Sheldon Lavin (born 1932) is an American billionaire businessman, and the owner, chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of

OSI Group OSI Group is an American privately owned holding company of meat processors that service the retail and food service industries with international headquarters in Aurora, Illinois. It operates over 65 facilities in 17 countries. Sheldon Lavin was ...

, a US meat processor and the main hamburger supplier to

McDonald's McDonald's Corporation is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechri ...

Early life

Sheldon Lavin was born in 1932. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from

Roosevelt University Roosevelt University is a private university with campuses in Chicago and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university was named in honor of United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The unive ...

in Chicago.

Career

In 1970, Lavin worked with OSI as a consultant to help the company organize the financing of its first modern meat plant. He later became a full-time employee, and took over the business in the 1980s, eventually acquiring an estimated 90% stake.

Personal life

Lavin lives in

Highland Park, Illinois Highland Park is a suburban city located in the southeastern part of Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 30,176. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located o ...

, US. He was married to Sylvia Spatz for 55 years until her death in 2009. They had three children, Debbi Rosenberg, Steven H. Lavin, and Jerold R. Lavin, none of whom work at OSI. Lavin is Jewish.

Honours

In November 2013, Lavin was inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lavin, Sheldon Living people American billionaires People from Highland Park, New Jersey 1930s births Roosevelt University alumni Jewish American philanthropists