A 35-Year-Old Is About to Inherit In-N-Out, Worth Over $1B. Here’s the Backstory.

For most people, turning 35 is kind of depressing. 40 is right around the corner, the hair’s starting to go, and it’s no longer acceptable to pull Call of Duty all-nighters (the cutoff is 34, everyone knows that).

But for Lynsi Snyder, turning 35 will undoubtedly be the best day of her life.

Because when she blows out the candles next May, Snyder will instantly become one of the wealthiest women in the entire United States… a massive upgrade over her current “American with the Most Bizarrely-Spelled First Name” title.

Why she’s about to be swimming in cash

Back in 1948, Lynsi’s grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, founded In-N-Out Burger, which has since become one of the most beloved restaurants in the western part of the country.

It’s also valued at $1.1B, which is impressive for a restaurant that has just 304 locations across 6 states and literally 5 items on its menu (not counting the not-so-secret menu).

Lynsi received 50% of In-N-Out’s shares when she turned 30 and is set to inherit full ownership the day she turns 35.
But it hasn’t been all butterflies and rainbows to get to this point and there’s a reason why someone so young is about to own something so big.

The curse of the franchise

Harry Snyder (the founder) died in 1976 so Lynsi’s uncle, Rich Snyder, took over control of the company.

Unfortunately, Rich died in a plane crash 17 years later, forcing Lynsi’s father, Guy, to replace him at the helm — where he remained until 1999 when he sadly died of a prescription-drug overdose.

Then 7 years later, Lynsi’s grandmother passed at the age of 86, making Lynsi the only remaining heir to the In-N-Out throne.

With great power comes great responsibility

Lynsi’s inheriting one heck of a brand. And to her credit, she understands how powerful a strong brand can be. That’s why she’s made it a point to change almost nothing since taking over as president a few years ago.

You also have to respect her saying she will “never” take In-N-Out public or franchise its restaurants because she wants to keep everything the way her family would have wanted it.

In a world where The Cheesecake Factory has a 21-page menu, fast-casual burger joints like Shake Shack and Habit Burger rush to IPO to maximize hype, and everyone wants to expand as quickly as possible, it’s nice to know a company like In-N-Out exists.

Double-Double with onion, Animal Style fries, Neapolitan milkshake.