Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps, known for its disappearing messages and fun filters. But have you ever wondered who owns Snapchat? Let’s find out!

Who Created Snapchat?

Snapchat was founded in 2011 by three students at Stanford University:
Evan Spiegel – CEO & co-founder
Bobby Murphy – Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer
Reggie Brown – Helped with the original idea but later left the company

Their goal was to create a unique messaging app where photos and videos disappear after being viewed.

Who Owns Snapchat Now?

Snapchat is owned by Snap Inc.
Snap Inc. is the parent company that operates Snapchat.
The company went public in 2017 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker SNAP.

Even though Snapchat is a public company, the founders still control most of the decision-making through their voting shares.

Major Shareholders of Snapchat

Since Snapchat is publicly traded, multiple investors own shares in Snap Inc. The biggest shareholders include:

Evan Spiegel – Co-founder & CEO (owns about 4% of shares, but has voting control)
Bobby Murphy – Co-founder & CTO (owns about 4% of shares, but has voting control)
Institutional Investors – Companies like Vanguard, BlackRock, and Morgan Stanley own large stakes in the company.

Even though Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy own a small percentage of the shares, they still have majority control over Snapchat’s future.

How Does Snapchat Make Money?

Snapchat Ads – Businesses pay to advertise on Snapchat.
Snapchat+ – A paid subscription for exclusive features.
AR Filters & Lenses – Companies create sponsored filters and lenses.
Snap Map & Spotlight Monetization – Snapchat pays top creators for viral content.

Most of Snapchat’s revenue comes from advertising.

Is Snapchat Owned by Facebook or Google?

No, Snapchat is not owned by Facebook, Google, or any other big tech company.
Facebook (Meta) tried to buy Snapchat for $3 billion in 2013, but Snapchat refused the offer.

Instead, Facebook launched Instagram Stories as a competitor to Snapchat.