Updated July 21, 2026: After days of backlash, In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder posted a video insisting the burger chain’s headquarters is not moving to Tennessee — “We never forget our roots.” Here is what she actually said, what is moving, and who owns In-N-Out.

A wave of “Is In-N-Out leaving California?” searches kicked off after its owner talked about moving to Tennessee. The short answer: the company is staying; she is moving her family. The longer answer is worth understanding, because the two things got blurred together.

Who Owns In-N-Out?

Lynsi Snyder owns In-N-Out. She is the granddaughter of Harry and Esther Snyder, who founded the chain in Baldwin Park, California in 1948. Today she is the company’s president and sole owner, and a Forbes-listed billionaire — the family has kept In-N-Out private and never franchised it, which is part of why control has stayed within the family for three generations.

What She Actually Said

The controversy started on the “Relatable” podcast, where Snyder spoke candidly about California:

“There’s a lot of great things about California. But raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here.”
— Lynsi Snyder

She also criticized COVID-era rules that In-N-Out had to follow, and said she is moving her family to Tennessee. Those comments — from the owner of a chain seen as a California icon — are what lit the fuse.

The Backlash

Critics pushed back fast. Many pointed out that In-N-Out’s California locations still have long lines and huge demand, and questioned how hard doing business in the state could really be for a company that built its fortune there. Others called it a contradiction — knocking California while owing much of the brand’s success to it.

What Is Actually Moving to Tennessee

Here is the part that got lost in the noise. The headquarters is not relocating. What is happening:

  • A new $125 million corporate office in the Berry Farms neighborhood of Franklin, Tennessee, to support In-N-Out’s expansion east. It is expected to open later this year.
  • The Baldwin Park headquarters stays open, overseeing West Coast operations — the original home of the chain since 1948.
  • The Irvine, California office is set to close by 2030 as operations consolidate.
  • Lynsi Snyder is personally relocating her family to Tennessee — a personal move, not a corporate headquarters move.

In her July 21 response, Snyder drew the line clearly: the company is expanding east, not abandoning California. “We never forget our roots,” she said.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who owns In-N-Out?

Lynsi Snyder, granddaughter of founders Harry and Esther Snyder. She is president and sole owner, and a billionaire.

Is In-N-Out leaving California?

No. The Baldwin Park headquarters stays. Snyder is moving her family to Tennessee and the company is opening an office there, but the HQ is not moving.

What did Lynsi Snyder say about California?

On the Relatable podcast she said raising a family and doing business in California “is not easy,” and that she is moving her family to Tennessee.

What is In-N-Out building in Tennessee?

A $125 million office in Franklin’s Berry Farms area, to support eastern expansion, expected to open later this year.

Is In-N-Out closing California offices?

The Irvine office is set to close by 2030, but the Baldwin Park headquarters remains open.

When was In-N-Out founded?

In 1948, in Baldwin Park, California, by Harry and Esther Snyder. It has never been franchised.

Quotes and details as reported by Yahoo, AOL and Fast Company, July 2026; Lynsi Snyder’s net-worth ranking per Forbes. Photo: In-N-Out Burger sign, San Francisco, by Karsten Behrens, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.