Peter Buck Biography: Life, Career, Success & Wealth

Estimated read time 4 min read
Subway co-founder Peter Buck reportedly ate at least five Subway sandwiches a week. Source: ZVG

Full NamePeter Buck
Birthdate1930
BirthplaceSouth Portland, Maine, USA
EducationBowdoin College, Columbia Univ.
CareerSubway co-founder, physicist
Net Worth$2.4 billion (as of 2023)
PhilanthropyEducation, arts, science research
Other VenturesTully’s Coffee, Udacity, minor league baseball team
Notable AchievementsNational Academy of Sciences member, multiple nuclear physics patents, National Museum of American History board member
HobbiesHiking, collecting antique clocks
Quotes“Investing in the future means investing in people.”
“Success isn’t just about money – it’s about making a positive difference in the world.”
“Science is always moving forward, and we need to be ready for the next big discovery.”
“Passion and hard work, not just an idea, lead to successful businesses.”
“I’ve always been interested in doing things that are creative, that make a difference in people’s lives, and that are fun.”

Peter Buck is an American entrepreneur and physicist, best known as the co-founder of Subway, one of the largest fast-food restaurant chains in the world. Born in 1930 in South Portland, Maine, Buck attended Bowdoin College and later received a PhD in physics from Columbia University.

In 1965, Buck started working as a research physicist at the Connecticut-based lab, United Nuclear Corporation. It was during this time that he met 17-year-old Fred DeLuca, who asked him for a loan of $1,000 to start a sandwich shop. Buck agreed to lend him the money, and the two became business partners. They opened their first Subway location in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1965.

Under Buck’s leadership, Subway grew rapidly, with franchises opening across the United States and internationally. Today, Subway has over 42,000 locations in more than 100 countries, making it one of the largest fast-food chains in the world.

Buck’s net worth is estimated to be around $2.4 billion, making him one of the wealthiest people in the United States. He has used his wealth to support numerous philanthropic causes, including education, the arts, and scientific research.

In addition to his work with Subway, Buck has also been involved in a number of other business ventures, including the purchase of the Seattle-based coffee company Tully’s Coffee and the investment in the online education company Udacity.

Despite his success, Buck is known for his humility and down-to-earth personality. He is an avid hiker and outdoorsman, and is often seen hiking in the mountains near his home in Danbury, Connecticut.

In conclusion, Peter Buck is an American entrepreneur and physicist who co-founded Subway, one of the largest fast-food restaurant chains in the world. His wealth is estimated to be around $2.4 billion, and he has used his fortune to support numerous philanthropic causes. Despite his success, Buck remains humble and down-to-earth, and is admired for his love of the outdoors and his commitment to making a positive difference in the world.

Here is a timeline of the life of Peter Buck:

1930 – Peter Buck is born in South Portland, Maine.

1952 – Buck graduates from Bowdoin College with a degree in physics.

1956 – Buck earns a PhD in physics from Columbia University.

1965 – Buck meets Fred DeLuca, who asks him for a $1,000 loan to start a sandwich shop. Buck agrees to lend him the money and becomes his business partner, co-founding Subway.

1974 – Subway opens its first franchise location.

1987 – Subway reaches the 1,000-location mark.

1995 – Buck and DeLuca sell a minority stake in Subway to investment firm Doctor’s Associates Inc.

2002 – Buck buys the Seattle-based coffee company Tully’s Coffee.

2010 – Buck invests in the online education company Udacity.

2023 – Buck’s net worth is estimated to be around $2.4 billion, and he continues to be involved in philanthropic causes and business ventures.

Throughout his life, Peter Buck has been known for his commitment to science, education, and philanthropy, as well as his success as a billionaire entrepreneur.

5 Interesting Facts about Peter Buck:

  1. Despite his immense wealth, Buck prefers to drive a 2003 Subaru Forester and is often seen hiking in the mountains near his home in Connecticut.
  2. Buck holds multiple patents related to nuclear physics and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
  3. He once owned a minor league baseball team, the Danbury Westerners.
  4. Buck is an avid collector of antique clocks and has a large collection of more than 500 pieces.
  5. In addition to his philanthropic work, Buck is a board member of the National Museum of American History.

5 Quotes from Peter Buck:

  1. “I believe in investing in the future, and that means investing in people.”
  2. “If you look at most successful businesses, they are the result of passion and hard work, not just an idea.”
  3. “Science is always moving forward, and we need to be ready for the next big discovery.”
  4. “Success isn’t just about money – it’s about making a positive difference in the world.”
  5. “I’ve always been interested in doing things that are creative, that make a difference in people’s lives, and that are fun.”

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