Verne H. Winchell (approx:1915 - November 26, 2002) was founder of Winchell's Donuts.

On October 8, 1948 he opened his first donut shop in Temple City, California and earned the nickname "The Donut King" while making a fortune with a chain of Winchell's-branded donut shops in the western United States during the 1940s and 1950s. He sold his interest in the company for $600 million in 1984 and became chairman of Denny's Restaurants for several years. Winchell was also a successful horse breeder and owner. One of his colts, named "Donut King", was one of the favorites for the 1962 Kentucky Derby. Verne Winchell died of a heart attack at the age of 87.