Roberto and Sara Burgos, with their daughter, Zahydie Burgos, and son-in-law, Pako.
Courtesy of Zahydie Burgos
Zahydie Burgos's husband was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease at the age of 46.
Her parents moved into their home to help care for their son-in-law.
It's allowed Burgos to stay in her job, but still enjoy what may be a limited time left with him.
This story is based on a conversation with Zahydie Burgos, 41, a licensed psychologist from Orlando. It has been edited for length and clarity.
My husband, Francisco — known as Pako — has always been professional, kind, and considerate to everyone.
However, in the fall of 2020, I began to notice changes in his behavior, including skipping meals, struggling to find the right words in conversation, and difficulties managing his finances.
I called him the human calculator because he had been in charge of our income and outgoings from before we got married in 2010, but all of a sudden, he would buy strange things.
Amazon trucks drove up to our house 3 or 4 times a day
We're not into hockey, but he'd go on the internet and buy tons of hockey merchandise that we'd never wear. "It's on sale," he told me. Amazon trucks drove up to our house three or four times a day.
He also ordered expensive artwork online. It was costing a fortune, and we were running out of walls to hang it on.
Zahydie Burgos with her husband in Venice, Italy.
Courtesy of Zahydie Burgos
Pako worked as a lawyer for the federal government, but despite being one of the strongest candidates on paper for promotion, he'd fall short during the interview.
Initially, I attributed it to the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. We thought it was depression, and I got him the best psychiatrist and a therapist. Even though the psychiatrist changed his medication around 15 times, nothing worked, and he was getting worse.
The communication in our marriage changed
If he were making an appointment over the phone, the other person would likely become impatient because he had difficulty explaining what he wanted.
Once, he was due to meet me at a doctor's office, where we often went. It should have been a 10-minute drive, but he got terribly lost. He stopped the car to describe his surroundings, and I was able to guide him there.
I'd been his princess for 17 years, but he changed the way he communicated with me. He'd snap at me. We had never fought before. "This shouldn't happen in a marriage," I thought.
Burgos and her husband with their beloved pets
Courtesy of Zahydie Burgos
Then, during the last week of December 2021, he went to an eye appointment. The doctor called and said, "You need to come in." He'd detected an abnormality and thought Pako might have a brain tumor.
We took him for an MRI and, to our relief, it wasn't a tumor. However, there was bad news. The scan showed that his brain was atrophied and looked like that of an 80-year-old man.
I was in denial when we were first told
They said we needed to see a neurologist as soon as possible. She studied the scans and the reports from Pako's psychiatrist and therapist. Then she asked if his judgment had changed. I explained the issues from the past year or so.
She diagnosed him with Alzheimer's disease on January 28, 2022. I was a hot mess; in denial. l said, "How can that be? He's only 46." She explained that it was an early onset.
Pako's face was frozen, then he said, "I knew it." His father died from Alzheimer's in 2012 at the age of 70. He'd watched his decline.
Burgos and her husband enjoying an excursion.
Courtesy of Zahydie Burgos
The diagnosis was confirmed at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore after Pako underwent tests, including a lumbar puncture. His condition was genetic.
We informed only his eldest brother, a cardiologist, and my parents. We needed a year of mostly silence to grieve in our own way. I must have cried every day.
Still, we were encouraged by breakthroughs in the treatment of Alzheimer's in its early stages. Pako, now 50, has been on a medication named Lequembi since the spring of 2023. He has also participated in a clinical trial of a drug called Etalanetug for the last two years.
I care for my husband as much as possible, but I work full-time
There wasn't even a conversation before Mom and Dad, who retired in their 60s, moved into our house in Orlando. They relocated from their home in Puerto Rico soon after the diagnosis.
My 74-year-old father, Roberto, walks 30,000 steps a day. He says that he wants to stay fit to support Pako and me. It's mostly due to my parents that I can work full-time, while also caring for my husband whenever possible.
Roberto and Sara Burgos, with their daughter, Zahydie, and son-in-law, Pako, in Italy.
Courtesy of Zahydie Burgos
He can feed and bathe himself, even though he is progressing. He requires supervision, especially when he is outside the house, where there are no cameras to monitor him.
My parents are very respectful of boundaries and refrain from intervening in his affairs. But they make sure he is eating or taking his medication when I'm not there.
