In-N-Out Burger President and billionaire heiress Lynsi Snyder says she’s leaving California, citing the state’s increasingly hostile environment for families and businesses under Governor Gavin Newsom’s left-wing agenda.
Snyder, 43, announced the move on the Relatable podcast with Allie Beth Stuckey, revealing that she and her family will relocate to Tennessee as the company expands eastward.
“There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” Snyder said.
Eastward Expansion
In-N-Out, founded 76 years ago in California, will keep most of its restaurants in the state for now, but Snyder confirmed a new regional office in Franklin, Tennessee is underway. It will mark the chain’s most eastern expansion yet.
“We’re building an office in Franklin, so I’m actually moving out there,” she said.
While Florida and other East Coast states have courted the iconic burger chain, Snyder says they’re still saying no—for now.
“Florida has begged us and we’re still saying no. The East Coast states, we’re saying no. We are able to reach Tennessee from our Texas warehouse. Texas can reach some other states.”
In-n-Out President Lynsi Snyder reveals for the first time that she and her family are LEAVING California for Tennessee. “Raising a family is not easy here,” she told me. “Doing business is not easy here.”
After 77 years, In-n-Out HQ will say goodbye to its home state and set… pic.twitter.com/yorQTiRXzx
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) July 18, 2025
Standing Up to Mandates
Snyder also discussed the COVID-19 restrictions that led to the temporary closure of an In-N-Out restaurant in San Francisco, after the company refused to police customers’ vaccine status.
“We were shut down for a brief moment, but it was worth it,” she said. “We can be closed down for a couple days and feel good about it.”
“We are not going to be policing our customers. I don’t want this, and I don’t expect them to want it.”
Snyder revealed that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis personally called her after the incident. DeSantis, widely praised for his hands-off approach during the pandemic, has remained a strong supporter of freedom over mandates.
Clashing with Newsom Over Wages
Snyder has clashed with Newsom in the past—most notably over his controversial minimum wage hike to $20/hour for fast-food chains with 60+ locations.
“I was sitting in meetings going toe-to-toe saying we can’t raise the prices that much,” she told NBC. “Because I felt such an obligation to look out for our customer. When everyone else was taking these jumps, we weren’t.”
The wage law, exclusive to large chains, has already triggered massive layoffs and price hikes across California.
Part of a Growing Exodus
In-N-Out joins over 500 companies that have either left California or expanded elsewhere between 2020 and 2024. The list includes Apple, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), Amazon, and Airbnb.
The company’s Irvine office will close, consolidating operations at its Baldwin Park HQ and the new Franklin office in Tennessee.
A Family Legacy
Lynsi Snyder became president of In-N-Out in 2010 and inherited full control in 2017. With a $7.3 billion net worth, she is one of America’s youngest billionaires.
The company, founded by her grandparents Harry and Esther Snyder, now operates over 400 restaurants nationwide and remains one of the most iconic and profitable burger chains in the country.
