Lynsi Snyder’s name might not be familiar, but her company’s surely is. She is the heir to the In-N-Out Burger chain, founded by her grandparents in 1948. But despite being one of the richest women in America, she avoids the spotlight in favor of a more private way of living.
In 2000, at just 18 and due to several family tragedies, she became the last remaining heir of her family’s business. Her father passed away due to an accidental overdose of drugs and his absence created a deep void in her life that she struggled to overcome.
However, while she struggled personally, she thrived professionally. In 2010, she became president of the company and at age 35 (in 2017) she received the final portion of her inheritance as part of a complex trust created by her grandparents.
Since the beginning, she was committed to keeping the business within her family stating she would never let it go public or franchise. "The only reason you would do that is for the money and I, I wouldn't do it...My heart is totally connected to this company because of my family and the fact that they're not here, you know. I have a strong tie to keep this the way they would want it," she said.
And when it comes to her personal future, instead of allowing tragic circumstances define it, Snyder decided to instead dedicate her life to religion and humanitarian efforts. She is the founder of the Army of Love, a nonprofit organization whose vision is to unite fellow Christians in helping those in need. She is also involved in philanthropic activities through the In-N-Out Burger Foundation that focus on supporting abused and underserved children.
Despite her fortune and social involvement, she has never sought exposure. She remains media shy with a preference to lead a private life, only doing a handful of interviews. She once said: "We back away from it, because we don't want to be in the spotlight, we don't want a bunch of attention. And we want to do what we do best, and that's serve some good burgers to our customers."