Wiki Biography
Montgomery Moran, known as Monty Moran, was born in 1966 in Denver, Colorado, USA. He is widely recognized as the co-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Chipotle, a popular fast-food restaurant chain known for serving Mexican cuisine. He took on this role in January 2009.
Monty Moran’s net worth is estimated to be over $120 million, with a significant portion acquired during his tenure at Chipotle. He receives an annual salary of over $4.5 million, in addition to stock options totaling nearly $30 million each year. Over the past three years, his total estimated earnings amount to almost $110 million. Notably, shareholders of the company opposed a salary increase for him this year!
Montgomery Moran Net Worth $120 Million
Monty Moran earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of Colorado in 1988. He later obtained a J.D., cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1993. Initially aspiring to become a trial lawyer, Moran began his career at Morris Polich & Purdy in Los Angeles, focusing on smaller cases to develop his skills as a prominent attorney, laying the foundation for his impressive net worth.
After demonstrating his aptitude in legal matters, Moran transitioned back to Denver in 1996 to join the Messner & Reeves law firm. His rapid advancement within the company led to his promotion as a partner within two years, followed by taking on the role of CEO the subsequent year. His exceptional management abilities and legal expertise attracted the attention of Chipotle, a client of the firm. During this time, the company was undergoing an initial phase of expansion, significantly contributing to the growth of Moran’s net worth.
Besides his professional accomplishments, Moran shared a personal connection with Chipotle. He had been classmates with Steve Ells, the founder of the restaurant chain, during high school. Their friendship blossomed during college, and Moran often dined at Ells’ house, savoring the delicious gourmet food, including burritos, which later inspired Ells to establish his own restaurant featuring them. Therefore, upon returning to Denver, Moran readily began providing legal counsel for Chipotle, primarily focusing on leases. His legal expertise extended beyond trials to encompass employment matters, real estate, and various transactional issues, in addition to general corporate counseling.
Monty Moran’s deep-seated involvement with Chipotle, from its early stages with only a handful of restaurants to managing several hundred, culminated in him joining the company in 2005 as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). The company highly valued his comprehensive management skills and legal proficiency, marking a turning point in his increasing net worth.
Regarded as the visionary behind the expansion of the restaurant program, Moran played a pivotal role in instilling a culture of high performers throughout Chipotle. Emphasizing that fast-food does not equate to ‘junk-food’, the company experienced remarkable growth, expanding from fewer than 20 restaurants to almost 1700, and from less than 100 employees to almost 10,000. This success translated to revenue of nearly $1.5 billion and a profit margin of 12%.
On a personal note, Monty Moran has been married to Kathy since 1996, and they have three children.