Evan Spiegel | Biography

• By Stone Palmer
• Original : March 31, 2025

Who is Evan Spiegel?

Evan Spiegel, born on June 4, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., the parent company of the popular social media platform Snapchat. While attending Stanford University, Spiegel, along with his fraternity brother Bobby Murphy and colleague Reggie Brown, launched the app initially named Picaboo in 2011. The innovative concept of enabling users to send photos that vanish after a few seconds resonated with a wide audience, leading to rapid growth. The success of Snapchat transformed Spiegel into a billionaire, particularly following Snap's public offering in early 2017.

Beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, Spiegel is also recognized for his high-profile marriage to Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr. The couple became engaged in July 2016 and tied the knot in May 2017 at their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Kerr has been an enthusiastic supporter of Spiegel's ventures, often engaging with the Snap platform to share their milestones. Their relationship has further solidified Spiegel's status as a prominent figure in both the tech industry and celebrity culture, illustrating the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and personal life in the modern age.

Early Life and Education

Evan Spiegel was born on June 4, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, into a privileged family as the eldest son of two accomplished lawyers. Growing up in the upscale neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, he managed to experience a lifestyle enriched by private club memberships and luxury vacations to destinations like Europe and the Bahamas. Despite these advantages, he faced challenges early on, often described as shy and nerdy. Spiegel found solace and inspiration in electronics and technology, forming a strong bond with his sixth-grade computer teacher, who encouraged his interest in building computers from scratch.

Spiegel attended the Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences, where he struggled academically but excelled in graphic design. His creative talents laid the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial ventures. By the time he reached his teenage years, Spiegel developed negotiation skills that would eventually become invaluable in his career. After his parents' divorce in 2007, he demonstrated his determination by convincing his father to lease him a BMW, a testament to his budding aptitude for deal-making. In 2008, he was accepted into Stanford University, a decision that would ultimately lead to the creation of Snapchat, launching him into the tech industry and reshaping social media.

Founding Snapchat at Stanford

Evan Spiegel's journey towards co-founding Snapchat began at Stanford University, where he joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and met Bobby Murphy, a future collaborator. Initially, the two engaged in various projects together, including a college admissions website called Future Freshmen, but their significant breakthrough came from a complaint made by fraternity brother Reggie Brown. In the spring of 2011, Brown expressed the desire for an app that could send disappearing photos. Recognizing the value in this idea, Spiegel and Murphy teamed up with Brown to turn this concept into reality.

In July 2011, the trio launched an early version of Snapchat under the name Picaboo, designed to allow users to share photos that quickly disappeared. As the app evolved, infighting ensued, leading to Brown's ousting from the project. Nevertheless, Spiegel and Murphy successfully rebranded Picaboo to Snapchat, which eventually gained rapid popularity. By early 2012, the app's user base surged, ultimately attracting a significant investment of $485,000 from Lightspeed Venture Partners, allowing Spiegel to drop out of Stanford a few weeks before graduation to focus on building Snapchat into a tech giant.

Snapchat's Ups and Downs

After launching in 2011 under the name Picaboo, Snapchat began to transform the social media landscape with its unique disappearing photo feature. Co-founders Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy initially struggled with user adoption, but a rapid surge in popularity occurred in early 2012, leading to a significant milestone of 20,000 users by January. This growth attracted investments like the $485,000 from Lightspeed Venture Partners, allowing Spiegel to drop out of Stanford and fully commit to developing the app. Over time, Snapchat's creative innovations captivated users and cemented its place in the market, leading to the rebranding of the company as Snap Inc. in 2016.

However, the journey was not without its challenges. Following its highly anticipated public offering in March 2017, Snap Inc. faced disappointing earnings, causing stock prices to tumble below $12 per share by August. This decline highlighted the intense competition from powerhouses like Facebook, which mimicked many of Snapchat's features. In response to downturns in user engagement and revenues, Spiegel announced plans to implement new algorithmic filtering and to invest in augmented reality developments to retain its user base. Despite these hurdles, the company's commitment to innovation remains steadfast as they adapt to the evolving social media landscape.

The Rejection of Zuckerberg's Offer

In the fall of 2013, Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a monumental offer to acquire Snapchat for $3 billion. At the time, Snapchat was still emerging as a significant player in the social media landscape, and its valuation was much lower than Zuckerberg's proposition. This astronomical bid represented a substantial financial windfall for Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, the co-founders of Snapchat, who stood to make around $750 million each from the potential sale. However, fueled by their vision and belief in the platform's long-term potential, they made the bold decision to reject Zuckerberg’s tempting offer.