We felt it was time to share the news with the rest of our family in February 2023. They became our village. Pako's siblings visit often to spend time with him and take care of appointments I'm unable to attend. His 85-year-old mom calls every day from Puerto Rico.
I advocate for awareness of Alzheimer's disease
Members of the family have even joined us on our "bucket list" tours to ensure we make the most of every moment together. We've visited places such as Athens, Greece, and Venice, Italy.
Pako's diagnosis has upended our lives, but it has also been empowering. I advocate for carers like us, people with Alzheimer's, and raise awareness about early detection via Us Against Alzheimer's.
Most of all, I'm grateful for the support of our relatives who have made sacrifices for Pako and me. Their love and dedication mean a great deal.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Florida.
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images
Taylor Swift's net worth is $1.6 billion, according to Forbes.
The pop star and prolific songwriter has amassed a significant fortune throughout her career.
Here's how Swift earns and spends her money, from real estate to charitable donations.
Taylor Swift is one of the biggest names in both music and business.
At 15, she was the youngest songwriter to ever sign with Sony. Now in her 30s, Swift has 14 Grammys on her shelf — including four for album of the year, the most of any artist in history — several tours under her belt, a long list of chart-topping songs, and a beloved fan base who dub themselves "Swifties."
Such success makes Swift one of the world's highest-paid celebrities and one of the richest female singers. According to a Bloomberg News analysis published on the eve of her "1989" album rerelease, Swift has built a billion-dollar empire.
Taylor Swift has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion.
Taylor Swift onstage at the 2025 Grammys.
Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images
According to Forbes, which published a series of 2024 billionaire reports, Swift is the first musician to reach 10-figure status solely based on songwriting and performances rather than brand deals, makeup lines, or business ventures.
Swift's vast fortune is primarily thanks to her valuable discography and earnings from streaming deals, music sales, concert tickets, and merchandise.
Representatives for Swift did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider regarding the 2024 Forbes report.
As of December 12, 2025, Forbes estimates Swift's net worth to be $1.6 billion.
The pop star's record-breaking Eras Tour, which began in March 2023, propelled the singer to billionaire status.
Taylor Swift performs "The Man" on the Eras Tour.
Erika Goldring/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Swift's 21-month, five-continent Eras Tour was nothing short of a sensation. By the end of its first year, it had become the first tour to gross over $1 billion in revenue and was on track to become the highest-grossing tour of all time.
In October 2023, after Swift toured 56 dates across the US and Mexico, the Eras Tour had already generated $780 million and added $4.3 billion to America's gross domestic product, according to Bloomberg Economics.
Throughout 2024, Swift also made stops in Tokyo, Australia, Singapore, Canada, and 11 European countries.
By the end of its run, the Eras Tour had grossed over $2 billion.
Taylor Swift takes a bow while performing at the Eras Tour.
Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
The morning of Swift's final performance in Vancouver, The New York Times reported that the Eras Tour had crossed the $2 billion threshold, making it the first concert tour in history to do so.
This figure was confirmed by Taylor Swift Touring, the singer's production company. All 149 stadium shows were sold out, and the company said over 10 million people attended the Eras Tour.
The movie version of the tour broke box-office records before it was even released. It grossed more than $261 million worldwide.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
Worldwide ticket presales had already exceeded $100 million before "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" was released (a day early) on October 12, 2023, AMC Theatres reported.
According to ticketing service Fandango, the film set a record for the highest first-day ticket sales in 2023. It has also become the highest-grossing concert movie of all time, surpassing "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."
Swift, who bypassed movie studios to personally fund the concert movie, received half of the film's box office earnings. It grossed $261 million worldwide.
Swift cashed in on her blockbuster Eras Tour movie again by selling the streaming rights to Disney for more than $75 million.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
According to Puck News, Disney paid upward of $75 million for the exclusive rights.
Citing anonymous sources, the outlet reported that Disney's Bob Iger outbid Netflix and Universal Pictures (which handled VOD distribution for the film in December) for the streaming rights by offering a huge sum, which the other two streamers couldn't match.
Disney+ released another version of the concert movie, dubbed "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show," on December 12, 2025. It was filmed during the tour's last stop in Vancouver.
Swift also released an Eras Tour photo book, which sold over 800,000 copies in its first weekend.
