If you’ve ever held that iconic square bottle, you’ve probably wondered about the hands behind the “Earth’s Finest Water.” Is it a government-owned resource? A local Fijian enterprise? Or a massive global conglomerate? As of 2026, the brand has never been more prominent, but the answer to who is the fiji water owner remains a source of fascination and, occasionally, controversy.
The Fast Answer: Fiji Water is owned by The Wonderful Company, a massive, privately held corporation based in Los Angeles. The Wonderful Company is owned and operated by billionaire couple Stewart and Lynda Resnick. While the water is sourced from an artesian aquifer in the Yaqara Valley of Viti Levu, Fiji, the profits and corporate control reside with the Resnicks in California.
The Billionaire Power Couple: Stewart and Lynda Resnick
To understand Fiji Water, you have to understand the Resnicks. They aren’t just “investors”; they are titans of American agriculture. Through their parent company, The Wonderful Company, they control a staggering percentage of the items you see in a typical grocery store.
The Wonderful Company Empire
Fiji Water is the “luxury” jewel in a crown that also includes:
- Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds: One of the world’s largest landholders of nut orchards.
- POM Wonderful: The brand that essentially created the pomegranate juice craze.
- Wonderful Halos: Those ubiquitous easy-peel mandarins.
- Teleflora: The world’s largest flower delivery service.
Stewart & Lynda’s 2026 Net Worth
As of 2026, the Resnicks’ combined net worth is estimated to be over $13 billion. Stewart Resnick serves as the Chairman and President, often focusing on the massive land and water-rights acquisitions that make the business possible.
Lynda Resnick, the Vice Chairman, is the “marketing genius” credited with the brand’s high-end image. She is the one who insisted on the square bottle and the celebrity-heavy marketing that made Fiji Water a status symbol at Hollywood award shows.
The Origin Story: From David Gilmour to the Resnicks
Fiji Water wasn’t always a multi-billion dollar household name. It began as the “brainchild” of David Gilmour, a Canadian businessman and hotelier, in 1996. Gilmour, who had already made a fortune in gold mining and real estate, discovered the artesian aquifer on the island of Viti Levu while developing luxury resorts in the area.
He saw an opportunity to market “untouched” water to the West, branding it with the iconic tropical flower and a distinctive square bottle that felt premium in the hand. By 2004, Gilmour had built the company into the fastest-growing premium beverage brand in the United States.
That same year, seeking to exit while the brand was at its peak, Gilmour sold Fiji Water (operating under the name Natural Waters of Viti Limited) to Stewart and Lynda Resnick for an estimated $150 million. The Resnicks immediately folded it into their “Roll Global” portfolio (later rebranded as The Wonderful Company), using their world-class distribution network to put the square bottle in every high-end hotel and supermarket in the world.
Does the Fiji Government Own Fiji Water?
A common point of confusion is whether the nation of Fiji owns or profits directly from the water as a state resource.
The Answer is No. The government of Fiji does not own the brand; it is a 100% private entity owned by the Resnicks. However, because Fiji Water accounts for roughly 20% of the country’s total exports and contributes about 3% to its GDP, the relationship between the billionaire owners and the Fijian government has been famously “complicated.”
The 2010 Tax Standoff
The most famous clash occurred in 2010. For years, Fiji Water had enjoyed significant tax breaks, paying only a tiny fraction of a cent per liter in extraction taxes. When the Fijian government attempted to increase the tax to 15 Fijian cents per liter, the company played hardball.
- The Closure: Fiji Water briefly shut down its bottling plant, laying off 400 workers and calling the tax “a taking of our business.”
- The Resolution: The government didn’t blink, even threatening to offer the aquifer rights to another company. Within 24 hours, Fiji Water backed down, reopened the plant, and agreed to the higher tax.
Today, while the tensions have cooled, the “Fiji Water Owner” remains a major political figure in the island nation, balancing their role as the country’s largest taxpayer with their status as a foreign corporate giant.
Sustainability and the “Billionaire Factor” in 2026
As we move through 2026, the Resnicks have pivoted their focus toward sustainability to combat long-standing criticisms of the “carbon footprint” involved in shipping water halfway across the globe.
- The rPET Transition: By 2025-2026, Fiji Water successfully transitioned its most popular bottle sizes (330mL and 500mL) to 100% recycled plastic (rPET).
- The Caltech Gift: Proving their commitment to climate research, the Resnicks famously pledged $750 million to Caltech to fund environmental sustainability research—one of the largest gifts in academic history.
- Energy Efficiency: The company has invested millions into microturbine energy generation and low-sulfur fuels for their shipping fleet to reduce the environmental impact of their Pacific-to-USA supply chain.
Who Leads Fiji Water Today? (The 2026 Executive Team)
While the Resnicks provide the vision and the capital, the day-to-day operations of “Earth’s Finest Water” are managed by a highly experienced executive team.
- Alexandre (Alex) Zigliara (President): Effective December 1, 2025, Alexandre Zigliara took over as President of Fiji Water. Zigliara is a heavyweight in the beverage world, previously serving as the CEO of Clif Bar and holding senior executive roles at The Coca-Cola Company. He was specifically brought in by Stewart Resnick to drive global growth and further the brand’s environmental transitions.
- Rokoseru Nabalarua (CEO): Working alongside the President, Nabalarua serves as the CEO of the Fiji-based operations, ensuring that the brand maintains its strong local ties and operational excellence at the source in Viti Levu.
This leadership shift in late 2025 signals a new era for the brand, focusing on aggressive global expansion while doubling down on the “green” initiatives the Resnicks have championed.
Common Myths: Is Fiji Water Owned by the Fiji Government?
A persistent myth is that Fiji Water is a state-owned utility of the Republic of Fiji.
The truth is: No. Fiji Water is 100% privately owned by The Wonderful Company.
While the brand pays significant extraction taxes and land lease fees to the Fijian government, the state has no ownership stake in the company. In fact, as we’ve seen in the past, the relationship can be quite litigious when it comes to taxation and regulation.
Sustainability and the “Billionaire Factor” in 2026
As we move through 2026, the Resnicks have pivoted their focus toward sustainability to combat long-standing criticisms of the “carbon footprint” involved in shipping water halfway across the globe.
- The 100% rPET Success: By early 2026, Fiji Water achieved its major goal of transitioning its core bottle portfolio (including the 330mL and 500mL sizes) to 100% recycled plastic (rPET) in major markets like the U.S., UK, and EU.
- The Caltech Gift: Proving their commitment to climate research, the Resnicks famously pledged $750 million to Caltech—the second-largest gift to any U.S. academic institution—to fund sustainability research that includes finding alternatives to single-use plastics.
- Renewable Energy at the Source: The company has invested millions in microturbine energy generation and low-sulfur shipping fuels to ensure that the water’s journey from the South Pacific is as efficient as current technology allows.
Conclusion: The Future of Fiji Water Under the Resnick Reign
As of 2026, the identity of the Fiji Water owner is more than just a corporate detail; it is a case study in how a luxury brand can thrive under private, billionaire ownership.
By keeping Fiji Water under The Wonderful Company umbrella, Stewart and Lynda Resnick have been able to make long-term, high-stakes moves—like the total transition to 100% recycled plastic (rPET) and the $750 million sustainability pledge—without the pressure of quarterly reports from public shareholders.
The brand has successfully navigated the “premiumization” trend, remaining a symbol of luxury even as consumers become more conscious of environmental impacts. For the people of Fiji, the company remains a vital economic partner, while for the Resnicks, it remains the crown jewel of their multi-billion dollar agricultural empire.