Meet The Billionaire’s Son Behind Dave’s Hot Chicken

From Predator to Doctor Dolittle, John Davis is one of Hollywood’s most prolific producers. Now he’s using his playbook for success on fast-casual dining chains and trying not to eat too much of it.

The 68-year-old John Davis takes obvious pleasure in downing the kind of food popular with teenagers. He’s a billionaire’s son, so he’s done the caviar-and-champagne thing, but right now it’s all about Blaze Pizza, Wetzel’s Pretzels, PopUp Bagels and Dave’s Hot Chicken. They’re four of the fastest-growing fast-casual franchises of the past two decades, and Davis has invested in and helped guide them all.

“I eat at them all the time, but you put a lot of weight on if you aren’t careful,” Davis tells Forbes. “I have the taste of the masses.”