"The Eras Tour Book" was sold for $39.99 at Target.
Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images
Shortly before the Eras Tour concluded, Swift released a photo book for Black Friday.
As she did with the Eras Tour film, Swift circumvented traditional routes and opted to self-publish, ensuring she would receive a greater share of the book's revenue.
The book was exclusively available at Target and sold hundreds of thousands of copies in its first weekend, becoming the second-best-selling non-fiction title after Barack Obama's presidential memoir.
Swift has endorsement deals and partnerships with high-profile brands.
Taylor Swift's 2022 Capitol One commercial.
Capital One/YouTube
Throughout her career, Swift has partnered with notable brands such as Capital One, AT&T, Stella McCartney, Elizabeth Arden perfumes, American Express, Keds, Diet Coke, Walmart, and Apple.
But touring has long been Swift's biggest moneymaker. The 1989 World Tour grossed more than $250 million in 2015.
Taylor Swift performs during the "1989" tour in Shanghai, China.
Liu Xingzhe/Visual China Group via Getty Images
The 1989 World Tour was the year's highest-grossing concert tour by far, according to the Los Angeles Times.
She earned even more during her Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018.
Taylor swift high-fives fans during the 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour.
Kevin Mazur/TAS18/Getty Images
Billboard reported that at the time, the Reputation Stadium Tour broke the record for the highest-grossing tour in US history. Swift earned an average of $7 million per show, more than double the US per-concert average during the "1989" tour.
But her tours don't only generate ticket sales. Swift also earns a substantial amount of money from merchandise.
Taylor Swift fans buy merch at an Eras Tour stop in Melbourne, Australia.
Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
In April 2023, Forbes estimated that Swift's coveted on-site merchandise — which she sells at an average price of $80 —could add an estimated $87 million in proceeds to her fortune.
Swift made over $50 million in 2021 by rerecording her earlier work.
Taylor Swift performs "All Too Well" during the Eras Tour in Toronto.
Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Swift embarked on a mission to rerecord her first six albums after Scooter Braun, whom she accused of "incessant, manipulative bullying," purchased the legal rights to her back catalog in 2019. (He later sold the masters to Shamrock Capital, a private-equity company, in a reported $300 million sale.)
Swift released the first installment in the series, "Fearless (Taylor's Version)," in 2021. It debuted atop the Billboard 200 — indicating this would be a lucrative venture for Swift. Later that year, Swift's new version of "Red" became one of the year's top-selling albums.
She has since released "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" and "1989 (Taylor's Version)." The latter sold over 1.6 million equivalent units in its first week, surpassing the original's total.
Swift amassed an estimated $230 million in record sales following the release of her 2022 album "Midnights."
Taylor Swift performs "Midnight Rain" on the Eras Tour.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
With more than 1.5 million equivalent album units earned in the US in its first week, "Midnights" landed the biggest week for an album in seven years (since Swift's own album "Reputation").
Swift's 2024 album, "The Tortured Poets Department," became her longest-running No. 1 album yet.
Taylor Swift performs "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" on the Eras Tour.
Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Swift's 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," was released on April 19, 2024. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 2.61 million equivalent album units sold in its first week.
This sum was thanks to high streaming numbers and physical album sales, especially vinyl sales, which Swift pushes more successfully than anyone else. According to a Billboard report from November 2023, one in every 15 vinyls sold in the US is one of Swift's.
On September 30, 2025, "Poets" was certified 8x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), meaning it sold at least 8 million copies in the US in less than two years.
Throughout the Eras Tour, Swift donated huge amounts to food banks along her route.
Taylor Swift performs "Bejeweled" on the Eras Tour.
John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Swift also gave hundreds of millions in bonuses to the crew of the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift and her dancers perform during the Eras Tour in Florida.
John Shearer/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
People reported that Swift distributed about $197 million in bonuses to crew members, including dancers, bandmates, backup singers, sound technicians, caterers, carpenters, security, and others, who made the Eras Tour possible.
"Bonus day is so important because setting a precedent with the Eras Tour is really important to me," Swift said in her Disney+ docuseries, "The End of an Era."
"If the tour grosses more, they get more of a bonus. And these people just work so hard, and they are the best at what they do," she added. "It feels like Christmas morning when you finally get to say thank you."
