Evan Thomas Spiegel is an American entrepreneur, the self-made billionaire co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP), the parent company of Snapchat. Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1990, his upbringing was one of privilege—the oldest child of two wealthy lawyers, he was raised in Pacific Palisades and attended the private Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences.

Spiegel was a shy kid who developed an early aptitude for graphic design and later interned with Red Bull as a party promoter. He was accepted to Stanford University in 2008 to study Product Design, where he met his eventual co-founder, Bobby Murphy. The genesis of Snapchat came from their frustration with the permanence of online photos, driving them to create a place for awkward selfies and funny photos with our friends that would disappear instantly.

Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy co-founded the app, initially named Picaboo, in 2011 while at Stanford (Spiegel eventually dropped out of Stanford shortly before graduation to focus on the company). They rebranded the app as Snapchat in September 2011. Spiegel's strategic vision was audacious: focus entirely on ephemeral communication and technological innovation (filters, lenses, stories) aimed at a young, grassroots audience.

Under his leadership as CEO, Snapchat achieved massive, viral growth, becoming a cultural phenomenon and a primary platform for micro-blogging. The company successfully executed its IPO on the NYSE in 2017, securing Spiegel's multi-billion dollar fortune. His career is defined by his commitment to product design, his successful rejection of a massive buyout offer from Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), and his ongoing role in navigating the highly competitive social media landscape.

Evan Spiegel's social impact is massive and structural, stemming from Snapchat's role in defining a new form of digital communication (ephemerality) and its profound influence on global youth culture. The platform provides a critical channel for communication and content creation for millions of users.

His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives. His career is a testament to the profitability of identifying and capitalizing on the next wave of social media technology.

Evan Spiegel maintains the polished, aesthetic style of a young tech CEO and product designer. His attire is consistently modern and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits and minimalist luxury. His aesthetic is one of confident, design-focused authority.

Residing in Los Angeles, California, his luxury is the immense security and autonomy derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to the core mission of Snapchat—enabling people to communicate visually and freely—and his commitment to product design and innovation.