John Schnatter
Early life and education
Schnatter was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, on November 22, 1961 to Mary and Robert Schnatter. He graduated from Jeffersonville High School in 1980, then earned a business degree from Ball State University in 1983.
In the 1980s, John Schnatter’s father co-owned Mick’s Lounge, a tavern in Jeffersonville.
Career
The Papa John’s pizza business was founded in 1984 when “Papa” John Schnatter knocked out a broom closet in the back of his father’s tavern in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Schnatter sold his 1971 Z28 Camaro to purchase $1,600 worth of used pizza equipment and began selling pizzas to the tavern’s customers out of the converted closet. His pizzas proved so popular that one year later he was able to move into an adjoining space. Today, the company is the third largest take-out and pizza delivery restaurant chain in the world, with headquarters in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, near Louisville.
The Camaro
In 1983, Schnatter sold his 1971 Chevrolet Camaro to help his father’s struggling business. He used the leftover funds to start Papa John’s. Decades later, he offered a reward of $250,000 for finding the car, and on August 26, 2009, Schnatter bought the Camaro back for $250,000 from the family that he sold the car to in 1983. In celebration, Papa John’s offered a free pizza to anyone who owned a Camaro. Schnatter’s original Camaro has been on display in the company’s headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. The company owns several replicas that are used on tours and for public and TV appearances. On August 15, 2015, Schnatter’s original Camaro was stolen along with two other classic cars in Detroit, where they were slated to appear in the city’s annual Woodward Dream Cruise. The Camaro was recovered two days later on the city’s west side with minimal damage.
Personal life
Schnatter has been married to his wife, Annette, since 1987. The couple has three children. The Schnatter family resides in Anchorage, Kentucky. Schnatter identifies as an Evangelical Christian and is a member of the Southeast Christian Church.
Schnatter made a million-dollar contribution to the Louisville Zoo’s Glacier Run expansion. His Calistoga Bakery sponsors a bike team and donated money to build bike trails.
Politics
In 2012, Papa John’s and Schnatter received media attention after he made comments about the Affordable Care Act to a class on entrepreneurship.
Schnatter had hosted a fundraiser at his home for Republican Party candidate Mitt Romney in May 2012.
Summary
| John Schnatter | |
|---|---|
| Born | John H. Schnatter November 22, 1961 Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S. |
| Residence | Anchorage, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Papa John |
| Alma mater | Ball State University |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, founder, CEO, and spokesman of Papa John’s International, Inc. |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Net worth | US$1 billion |
| Spouse(s) | Annette (m. 1987) |
| Children | 3 |
John Schnatter
Entrepreneur
- Schnatter opened the first Papa John’s restaurant in 1985, two years after graduating from Ball State University where he delivered pizza on the side.
- He sold his very first pies out of a renovated broom closet in his father’s tavern in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
- Papa John’s is now the third-largest pizza company in America, with more than 3,300 locations in the U.S. and another 1,700 abroad
- An avid sports fan, he has appeared in Papa John’s commercials with NFL great Peyton Manning, and his company sponsors the Super Bowl.
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