Michael Scherkenbach, founder and CEO of the Colorado-based trucking company Shomotion — one of two transportation companies used by the tour — told CNN that each trucker received a $100,000 check from Swift. He described the amount of money as "life-changing."
"The typical amount is $5,000 to $10,000 each," Scherkenbach said. "So this large amount is unbelievable."
In 2025, Swift announced she had bought back her masters, which will likely increase her net worth over time.
Taylor Swift performs "Look What You Made Me Do" at the Eras Tour.
John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
"All I've ever wanted was the opportunity to work hard enough to be able to one day purchase my music outright with no strings attached, no partnership, with full autonomy," Swift wrote in an open letter to fans. "I will be forever grateful to everyone at Shamrock Capital for being the first people to ever offer this to me."
The purchase gave Swift full ownership of her life's work — including her albums, music videos, and concert films — for the first time in her career.
Swift has not disclosed the terms of the deal, but sources told Billboard that she paid about $360 million, meaning Shamrock "did not make much, if any, profit off the sale of the assets."
After Swift launched her rerecording venture, many devoted fans refused to listen to the original recordings of her first six albums, which they called the "stolen versions." The masters owned by Shamrock became systematically devalued with each "Taylor's Version" release, likely giving her leverage in their negotiations.
Now that the masters belong to Swift, fans will once again feel free to stream and buy those albums, making them more valuable in her hands. Swift will also be able to sell physical copies, use the photography and artwork for merchandise, and license the songs for commercial use. She will continue to earn royalties from the "Taylor's Version" releases as well as the originals.
"Ownership of the six masters will undoubtedly improve Taylor's take-home pay," Larry Miller, director of the Music Business Program at New York University, told Newsweek. "Under Braun's and Shamrock's ownership, Taylor declined requests to license the original masters for film and TV. Now they'll be licensed, and the old, much-loved masters will generate revenue for the rest of her life — and beyond."
Two of Swift's albums have been certified diamond.
Taylor Swift performs "Fearless" on the Eras Tour.
John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Ahead of the release of her Eras Tour-inspired album, Swift submitted her catalog for updated certifications from the RIAA, which uses a third-party auditing firm to verify sales and streaming figures.
Swift's sophomore album, "Fearless," had already been certified diamond back in 2017, one of just a few albums by female artists to receive the award.
On September 30, 2025, Swift received her second diamond album award for her 2014 album, "1989," which the RIAA confirmed had sold at least 14 million copies in the US since its original release.
The RIAA also announced that Swift had become the first and only female artist to surpass 100 million certified album sales in the US.
Swift's newest album, "The Life of a Showgirl," broke the record for the biggest sales week in history.
Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" was released on October 3, 2025.
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott/TAS Rights Management
If "The Life of a Showgirl" is proof of anything, it's that Swift's imperial phase is far from over.
Billboard reported that within 24 hours of release, Swift's 12th studio album had already moved 3.2 million equivalent units through a combination of physical sales, digital sales, and streams.
Citing data from Luminate, Billboard said 2.7 million of those units were pure sales.
"Showgirl" went on to move over 4 million units in its debut week, breaking the all-time record previously held by Adele's "25."
Swift has amassed an impressive fortune since her debut — and she knows how to spend it. Her real-estate portfolio is worth a reported $110 million.
Taylor Swift moved to Nashville as a teenager.
Rusty Russell/Getty Images
Swift's real-estate portfolio consists of eight properties in four different states.
In Nashville, she owns a 3,240-square-foot condo worth an estimated $3 million and a 5,600-square-foot Greek Revival estate worth an estimated $2.5 million. The latter is the cheapest property she owns.
In LA, Swift owns a 10,982-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion worth nearly $30 million.
Austin and Taylor Swift attend the 2013 Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Across the coast, Swift owns an estate with seaside views in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, for which she reportedly paid $17.75 million.
Taylor Swift's Rhode Island mansion photographed during the eye of the Tropical Storm Henri on August 22, 2021
But that's nothing compared to the estimated $40 million worth of property Swift owns in New York City on the same block in Tribeca.
Taylor Swift outside her Tribeca apartment in 2018.
TheStewartofNY/GC Images
That includes an 8,309-square-foot duplex penthouse and a four-story townhouse.
She used to rent an apartment on Cornelia Street — the famous inspiration behind her "Lover" track "Cornelia Street" — which was listed in 2023 with a $17.9 million price tag.
