Jacuzzi
Jacuzzi is an American manufacturer and marketer of hot tubs, whirlpool baths, pools and related bathroom products, whose name became closely associated with home hydrotherapy.
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Overview
Jacuzzi is an American private company and consumer brand focused on hot tubs, whirlpool baths, spas, pools and related bath products. It is headquartered in Irvine, California, and has a substantial European manufacturing presence, including eight factories and a major facility in Italy. The company is particularly associated with hydrotherapy products: its name is widely used in American English as a familiar reference to a hot tub, although the Jacuzzi mark remains treated as a trademark rather than a legally generic term. The business began in 1915 in Berkeley, California, when seven Italian immigrant brothers from the Jacuzzi family established a machining and manufacturing operation. The family had emigrated from the Casarsa della Delizia area of northern Italy and initially worked across aviation and agricultural equipment. Their early output included a curved wooden aircraft propeller used during the First World War, an enclosed aircraft cabin, and the Jacuzzi J-7 mail aircraft. After the 1921 crash of a mail plane that killed Giocondo Jacuzzi and other passengers, the family withdrew from aviation and moved toward pumps and other engineering products. Rachele Jacuzzi developed a successful water pump in 1926, establishing the foundation for a broader pump business. The decisive shift toward hydrotherapy came in 1948, when Candido Jacuzzi designed a portable pump to help his son, Ken Jacuzzi, manage rheumatoid arthritis between hospital visits. The device was based partly on the family’s observation of the benefits of a hospital hydrotherapy tank. Patented in 1952 and marketed during the middle of the 1950s as a therapeutic aid, the J-300 pump could be placed in an ordinary bathtub and create a spa-like water flow. In 1968, the company introduced a full whirlpool bath with jets that combined air and water. Developed by third-generation family member Roy Jacuzzi, the product was designed primarily for relaxation rather than solely for medical treatment. It helped establish the modern residential hot tub category. Jacuzzi expanded from portable therapeutic pumps into larger family spas, adding features such as heaters, filtration systems and multi-person designs so that users did not have to drain the bath after every use. Television exposure and celebrity-oriented promotion, including appearances and associations with Hollywood culture, helped make the product aspirational during the 1960s and 1970s. The company remained family-run until 1979, when disputes among a growing number of family members contributed to its sale to Kidde for $70 million. Roy Jacuzzi remained involved as head of the hot tub and bath division after the acquisition. Subsequent ownership changes included Kidde’s acquisition by Hanson PLC in 1987, Hanson’s 1995 spin-off of Jacuzzi and other brands into U.S. Industries, the company’s 2003 renaming as Jacuzzi Brands, and later ownership by Apollo Management. Investindustrial acquired the business in 2019 and is its current owner. Jacuzzi broadened its distribution and product scope over time. It initially relied heavily on contractors and builders, began selling through retailers in 1993, and expanded outside the United States during the 1990s, particularly in Italy and Spain. By the end of that decade, international markets reportedly represented about half of sales. The broader portfolio has included above-ground pools, spas, plumbing fixtures, toilets, sinks, shower and bathtub renovation products, and other bath-related offerings. Several acquisitions and divestitures reshaped the portfolio, including the purchase of Sundance Spas and other spa businesses, and the later sale of industrial pump operations and the Zurn plumbing division. Today, Jacuzzi’s identity remains centered on premium and mainstream residential hydrotherapy, spa and pool products rather than on its former industrial-pump activities.
