Snapchat launched with three fraternity brothers, but the one who says he thought of disappearing photos was locked out before it took off — and it cost the company $157.5 million to settle it.
The idea, the name, and the logo were his; he was a co-founder unfairly removed before the payoff.
They argued Brown had no equity and did not build the product or company — though they ultimately settled and acknowledged his role in the idea and name.
Co-founder and CEO; drove the product and business and has led Snap since. Central figure in the decision to remove Reggie Brown.
Co-founder and CTO; built the original app. Recruited by Spiegel to code the product.
Says he conceived the disappearing-photos concept, coined the name, and designed the ghost logo. Fell out with Spiegel and Murphy in August 2011 and was pushed out with no equity; later sued and settled.
Lightspeed partner; Snapchat's first institutional investor.
Benchmark partner who led an early venture round and served on the board.
0 of 5 have put their version on the record.
Three Stanford friends — Spiegel, Murphy, and Brown — were involved at the start in 2011. Brown was cut out in August 2011, before Picaboo became Snapchat, with no equity. Brown sued in 2013; the case settled in 2014 for $157.5M with a public acknowledgment of his contribution. Spiegel and Murphy built and led the company that succeeded.
The idea, the name, and the logo were his; he was a co-founder unfairly removed before the payoff.
They argued Brown had no equity and did not build the product or company — though they ultimately settled and acknowledged his role in the idea and name.
Unresolved: Whether 'inventing the idea' makes Brown a co-founder of the company that Spiegel and Murphy built.
The app launches as 'Picaboo' in July 2011, built by the three friends.
Three Stanford friends — Spiegel, Murphy, and Brown — were involved at the start in 2011. Brown was cut out in August 2011, before Picaboo became Snapchat, with no equity. Brown sued in 2013; the case settled in 2014 for $157.5M with a public acknowledgment of his contribution. Spiegel and Murphy built and led the company that succeeded.
The idea, the name, and the logo were his; he was a co-founder unfairly removed before the payoff.
They argued Brown had no equity and did not build the product or company — though they ultimately settled and acknowledged his role in the idea and name.
Unresolved: Whether 'inventing the idea' makes Brown a co-founder of the company that Spiegel and Murphy built.
After a trademark issue, the app is relaunched as Snapchat. It begins its rapid growth among younger users.
Lightspeed's Jeremy Liew leads Snapchat's first institutional round, an early validation as usage explodes.
Three Stanford friends — Spiegel, Murphy, and Brown — were involved at the start in 2011. Brown was cut out in August 2011, before Picaboo became Snapchat, with no equity. Brown sued in 2013; the case settled in 2014 for $157.5M with a public acknowledgment of his contribution. Spiegel and Murphy built and led the company that succeeded.
The idea, the name, and the logo were his; he was a co-founder unfairly removed before the payoff.
They argued Brown had no equity and did not build the product or company — though they ultimately settled and acknowledged his role in the idea and name.
Unresolved: Whether 'inventing the idea' makes Brown a co-founder of the company that Spiegel and Murphy built.
That he came up with the disappearing-photos concept, the Snapchat name, and the ghost logo, and was therefore a co-founder wrongfully excluded.
They initially argued Brown 'never had equity' and contributed little of substance — but ultimately settled for $157.5M and publicly acknowledged his contribution to the idea and the name.
Three Stanford friends — Spiegel, Murphy, and Brown — were involved at the start in 2011. Brown was cut out in August 2011, before Picaboo became Snapchat, with no equity. Brown sued in 2013; the case settled in 2014 for $157.5M with a public acknowledgment of his contribution. Spiegel and Murphy built and led the company that succeeded.
The idea, the name, and the logo were his; he was a co-founder unfairly removed before the payoff.
They argued Brown had no equity and did not build the product or company — though they ultimately settled and acknowledged his role in the idea and name.
Unresolved: Whether 'inventing the idea' makes Brown a co-founder of the company that Spiegel and Murphy built.
Snap's IPO — with non-voting public shares — reveals the $157.5M paid to Brown, putting the founding dispute in the official record.
CEO with control; among the youngest self-made billionaires.
CTO; co-controls the company.
Pushed out in 2011; received $157.5M in 2014 with public acknowledgment; largely private since.