Swift needs a way to travel among all these homes. She reportedly owns a Dassault private jet.
Taylor Swift is seen in New York City on November 8, 2024.
TheStewartofNY/GC Images
The Dassault 7X is registered to Island Jet Inc., a holding company listed under the same address as Taylor Swift Productions.
Swift used to have two private jets, but she quietly sold one amid criticism of her carbon footprint. ("Taylor's jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals," a rep for Swift said in a statement. "To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect.")
There's no word on how much she paid for these vehicles, but a brand-new Dassault 900 has a list price of $44 million, according to Business Jet Traveler. Elon Musk owns a similar model that costs about $26 million.
She is famously generous with her real estate, letting friends and fellow celebrities crash at her homes.
Taylor Swift dined with Brittany Mahomes, Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, and Sophie Turner in New York City in 2023.
Turner told British Vogue that she contacted Swift about good places to rent in New York City, where Turner filed a petition seeking an updated custody agreement. Instead, Swift offered her own apartment.
"Taylor was an absolute hero to me this year," Turner said. "I've never been more grateful to anyone than I am for her because she took my children and me, and provided us with a home and a safe space. She really has a heart of gold."
Back in the "1989" era, Swift revealed to Rolling Stone that her best friend at the time, Karlie Kloss, had her own dedicated bedroom in Swift's New York City apartment. According to the outlet, Swift had prepared a basket of the supermodel's favorite snacks to sit beside the bed.
Swift often spends money dining out with her loved ones, especially in New York City.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce dined in New York City's Meatpacking District on December 28, 2024.
TheStewartofNY/GC Images
In the past, Swift has been spotted enjoying dinner at New York City restaurants like The Fat Radish, The Spotted Pig, Sarabeth's, L'Asso, Nobu, Lucali, and Vita Carota.
Swift's fiancé, Travis Kelce, has his own formidable net worth. The engagement ring he gave Swift could be worth upward of $1 million.
Taylor Swift has her arms around Travis Kelce.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Swift began dating Kelce in the summer of 2023. Two years later, the three-time Super Bowl champion proposed to Swift with a diamond ring designed by Kindred Lubeck.
Ajay Anand, the CEO and founder of the diamond retailer Rare Carat, told Business Insider that the jewelry's value is likely around $1 million.
Forbes estimates Kelce's net worth to be $70 million, largely thanks to his 13-season NFL career. Kelce's most recent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, a two-year extension signed in April 2024, is worth $34.25 million.
Kelce has also diversified his business ventures beyond football, including a three-year podcast deal worth over $100 million, a bespoke clothing brand, and partnerships with companies like Pepsi and Subway.
Swift has always been philanthropic with her money — supporting the arts, social causes, and people in need.
Taylor Swift and Alan Valentine at the 2011 Nashville Symphony Ball.
Royce DeGrie/Getty Images
On her 24th birthday, she donated $100,000 to the Nashville Symphony, according to People.
Swift pledged $4 million to the Country Music Hall of Fame to fund an education center.
The Taylor Swift Education Center officially opened in 2013.
Royce DeGrie/TAS/Getty Images for TAS
Her commitment to education doesn't stop with music; Swift also donated $50,000 to New York City public schools, People reported.
She has donated millions to support victims of natural disasters.
David Buchan/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images
Earlier that year, Swift donated over $27,000 to a GoFundMe for a university student in the UK who said her immigrant status made her ineligible for maintenance loans or grants.
"Vitoria, I came across your story online and am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality," Swift wrote when she sent her donation, per USA Today. "I want to gift you the rest of your goal amount. Good luck with everything you do! Love, Taylor."
Swift's longtime friend, Ruby Rose, said she has watched Swift scroll through GoFundMe "like a social media app, clicking 'reach their donation' like the 'like' button."
Swift is particularly passionate about backing LGBTQ+ organizations.
Taylor Swift performs at the Stonewall Inn during Pride Month in 2019.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for AEG
Swift has long been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, threading references to the fight for equal rights into songs like "Welcome to New York" and "You Need to Calm Down."
Back in 2016, Swift participated in a charity auction to help keep the historic Stonewall Inn operational. The New York City gay bar was the scene of a police raid in 1969, sparking a riot that helped launch the nationwide fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
Swift even helps out her fellow pop stars. She gave Kesha $250,000 to help with legal fees during her lawsuit against Dr. Luke.
