In a surprising move, the CEO of the well-known fast-food chain Five Guys, Jerry Murrell, awarded his employees a $1.5 million bonus. His decision came with a quirky remark about avoiding a metaphorical “backstabbing,” a comment that seemed to nod towards the tragic assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson.
Jerry Murrell, now 82, who established the beloved burger brand four decades ago, chose to give back to his workers after a promotional campaign went awry. The company’s buy-one-get-one-free offer didn’t go as planned, prompting Murrell to extend the generous bonus.
The bonus, amounting to $1.5 million, was distributed among 1,500 employees, following the mishap tied to Five Guys’ 40th anniversary promotions.
“I didn’t want anyone feeling betrayed or upset after the first day because we really messed things up. We were caught off guard by the overwhelming response,” Murrell humorously mentioned in a recent chat with Fortune magazine.
While Murrell didn’t delve into specifics, his comment seems to reference the shocking murder of Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO who was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024.
This tragic event, followed by the apprehension of the alleged shooter, Luigi Mangione, sparked disturbing reactions. Many online commentators, particularly from the left-wing, disturbingly celebrated the death, attributing it to Thompson’s involvement in the U.S. health insurance sector.
Mangione is awaiting trial in both state and federal courthouses following a manhunt that led to his arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Murrell — who has an estimated net worth of over $400 million — joked that he would rather employees receive the bonus over his wife getting “a new fur coat.”
“She still looks at me like I’m stupid, but I thought it was worth it. They worked so hard. They were so overwhelmed,” said Murrell, who has led Five Guys since he opened its first location in Arlington, Virginia, in 1986.
Murrell was speaking weeks after a promotion held in February to celebrate Five Guys’ 40th anniversary, which proved to be much more popular than the chain expected.
The company’s app crashed as customers sought to take advantage of the promotion, with many overwhelmed chain locations discontinuing the offer early, leading to backlash on social media.
“We let you down, and we’re sorry,” Five Guys said in an apology on Feb. 18, expressing regret for having placed the chain’s “hardworking crews … in a difficult situation.”
It then put out a follow-up note on March 9, resuming the promotion for four days.
“You visited our restaurants in overwhelming numbers, and we weren’t ready for you. We didn’t meet our own standards, and that’s not something we take lightly. So we’re asking for a do-over,” the note read.