Evan Spiegel explained their rationale for declining the acquisition offer in an interview with Forbes. He expressed that the opportunity to build a unique and lasting company held a greater appeal than a lucrative short-term financial gain. Spiegel’s choice underscored his desire to innovate and create an influential tech platform that would redefine how users engage with digital content. This decision to prioritize growth over immediate profit set the stage for Snapchat’s continuing evolution and influence in the tech industry, despite facing significant competition and challenges in the years that followed.

Personal Life: Married to Miranda Kerr

Evan Spiegel’s personal life gained significant public attention following his marriage to Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr. The couple became engaged in July 2016 and married in May 2017 at their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. The intimate ceremony took place in their backyard, symbolizing a blend of their private lives against the backdrop of Spiegel’s meteoric rise in the tech industry. Known for her successful modeling career and business ventures, Kerr has openly supported Spiegel, often showcasing their relationship on social media platforms.

Miranda Kerr's influence stretches beyond personal life; she has also contributed to the branding and marketing of Snap Inc. In various interviews, Kerr expressed her pride in Spiegel’s accomplishments, even using his company’s Bitmoji feature to announce their engagement. Furthermore, she has defended her husband and his business in public forums, highlighting the competitive challenges posed by larger tech rivals. In November 2017, the couple announced they were expecting their first child, marking another joyful milestone in their family journey.

Net Worth and Earning: $3.2 billion

Evan Spiegel, born in 1990, is the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., the company behind the revolutionary social media platform Snapchat. As a visionary entrepreneur, Spiegel has turned a college project into a billion-dollar business. The popularity of Snapchat, which allows users to share ephemeral photos and videos, skyrocketed following its launch in 2011. By 2017, Snap Inc. went public, and Spiegel’s innovative leadership propelled the company’s evaluation and his personal wealth into the stratosphere. With an estimated net worth of $3.2 billion in early 2018, Spiegel holds an 18 percent ownership stake in the company, signifying his influential role in the tech industry.

Despite facing fluctuations in Snap Inc.’s stock prices after its public debut, Spiegel’s potential for earning has remained significant. Initially, his net worth surged to approximately $5.5 billion when Snap's shares soared on its first day of trading, reflecting a powerful market response to the app’s engaging features. However, challenges arose as Snap faced fierce competition, particularly from platforms like Facebook. Nevertheless, Spiegel’s commitment to innovation and adapting the app’s features has kept him at the forefront of the technology space, underscoring his ability to navigate the complexities of running a major tech company.

FAQs

Who is Evan Spiegel?

Evan Spiegel is the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., which is best known for developing the popular photo and video-sharing app Snapchat. Born in 1990 in Los Angeles, California, he conceived the app while attending Stanford University, collaborating with Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown. Originally launching as Picaboo in 2011, Snapchat rapidly gained popularity and transformed its co-founders into billionaires by the time of its IPO in early 2017.

What is Evan Spiegel's educational background?

Evan Spiegel attended Stanford University, where he studied product design. While in college, he joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity, where he formed relationships with fellow students that would later lead to the development of Snapchat. He dropped out just weeks before graduation to focus on building his company, which made a significant impact in the tech world.

What was the inspiration behind Snapchat?

The idea for Snapchat originated during a conversation at Stanford University when Reggie Brown lamented the lack of a way to send disappearing photos. Evan Spiegel seized on this innovative concept, teaming up with Bobby Murphy and Brown to create the app. They aimed to provide a platform for users to share images that would vanish after being viewed, which became a defining feature of Snapchat.

What were the significant milestones in Evan Spiegel's career?

Key milestones in Evan Spiegel's career include the launching of Snapchat in 2011, the company's rebranding to Snap Inc. in 2016, and the IPO in March 2017 that made Spiegel and Murphy billionaires. The app experienced rapid user growth, with a surge reaching 100,000 active users by April 2012, and significant funding from venture capital that enabled continued expansion and innovation.

How did Evan Spiegel's personal life impact his career?

Evan Spiegel's personal life, particularly his marriage to Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr, has attracted significant media attention. Their relationship has brought added visibility to Snap Inc., especially when Kerr publicly supported the app. Their family life also generated positive publicity for Spiegel, enhancing his image as a successful entrepreneur balancing both work and family.

What challenges has Snapchat faced under Spiegel's leadership?

Under Evan Spiegel's leadership, Snapchat has faced various challenges, including competition from major platforms like Facebook that copied its features. After an initial surge following its IPO, Snap Inc. struggled with declining stock prices and user growth. However, Spiegel has focused on innovations like augmented reality lenses and algorithmic content filtering to rejuvenate interest in the platform.