Late Subway co-founder left 50% of the chain to a charitable foundation he set up in 1999: Franchise weighs sale that could value it at $10 BILLION

  • Half of the chain is now owned by the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation 
  • The foundation was created by chain co-founder, Peter Buck, who died in 2021
  • The sandwich giant has retained advisers as it explores a sale of the company

Half of Subway - the world's largest fast food chain - will soon be owned by a charity created by the company's late co-founder, the foundation announced Monday.

The multibillion-dollar donation comes from the late Peter Buck, a former nuclear physicist whose $1,000 investment helped create the sandwich empire.

Buck died in 2021 at age 90, but apparently left instructions in his will to give 50 percent of the chain to a charitable foundation he and his wife set up in 1999.

The donation, potentially valued at up to $5billion, creates a possible complication as Subway execs have reportedly been weighing interest in a potential sale of the corporate entity.  

The multibillion-dollar donation comes from the late Peter Buck, a former nuclear physicist whose $1,000 investment helped create the sandwich empire. He died at age 90 in 2021

The multibillion-dollar donation comes from the late Peter Buck, a former nuclear physicist whose $1,000 investment helped create the sandwich empire. He died at age 90 in 2021 

The donation, potentially valued at up to $5billion, creates a possible complication as Subway execs have reportedly have been weighing interest in a potential sale of the corporate entity

The donation, potentially valued at up to $5billion, creates a possible complication as Subway execs have reportedly have been weighing interest in a potential sale of the corporate entity

The stipulation was announced by the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation Tuesday, in a statement that claimed it had been in the works for more than a decade. 

'This gift will allow the foundation to greatly expand its philanthropic endeavors and impact many more lives,' wrote Carrie Schindele, executive director of the Connecticut charity, which supports causes related to education and health care.

'Especially our work to create educational opportunities for all students,' said Schindele. 'Work Dr. Buck cared so deeply about.' 

The charity, founded by Buck and the late Carmen Lucia Buck, provides services for elementary school students across the country as well as seniors in Danbury, where the couple lived for many years.

Subway has more than 40,000 locations worldwide, topping McDonald's and Starbucks. It is reportedly valued at $10billion - meaning Buck's donation amounts to roughly $5billion

Subway has more than 40,000 locations worldwide, topping McDonald's and Starbucks. It is reportedly valued at $10billion - meaning Buck's donation amounts to roughly $5billion

Through means, such as grants and counseling, the private family firm seeks to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves, and has donated millions over the years to hospitals in Connecticut. 

The firm also employs both of the couple's sons, William and Christopher Buck, who serve as executives on its board. 

The brothers, along with CFO Ben Benoit, are the sole executors of Buck's estate.

Forbes confirmed the contents of Buck's will in a report Friday, writing that they had obtained a copy.

The report comes amid rumors of a potential sale of the company. Since its meteoric rise in the early 2000s, it has struggled to stay relevant, closing dozens of stores and restructuring franchisee operations amid a decline in earnings

The report comes amid rumors of a potential sale of the company. Since its meteoric rise in the early 2000s, it has struggled to stay relevant, closing dozens of stores and restructuring franchisee operations amid a decline in earnings

The donation constitutes Buck's full share of the $10billion company, which has been owned by its two founding families for more than five decades.

Buck was 34 when he partnered with Fred DeLuca, a 17-year-old New Yorker who was a friend of Buck's family.

Seeking to start a humble sandwich shop in Bridgeport, DeLuca besieged the then-nuclear physicist to back his vision.

Buck, who at the time was designing power plants in the area, provided the seed funds of $1,000 – and the rest is history.

The pair opened 'Pete's Super Submarines', with the priciest sandwich selling for 69 cents.

The day their shop opened, on August 28, Buck and De Luca sold out of their foot-long subs - still a staple of the chain's menu today.

The duo changed the name to 'Subway' three years later and decided to turn it into a chain by franchising - a move that would eventually make both of them billionaires.

Subway was founded co-found by Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck in 1965, with DeLuca (above) serving as CEO during the peak of the restaurant's popularity

Subway was founded co-found by Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck in 1965, with DeLuca (above) serving as CEO during the peak of the restaurant's popularity 

'We didn't make a profit for 15 years,' Buck told The Wall Street Journal in 2014. 

Forbes estimated Buck's net worth at $1.7 billion. DeLuca died in 2015 at age 67.    

Subway says it now has more than 40,000 locations worldwide, topping McDonald's and Starbucks. 