History
Jacuzzi’s history began with the migration of seven siblings from the Jacuzzi family’s home region near Casarsa della Delizia in northern Italy to the United States. By 1910, all seven had emigrated. In Berkeley, California, they formed a machining and manufacturing enterprise in 1915. Their first activities included agricultural work and engineering experiments connected to aviation. The brothers developed a curved wooden propeller and an enclosed aircraft cabin, and produced the Jacuzzi J-7, an early mail aircraft. A 1921 mail-plane crash killed Giocondo Jacuzzi and led the family to abandon aviation. The company then concentrated on pumps and related mechanical products. Rachele Jacuzzi developed a water pump in 1926, and the business expanded into agricultural, irrigation, well-water, submersible and centrifugal pumping systems. The family’s engineering capabilities later produced the product that defined the Jacuzzi name. In 1948, Candido Jacuzzi created a compact hydrotherapy pump to help his son Ken, who had rheumatoid arthritis. The pump was patented in 1952 and marketed in 1955–1956 as a therapeutic device capable of converting a standard bathtub into a hydrotherapy unit. The next major transition was from medical assistance to recreational wellness. In 1968, Roy Jacuzzi, a third-generation family member, helped develop a whirlpool bath that combined air and water jets. Known as the Roman Bath, it was intended for relaxation and became an important early example of the modern residential spa. Jacuzzi promoted its products through entertainment and television exposure, including appearances connected with Hollywood and programs such as Queen for a Day. Although Jayne Mansfield was associated with the popularization of the product, the reference material does not establish her as an official spokesperson. During the 1970s, Jacuzzi broadened its range from individual therapeutic units to larger family-sized spas. Heaters and filtration systems made the products more practical for repeated use, while larger vessels enabled shared bathing and recreation. By 1979, however, ownership and governance had become difficult: 257 Jacuzzi family members were reportedly involved with the brand and disputes had grown. Kidde acquired the company for $70 million. Most family members departed, while Roy Jacuzzi continued to lead the hot tub and bath division. Corporate ownership changed repeatedly thereafter. Kidde was acquired by Hanson PLC in 1987. In 1995, Hanson spun Jacuzzi and other businesses into U.S. Industries. U.S. Industries adopted the Jacuzzi Brands name in 2003. The business was subsequently acquired by Apollo Management and then by Investindustrial in 2019. These changes coincided with portfolio restructuring. The company acquired or incorporated businesses associated with spas, pools, plumbing fixtures and bathroom renovation, including Sundance Spas, Gatsby Spas, Haugh Products, Hydropool, Liners Direct and BathWraps. It later divested substantial non-core operations, including industrial and agricultural pump businesses sold to Franklin Electric in 2004 and Zurn Industries, its plumbing division, sold in 2007. Jacuzzi also changed how it reached customers. It was initially sold mainly through contractors and builders, but retail distribution began in 1993. The company expanded into Europe, especially Italy and Spain, and by the end of the 1990s approximately half of its sales were outside the United States. By the present era, Jacuzzi is principally recognized as a global residential hot-tub, spa, pool and bath-products brand. Its commercial strength derives from the combination of a long engineering history, the cultural familiarity of its name and continued association with hydrotherapy and home wellness.
- 2019
Investindustrial becomes owner
[1]Investindustrial acquired Jacuzzi, which remains a privately owned business.
- 2007
Zurn Industries divested
[1]Jacuzzi sold its plumbing division, Zurn Industries, for $950 million.
- 2004
Industrial pump operations sold
[1]The industrial, irrigation, well-water, submersible and centrifugal systems business was sold to Franklin Electric.
- 2003
U.S. Industries adopts Jacuzzi Brands name
[1]U.S. Industries changed its corporate name to Jacuzzi Brands.
- 1995
Jacuzzi is spun into U.S. Industries
[1]Hanson spun Jacuzzi and other brands into the public company U.S. Industries.
- 1993
Retail sales channel introduced
[1]Jacuzzi began selling through retailers in addition to its established contractor and builder channels.
- 1989
Company reaches approximately 2,200 employees
[1]Reference material records a workforce of about 2,200 employees during the company’s expansion period.
- 1987
Hanson PLC acquires Kidde
[1]Jacuzzi changed corporate ownership when Hanson PLC acquired Kidde.
- 1979
Kidde acquires Jacuzzi
[1]Kidde acquired the company for $70 million after disputes among the expanding Jacuzzi family ownership group.
- 1970
Family-sized spas enter the range
[1]Jacuzzi began producing larger spas intended for more than one user and expanded the residential wellness category.
Products and positioning
A heritage hydrotherapy and wellness brand positioned around relaxation, at-home spa experiences, engineering heritage and premium bath and pool products.
Hydrotherapy equipment · 1955
Jacuzzi hydrotherapy pumps
Jacuzzi’s original signature hydrotherapy product was a portable pump developed for therapeutic use. The J-300, patented in 1952 and marketed in the mid-1950s, could be attached to an ordinary bathtub to circulate water and provide a hydrotherapy experience. This product established the technical and commercial foundation for the later recreational spa business.
Bath products · 1968
Jacuzzi whirlpool baths
Jacuzzi whirlpool baths use water jets, and in many configurations air-and-water circulation, to create a hydrotherapy and relaxation experience within a residential bathtub. The 1968 Roman Bath represented the company’s shift from a primarily medical device to a consumer wellness product designed for everyday leisure.
