Lynsi Snyder presents an atypical picture of a billionaire owner and president of an iconic national corporation

Lynsi Snyder presents an atypical picture of a billionaire owner and president of an iconic national corporation. Now in her 40s, the heir to the wildly popular In-N-Out Burger sports Bible verse tattoos, competitively drag races, and openly discusses her battles with substance use. Though she generally avoids public appearances unless she is promoting Slave 2 Nothing, the foundation she started with her husband, Sean Ellingson (whom she publicly acknowledges she met on Tinder), Snyder has been vocal with the press about her intention to keep In-N-Out firmly in the family, with absolutely no intention of selling or going public. In-N-Out was established in 1948 by Lynsi Snyder’s grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder. The first location in Baldwin Park, California, was a 10-foot-wide burger stand with no seating. Harry installed a two-way speaker system for placing orders that revolutionized how Americans ordered dinner. Early on, Harry stocked the kitchen through daily trips for local meat and produce. Esther did the books for the restaurant at their home, just around the corner from the stand. When it came time to expand the business, the Snyders doubled down on their commitment to fresh ingredients, lovingly prepared. They butchered their own meat, started a wholesale paper supply to source their packaging materials, and hired their own construction crews to build Lynsi Snyder presents an atypical picture of a billionaire owner and president of an iconic national corporation. Now in her 40s, the heir to the wildly popular In-N-Out Burger sports Bible verse tattoos, competitively drag races, and openly discusses her battles with substance use. Though she generally avoids public appearances unless she is promoting Slave 2 Nothing, the foundation she started with her husband, Sean Ellingson (whom she publicly acknowledges she met on Tinder), Snyder has been vocal with the press about her intention to keep In-N-Out firmly in the family, with absolutely no intention of selling or going public. In-N-Out was established in 1948 by Lynsi Snyder’s grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder. The first location in Baldwin Park, California, was a 10-foot-wide burger stand with no seating. Harry installed a two-way speaker system for placing orders that revolutionized how Americans ordered dinner. Early on, Harry stocked the kitchen through daily trips for local meat and produce. Esther did the books for the restaurant at their home, just around the corner from the stand. When it came time to expand the business, the Snyders doubled down on their commitment to fresh ingredients, lovingly prepared. They butchered their own meat, started a wholesale paper supply to source their packaging materials, and hired their own construction crews to build new restaurants. At age 27, Lynsi Snyder took control of the company, which had grown to an estimated $550 million in sales at 251 locations. She had worked in various departments of In-N-Out as well as retail locations, taking part in the family business from a young age. She came to this position of ownership through a series of tragedies and personal struggles—including substance use and two divorces—that she says strengthened her. “The things that I’ve been through forced me to be stronger,” she says. “When you persevere, you end up developing more strength.” Lynsi’s father, Guy Snyder, was the eldest son of Harry and Esther, but when Harry decided to retire, he passed the baton to Guy’s younger brother, Rich. Guy battled opioid addiction and had occasional run-ins with the police as well as stints in rehab. In 1993, Rich died in a plane crash on his way to open the company’s newest location, and Guy assumed leadership for six years as vice president to Esther, who was president, until he died of drug-related heart failure in 1999. Another family member, Mark Taylor, took the reins until 2010. In-N-Out is an anomaly among fast-food restaurants. The retail locations are all company-owned, not franchised. Its menu has remained largely unchanged since its inception in the 1950s. Most of the chain’s locations are in California, and the company has no plans to expand to all 50 states. All of its ingredients are fresh, never frozen, and delivered daily from one of the company-owned warehouses, all within driving distance of a chain location. In-N-Out locations are owned properties, not rented, and are usually situated carefully clear of urban core areas with higher property values and costs of living. These cost-saving measures are passed along to the consumer. Though In-N-Out pricing has increased from its initial offering of a burger for a quarter prices have not risen commensurate with the market or even with inflation. The company prides itself on investing in its people, paying $13 an hour versus the industry average of $9.50 to entry-level employees. The typical manager has been with the company for almost 17 years and makes over $130,000. Not surprisingly, the company has an outstanding reputation as an employer, with a 2023 rating of 4.6 of five stars on Glassdoor, with Lynsi herself earning a 92 percent approval rating, numbers not regularly seen for fast-food restaurants. Lynsi Snyder continues to hold fast to the family’s vision of high-quality ingredients and a limited menu of basic offerings prepared well. The chain has a fervent following, including stars like Paris Hilton, Kylie Jenner, and chef Gordon Ramsay. She’s also clear about holding the ownership of In-N-Out with no question. “It’s not about the money for us,” she says. “Unless God sends a lightning bolt down and changes my heart miraculously, I would not ever sell.” Respond to the set of discussion questions below: What are some of the primary reasons for In-N-Out’s success? The company is firmly opposed to selling or going public. Do you think that is a good strategy? Clearly state your position ("Yes, In-N-Out should stay private." or "No, In-N-Out should go public."), explain the advantages and disadvantages of private versus public ownership, and why you choose your position. Can you think of other examples of small businesses with a cult-like following? How have they gained popularity? How has increased visibility on social media impacted the ability of businesses to get new customers? Extra credit (up to 5 points): In-N-Out's slogan is "Quality You Can Taste." Create a new slogan for the company.