Lynda Resnick

$5.39 B

Ranked #754 in World

About Lynda Resnick

Lynda Rae Resnick, an American billionaire businesswoman born in 1943, has made her mark as a philanthropist and co-owner of The Wonderful Company alongside her husband, Stewart Resnick. Their conglomerate includes notable brands such as POM Wonderful, Fiji Water, and Wonderful Pistachios. Resnick's journey began in Baltimore, Maryland, leading her to become a significant figure in the advertising world by 19. Her role in the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War and her innovative marketing strategies across various industries have cemented her reputation. The Resnicks' philanthropic efforts extend from significant contributions to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to impactful initiatives in California's Central Valley, improving local communities and advocating for environmental sustainability. Despite facing criticisms for certain business practices, Resnick's influence across the business and philanthropic sectors remains undeniable.

Born

January 18, 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Age

83 years

Source Of Wealth

Agriculture

Industries

Food & Beverage

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Beverly Hills, California

Spouse

Hershel Sinay, Stewart Resnick (Married: 1972)

Children

2 sons

Parent

Jack H. Harris (father)

Lynda Rae Harris was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1943, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father, Jack H. Harris, was a film distributor and producer, while her mother, Muriel (née Goodman), was an interior designer. At the age of four, Lynda had a recurring role on The Horn & Hardart Children's Hour. She graduated from Harriton High School and moved to southern California, where she briefly attended a local college before working at the in-house ad agency for Sunset House catalog. At the age of 19, she founded her own advertising agency, Lynda Limited.

Lynda Resnick: Pentagon Papers Involvement

During the Vietnam War era, Lynda Rae Resnick (then Lynda Sinay) became involved in the antiwar movement. She allowed Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony J. Russo to use her ad agency's Xerox machine to copy the Pentagon Papers, a secret history of America's involvement in Vietnam. This action led to her being designated as an un-indicted co-conspirator and pursued by prosecutors for two years, although legal actions were eventually dropped.

Lynda Resnick: Career and Companies

Lynda Rae Resnick is involved in numerous companies through The Wonderful Company, which she co-owns with her husband, Stewart Resnick. Notable brands controlled by the Resnicks include POM Wonderful, Fiji Water, Wonderful Halos, and Wonderful Pistachios. They operate large industrial citrus and nut farms in California. In 1979, Resnick purchased Teleflora and became the company's executive vice president of marketing and eventually president, winning several awards for her marketing strategies and advertising campaigns.

Lynda Resnick: Franklin Mint

In 1984, Resnick purchased the Franklin Mint and directed the company's international marketing efforts. She influenced a new business plan focused on products that delivered "emotional satisfaction" and arranged licensing for products related to the Louvre, Vatican, board games, classic cars, and famous people. Resnick sold the Franklin Mint in 2006.

Lynda Resnick: POM Wonderful

Resnick acquired a pistachio orchard with Wonderful variety pomegranate trees in California's San Joaquin Valley.

She sponsored medical research on the health effects of pomegranates, designed the POM Wonderful logo, and developed the hourglass-shape bottle. The company expanded into other liquid products and pills.

Lynda Resnick: Fiji Water

In 2004, Resnick acquired the Fiji Water business. She supervised marketing that focused on the uniqueness and exotic nature of the water, resulting in a 300% increase in sales by 2008, making it the largest imported bottled water brand in the United States. Fiji Water introduced a promotional campaign touting an environmental policy and plans for a reduced carbon footprint.

Lynda Resnick: Wonderful Halos

Resnick launched Wonderful Halos mandarins in 2013. She built a $220 million facility in the San Joaquin Valley for processing mandarins. Halos became the #1 segment brand, with a significant market share. Resnick is credited with the decision to retain Roll Global's mandarin operations and is considered the key architect of Halos branding.

Lynda Resnick: Wonderful Pistachios and Almonds

The Resnicks are the world's largest vertically integrated pistachio and almond grower and processor. They cultivate and harvest over 65,000 acres of orchards and deliver over 450 million pounds of nuts globally each year. Wonderful Pistachios and Almonds are known for their Get Crackin' campaign and are the fastest-growing snack brand in the United States.

Lynda Resnick: JNSQ Wines

In 2019, Resnick launched JNSQ, a female-focused luxury wine brand. Designed to be sustainably reused, JNSQ features a curvaceous bottle inspired by a vintage perfume bottle. The brand targets millennial women and older Gen Z'ers.

Lynda Resnick: Personal Philanthropy

Lynda Rae Resnick is involved in various philanthropic activities. She is a life trustee of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Board of Trustees and a trustee emeritus of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Resnick has made significant donations to institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, UCLA Medical Sciences, Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Milken Family Foundation.

She is also involved in education initiatives, including charter schools and agricultural-career college prep programs. Resnick has donated to environmental sustainability research at Caltech and the Hammer Museum.

Lynda Resnick: Central Valley Philanthropy

Resnick has made significant improvements to communities in California's Central Valley, especially in Lost Hills. She has contributed over $100 million to charter schools and $20 million to an agriculture-career college prep program. Resnick increased the minimum wage to $15 an hour for all California workers ahead of the state-mandated deadline. She introduced the Wonderful Giving Program, allowing employees to direct donations to local charities. The largest local recipient of donations is Wasco Union High School. Resnick also donated $2.5 million to the Fresno Community Food Bank, the largest donation in its history. Her efforts have been recognized by the US Chamber of Commerce with the Corporate Citizenship Award for community improvement.

