11 facts you need to know about the world's youngest self-made billionaire

11 facts you need to know about the world's youngest self-made billionaire

Everyone is talking about Snapchat. You should be familiar with the dog filter and flower crown which is everywhere. That is what most people use as their display picture on Twitter and Facebook.

The man behind the creation of the popular mobile application, Snapchat, Evan Spiegel, born June 4, 1990, is living large.

According to Forbes, the 26-year-old American entrepreneur is the youngest self-made billionaire in the world with an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion.

Below are things you need to know about the CEO Of Snapchat.

1. He grew up rich

Even before he created Snapchat, Spiegel has always had a luxurious life with both parents, John W. Spiegel and Melissa Ann Thomas, as lawyers. Though they divorced when he was in high school. His family had a home in Pacific Palisades, Southern California that was reportedly worth over $2 million. He attended an ultra-exclusive school called Crossroads in Santa Monica in his early years. The school costs tens of thousands per academic year.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
Spiegel attended an ultra-exclusive school

His family belonged to a number of exclusive clubs, including the Jonathan Club in Santa Monica and the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. They often went on trips to Europe and even went snowboarding by helicopter in Canada.

2. He got a Cadillac Escalade at age 16

He was given a brand new 2006 Cadillac Escalade when he turned 16 and got his driver's license. He decided to get a more fuel-efficient car to drive around the city and asked his parents parents to lease him a BMW 550i, which retails for about $75,000 in 2008.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
Spiegel received a Cadillac Escalade when he passed his driving test

3. He bought his own house in 2014

Spiegel lived at his dad's house for years before he moved out in November 2014. He bought his own three-bedroom house in Brentwood for $3.3 million.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
His got his own 3 bedroom flat for $3.3 million

4. He dropped out of school

Spiegel only needed just a few credits short of graduation before he dropped out Stanford where he was studying product design. He left to work to work on Snapchat full time. This was where he met future Snapchat cofounders Reggie Brown and Bobby Murphy.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
He met future Snapchat cofounders Reggie Brown and Bobby Murphy at Stangford

5. He started Snapchat as a school project

While studying product design at Stanford, he proposed Snapchat as a class project. Snapchat which was initially launched back in 2011 was created by Spiegel, Robert Murphy and Reggie Brown. Initially, it was named Picaboo. Later, Brown was cut out and the project was renamed to Snapchat with the introduction of few more features and it eventually grew into a million dollar company.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
Snapchat was started as a school project

Snapchat was not his first project, but it followed several failures and developments that paved his way towards success.

6. His relationship

Spiegel had a thing with pop superstar Taylor Swift for a brief time. They were said to have met in December 2013 at a New Year's Eve party. In 2015, he started dating supermodel Miranda Kerr. They first met at a dinner for Louis Vuitton in Los Angeles. In July 2016, the couple announced their engagement.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
The couple announced that they were engaged in July 2016

7. His fashion

His signature shirt is a James Perse white v-neck, which sells for $60. He cares about fashion more than most tech CEOs.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
His signature shirt is a James Perse white v-neck

8. He bought himself a Ferrari in 2015

After Snapchat completed a big funding round in June 2015, Spiegel bought himself a Ferrari.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
He got himself a gift

9. Snapchat was renamed

He renamed Snapchat to Snap Inc. and called it a "camera company," in September 2016. He also unveiled camera-equipped sunglasses called Spectacles.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
Snapchat renamed to Snap Inc

10. He is taking his company public in 2017

This year, he would be taking his company public at a $20 billion valuation. Report has it that his pitch to investors will compare him to Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs.

Facts to know about Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel
An early photo of Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy

11. He is a licensed helicopter pilot.

Source: Legit.ng

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