Who Owns Fiji Water in 2026? Parent Company, Billionaire Founders, and Brand Facts
By Chloe Bennett
Fiji Water did not begin inside an industrial farm collective. Canadian entrepreneur David Gilmour founded the business in 1996 under the corporate banner of Natural Waters of Viti Ltd. Gilmour, who had already struck gold in South Pacific luxury hospitality through the exclusive Wakaya Club resort, recognized an untapped market for prestige water. At the time, Evian and Perrier held sway over high-end dining, but both pushed a classic European sensibility.
Gilmour bet on romantic South Pacific escapism. He invested an initial $40 million to drill into ancient volcanic rock and build a high-tech bottling plant capable of packing water without human contact. The square bottle design stood out on shelves. It felt heavy, architectural, and premium. Gilmour used targeted luxury product placements across premier golf tournaments, hotel suites, and Hollywood award shows to engineer rapid retail demand.
By the early 2000s, distribution costs and geopolitical friction pushed Gilmour toward an exit. In November 2004, he sold Natural Waters of Viti Ltd. to Stewart and Lynda Resnick for an estimated $150 million. The acquisition shifted the label into the Resnicks' primary holding group, known then as Roll Global. The sale severed the brand's boutique origins, turning it into a cornerstone asset of an aggressive industrial marketing machine.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
