Todd Graves Net Worth [The Man Behind Raising Cane’s]

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Net Worth:	$155 million
Profession/Career:	Entrepreneur, Businessman
Best Known For:	Raising Cane’s
College:	Louisiana State University (LSU)
Major/Degree:	Unknown
Full Name:	Todd Graves
Date of Birth:	February 20, 1972
Place of Birth:	New Orleans, Louisiana
Height:	5 ft 9 in

Frequently associated with

• Raising Cane’s
• Louisiana State University
• Post Malone

Who is Todd Graves?

Todd Graves is the founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, a fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in chicken fingers. He founded the company in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has since grown it to over 600 locations in 27 states and several countries. He is considered as a pioneer in the chicken finger industry and is known for his dedication to the quality of ingredients, customer service and community involvement. He is also known for his hands-on approach and involvement in the day-to-day operations of the company.

Todd Graves’ Childhood

He was born on August 20, 1972, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. From an early age, he showed a strong interest in business and entrepreneurship. When he was just four years old, he started his first business venture by selling lemonade on the side of the road.

Growing up, Todd Graves had a passion for cooking and spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother, learning how to make delicious homemade meals. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman, and he would often catch and cook his own meals.

In high school, Todd Graves developed a love for dogs and started training them. He even participated in dog shows and won several awards for his training skills.

After high school, Todd Graves attended Louisiana State University, where he earned a degree in finance. He continued to pursue his passion for cooking and worked in various restaurants throughout college.

In 1996, Todd Graves and his business partner Craig Silvey opened the first Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The restaurant was an instant success, and the company has since expanded to over 500 locations in the United States and around the world.

Today, Todd Graves is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is known for his commitment to giving back to the community and supporting various charitable causes.

Net Worth of Todd Graves

Todd Graves’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $155 million.

Almost all of his money has been earned through the success of his restaurant, Raising Cane’s. However, in order to start the business, he did need some startup capital. He was able to save up money over time through his work as a commercial fisherman and through careful financial management.

He may have also received some investments from family and friends, or he may have obtained a small business loan from a bank or other financial institution. He also has been quoted saying that he had to sell all his assets, including his boat, to fund the first restaurant.

It is also possible that he may have used a combination of these methods to gather the necessary funds to start his business. Ultimately, he started his restaurant venture with $250,000.

How did Todd Graves start Raising Cane’s with only $250,000 in savings?

Despite having limited resources, he was able to successfully open the first Raising Cane’s restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1996, and then expand the company over the years. This shows his tenacity, creativity and ability to make things happen with limited resources.

He was also able to open the first restaurant with a simple and focused menu, which helped him to keep the costs low and focus on quality. His approach of keeping things simple, focusing on quality and being efficient allowed him to grow the company even with limited resources.

In 2021, Todd Graves sat down with Theo Von to reflect on exactly how he started the business and the types of issues he ran into.

Why is it called Raising Cane’s?

According to Todd Graves, the CEO and founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, the company was named after his yellow Labrador Retriever, Raising Cane. He said that the dog was his “constant companion” and was with him when he came up with the idea for the restaurant. He also wanted to pay homage to his dog and named it after him as a tribute.

The name “Raising Cane” also reflects the company’s focus on high-quality ingredients, as cane is a type of sugar used in the production of some of the company’s menu items. Additionally, the word “Raising” also has a positive connotation, as in “raising the bar” and “raising the standard” which aligns with the company’s mission of providing high-quality food and service.

What has been the secret to Todd Graves’ success in growing Raising Cane’s into a successful fast-food chain?

Todd Graves’ success in growing Raising Cane’s can be attributed to several factors, including his dedication to high-quality ingredients, his focus on customer service, and his ability to keep costs low. Additionally, his hands-on approach, his ability to attract and retain motivated employees, his attention to detail and his strong sense of social responsibility have also been critical to the success of the company.

Todd Graves’ management style is hands-on and focused on quality. He is known to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the company, and he often visits restaurants to interact with customers and get feedback. He also spends a lot of time in the company’s test kitchen, working on new menu items and experimenting with new recipes.

Todd Graves’ bad grades from LSU professor using Raising Cane’s business plans

While Todd Graves was a student at LSU, he and his original business partner Craig Silvey submitted Raising Cane’s business plans to their professor, only to receive the worst possible grade for it in the class, it was a B-, but it was the worst grade the professor gave out. The professor stated that selling only chicken fingers as a business plan will never work.

Luckily for us, the duo never gave up and worked hard to open up their first location, on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, right at the front doorstep of LSU in 1996.

Todd Graves and Post Malone

Motley Crue

In 2021 Todd Graves made a cameo in Post Malone‘s new music video produced by Lyrical Lemonade. Check out the video at 2:06 to catch a glimpse.

Raising Cane’s Remodel

In April 2023, Todd Graves partnered up with rapper Post Malone to redesign the Raising Cane’s location in Midvale, Utah near Salt Lake City. Having always been fans of each other, the two jumped on an opportunity to collaborate on this venture. Inside this unique location, the diner will find themselves treated to pink decore everywhere and Post Malone’s outfits and guitars displayed in cases.

‼️ @PostMalone is present right now at the opening of the “Raising Canes x Post Malone” restaurant in Utah! pic.twitter.com/FIGPcVnBHE

— Post Malone News (@NewsPosty) April 13, 2023

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