Todd Graves (entrepreneur)
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Todd Graves | |
|---|---|
 Graves and his dog, Raising Cane II | |
| Born | Todd Bartlett Graves 1972 (age 52–53) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Education | University of Georgia (BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, restaurateur |
| Office | Co-founder and CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers[1] |
| Spouse | Gwen Drain Graves |
| Children | 2 |
Todd Bartlett Graves (born 1972) is an American businessman and co-founder[1] of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, a fast food restaurant specializing in fried chicken finger meals.
As of April 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth is at $17.2 billion, making him the 116th wealthiest person in the world. He ranked #107 on the 2024 Forbes 400 List of richest Americans.[2]
Early life
[edit]Graves was born in New Orleans, and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Graves graduated from Episcopal School of Baton Rouge.[3] He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia.[2]
Career
[edit]Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
[edit]Graves and long-time friend Craig Silvey used Silvey's business plan course at LSU to create their business plan.[1]
Graves opened Raising Cane's near the North Gates of Louisiana State University on Highland Road in 1996.[1] By 2022, the company expanded to more than 600 restaurants in the U.S. and the Middle East.[4][5]
The restaurants are named after Raising Cane I, Graves' dog at the time of founding the first restaurant. They are headquartered in Baton Rouge.[1]
Shark Tank
[edit]In 2024, Graves joined ABC's Shark Tank for season 16 as a "Guest Shark," appearing in certain episodes alongside other judges including Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, and Daniel Lubetzky.
Of his appearance on the show, Graves said, "As a long-time viewer and fan of the show, I’m excited to bring my restaurant and business experience to entrepreneurs and help guide them as they build their brands. At my core, I love business and helping people succeed; and at the end of the day, it’s not about what you make, it’s about what you give. I know how it feels when someone takes a chance on you and it changes your life, and I’m looking forward to doing that on the show.”[6]
Personal life
[edit]In 2000, Graves married Gwen Drain, a McDonald's franchisee, whom he had known since high school.[7][8] They have two daughters and reside in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with their yellow Labrador, Raising Cane III.[9]
Collections
[edit]An avid collector, Graves has loaned a 66-million-year-old triceratops skull to the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum.[10] He has also loaned the hearse that carried Martin Luther King Jr. to exhibits across the country.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Sayre, Alan (June 12, 2007). "Finger joint beat the odds on fish turf". Atlanta Constitution. pp. D3. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
- ^ a b "Forbes profile: Todd Graves". Forbes. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "Episcopal School of Baton Rouge holds groundbreaking for field house". June 27, 2018.
- ^ "A return to growth". July 5, 2022.
- ^ "Raising Cane's in downtown East Lansing is on the way. Here's where the project stands".
- ^ "Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves will join Shark Tank". www.nrn.com. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ KASHYAP, HANIKA (October 18, 2024). "Who is Todd Graves' wife? 'Shark Tank' guest judge's love story is the sweetest". Meaww.com. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ "The Key Magazine Fall 2008 Page 45". thekey.kappa.org. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ "Dog Days of Summer: Our tails are wagging for Todd Graves' new shelter pup and the entrants of this year's contest". July 3, 2022.
- ^ Miller, Robin (February 29, 2016). "There's a 66 million-year-old triceratops in Baton Rouge". The Advocate.
- ^ Miller, Robin (January 14, 2019). "Hearse that carried the body of Martin Luther King Jr. comes to Baton Rouge". The Advocate.
- 1972 births
- Living people
- American chief executives of food industry companies
- American fishermen
- American food company founders
- American boilermakers
- Fast-food chain founders
- Episcopal High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) alumni
- People from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- People from Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska
- American billionaires
- University of Georgia alumni