The Life Story of Evan Spiegel
When you think about billionaires, you usually think about people in their 30s or 40s.
However, some people with the right ideas can enjoy the billionaire life much sooner.
This was the case of Evan Spiegel, who became a billionaire at the age of 25 and doubled his fortune in the years that followed.
Mostly known as the person who brought us Snapchat, Spiegel is the CEO and founder of Snap Inc. In his younger years, Spiegel had a reputation for being somewhat of a nerd.
However, his interest in arts and sciences brought him major success at a very young age. In this article, we will talk about how Spiegel became one of the richest people in the world in just a few years.
“Talking with pictures and making memories is universally appealing.” ~ Evan Spiegel
Early Life and Education
Evan Spiegel was born in Los Angeles, California, on the 4th of June 1990.
His parents are John W. Spiegel and Melissa Ann Thomas, two affluent lawyers. Thanks to this, Spiegel had quite a privileged childhood, receiving a $250 allowance per week when he was a teenager.
His parents eventually got divorced, but Spiegel was not deprived of his needs.
When he was a teenager, Spiegel asked his father to get him a new BMW. His father refused, not necessarily because of the money, but because he did not think a teenager should own a BMW.
His father’s refusal caused him to move in with his mother out of protest, and she signed the lease for his new $750,000 BMW.
It’s because of these privileges as a teenager that he learned not to take “no” as an answer.
Spiegel attended the Santa Monica Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences.
He also took design classes at the Otis Art and Design College while he was still in high school. Aside from that, he attended classes at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design.
During his years as a student, he conducted numerous Photoshop experiments, coming up with the perfect design. He also got an unpaid internship at Redbull, where he worked in sales.
After he finished high school, he started attending Stanford University, joining a product design program. He was also accepted into a prestigious Stanford fraternity, the Kappa Sigma.
While in college, he met Bobby Murphy, a fellow student at Stanford.
Murphy hired Spiegel to design an online social network, using Google Circles as an inspiration. The business turned out to be a complete failure.
Founding of Snapchat
During college, Spiegel began collaborating with another fellow student, Reggie Brown. Unlike Bobby Murphy, his partnership with Brown was more productive.
Brown and Spiegel worked on the idea of an app that contained disappearing pictures. Shortly after they started the prototype, Murphy also joined the team.
The app was initially called “Picaboo.” Many of his classmates criticized his ideas, claiming that disappearing photos would not succeed.
Spiegel believed in his idea, and in 2011, the app was re-launched under the name of Snapchat. People ended up loving it for its ability to maintain privacy.
“It’s important to be thoughtful and mindful about the things you say to other people.” ~ Evan Spiegel
Career and Accomplishments
The greatest accomplishment of Siegel’s career was his involvement with the Snapchat app, the multimedia and image messaging application.
The app allowed for social networking and photo sharing, making it an attractive choice for millions of people worldwide. Thanks to his success, he won the Crunchies “Best Mobile Application Award” in 2013.
On March 2017, Snapchat was listed as an IPO, the stocks trading at about $24 per share at first. On the same day, the prices of those stocks increased by 44%.
The stocks kept bouncing in value over time, especially with the growing popularity of Facebook. However, at around $24 per share, they still brought him a lot of profit.
Entrepreneurial Vision and Business Philosophy
Because of his childhood, Spiegel learned never to take a refusal for an answer. This followed him in adulthood and business life, but it slightly changed into determination.
He became a very demanding CEO who wanted nothing less than perfection and was willing to take every step to make that happen.
While his business philosophy brought him success, things were not easy.
Due to his leadership style, many employees would not last in the company for more than a year. That said, his refusal to settle for the mediocre turned Snapchat into a tremendous success.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Evan Spiegel briefly dated famous singer Taylor Swift. However, in 2014, he met the woman who would become his wife, Miranda Kerr.
The couple met through a mutual friend at a party hosted at the New York Museum of Modern Art. By 2016, the couple was already engaged and tied the knot in 2017.
They have two sons together: Hart and Myles. Kerr also has a 10-year-old son, fathered by Orlando Bloom, her ex-husband.
Spiegel was significantly involved with charity work as well. In 2022, he donated $20 million to a Stockton scholarship program, the Stockton Scholars.
He also announced that he would pay the student debts of the class graduating from Otis College Art of Design in 2022.
