In-N-Out Burger Run by Female Billionaire, Age 30

Newser ^ | 05/05/2013 | By Kate Seamons,

[Responsibility2nd]

(Newser) – As far as company owners go, Lynsi Torres has to be among the most intriguing. A Bloomberg article attempts to put a finger on the mysterious In-N-Out Burger president who, at age 30, is one of the youngest female billionaires on the planet. As Seth Lubove reports, she ended up at the helm of the company, estimated by Bloomberg to be valued at $1.1 billion, by way of birth, and more than a few tragic deaths: Her father took control after his 41-year-old brother died in a 1993 plane crash; he died after ODing on prescription drugs six years later. Torres' grandmother then grabbed the reins until her death in 2006, which left the company with a single heir: Torres, who gained 50% ownership after turning 30 in 2012; she'll claim the other half upon her 35th birthday.

And things get more intriguing from there: She's been married three times and has twins, reports Lubove, but no college degree. She largely chooses not to give interviews, but her name quietly and occasionally pops up in the press: In September, she was reported to have purchased a $17.4 million 16-bathroom mansion in Bradbury, California; she's also a drag racer who competes in two National Hot Rod Association categories. Business Insider has an image of the colorful heiress, and Bloomberg has more, including a rundown of a 2006 lawsuit a former VP filed against Torres, which claimed she was trying to wrest control of In-N-Out from her grandmother. Or click for another intriguing burger-chain story.

[dfwgator]

3) Carl’s Jr.

"Welcome to Carl's Jr. Would you like to try our EXTRA BIG A-- TACO? Now with more MOLECULES!"

[Moose4]

I’ve never had an In-N-Out burger, but I have had one from Five Guys. And as for them, I’ll just let this guy explain the awesomeness that is Five Guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGkHRa64sDY

}:-)4

[Ramius]

One of the few things Seattle has to recommend it: Dick’s.

It’s an addiction. I have crossed the state for a Dicks Deluxe.

[freedumb2003]

That movie gets funnier as more of it comes true.

[Iscool]

They make an awesome burger for a reasonable price.

With a value of a billion bucks, I'm thinkin' the price isn't so reasonable after all...

Does that mean if they cut their prices in half, she'd still be worth 500 million dollars???

[wardaddy]

no kidding?

Carl Jrs....isn’t that what most of us call Hardees?

I mean really?

to compare that to Five Guys is ridiculous.

in any event...best burgers are usually in some hole in the wall or bar-tavern

I think Culvers is the best of the fast food burgers we get in Nashville

I don’t consider Five Guys or Burger Up or Cheeseburger Charlies to be fast food per se

I&O burgers must be good though since everyone raves on and on about them..all stores company owned

[chrisinoc]

The plane crashed near the 55 freeway and Edinger about two minutes after I passed that area.

For some reason I have doubts about this photo. I remember the late Huell Howser going to their headquarters several years ago. The woman in the photo and the one in the Howser story do not resemble each other.

[eyeamok]

I have met and worked for every member of the whole family and the grandmother too, I am pretty sure I have met this girl also, but she was just a little girl then. Hell I might have been to her shack in bradbury also, been to most every house there at one time or another. They really were stand up, nice folks.

[dragnet2]

In-N-Out Pres and VP broke their own rule about not flying together....Both were on the flight that day..

BTW, In-N-Out Burger is the best....All these other wannabe burgers etc, are greasy cowflop in comparison.

[Pit1]

Hot dogs. I SAY HOT DOGS. Portillos in Chicago. Nothing better.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

This thread is making me hungry. I see a 4X4 Animal Style in my future...

[irishjuggler]

With a value of a billion bucks, I'm thinkin' the price isn't so reasonable after all...

So, you think that "reasonable" and "profitable" are mutually exclusive? This young woman is a gazillionaire because her family and their employees built a successful business over 60+ years. It's a for-profit business, not a charity. If they sell me a tasty meal for $6, yes, that's reasonable. Is it unreasonable if there's $1.50 or whatever in profit in the transaction? Hell, no. This is America. Or at least it used to be.

By the way, I believe that this heiress appears in Huell Howser's television special about In-N-Out (probably available online somewhere). Although that show is a couple years old, I didn't really get the impression that the heiress was really "running" things, as the title of this thread states. Yes, she is the owner who inherited the business, but it seemed like the company has a very solid team of experienced managers who are doing the heavy lifting.

[School of Rational Thought]

Already married three times by age thirty? Something’s going on there

Perhaps she is living up to the company name?

[Vigilanteman]

Reasonable prices are not determined by how much the CEO is worth. They are determined by what competing products you can get at a comparable price. In-N-Out's burger is quite comparable in price to Mickey D's with way better quality.

Five Guys serves a slightly better burger for a much higher price.