Billionaire Profile
Lynda Resnick
Global Rank
#794

Image: Flickr user "Great Valley Center" | CC BY 2.0 | via Wikimedia Commons

Lynda Resnick

CEO, Agriculture
UNITED STATES
Real-Time Net Worth
$5.394B
Estimated based on Agriculture stock value as of April 20, 2026
0% (24h)
Age
83
Source
Agriculture
Industry
Food & Beverage
Citizenship
UNITED STATES

Biography

Lynda Resnick is an American entrepreneur and businesswoman, best known as the vice-chairman of The Wonderful Company. Born in 1943, she is a self-made billionaire with a net worth of $5.4 billion, primarily from her successful ventures in the agriculture industry. Her career began with an advertising agency, Lynda Limited, which she founded at age 19. Resnick, along with her husband Stewart Resnick, co-own The Wonderful Company, a global enterprise that includes iconic brands like Wonderful Pistachios, FIJI Water, and POM Wonderful. Throughout her career, Resnick has been recognized for her innovative marketing strategies and her commitment to philanthropy, having donated billions to various causes.

Fact Checked
Verified by Editorial Team
Live Data
Updated 4/20/2026

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Lynda Rae Harris (later Resnick) was born in 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father worked as a film distributor, and her mother was an interior designer. At a young age, she had a recurring role on a children's television show. She founded her own advertising agency, Lynda Limited, at the age of 19. She moved to Southern California at 15 after a brief stint in community college.

Rise to Success

In 1972, Lynda married Stewart Resnick, and together they built a business empire. They acquired Teleflora in 1979, where Lynda's marketing expertise led to innovative campaigns. This success laid the foundation for The Wonderful Company, which includes brands such as POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, Wonderful Pistachios, and Wonderful Halos. Lynda's marketing strategies were key in transforming agricultural products into well-known brands.

Key Business Strategies

Lynda Resnick is known for her branding and marketing genius. She is recognized for her role in creating some of the world's most recognized healthy lifestyle products. Her approach involves blending storytelling with product promotion and transforming agricultural commodities into leading consumer brands. She is also known for her innovative advertising campaigns and marketing strategies, such as “Get Crackin'” for Wonderful Pistachios and Teleflora's “Flowers in a Gift.”

Philanthropy

Through their foundation and The Wonderful Company, Lynda and Stewart Resnick have invested over $2.5 billion in education, health and wellness, community development, and sustainability initiatives, focused on the communities where its employees live and work. Their philanthropic efforts include significant donations to Caltech for sustainability research and to UCLA for mental health care.

Career Milestones

1961

Founded Lynda Limited

Founded her own advertising agency at age 19.

1979

Acquired Teleflora

Took over Teleflora, where her marketing led to successful campaigns.

2002

Launched POM Wonderful

Popularized pomegranate juice.

2015

Rebranded Roll Global to The Wonderful Company

Reflected a broader mission of the company.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Environmental Sustainability

Caltech Sustainability Research

$750M

Pledged $750 million to Caltech for environmental sustainability research.

Healthcare

UCLA Health

$100M

Donated $100 million to UCLA for mental health care.

Education

University of California, Davis

$50M

Gifted $50 million to the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation.

Business Philosophy & Leadership

Notable Quotes

"It takes a nut to sell a nut."

"When you wake up each morning, you can choose to be happy or choose to be sad."

Leadership Principles

Innovation

Emphasizing innovative marketing strategies and product development.

Philanthropy

Committed to giving back to communities through education, health, and sustainability initiatives.

Controversies & Challenges

2025

Water Hoarding Accusations

Criticized for allegedly hoarding water from the Kern Water Bank during the Southern California wildfires. The Wonderful Company denied the accusations, stating that the water supply was not under consideration by fire departments and that the accusations were misinformation.

2010s

FTC Scrutiny

POM Wonderful faced scrutiny from the FTC regarding advertising practices.