Kesha performed "Praying" at the 2018 Grammys.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
For several years, Kesha was embroiled in a defamation lawsuit after she accused the music producer Dr. Luke, her former mentor, of "unrelenting abuse" and rape. (Dr. Luke denied the allegations, and they reached a settlement in 2023.)
The "Rainbow" singer revealed Swift's donation during an interview with Rolling Stone in 2017.
Kesha described Swift as a "sweetheart. Very, very sweet, very, very genuine, extremely generous, picks up the phone every time I call her. My mom doesn't even always pick up the phone!"
Despite her deep pockets, Swift isn't one to squander her money. She has proven herself to be incredibly savvy with investments.
Taylor Swift at the 2022 VMAs.
Cindy Ord/WireImage
In 2022, Swift pulled out of a $100 million sponsorship deal with Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX after she questioned whether the company was selling "unregistered securities."
As Business Insider previously reported, many other celebrities, such as Tom Brady and Stephen Curry, failed to do so and were subsequently sued for endorsing the now-bankrupt crypto exchange.
Eve Crosbie, Hillary Hoffower, Libby Torres, and Taylor Nicole Rogers contributed to earlier versions of this story.
Some McDonald's locations go far beyond the typical drive-thru experience, offering unique and unforgettable dining settings that redefine the concept of fast food.
From a New Zealand McDonald's located inside a decommissioned plane to multiple restaurants built inside historic homes, McDonald's has transformed iconic and unconventional spaces into mind-blowing dining locations.
Many restaurants have also been modified to comply with local laws. In Sedona, Arizona, there's a McDonald's with turquoise arches instead of the iconic golden ones, designed to complement the area's natural red rock scenery. A glass-walled McDonald's restaurant in Georgia has also received an award for its impressive architecture.
Here are some of the most unusual and extraordinary McDonald's restaurants around the world.
The McDonald's location in Downey, California, is the oldest McDonald's restaurant that still looks as it did when it first opened.
McDonald's in Downey, California.
tishomir/Shutterstock
It is the oldest surviving McDonald's location in the world. It doesn't even have a drive-thru — instead, customers walk up to the restaurant's windows to place their orders.
The location also features a vintage McDonald's sign with the fast-food brand's old mascot.
On the sign is "Speedee" McDonald's original chef logo.
David McNew/Getty Images
Speedee, a chef with a hamburger for a head, appeared on the original McDonald's signs alongside the brand's logo of two interlocking golden arches.
Some signs also advertised the low price of McDonald's hamburgers — just 15 cents at the time.
This McDonald's restaurant in Hangzhou, China, is located inside a historic villa that once housed a former Taiwanese leader.
Zhang Peng/LightRocket/Getty Images
Before being converted into a McDonald's and McCafé restaurant, the building was known as a cultural relic that had been the residence of politician Chiang Ching-kuo for one month during the 1940s, according to CNN.
The restaurant has been called "the most controversial McDonald's outlet in the world."
STR/AFP/Getty Images
CNN reported that many locals objected to the restaurant opening inside the historic building, calling it a prime example of Western commercialism invading Chinese culture.
However, since opening in 2015, the restaurant has become somewhat of a tourist attraction, welcoming visitors from all over the world.
There's also an eye-catching McDonald's on Dongmen Street in Shenzhen, China.
The McDonald's on Dongmen Street in Shenzhen, China.
Lina Mo/Shutterstock
The restaurant opened on October 8, 1990, in Shenzhen's Special Economic Zone.
The South China Morning Post reported that on its opening day, the unique McDonald's location received over 40,000 customers, despite having a maximum seating capacity of only 460. It was the first McDonald's to open in mainland China, making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists at the time.
The building occupies three floors and features traditional-looking pagoda-style roofs.
The McDonald's on Dongmen Street in Shenzhen, China.
Dave Colman/Shutterstock
The restaurant's roof is still adorned with the iconic golden arches to make it recognizable to passersby.
This McDonald's restaurant in Taupo, New Zealand, is located inside a decommissioned plane.
This McDonald's restaurant in Taupo, New Zealand, is located inside a decommissioned plane.
