Hot Cheetos, specifically the popular Flamin' Hot Cheetos, are widely attributed to Richard Montañez, a janitor at Frito-Lay who, inspired by Mexican street food, created the spicy flavor by experimenting with plain Cheetos and chili powder at home. Montañez then pitched the idea directly to Frito-Lay's CEO, leading to its commercial success and becoming an iconic snack.
However, this origin story has been contested. Frito-Lay and other sources say the spicy snack was developed by a professional team at the company's headquarters, led by Lynne Greenfeld, a junior employee with an MBA, who developed the Flamin' Hot brand and launched it in 1989. Montañez himself began publicly claiming invention credit only in the late 2000s.
In summary:
- Original Cheetos were invented by Charles Elmer Doolin in 1948.
- Flamin' Hot Cheetos were popularized in the 1990s.
- Richard Montañez claims to have invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos inspired by Mexican flavors and personal initiative.
- The official corporate claim attributes the product creation to a professional team including Lynne Greenfeld.
- Montañez did rise in the company to executive levels and became a symbol of Hispanic entrepreneurial success.
So while Richard Montañez is popularly recognized as the creator of Flamin' Hot Cheetos and remains an inspirational figure, the precise origin has nuanced conflicting accounts.