Residential wellness · 1970
Jacuzzi hot tubs and spas
The hot-tub and spa range is the brand’s best-known current product category. It includes multi-person residential vessels with water jets, heating, filtration and other systems intended for repeated use. The range developed from the early whirlpool bath and expanded during the 1970s into family-sized products and more advanced recreational spa models.
Swimming pools
Jacuzzi pools
Jacuzzi markets swimming-pool products alongside its spa and bath lines. The pool portfolio reflects the company’s broader move into residential outdoor wellness and recreation, including products associated with the company’s historical expansion and acquisitions in the pool sector.
Bathroom products
Jacuzzi bath and shower products
The broader Jacuzzi portfolio has included bath products, shower products and bathroom renovation offerings. Related activities have included businesses such as Liners Direct and BathWraps, reflecting an effort to extend the brand beyond standalone spas into bathroom upgrades and home bathing environments.
Marketing campaigns
- 1970Television exposure for residential spas
United States
Jacuzzi products appeared on television programs including Queen for a Day during a period when the brand was building awareness for larger residential spas.
Outcome. The exposure supported growing popularity in California and broader recognition of the hot-tub category.
- 1968Hollywood and celebrity-led product promotion
United States
Jacuzzi used entertainment and celebrity visibility to help present the whirlpool bath as a desirable lifestyle and relaxation product. Jayne Mansfield was associated with the product’s popularization, although the reference material does not identify her as an official spokesperson.
Outcome. The approach helped move whirlpool baths beyond a narrowly therapeutic context and contributed to adoption among affluent and entertainment-oriented consumers.
Brand decisions
2019
Acquisition by InvestindustrialM&ABackground
Following ownership by Kidde, Hanson-related U.S. Industries, Apollo Management and other corporate structures, Jacuzzi entered another ownership transition.
Action taken
Investindustrial acquired Jacuzzi and became its current owner.
Aftermath
Jacuzzi continued as a privately held international manufacturer and marketer of spas, pools and bath products.
2007
Sale of Zurn IndustriesM&ABackground
Jacuzzi continued to simplify its portfolio after expanding into plumbing and other adjacent categories.
Action taken
The Zurn plumbing division was sold for $950 million.
Aftermath
The sale further separated Jacuzzi’s core spa and bath identity from its former plumbing-industrial holdings.
Divestiture price. $950 million (2007)
2004
Sale of industrial pump operationsM&ABackground
Jacuzzi had accumulated substantial debt and was restructuring a diversified portfolio that extended well beyond consumer spas.
Action taken
The industrial, irrigation, well-water, submersible and centrifugal systems business was sold to Franklin Electric.
Aftermath
The divestiture reduced the company’s exposure to industrial pumping and reinforced its focus on consumer and bath-related activities.
1995
Spin-off into U.S. IndustriesStrategyBackground
Hanson PLC reorganized Jacuzzi and other businesses into a separate corporate structure.
Action taken
Jacuzzi was spun off into U.S. Industries.
Aftermath
The business operated within U.S. Industries until the company adopted the Jacuzzi Brands name in 2003 and later changed private-equity ownership.
1993
Expansion into retail distributionStrategyBackground
Jacuzzi had historically relied primarily on contractors and builders to sell its products.
Action taken
The company began distributing products through retail channels.
Aftermath
The change broadened consumer access and supported the brand’s development as a direct household and lifestyle product name.
1979
Sale to KiddeM&ABackground
The family ownership group had grown substantially and was experiencing internal disputes, making continued family control difficult.
Action taken
Kidde acquired Jacuzzi for $70 million.
Aftermath
Most Jacuzzi family members left the company, while Roy Jacuzzi continued to lead the hot-tub and bath division. The brand subsequently passed through several corporate owners.
Acquisition price. $70 million (1979)
1968
Launch of the Roman BathProduct launchBackground
Jacuzzi had established portable hydrotherapy pumps for therapeutic use, but the company saw an opportunity to develop a product centered on relaxation and recreation.
Action taken
Roy Jacuzzi and the company introduced a whirlpool bath using jets that mixed air and water.
Aftermath
The product helped define the modern residential whirlpool and hot-tub market and became the foundation for larger family spas.
Recent events
Sources2 sources
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