Jam Travels/Shutterstock
Named one of the "world's coolest McDonald's" on a sign outside the restaurant, customers can enjoy everything from a classic Big Mac to Chicken McNuggets and McCafe beverages inside the plane.
There's even airplane-style seating where customers can sit and enjoy their food.
Fotos593/Shutterstock
Visitors to this unique McDonald's restaurant can also view the D3 plane's cockpit.
This McDonald's restaurant in Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Australia, is designed in the Art Deco style of the 1920s and '30s.
Art deco McDonalds building in Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Tim McRae/Getty Images
The building was originally the United Kingdom Hotel and was designed by architect James Hastie Wardrop.
Constructed between 1937 and 1938, this restaurant has been called one of the most beautiful McDonald's buildings in the world.
Built in 1983, the Rock-N-Roll McDonald's in Chicago was known nationwide for its themed decor.
PRNewsfoto/Getty Images
The restaurant, which spanned two floors and was a replica of Ray Kroc's first McDonald's, was filled with music and pop-culture memorabilia.
The decor was quintessentially '80s, but in 2017, the fast-food giant decided to fully renovate and modernize the location.
An old jukebox with "45's" is displayed in the "Rock 'N' Roll McDonald's" July 13, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois.
Tim Boyle/Getty Images
After the restaurant was partially demolished and modernized, the memorabilia once housed in the restaurant were added to the franchise owner's personal collection, The Chicago Tribune reported.
Surprisingly, another iconic McDonald's restaurant that has closed for good is the chain's flashy Times Square location.
Joseph M. Arseneau/Shutterstock
Known for its giant marquee featuring thousands of light bulbs, the restaurant — perhaps surprisingly — closed in 2020 not as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but rather as part of McDonald's regular review of its restaurant portfolio, a spokesperson told NBC.
However, a new McDonald's restaurant has opened in Times Square, meaning you can still get your fix.
This McDonald's in Sedona, Arizona, is the only one in the world with turquoise arches.
Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock
The restaurant, built in 1993, is situated in one of Arizona's most beautiful cities, renowned for its awe-inspiring red-rock mountains, canyon walls, and pine forests.
The building has to adhere to Sedona's strict guidelines on building design and signage.
FiledIMAGE/Shutterstock
While the bright yellow color of most McDonald's signs might work in other parts of the country, the turquoise color chosen by the Sedona, Arizona, location blends much better with the surrounding landscape.
Sedona also has strict restrictions on the height of buildings and signage, which is why the famous arches are placed lower than at most other McDonald's restaurants.
A now-closed McDonald's in Houston was themed to pay homage to the nearby NASA Space Center.
K I Photography/Shutterstock
On top of the large McDonald's restaurant, which also had a play place, was a statue of a NASA astronaut holding a container of fries.
The theme continued inside the restaurant.
Amanda H./Yelp
Ronald McDonald and the rest of the "McDonaldland" characters lined the walls wearing space suits and posing against a starry background.
The world's first floating McDonald's restaurant opened in St. Louis in 1980.
Floating McDonald's restaurant in Saint Louis.
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Moored slightly south of the Gateway Arch on the Mississippi River, this McDonald's was the very first McDonald's to be opened on a riverboat.
It was open for 20 years before closing in 2000.
The McDonald's restaurant in Freeport, Maine, resembles a house more than a standard fast-food franchise.
McDonald's in Freeport.
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Some McDonald's locations attempt to blend in with the local buildings and are designed more sympathetically.
This McDonald's location, however, was actually built inside a preexisting colonial mansion that's more than 150 years old. Located in Freeport, a small seaside town in Maine, the building was converted into the town's only McDonald's in 1984.
This Parisian McDonald's is located in a historic building built in 1892.
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The restaurant is on Rue Saint-Lazare in Paris, France. Though the building is now a McDonald's, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Referred to as the "flying saucer McDonald's," this unique fast-food restaurant in Roswell, New Mexico, is truly out of this world.
Flying Saucer UFO McDonald's at night on Main Street in downtown Roswell, New Mexico.
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Inspired by Roswell's extraterrestrial history, the interior of the spaceship contains a space-themed play area.
This McDonald's restaurant in Kristiansand, Norway, was converted from an old bank building.
McDonald's in Kristiansand, Norway.
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Though you might think patrons can stroll up the steps to enter one of the most unusual McDonald's buildings in the world, customers actually enter from a side entrance.