“We never saw Google+ Circles or Facebook Lists as reflective of the way our friendships play out.” ~ Evan Spiegel
Challenges and Lessons Learned
During his career, Spiegel saw various challenges and controversies. In 2014, while he was still in college, some of Spiegel’s emails were leaked to Gawker, containing homophobic and misogynistic content.
In those emails, he openly encouraged his friends to get sorority girls drunk to convince them to have sex. He also supported underage drinking, an illegal practice that was very common among students.
He stated in response to those emails, explaining his embarrassment of the situation and how sorry he was for his youthful idiocies. He claimed that those emails do not reflect how he views women today.
Aside from his personal life, Spiegel experienced several challenges with Snapchat. The biggest problem was the competition with X, Facebook, and Instagram, which had a bigger user base.
As the apps continuously updated their platform to appeal to more people, many Snapchat users switched to other apps.
This prevented Spiegel’s company from growing further, leading to a decline in stock value. The stock value went from $17 billion in one year to under $10 billion.
This caused multiple investors to desert the company, leading to more and more financial challenges.
To deal with this failure, Spiegel hired Anthony Noto in 2015 as the company’s COO. Noto realized that Spiegel was focusing too much on monetizing the platform and not enough on adding new features.
He addressed the issue, and by 2016, Snapchat became one of the most popular online apps.
Impact and Legacy
Spiegel’s legacy grew a lot, despite the challenges that he faced. First, Snapchat was appreciated for its auto-deletion of messages, improving user privacy.
Several apps began adopting this strategy, one example being the “secret conversation” of Facebook. However, Snapchat was the app to initially coin this concept.
Spiegel was also recognized as the youngest company CEO, receiving the Eddy Award in 2005 by LAEDC. This was done in recognition of his success in improving the LA economy.
Thanks to Snap Inc., Spiegel succeeded in creating many well-paying jobs for residents in Los Angeles.
“It’s not about working harder; it’s about working the system.” ~ Evan Spiegel
Conclusion
Evan Spiegel is a man who had a brilliant idea in college and put it to good use.
In its prototype stage, no one believed that Snapchat would be much of a success.
However, through belief and determination, the app caught on and reached millions of people and this turned Spiegel into one of the richest people in the world.
“There is real value in sharing moments that don’t live forever.” ~ Evan Spiegel
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Key Points
- Evan Spiegel became a billionaire at age 25, mostly due to his creation of Snapchat.
- Born in Los Angeles in 1990 to affluent lawyer parents, John W. Spiegel and Melissa Ann Thomas.
- Had a privileged upbringing; for example, received a $750,000 BMW as a teenager.
- Attended Santa Monica Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences, took design classes in high school, and later joined Stanford University’s product design program.
- Met Bobby Murphy at Stanford; their initial collaboration on an online social network failed.
- Spiegel then partnered with Reggie Brown, and later Bobby Murphy, to work on a disappearing pictures app, initially named “Picaboo.”
- Despite skepticism, they rebranded it to Snapchat in 2011, and it gained widespread popularity due to its privacy features.
- Snapchat’s IPO in March 2017 had stocks trading around $24 per share, which increased 44% the same day.
- Spiegel’s leadership style is demanding and uncompromising, often leading to high staff turnover, but it has contributed to Snapchat’s success.
- Personal life: Briefly dated Taylor Swift, married Miranda Kerr in 2017, and has two sons.
- Active in philanthropy; donated $20 million to Stockton Scholars in 2022 and pledged to pay student debts for Otis College Art of Design’s 2022 graduating class.
- Faced controversies including leaked problematic emails from college and fierce competition from social media giants like X and Facebook.
- Anthony Noto was hired as COO in 2015 to help redirect the company’s focus on user experience.
- Snapchat is lauded for pioneering auto-deletion of messages, and Spiegel’s impact in the tech industry has been recognized with awards such as the 2005 Eddy Award by LAEDC.
- Despite challenges, Spiegel’s belief in his product led to its success and his rise as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
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Evan Spiegel
1990:
- Evan Spiegel is born in Los Angeles, California on the 4th of June to John W. Spiegel and Melissa Ann Thomas.
Early 2000s (exact year not mentioned):
- Receives a $250 allowance per week as a teenager.
- Asks his father for a new BMW, leading to a move to his mother’s place and subsequently obtaining the BMW.
