S. Truett Cathy was 93 and surrounded by his family when he passed away early on Monday.
He hit the headlines in recent years for his views on gay marriage.
His Chick-fil-A restaurant chain is one of few in America that will not open on Sundays to give his staff a day of rest and to attend church.
That view helped the chain win a loyal following for some Christians.
There were protests against his family when his son denounced gay marriage and said his family was 'guilty as charged' for backing 'the biblical definition of a family.'
Politicians in Boston and Chicago told Cathy his company was no longer welcome there whilst gay rights boycotted the stores.
His funeral will be held at First Baptist Jonesboro in Jonesboro, Georgia on Wednesday.