Jacuzzi

Jacuzzi

Company type	Private
Industry	Manufacturing
Founded	1915
Founder	Seven Jacuzzi brothers
Headquarters	Irvine, California , United States
Area served	Worldwide (notably Europe and United States)
Key people	Roy Jacuzzi (noted family member)
Products	Hot tubs, swimming pools, bath-related products, hydrotherapy pumps
Owner	Investindustrial (since 2019)
Number of employees	2200 (1989)
Website	www.jacuzzi.com

Jacuzzi is a privately held American firm that focuses on producing and distributing hot tubs, swimming pools, and bath-related products. Renowned for its hydrotherapy innovations, the company is based in Irvine, California. As the leading hot tub manufacturer in Europe, Jacuzzi operates eight production plants, with its largest facility situated in Italy.

The company was established in 1915 by seven Italian immigrant brothers from the Jacuzzi family who settled in Berkeley, California. Initially, their business centered on manufacturing pumps for agricultural applications. In 1948, they created water pumps designed to alleviate a family member’s rheumatoid arthritis, which eventually evolved into a recreational hot tub by 1968. Responding to growing demand, Jacuzzi broadened its product range to include more sophisticated models. The company remained under family control until 1979 before undergoing several ownership changes; in 2019, it was purchased by Investindustrial.

Jacuzzi’s dominant position in the market has led to its brand name becoming a generic term for "hot tub" in American English, although it continues to be a registered trademark for items such as hot tubs, whirlpool spas, and whirlpool baths.

Origins

The Jacuzzi enterprise was founded by seven brothers—Giocondo, Frank, Rachele, Candido, Joseph, Gelindo, and Valeriano—who hailed from Casarsa della Delizia in northern Italy. Their original family name, Iacuzzi, was altered to "Jacuzzi" during their immigration to the United States between 1907 and 1910. Securing a contract to supply propellers for World War I aircraft encouraged additional family members to join them.

Starting as a machining business, Jacuzzi developed early aviation components such as a curved wooden propeller used during World War I and one of the earliest fully enclosed airplane cabins—the Jacuzzi J-7—utilized for mail delivery. A propeller crafted by the company is preserved or loaned by the Smithsonian Institution. Following Giocondo’s death in a 1921 mail plane accident, the family withdrew from aviation and redirected their efforts.

In 1926, Rachele Jacuzzi designed an effective water pump that marked the company’s transition into pump manufacturing. This venture expanded over time to include various pump types and formed the basis for future growth.

Hydrotherapy Developments

In 1948, Candido Jacuzzi invented the J-300, an enhanced full-body hydrotherapy pump intended to relieve his son Ken’s rheumatoid arthritis, inspired by the Hubbard tank at Herrick hospital. He secured a patent for this device in 1952 and began commercializing it between 1955 and 1956 as a therapeutic product. The portable system could transform any standard bathtub into a spa-like experience.

Starting in 1968, Roy Jacuzzi—a third-generation family member—created the Roman Bath whirlpool tub featuring jets that combined air and water flow. This model is recognized as the first designed primarily for leisure rather than medical treatment. Celebrity endorsements from figures like Jayne Mansfield helped boost popularity among Hollywood elites. Throughout the 1970s, Jacuzzi products were showcased on television programs such as Queen for a Day and gained significant attention across California. The company expanded its offerings with larger units accommodating multiple users while incorporating filters and heaters to simplify upkeep. Family-sized spas were introduced beginning in 1970.

By 1989, Jacuzzi had grown to employ approximately 2,200 workers. Originally selling mainly through contractors and builders, the company entered retail markets in 1993. During the 1990s, Jacuzzi extended its international presence notably into Italy and Spain, with overseas sales accounting for half of total revenue by decade’s end.

Jacuzzi significantly influenced the trend toward larger and more luxurious bathroom designs.

Ownership transitions

By 1979, involvement in the Jacuzzi brand had grown to include 257 family members, which resulted in escalating internal conflicts. The company was purchased by Kidde for $70 million, prompting most family members to exit except for Roy Jacuzzi, who continued to oversee the hot tub and bath division. In 1987, Kidde itself was acquired by Hanson PLC. Subsequently, Hanson separated Jacuzzi along with other brands into a publicly traded entity named U.S. Industries in 1995, which rebranded as Jacuzzi Brands in 2003. Later, Jacuzzi Brands was taken over by Apollo Management and eventually acquired by Investindustrial in 2019.

Throughout the 1990s, Jacuzzi broadened its portfolio through several acquisitions such as Haugh Products (specializing in above-ground pools), Sundance Spas, Gatsby Spas, Zurn Industries (manufacturers of toilets and sinks), Hydropool (hot tubs), Liners Direct (bathroom products), and BathWraps (shower and bathtub renovation solutions). During this decade, the company also focused on debt reduction by divesting over $600 million worth of assets. The industrial division responsible for irrigation and water systems was sold to Franklin Electric in 2004, while the plumbing segment Zurn Industries was sold in 2007 for $950 million. Presently, key brands under the company include ThermoSpas, Sundance Spas, and Dimension One.

Further reading

• Ken Jacuzzi, Jacuzzi: A Father's Invention to Ease a Son's Pain, iUniverse, 2005, ISBN 978-0-59537-097-9
• Remo Jacuzzi, Spirit, Wind & Water: The Untold Story of the Jacuzzi Family, Welcome Rain Publishers, 2007, ISBN 978-1-56649-145-7

External links

• Official website