A McDonald's in São Paulo, Brazil, is similarly grandiose — at one point, it even had cartoonish fry sculptures on the front of the building.
McDonald's in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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The building almost resembles the White House. It's known as the Méqui1000 because it was the 1,000th McDonald's to open in Brazil.
However, past its columns and grand facade, customers can still enjoy McDonald's favorites like the Big Mac or Brazilian menu items like the McCrispy Chicken Legend and the cheddar McMelt.
A McDonald's location in Porto, Portugal, was previously occupied by Cafe Imperial, a famous coffee shop open in the city since the 1930s.
McDonald's in Porto, Portugal.
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The giant bronze eagle, designed by Portuguese sculptor Henrique Moreira, is usually the first thing customers notice when they approach the restaurant.
Inside the restaurant, guests find glamorous details such as crystal chandeliers and a massive stained-glass window behind the counter.
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The colorful window is original to the coffee shop that previously occupied the space, and it features beautiful coffee-related scenes.
The restaurant has been called the world's most beautiful McDonald's.
Independence, Ohio, is home to a McDonald's that's known as one of the fanciest fast-food restaurants in the country.
McDonald's in Independence, Ohio.
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It was designed in accordance with building requirements from the city.
Inside, guests are greeted by gold chandeliers and a majestic banister.
Michael P./Yelp
"The building is unique to any I have ever seen and it is a joy to take a break and walk to the second floor and enjoy the view while I enjoy breakfast or lunch," wrote one TripAdvisor user.
This McDonald's is found in Barstow Station, a fake train station in Barstow, California.
McDonald's at Barstow Station.
Bill C./Yelp
The "train station" opened in 1975, and is also occupied by a Starbucks and a Popeyes.
The restaurant is surrounded by passenger train cars, which are used as dining areas.
McDonald's in Barstow, California.
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Despite having a unique theme, the restaurant still serves up McDonald's favorites.
A McDonald's restaurant is also found inside the historic Denton House on Long Island, New York.
McDonald's in New Hyde Park, New York.
McDonald's originally intended to knock the building down after it was purchased in 1985.
McDonald's in New Hyde Park, New York.
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However, Atlas Obscura reported that the fast-food giant faced pressure from preservationists to restore the home to its former grandeur.
The town then allowed the chain to build onto the existing building to create space for a drive-thru.
There's also a McDonald's inside Budapest's beautiful Western Railway Station.
AP PHOTO/NOEMI BRUZAK
The station was built in 1877 by the Eiffel Company, which also built the Eiffel Tower.
This unique McDonald's location is in Batumi, Georgia.
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Located in downtown Batumi, this McDonald's stands out for its reflective glass exterior. Patrons eating inside the restaurant can also gaze out onto the pool of water and manicured grass surrounding the building.
Inside, the restaurant's furnishings are similarly modern in design.
Karolis Kavolelis/Shutterstock
This location was built in 2013 and won the award for The Best Commercial Building of 2014 by the architecture website ArchDaily.
In spring, flowers bloom on the lawns.
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This makes for a great photo-op or simply a beautiful sight while patrons eat their meals.
This McDonald's restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina, was renovated to fit with the local guidelines from the nearby Biltmore Estate.
McDonald's in Asheville, North Carolina.
Nelson M./Yelp
Resembling a ski lodge, the restaurant fits in perfectly in the mountain town and the nearby Biltmore Estate, a grand home built by George Vanderbilt in the 1890s.
However, the inside is grander than perhaps any outside viewer could expect.
The restaurant features red-oak tables, a self-playing baby grand piano, wrought-iron railings, and a fireplace.
McDonald's in Asheville, North Carolina.
Jackie S./Yelp
The interior is also decorated with wallpaper, pieces of art, and hanging chandeliers.
The McSki in Sälen, Sweden, looks straight out of a fairytale.
McDonald's Sverige
Located in Lindvallen, one of Sweden's premier ski resorts, this one-of-a-kind "ski-thru" McDonald's allows guests to enter the building and order their food without ever even removing their skis.
Gary He told Business Insider that it was the most unusual location he had ever visited.
"The air is so clean and crisp — it's like being on top of the world," He said. "When I visited, it wasn't even busy. It was just me, the McSki, and the mountains. I was just hanging out and enjoying myself."