Evan Spiegel is just 34 years old but has already made a huge impact in tech¹. He is worth $2.6 billion as of August 2024. He co-founded Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat¹. In 2015, he became the youngest billionaire in the world, showing his business skills and vision¹.

Spiegel started his journey at Stanford University. There, he co-founded Snapchat in 2011 as a class project¹. By 2022, Snapchat had 1 million daily users¹. This made it a big player in social media. Spiegel’s knack for spotting new trends in mobile tech helped Snap Inc. grow a lot.

Key Takeaways

• Evan Spiegel is the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat
• At just 34 years old, Spiegel has a personal net worth of $2.6 billion as of August 2024
• Spiegel was recognized as the youngest billionaire in the world in 2015
• Snapchat, Spiegel’s class project at Stanford, had reached 1 million daily active users by the end of 2022
• Spiegel’s ability to recognize and capitalize on emerging trends in mobile technology has been a key driver of Snap Inc.’s success

Early Life and Educational Background

Evan Spiegel, the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., was born on June 4, 1990, in Los Angeles, California². He grew up in Pacific Palisades in a $2 million home. His parents, both lawyers, went to Harvard and Stanford³.

Privileged Upbringing in Los Angeles

Spiegel had a privileged childhood. He went to Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica. There, he faced bullying from his peers³.

Stanford University and Early Design Education

Spiegel studied graphic design at Stanford University in 2008². He took classes at Otis College of Art and Design and Art Center College of Design. These classes helped him improve his product design skills². He also met Scott Cook, co-founder of Intuit, who invested in Snapchat early on³.

Notable Internships and Early Career Moves

Spiegel had several important internships early on. He worked at Red Bull and on the TxtWeb project at Intuit. These experiences were key to his success with Snapchat².

“Snapchat was founded at Stanford University in 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy.”²

Evan Spiegel’s early life and education set him up for success. He became the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat²³.

The Birth of Snapchat: From Class Project to Tech Giant

In 2011, Evan Spiegel, a student at Stanford University, came up with an idea for an app. He wanted it to have ephemeral messaging as a class project⁴. With the help of classmates Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown, they created “Picaboo,” later renamed Snapchat⁴.

The app’s unique feature of disappearing messages quickly caught on. By the end of 2012, it had 1 million users every day⁴.

Spiegel decided to leave Stanford to work on Snapchat full-time. He finished his degree in 2018⁴. Snapchat kept growing with new features like Discover and Snap Map⁴.

In 2013, Spiegel turned down a $3 billion offer from Facebook⁴⁵. This showed his confidence in Snapchat’s future in ephemeral messaging.

Spiegel’s leadership helped Snap Inc., Snapchat’s parent company, grow. They introduced Spectacles and augmented reality tech⁴. His dedication to innovation has turned Snapchat into a tech giant⁴.

Evan Spiegel’s Leadership Journey at Snap Inc.

Evan Spiegel, the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., has led the company to great success. At 26, he became one of the youngest CEOs of a public company when Snap started trading in March 2017⁶. He introduced features like Stories and Discover, drawing big brands and publishers to Snapchat⁷.

Becoming the Youngest Billionaire CEO

Spiegel’s smart decisions have taken Snap Inc. to new levels. In 2015, he became a billionaire at just 25, making him one of the youngest billionaires⁸. This achievement made him a tech industry leader, inspiring many.

Notable Business Decisions and Growth Strategy

Spiegel has made bold moves and focused on innovation. The launch of Snapchat Spectacles in 2016 showed his vision, even if sales were not what he hoped⁷. Despite this, his efforts to keep users engaged and find ways to make money have helped Snap Inc. compete with giants like Instagram⁷.

Innovation in Social Media Technology

Spiegel’s commitment to innovation has changed social media. Snapchat’s geofilters and augmented reality features have won over users. His focus on privacy has also attracted more people⁷. Spiegel’s vision for Snap Inc. is shaping the future of social media, exploring new tech and user experiences.

“Life is not about making money, winning awards, or competitions. It’s about doing something that you love and being proud of what you’ve accomplished.”⁸ – Evan Spiegel, Snap Inc. CEO

Business Achievements and Net Worth

Evan Spiegel, Snapchat’s co-founder and CEO, has built a huge net worth. By 2021, he was ranked 55th on the Forbes 400 with $13.8 billion¹. After Snap Inc.’s IPO in 2017, Spiegel and Bobby Murphy owned over 70% of voting power and about 45% of stock¹.

Spiegel’s wealth has changed over time. It hit an estimated $13 billion in September 2021⁹. Now, his net worth is around $2.3 billion, according to Forbes 2023⁹. He became a billionaire at 25 in 2015¹.