However, since its meteoric rise in the early 2000s, the company has struggled to stay relevant, closing dozens of stores and restructuring franchisee operations amid a decline in earnings. 

During the pandemic, the chain laid off hundreds of corporate staff to cut costs amid rumors of a potential sale. 

Sales reached their peak at $18 billion in 2012 but have since halved to around $9billion. 

Buck –  providing start-up funds of $1,000 – and DeLuca started the sandwich empire in 1965 with 'Pete's Super Submarines' in Bridgeport, with the priciest sandwich selling for 69 cents

Buck –  providing start-up funds of $1,000 – and DeLuca started the sandwich empire in 1965 with 'Pete's Super Submarines' in Bridgeport, with the priciest sandwich selling for 69 cents 

In 2015, the company faced a public image nightmare when the face of the company, Jared Fogel, was convicted on child pornography charges. 

It has also faced criticisms over the freshness of its ingredients, with Ireland's Supreme Court ruling that its bread had too much sugar to be called bread.

The company recently faced a class-action lawsuit claiming it was misrepresenting its tuna sandwiches, with lab analysis repeatedly showing the meals had no tuna DNA

Despite these troubles, the privately-owned company has remained in family hands - though half of the business is now set to be held by the Buck-dominated charity, which also has descendants of DeLuca on its board of directors. 

According to the foundation, 'the Buck and DeLuca families continue to remain close.' 

Subway propelled into a global success in 2000, as Americans searched for healthy fast-food options. Subway's dominances was cemented through Fogle, who said he lost 425 pounds by eating at the sandwich chain

Subway propelled into a global success in 2000, as Americans searched for healthy fast-food options. Subway's dominances was cemented through Fogle, who said he lost 425 pounds by eating at the sandwich chain 

Keeping with its origins as a humble Connecticut sandwich shop, the company has been family-run for nearly sixty years, with John Chidsey becoming the first outsider CEO in 2019.

As a physicist, Buck was hired by General Electric in 1957 at a laboratory in Schenectady, New York, and worked on atomic power plants for US Navy submarines and ships. 

Buck had been the first in his family to go to college. He graduated in 1952 and then earned his doctorate in physics.

He later worked for United Nuclear in White Plains, New York, and Nuclear Energy Services in Danbury, where he made his home, according to an obituary prepared by his family.

Buck and De Luca changed the name of their outlet after people listening to radio adverts they had made thought 'Pete's Submarines' sounded like 'Pizza Marines'

Buck and De Luca changed the name of their outlet after people listening to radio adverts they had made thought 'Pete's Submarines' sounded like 'Pizza Marines'

He also pursued philanthropy, making significant donations to many organizations including the Smithsonian Institution, to which he gave a 23-carat ruby named after Carmen Lucia Buck, who was his late second wife. She died in 2003.

DeLuca manned the helm of the growth before being diagnosed with cancer in 2013, with his daughter, Suzanne Greco, taking the reins. 

Greco then retired in 2018, with Trevor Haynes serving as interim CEO until Chidsey came on board.   

Buck's mammoth donation comes amid reports from earlier this month that stated that Subway was considering a sale valued at more than $10 billion. If such a sale does take place, Buck's donation would be valued at $5 billion.

DaliyMail.com has reached out to Subway for comment. 

Subway: A short history of the sandwich empire

1965: Fred DeLuca asks family friend Peter Buck how he can make some money to help pay for college. 

Buck tells him to open a sandwich shop an provides start-up funds of $1,000. 

The first outlet - 'Pete's Super Submarines' - opens in Bridgeport Connecticut, in 1965.    

1968: Buck and Deluca decide to change the company's name to Subway .

1971: Fred graduates from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut with a degree in psychology by paying his way with the money he made at the sandwich shop. 

He no longer has aspirations of becoming a doctor and continues to expand his business with co-founder Peter Buck.

1974: Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck reach their goal of owning 32 stores. This is the year they decide opening a franchise in a key to growth.

1978: Subway opens its 100th outlet.

1987: Subway opens its 1000th outlet. 

2007: Forbes magazine names DeLuca number 242 of the 400 richest Americans with a net worth of $1.5 billion. His net worth most recently totaled $3.5 billion 

2013: The company counts 39,500 franchised locations worldwide.   

2013: Fred DeLuca announces that he is going into treatment for Leukemia 

2015: Fred DeLuca dies of cancer at 67 and his sister Suzzane Greco takes his place as company CEO

2021: Peter Buck dies aged 90 

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