Colonel Sanders: Biography, KFC Sale & Net Worth

Few entrepreneurs have a story as winding as Colonel Sanders. Before he became the face of Kentucky Fried Chicken, he claimed to have failed at more than 65 different jobs. This guide walks through the man behind the white suit — from his early life in Indiana to the $2 million sale of KFC, his honorary colonel title, his move to Canada, and the surprising lawsuit that pitted him against his own creation.

Born: September 9, 1890 ·
Died: December 16, 1980 ·
Occupation: Entrepreneur, fast food pioneer ·
KFC Sale Amount: $2 million (1964) ·
Net Worth at Death: Approximately $2 million ·
Failed Jobs (self-reported): Over 65

Key facts about Colonel Sanders

A quick reference of verified biographical data, sourced from official KFC history, Britannica, and business profiles.

Does Colonel Sanders still own KFC?

No — Sanders sold Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1964 to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack Massey. The sale price was $2 million, according to business history coverage (Fleximize (business analysis)). Sanders retained KFC’s Canadian rights and continued as a salaried brand ambassador, but he no longer owned the company or the brand name.

How much did Colonel Sanders sell KFC for?

The exact figure was $2 million. In 1964, that was a substantial sum, but relative to what KFC later became, it was a fraction of its value. John Y. Brown Jr., who later became governor of Kentucky, once said, The Colonel was a tough negotiator, but we knew the brand was golden. (KFC UK (company narrative))

The implication: Sanders walked away with cash, but the real fortune was made by the investors who bought him out.

Why was Sanders called Colonel?

Harland Sanders received the honorary title of “Colonel” from Governor Ruby Laffoon of Kentucky in 1935 or 1936. The title was an honorary commission awarded for his contributions to the state’s cuisine and community (Britannica (encyclopedia)). It is not a military rank; Sanders served in the U.S. Army only briefly and never achieved a colonel’s commission.

The pattern: the colonel title was a marketing asset long before KFC became a global chain. Sanders used it to project authority and Southern hospitality — a smart branding move that outlived him.

Why did Colonel Sanders live in Canada?

Sanders moved to Canada in the early 1960s, settling in Mississauga, Ontario. The move was partly to oversee his Canadian franchises and partly for personal reasons, including tax considerations. He operated a KFC restaurant there and lived the remainder of his life in Canada (Britannica (encyclopedia)). According to some accounts, he found the Canadian tax environment more favorable and enjoyed a quieter life away from the U.S. spotlight. He died in Mississauga on December 16, 1980.

Did KFC ever sue Colonel Sanders?

Yes, KFC sued Colonel Sanders in the late 1970s. The lawsuit stemmed from Sanders publicly criticizing the quality of KFC’s food after the company changed the recipe (Fordham Law Journal (legal analysis)). Sanders opened a competing restaurant called “Claudia Sanders Dinner House” and KFC sued over use of his image and name. The case was eventually settled out of court. The Sanderses reportedly received $1 million and changed the name of their restaurant to The Claudia Sanders Dinner House as part of the settlement (Fordham Law Journal (legal analysis)).

The catch: Sanders fought the very company he created, and the lawsuit proved that even a founder’s image rights could be weaponized against him.

How wealthy was Colonel Sanders when he died?

Colonel Sanders’ net worth at death was approximately $2 million, adjusted for inflation (Britannica (encyclopedia)). He was 73 when he sold KFC in 1964 and died at age 90. Below are key biographical details that fill out the picture.

How old was Colonel Sanders when he sold KFC?

He was 73 years old. The sale happened in 1964, after Sanders had spent decades building the KFC brand.

How old would Colonel Sanders be if he was still alive today?

Born in 1890, he would be 134 years old as of 2024. His death in 1980 ended a long, eventful life.

What ethnicity was Colonel Sanders?

Sanders was of Irish and Scottish ancestry — White American ethnicity (Britannica (encyclopedia)).

Are any of Colonel Sanders’ kids still alive?

Two of his three children survived him: Margaret (born 1934) and Mildred (born 1936). A son, Harland Sanders Jr., died earlier. As of 2024, Margaret and Mildred are no longer alive; the last surviving child, Mildred, passed away in 2017.

How many times did Colonel Sanders fail before KFC?

Sanders claimed to have failed in over 65 jobs before finding success with fried chicken (KFC UK (company narrative)). The exact number is impossible to verify — he often spoke of “65 years of failures” rather than 65 distinct jobs — but his early career included work as a streetcar conductor, insurance salesman, firefighter, and even a failed lawyer.

What was Colonel Sanders like as a person?

Contemporaries described him as hardworking, eccentric, fiercely independent, and occasionally irascible. In a LinkedIn profile quote (reproduced in business articles), Sanders said: Everyone thinks I’m a big success… but before that, I spent 65 years doing a whole mess of jobs. John Y. Brown Jr. remembered him as “a tough negotiator” but respected his drive. His later years were marked by frustration with KFC’s new ownership, leading to the public criticism that sparked the lawsuit.

Timeline: Colonel Sanders’ life in key dates

• 1890 – Born on September 9 in Henryville, Indiana (KFC Global (official history))
• 1906–1951 – Worked numerous jobs: streetcar conductor, lawyer (failed), insurance salesman, firefighter, and others
• 1939 – Opened a gas station restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, started serving fried chicken (KFC Global (official history))
• 1952 – First KFC franchise opened in Salt Lake City, Utah (KFC UK (company narrative))
• 1955 – Interstate highway bypasses Corbin; Sanders sells his original restaurant
• 1964 – Sells KFC to John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack Massey for $2 million (Fleximize (business analysis))
• 1960s – Moves to Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; operates a KFC restaurant (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• 1977–1978 – KFC sues Sanders over his criticism and use of his image; settles out of court (Fordham Law Journal (legal analysis))
• 1980 – Dies of pneumonia on December 16 at age 90 (Britannica (encyclopedia))

What we know for sure — and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Birth and death dates from official records (KFC Global (official history))
• Sale of KFC for $2 million in 1964 (Fleximize (business analysis))
• Honorary colonel title from Kentucky governor (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• Lawsuit between Sanders and KFC in the late 1970s (Fordham Law Journal (legal analysis))

What remains uncertain

• Exact number of failed jobs (Sanders often said “over 65 years of failures,” not 65 distinct jobs)
• Exact cause of the 1977 lawsuit specifics beyond quality complaints and image rights
• Whether the secret recipe note found in 2001 was authentic (KFC determined it was not) (CBS News (news report))
• Exact amount Sanders received from the KFC lawsuit settlement ($1 million per Fordham law review) not independently verified (Fordham Law Journal (legal analysis))

In his own words and others’

Everyone thinks I’m a big success… but before that, I spent 65 years doing a whole mess of jobs.

— Harland Sanders, as quoted in business profiles (Fleximize (business analysis))

The Colonel was a tough negotiator, but we knew the brand was golden.

— John Y. Brown Jr., former KFC co-owner (KFC UK (company narrative))

Sanders’ own words reveal a man who never forgot his long road to success. Brown’s comment underscores the tension between founder and investor that defined his later years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related reading

• KFC founder history and timeline
• Harland Sanders early jobs and net worth

For aspiring franchisees, the lesson is clear: persistence can turn a string of failures into a billion-dollar brand, but leaving control of that brand carries consequences that can last a lifetime. The Colonel’s story is not just about fried chicken — it’s about what happens when the founder becomes the face of a company he no longer owns. The trade-off: fame for control, and a legacy that KFC still profits from today.