the Jimmy John's sandwich chain. His is a classic entrepreneurial story of starting with a single location and building it into a national powerhouse. After graduating near the bottom of his high school class, his father gave him a small loan to start a business. He opened his first sandwich shop in Charleston, Illinois, in 1983.

He built his company with a fanatical focus on speed, quality, and a simple, no-frills menu, which resonated with customers. He grew the Jimmy John's brand into a massive chain with thousands of locations across the United States, primarily through a successful franchise model. In 2019, he sold his remaining stake in the company he founded to Inspire Brands, the parent company of other major restaurant chains like Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings, a deal that cemented his billionaire status. He is known for his passionate and often outspoken personality.