Late 2000s (during high school years, exact years not mentioned):
- Attends the Santa Monica Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences.
- Takes design classes at the Otis Art and Design College.
- Attends classes at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design.
- Conducts various Photoshop experiments.
- Works an unpaid internship at Redbull in sales.
Early 2010s (during college years, exact years not mentioned):
- Begins attending Stanford University for a product design program.
- Joins the Kappa Sigma fraternity at Stanford.
- Meets Bobby Murphy, works on an online social network inspired by Google Circles that eventually fails.
- Starts working with Reggie Brown on the concept of an app with disappearing pictures.
- The initial prototype of the app, “Picaboo”, is launched.
2011:
- Spiegel and team re-launch “Picaboo” as “Snapchat.”
2013:
- Wins the Crunchies “Best Mobile Application Award” for Snapchat.
2014:
- Spiegel’s old emails are leaked containing controversial content, for which he later apologizes.
- Begins dating Miranda Kerr.
2015:
- Snapchat’s stock value drops from $17 billion to under $10 billion.
- Hires Anthony Noto as the company’s COO, leading to Snapchat’s resurgence in 2016.
2016:
- Spiegel becomes engaged to Miranda Kerr.
- Snapchat becomes one of the most popular online apps.
2017:
- March: Snapchat is listed as an IPO with stocks trading at about $24 per share, which increased by 44% the same day.
- Marries Miranda Kerr.
2022:
- Donates $20 million to the Stockton Scholars scholarship program.
- Announces to pay the student debts of the graduating class from Otis College Art of Design.
Legacy (years unspecified, but presumably up to 2023):
- Receives the Eddy Award in 2005 by LAEDC as the youngest company CEO.
- Through Snap Inc., creates numerous jobs in Los Angeles.
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Life Lessons
- Believe in Your Vision: Even when his classmates ridiculed the concept of disappearing photos, Spiegel believed in his idea and persisted, eventually leading to Snapchat’s massive success.
- Challenges Shape You: Facing challenges, whether personal controversies or business downturns, can lead to growth if addressed head-on and learned from.
- Never Settle for Mediocrity: Despite his wealth and privileges, Spiegel never settled for less than perfection, a mindset that significantly contributed to his success.
- Importance of Adaptation: Spiegel recognized the need for change when Snapchat’s value declined. By bringing in new perspectives and strategies, he adapted the business to address its shortcomings.
- Surround Yourself with the Right People: Spiegel’s partnership with Reggie Brown and Bobby Murphy and hiring Anthony Noto as the company’s COO shows the importance of collaboration and surrounding oneself with the right team to achieve success.
- The Power of Persistence: Spiegel’s journey highlights the power of persistence. From his childhood refusal to accept “no” as an answer to pushing his app despite skepticism, his determination was a driving factor in his success.
- Accept Responsibility for Mistakes: When faced with controversies, taking responsibility and addressing past mistakes can lead to personal growth and respect from others.
- Legacy is More than Wealth: Beyond his billionaire status, Spiegel’s legacy includes enhancing user privacy in the digital realm and creating employment opportunities in Los Angeles.
- Value of Philanthropy: Success comes with the responsibility to give back. Spiegel’s involvement in charity work, like the Stockton Scholars program, underscores the importance of supporting the community and future generations.
- Stay Rooted in Your Passion: Spiegel’s early interests in arts, sciences, and design played a pivotal role in his eventual career path. Pursuing one’s passion can lead to unprecedented success.
- Face Competition Head-On: Instead of shying away from competition with larger platforms like Facebook and X, Spiegel took them head-on, leading to innovations and growth for Snapchat.
- Personal Growth is Continuous: Spiegel’s journey showcases the continual evolution of personal and professional growth from the controversies surrounding his college emails to his growth as a business leader.
These life lessons can serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for individuals, whether embarking on entrepreneurial ventures or navigating personal challenges.
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Facts
- Evan Spiegel became a billionaire at the age of 25.
- He is the CEO and founder of Snap Inc.
- Evan Spiegel was born in Los Angeles, California, on the 4th of June 1990.
- His parents are John W. Spiegel and Melissa Ann Thomas, who were both lawyers.
- As a teenager, Spiegel received a $250 allowance per week.
- Spiegel attended the Santa Monica Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences.
- He took design classes at the Otis Art and Design College and the Pasadena Art Center College of Design during high school.
