Early Life
Evan Thomas Spiegel was born on June 4, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, to John W. Spiegel and Melissa Ann Thomas, both lawyers. He grew up in Pacific Palisades, California, and attended the Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica. Spiegel showed an early interest in design, taking classes at the Otis College of Art and Design and the Art Center College of Design before enrolling at Stanford University.
Rise to Success
While at Stanford, Spiegel, along with Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown, conceived the idea for Snapchat. The app, initially named Picaboo, was launched in 2011. Spiegel's vision of ephemeral messaging quickly resonated with users, leading to rapid growth. He left Stanford before completing his degree to focus on Snapchat. The company was rebranded to Snap Inc. in 2016. In 2017, Snap Inc. went public with an IPO that valued the company at $24 billion.
Key Business Strategies
Spiegel's success is largely due to his innovative approach to social media, focusing on temporary content. He has expanded Snap Inc. to include Spectacles and various advertising products. His leadership style blends creativity with a forward-thinking approach that has resonated with today’s digital generation.
Philanthropy
Spiegel and his wife, Miranda Kerr, established the Spiegel Family Fund, which supports various causes, including arts, education, housing, and human rights. Spiegel and Murphy also created the Snap Foundation, dedicated to developing pathways to the creative economy for underrepresented youth in Los Angeles.
