In early 2025, Lynsi Snyder – sole heir and president of In-N-Out Burger – suddenly drew the spotlight. Her estimated net worth is $7.3 billion, placing her among the 500 richest people worldwide. But Snyder usually shuns publicity, appearing only at big openings or for charity.
This summer, her unexpectedly candid interviews hinted at more than just personal milestones. The questions swirled: why is this famously private heiress speaking out now, and what might her next moves mean for the iconic California burger chain?
Golden State Strain
California’s rising costs and heavy regulation have driven residents and companies to other states. Census data show the state lost more than a million people to domestic out-migration in recent years. As firms like Tesla and Charles Schwab left behind taxes and red tape, Snyder echoed their frustration. “There are a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” she told listeners.
Her comments tapped into a growing exodus narrative.
Burger Roots
In-N-Out began humbly: in 1948, Harry and Esther Snyder opened a 10-foot burger stand in Baldwin Park, California. Today, the chain has roughly 400 restaurants across seven Western states, but its cult status comes from unwavering traditions. A tiny menu, hand-cut fries and secret “Animal Style” burgers – plus even Bible verses discreetly stamped on wrappers – reflect the Snyder family creed.
As Lynsi Snyder has said, her grandparents always sought to “keep it simple, do one thing and do it the best you can”.
Podcast Spark
Here’s where it gets interesting: On July 18, Snyder sat down with conservative podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey and spoke bluntly about California. She complained that while the state has “a lot of great things,” it’s not easy to raise kids or run a business there.
Then, almost offhandedly, she mentioned “we’re building an office in Franklin, [Tennessee]” – a line that immediately went viral. For a boss who rarely does media, this kind of candor was shocking.
Move Confirmed
Just days later, the New York Times dropped a bombshell: Snyder confirmed that she and her family would move to Franklin, Tennessee. “I’m actually moving out there,” she said of the planned 100,000-square-foot office campus. Snyder, 43, will relocate with her husband and four children, citing Tennessee’s lower costs and lighter regulations.
Though she insisted this was a personal, family-driven decision, the timing – with construction underway – fueled speculation.
Family Shift
Meanwhile, Tennessee officials and locals were celebrating. Williamson County estimates that the new In-N-Out office will bring about 277 new jobs to Franklin. Real-estate agents say inquiries are up from California buyers – many mid-level managers eyeing the move for their families.
For Snyder, Franklin means bigger yards, no state income tax and more space as her children enter their teenage years. She’s even encouraged key staff with young families to consider relocating.
Rumor Ripple
The news set off a social-media firestorm. Within hours hashtags like #InNOutLeaving trended as some California fans cried betrayal. Snyder’s “not easy here” remarks “rubbed people the wrong way” and even sparked calls for boycott. One popular joke quipped that she was “packing the HQ in her carry-on,” epitomizing the sense of angst.
On the flip side, Tennessee boosters hailed this as proof of their pro-business appeal. Bloggers pored over the Franklin plans, noting a big test kitchen and training lab, and speculating that the corporate headquarters might move “along with” Snyder’s family.
HQ Stays
The next day Snyder raced to calm fears. In an Instagram video she bluntly declared, “We’re not moving In-N-Out Burger’s corporate headquarters”. Media accounts explained how the plan really works: the company’s Irvine office lease runs through 2029, after which all West Coast administration will consolidate in Baldwin Park (the chain’s birthplace).
The Franklin site will be an “Eastern Territory” support center – much like existing distribution hubs in Utah and Texas – to serve new Southeast restaurants.
Migration Trend
In-N-Out’s balancing act reflects larger population flows. California’s once-booming growth has faltered: from 2020 to 2024 the state suffered a net domestic migration loss of about 1.46 million people. By contrast, Tennessee and its neighbors have seen rapid gains thanks to no income tax, lower living costs and plenty of space.
Economists note that these demographic shifts explain why Western companies scout the South for talent and real estate.
Next Bite
What about the Atlantic coast? Snyder insists In-N-Out will stay selective. On the podcast she quipped, “Florida has begged us, and we’re still saying no. The East Coast states, we’re still saying no”. But industry observers aren’t ruling it out forever. In Nashville, food-truck owner Andy Atkins takes a wide view: “I think there’s enough room for everybody to sell cheeseburgers,” he says, noting that many Californians in Tennessee will surely flock to In-N-Out.
Burger Republic’s Drew Jackman adds that “everyone is pretty excited” about In-N-Out’s arrival. The CEO, meanwhile, emphasizes growth with a tight filter: “We don’t want to ever compromise our values and standards,” Snyder reminds fans.
Southern Welcome
In Tennessee, anticipation is running high. Governor Bill Lee even tweeted that In-N-Out’s move “means a lot of opportunity and a lot of jobs for a lot of Tennesseans … You’re going to love it here”. Plans show a 100,000‑sq‑ft Franklin office breaking ground late 2024, plus a new restaurant by 2025, with the first Tennessee outlets opening around 2026.
Locally, In-N-Out is being touted as a boon for development – a new franchise to satisfy both Californians looking home and local fans curious about the chain’s famed burgers.
Homefront Resolve
Back on the West Coast, Snyder has been clear: California operations will continue uninterrupted. In a recent statement, she stressed that “each one of our [California] locations is here to stay” and that moving to Tennessee “has nothing to do with my love and appreciation for our customers in California”.
In practical terms, the Irvine HQ will eventually close (by 2030) and roles will transfer to Baldwin Park – just next door to the original 1948 stand. All told, In-N-Out’s corporate base remains in California, and the chain plans to keep opening new West Coast restaurants as before.
Crossfire
The cross-country saga even caught political attention. California’s governor disputed any narrative of a mass exodus, while on the streets, In-N-Out’s fans argued about loyalty. Some social media users framed Snyder’s move as a slap in the face to the state that built In-N-Out, and others blasted the media’s coverage.
State officials pushed back on those claims, urging patience until the facts were clear. In the end, the story split along predictable lines: one side warning of corporations fleeing liberal policies, the other side pointing out that In-N-Out’s roots and customers haven’t changed.
Keeping It Fresh
Through the noise, Snyder’s message has been consistent: in‑and‑out growth, in a keep‑it-simple style. She reminded audiences that the top priority is “keeping the company the same company that my grandparents started”. In-N-Out’s deliberate expansion strategy has long been a selling point: unlike fast-food giants that franchise and flood markets, the chain prides itself on slow growth and controlled quality.
As Western markets saturate, analysts believe In-N-Out’s steady approach – building one state at a time with a limited supply chain – will actually preserve its brand.
On the Horizon
Today, In-N-Out operates 400+ restaurants in eight states, and Snyder says sustainable growth continues to guide her decisions. Any future steps eastward remain on the drawing board – at least for now, Florida and the Atlantic states are “still saying no”. Instead, the chain is doubling down on the Western and Southern markets it has entered, refining its logistics and training.
As Snyder herself put it after the Tennessee news, “Whether we are in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah… each one of those states has the same mission to serve our customers – but we never forget where we came from”.