- He had an unpaid internship at Redbull in sales.
- Spiegel attended Stanford University and joined a product design program.
- At Stanford, he met Bobby Murphy, with whom he initially tried to design an online social network.
- Evan Spiegel also collaborated with Reggie Brown during college on the idea of an app with disappearing pictures.
- Snapchat’s original name was “Picaboo.”
- Snapchat was re-launched in 2011.
- Snapchat won the Crunchies “Best Mobile Application Award” in 2013.
- Snapchat was listed as an IPO in March 2017, with stocks trading initially at about $24 per share.
- Evan Spiegel dated Taylor Swift briefly.
- In 2014, Spiegel met Miranda Kerr, whom he married in 2017.
- Spiegel and Kerr have two sons named Hart and Myles.
- He donated $20 million to the Stockton Scholars in 2022 and promised to pay the student debts of the 2022 class graduating from Otis College Art of Design.
- Spiegel faced controversies in 2014 due to leaked emails.
- Snapchat faced competition from X, Facebook, and Instagram.
- In one year, Snapchat’s stock value dropped from $17 billion to under $10 billion.
- Anthony Noto was hired as the company’s COO in 2015.
- Snapchat is recognized for its auto-deletion of messages.
- Evan Spiegel received the Eddy Award in 2005 by LAEDC.
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Questions and Answers
The information in this post answers many of the questions about Evan Spiegel. In addition, this section provides a summary and any further information.
Q: At what age did Evan Spiegel become a billionaire?
A: Evan Spiegel became a billionaire at the age of 25.
Q: For what is Evan Spiegel mostly known?
A: Evan Spiegel is mostly known as the person who brought us Snapchat and is the CEO and founder of Snap Inc.
Q: Where was Evan Spiegel born?
A: Evan Spiegel was born in Los Angeles, California.
Q: When was Evan Spiegel born?
A: Evan Spiegel was born on the 4th of June 1990.
Q: What professions did Evan’s parents have?
A: Evan’s parents, John W. Spiegel and Melissa Ann Thomas, were affluent lawyers.
Q: What did Spiegel’s father refuse to buy for him as a teenager?
A: Spiegel’s father refused to buy him a new BMW.
Q: Which schools did Evan Spiegel attend?
A: Evan Spiegel attended the Santa Monica Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences, took design classes at the Otis Art and Design College and the Pasadena Art Center College of Design, and later attended Stanford University.
Q: Who did Spiegel meet at Stanford and what business venture did they embark upon together?
A: While at Stanford, Spiegel met Bobby Murphy. Murphy hired Spiegel to design an online social network inspired by Google Circles, but it turned out to be a complete failure.
Q: With whom did Spiegel collaborate to create the idea of an app with disappearing pictures?
A: Spiegel collaborated with fellow student Reggie Brown to work on the idea of an app with disappearing pictures.
Q: What was the original name of Snapchat?
A: The app was originally called “Picaboo.”
Q: In which year was Snapchat re-launched under its new name?
A: Snapchat was re-launched under its new name in 2011.
Q: What award did Spiegel win in 2013?
A: In 2013, he won the Crunchies “Best Mobile Application Award.”
Q: When was Snapchat listed as an IPO?
A: Snapchat was listed as an IPO in March 2017.
Q: Who did Spiegel marry and when?
A: Evan Spiegel married Miranda Kerr in 2017.
Q: How many children do Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr have together?
A: Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr have two sons together: Hart and Myles.
Q: To which program did Spiegel donate $20 million in 2022?
A: In 2022, Spiegel donated $20 million to a Stockton scholarship program called the Stockton Scholars.
Q: What was leaked to Gawker in 2014 regarding Evan Spiegel?
A: In 2014, some of Evan Spiegel’s emails were leaked to Gawker, which contained homophobic and misogynistic content.
Q: Who was hired as the company’s COO to address the challenges Snapchat was facing?
A: In 2015, Anthony Noto was hired as the company’s COO to address the challenges Snapchat was facing.
Q: For what is Snapchat mainly appreciated?
A: Snapchat is mainly appreciated for its auto-deletion of messages, improving user privacy.
Q: What award did Evan Spiegel receive from LAEDC in 2005?
A: Evan Spiegel received the Eddy Award in 2005 from LAEDC in recognition of his success in improving the LA economy.
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