Lynda Resnick: Personal Life

Lynda Rae Resnick has been married twice. Her first marriage was to publisher Hershel Sinay, which ended in divorce in 1969. They had two children together: Jason Sinay and Jonathan Sinay. Resnick's second marriage is to Stewart Resnick, her business partner. They live in Beverly Hills and have a home in Aspen, Colorado.

Lynda Resnick: Personal Memoir

In 2009, Resnick co-authored a book titled Rubies in the Orchard: How to Uncover the Hidden Gems in Your Business. The book promotes the concept of transparency and giving back to the community.

Lynda Resnick: Criticisms

Resnick has faced criticism for her water-intensive nut tree crops in the Central Valley during California's drought. Despite owning a majority stake in the Kern Water Bank and partnering with water projects to bring water to Kern County, critics argue that her actions contribute to water scarcity. Additionally, Resnick's decision to import Fiji bottled water from the South Pacific has been criticized, as island natives face water scarcity themselves.

Furthermore, the Federal Trade Commission challenged claims made by POM Wonderful regarding the health benefits of its pomegranate drink, alleging deceptive advertising.

Wealth History

Timeline

1943

Lynda Rae Harris is born in Baltimore, Maryland.

1960s

Has a recurring role on The Horn & Hardart Children's Hour at the age of four.

1960s

Graduates from Harriton High School and moves to southern California.

1960s

Briefly attends a local college before working at the in-house ad agency for Sunset House catalog.

1960s

Founds her own advertising agency, Lynda Limited, at the age of 19.

1960s

During the Vietnam War era, Resnick (then Lynda Sinay) does occasional work for the antiwar movement.

1960s

Allows Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony J. Russo to use her ad agency's Xerox machine to copy the Pentagon Papers, a secret history of America's involvement in Vietnam.

1960s

Designated as an un-indicted co-conspirator and pursued by prosecutors for two years.

1960s

Legal actions are eventually dropped.

1979

Purchases Teleflora and becomes the company's executive vice president of marketing and eventually president.

1984

Purchases the Franklin Mint and directs the company's international marketing efforts.

1984

Influences a new business plan focused on products that delivered 'emotional satisfaction.'

1984

Arranges licensing for products related to the Louvre, Vatican, board games, classic cars, and famous people.

2004

Acquires the Fiji Water business.

2004

Supervised marketing that focused on the uniqueness and exotic nature of the water.

2006

Sells the Franklin Mint.

2008

Sales of Fiji Water increase by 300%, becoming the largest imported bottled water brand in the United States.

2009

Co-authors a book, Rubies in the Orchard: How to Uncover the Hidden Gems in Your Business.

2013

Launches Wonderful Halos mandarins.

2013

Builds a $220 million facility in the San Joaquin Valley for processing mandarins.

2019

Launches a female-focused luxury wine brand, JNSQ.

Lynda Resnick : FAQs

What is Lynda Resnick's current net worth?

Lynda Resnick's current net worth is $5.39 billion.

What is Lynda Resnick's current global rank among billionaires?

Lynda Resnick holds the 754th position globally among billionaires.

What is Lynda Resnick's current ranking within the United States?

Lynda Resnick holds the 281st position in United States.

What was the change in Lynda Resnick's net worth compared to the previous year?

Lynda Resnick's net worth decreased by 0 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when her net worth was 5.39 billion dollars.

What are Lynda Resnick's main sources of wealth?

Lynda Resnick's main source of income comes from Agriculture.

In which industry does Lynda Resnick primarily operate?

Lynda Resnick is primarily involved in the Food & Beverage industry.

How old is Lynda Resnick?

Lynda Resnick is 83 years old.

How many children does Lynda Resnick have?

Lynda Resnick has 5 children.

Who is Lynda Rae Resnick and what companies does she co-own?

Lynda Rae Resnick is an American billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist, co-owner of The Wonderful Company. The company has a portfolio including POM Wonderful, Fiji Water, Wonderful Pistachios and Almonds, and more.

What role did Lynda Resnick play during the Pentagon Papers scandal?

During the Vietnam War era, Lynda Resnick (then Lynda Sinay) allowed Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony J. Russo to use her ad agency's Xerox machine to copy the Pentagon Papers, facing legal scrutiny but never indicted.

How has Lynda Resnick contributed to the bottled water industry?

Lynda Resnick acquired Fiji Water in 2004, overseeing a marketing strategy that increased sales by 300% by 2008, making it the largest imported bottled water brand in the US.

What philanthropic efforts has Lynda Resnick made in California's Central Valley?

Lynda Resnick has made significant contributions to California's Central Valley, including over $100 million to charter schools, a $20 million agriculture-career program, and improving local community facilities and services.

What criticisms has Lynda Resnick faced regarding her business practices?

Lynda Resnick has faced criticism for water-intensive crops during California's drought, control over the Kern Water Bank, importing water while Fiji faces scarcity, and deceptive advertising claims with POM Wonderful.