Spiegel and Murphy have given a lot to charity. They plan to donate over 13 million shares to the Snap Foundation over 15-20 years¹. Spiegel and his wife, Miranda Kerr, also donated to help the 2022 Otis College of Art and Design graduates¹.

Spiegel’s skills go beyond Snapchat. He joined the Gagosian Gallery board in 2022 and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 2021¹. Under his leadership, Snapchat became a global hit with over 750 million monthly users¹⁰. Users in the US open Snapchat almost 40 times a day, and it handles over 5 billion snaps daily¹⁰.

Spiegel’s drive and creativity have made him a key figure in tech. His net worth shows his success in business and giving back.

Personal Life and Relationships

Evan Spiegel, Snapchat’s founder, found his perfect match in Miranda Kerr, a famous model and entrepreneur¹¹. They started dating in 2015 and got married in a small ceremony in Los Angeles in 2017¹². Together, they have three sons: Hart, Myles, and Pierre¹³.

Marriage to Miranda Kerr

Spiegel and Kerr met at a Louis Vuitton dinner in 2014¹¹. They got engaged in July 2016 and married in May 2017¹¹. Their wedding was intimate, with only 30 guests, and no bridal party¹³. They shared their journey from friends to partners in an interview with Vogue Australia¹³.

Family Life and Personal Values

Spiegel and Kerr have a blended family. They co-parent Flynn, Kerr’s son from her previous marriage to Orlando Bloom¹¹. They value health and wellness, with Spiegel using Kerr’s KORA Organics products¹¹.

French Citizenship and Cultural Interests

Spiegel became French in 2018¹³. This shows his love for French culture and his economic contribution to France¹³. In 2022, he joined the Gagosian Gallery’s board of directors¹³. This highlights his passion for art and his role in the global art scene.

Evan Spiegel’s personal life shows he can balance work and family well. His marriage to Miranda Kerr and their family’s values have shaped his life¹³¹¹¹².

Philanthropy and Social Impact

Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., has been working hard to help communities. In 2018, he gave $20 million to Stockton Scholars. This program in Stockton, California, helps students who are not as fortunate¹⁴.

In 2022, Spiegel and his wife, Miranda Kerr, made a big announcement. They said they would pay off the student loans of Otis College of Art and Design’s graduating class. This move was to help these young artists and designers focus on their dreams without worrying about money¹⁴.

The Snap Foundation, started by Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, aims to make a difference. It helps young people in Los Angeles get into the creative field¹⁵. In 2022, it gave money to 22 local nonprofits. This helped the foundation reach more people in the community¹⁵.

Source Links

1. Evan Spiegel – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Spiegel
2. Elizabeth Arden – Biography, Pioneer of Women’s Cosmetics – https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/evan-spiegel
3. The rise of Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, once one of the youngest billionaires in the world – https://www.businessinsider.com/evan-spiegel-ceo-co-founder-snap-life-career
4. Snapchat Goes Public – https://sites.nd.edu/entrepreneurlaw/2017/02/28/snapchat-goes-public/
5. The Inside Story Of Snapchat: The World’s Hottest App Or A $3 Billion Disappearing Act? – https://www.forbes.com/sites/jjcolao/2014/01/06/the-inside-story-of-snapchat-the-worlds-hottest-app-or-a-3-billion-disappearing-act/
6. Great Success Story of Evan Spiegel, – Issuu – https://issuu.com/primeinsights/docs/prime_insights_magazine_edition_april_2023/s/23275509
7. Evan Spiegel: The Visionary Behind Snapchat’s Phenomenal Success – Key Executives – https://www.thekeyexecutives.com/2024/05/14/evan-spiegel-the-visionary-behind-snapchats-phenomenal-success/
8. What It Takes to Become a CEO – https://globalyouth.wharton.upenn.edu/articles/business/what-it-takes-to-become-a-ceo/
9. Evan Spiegel’s Net Worth and Billionaire Story – https://www.capitalism.com/evan-spiegels-net-worth/
10. Evan Spiegel: The Mind Behind Snapchat’s Success – Quartr Insights – https://quartr.com/insights/business-philosophy/evan-spiegel-the-mind-behind-snapchat-s-success
11. Inside the whirlwind romance of Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and model Miranda Kerr, who are raising 3 kids together while running their own companies – https://www.businessinsider.com/evan-spiegel-miranda-kerr-relationship-story-marriage-baby-2017-11
12. Miranda Kerr and her billionaire husband Evan Spiegel’s love story in pictures – https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celebrity-news/miranda-kerr-evan-spiegel-relationship-70064/
13. All About Miranda Kerr’s Husband, Snapchat Founder Evan Spiegel – https://people.com/who-is-evan-spiegel-miranda-kerr-husband-7563158
14. Evan Spiegel (United States) – https://medium.com/@areleaders/evan-spiegel-united-states-61fc82a4428f
15. Society – https://citizen.snap.com/society