Todd Bartlett Graves
Todd Bartlett Graves is the co-founder and co-CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, a fast-food chain he built from a single campus restaurant into over 550 locations nationwide through conviction and persistence.
Todd Bartlett Graves's Bio
Todd Bartlett Graves is the co-founder and co-CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, the fast-food chain he built from a single LSU-area restaurant into more than 550 locations across the country. A Baton Rouge native and LSU graduate, Graves worked 90-hour weeks in an oil refinery and commercial fishing in Alaska to save enough money to open his own restaurant.
In August 1996, he opened Cane's 1 — nicknamed "the Mothership" — near the LSU campus, running it himself as fry cook and cashier. His belief in doing one thing exceptionally well carried the brand through its early years and into sustained national growth. Under his leadership, Raising Cane's passed 100 locations, then 500, reaching billion-dollar revenue and establishing itself as one of America's most consistently profitable fast-food chains.
Graves's net worth is estimated at over $20 billion, making him one of the world's wealthiest restaurateurs. He joined Season 16 of ABC's Shark Tank as a Guest Shark and served as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Super Bowl Parade in New Orleans. He still describes himself as the chain's fry cook and cashier — a self-image that has become part of the brand's identity.
Career Timeline
1972 — Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Todd Bartlett Graves was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
1994 — Graduated Louisiana State University (LSU)
Graves attended LSU, where the idea for Raising Cane's first took shape.
1995 — Worked in Oil Refinery and Commercial Fishing in Alaska
Graves worked 90-hour weeks in an oil refinery and fished commercially in Alaska to save startup capital.
1996 — Opened Cane's 1 ("the Mothership") at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Opened the first Raising Cane's location near Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Graves ran the restaurant himself as fry cook and cashier.
2006 — Opened 100th Raising Cane's Location at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Raising Cane's expanded to its 100th location, a decade after opening the first.
2019 — Raising Cane's Surpassed $1 Billion in Annual Revenue at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
The chain passed $1 billion in annual system-wide sales, cementing its status as one of America's fastest-growing restaurant brands.
2021 — Opened 500th Raising Cane's Location at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Raising Cane's celebrated its 500th restaurant opening, continuing aggressive national expansion.
2024 — Joined Shark Tank as Guest Shark (Season 16)
Graves joined ABC's Shark Tank as a Guest Shark for Season 16, which premiered in October 2024.
2025 — Grand Marshal, Super Bowl Parade
Graves served as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Super Bowl Parade in New Orleans, a hometown honor for the Louisiana-born entrepreneur.
Episodes
Advice Line: Tapping AI as a Resource for Your Business
Guy Raz hosts a special Advice Line episode where six founders reveal how they weave AI into their businesses. From Modi Toys to Raising Cane's, these entrepreneurs share concrete examples of automation and analysis that freed them to focus on what humans do best. No hype, no buzzwords—just practical insights you can apply.
Advice Line with Todd Graves of Raising Cane's
Todd Graves of Raising Cane's joins fellow founders on David Burmeister's Advice Line to share hard-won lessons on scaling without losing soul. Three callers face growth dilemmas: Evan Sledge wrestles with scaling Whiskey Morning Coffee without sacrificing quality, Shane Lyons looks to expand Vesti while staying true to its mission, and Todd Graves reveals how Cane's built a billion-dollar chain by refusing to compromise on chicken, sauce, and culture. Each walks away with practical strategies for growing without selling out. This masterclass in disciplined expansion comes from a founder who turned one Baton Rouge chicken finger joint into 1,500+ locations.
