In-N-Out’s billionaire owner vows iconic chain ‘will always be’ in California and says leaving the state would be the ‘dumbest business decision ever’

In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder said the burger chain will remain headquartered in California, calling a departure the “dumbest business decision ever” and stating the company “will always be” in the state where it was founded. The comments from Snyder, the billionaire president and owner of the family-held chain, push back against the wave of corporate relocations out of California in recent years. In-N-Out, founded in 1948 in Baldwin Park, has expanded beyond its home state but retains its Orange County base and a loyal following built on a limited menu and family ownership. The remarks matter because they signal continuity for a privately held company whose brand is closely tied to its California roots, even as peers cite taxes and operating costs in moving elsewhere. What to watch next is whether In-N-Out’s out-of-state expansion continues at the same pace and whether Snyder’s commitment holds as the chain grows.