In 1982, Paul Newman started selling salad dressing; more than four decades later, the brand had given over $600 million of its profits to charity

What began with a salad dressing became a food business with an unusual purpose: giving its profits away. In 1982, actor Paul Newman and his friend A.E. Hotchner launched Newman’s Own salad dressing. The dressing generated more than $300,000 in first-year profits, and Newman decided the money should be given away. More than four decades later, Newman’s Own Foundation says more than $600 million has been given to good causes since 1982.

How Paul Newman’s Salad Dressing Business Began

Newman’s Own traces its beginnings to salad dressing made by Newman and Hotchner. The dressing officially launched in 1982 and generated more than $300,000 in first-year profits.

Newman chose to give those profits away, establishing the principle that still defines the business. Newman’s Own says 100% of its profits go to good causes.


The business later expanded beyond salad dressing. The Associated Press notes that Newman’s Own products include salad dressings, pasta sauce and popcorn.

Newman’s Own Surpassed $600 Million in Giving

Newman’s Own reached the $600 million giving milestone by 2022. The Associated Press reported that the company had given $600 million to charities by that year, with a focus on supporting children. Today, the Foundation’s website says more than $600 million has been given to good causes since 1982.

The Foundation says its income primarily comes from profits from Newman’s Own product sales and royalties paid by Newman’s Own, Inc. and third-party licensees.

Paul Newman Created a Foundation to Continue the Giving

Newman established Newman’s Own Foundation in 2005 to continue his philanthropic work.

After Newman died in 2008, he donated the company to his foundation, according to the Associated Press. Today, the Foundation says it is the sole owner of Newman’s Own, Inc., which is its wholly owned subsidiary. The Foundation also says Newman’s Own, Inc. has an independent board.

The Foundation’s mission is to nourish and transform the lives of children facing adversity. Its three core program areas are SeriousFun Children’s Network, nutrition education and school food, and Indigenous food justice.

Paul Newman’s Camps for Seriously Ill Children

Newman’s philanthropy also extended to camps for children with serious illnesses.

The Associated Press reported that Newman founded a network of such camps, which continue to operate. One example is Camp Boggy Creek near Orlando, Florida, which provides a free experience for campers and their families.

AP also reported that the Foundation supports nutrition education in schools and food justice for Indigenous communities.

A 2018 Law Changed the Rules for Foundations

Newman’s Own’s ownership structure became particularly important after Newman’s death.

The Associated Press reported that Newman’s Own had lobbied for changes to the law because foundations had previously been prohibited from owning more than 20% of a company. Congress passed the Philanthropic Enterprise Act in 2018, allowing foundations to own corporations under specific conditions.

According to AP, those conditions include full foundation ownership, donating 100% of company profits to charity, having a majority of the foundation board independent of the company and donor, and preventing the donor from being involved in company operations.

Newman’s Own Foundation says Newman’s Own, Inc. is the first for-profit company it is aware of that is entirely owned by a private foundation and exists solely to give all profits to good causes. It also says the 2018 law made a similar structure possible for other wholly charitable businesses.

Newman’s Own Wants Other Companies to Follow the Model

The Foundation launched the 100% for Purpose Club in January 2025, around what would have been Paul Newman’s 100th birthday.

The Associated Press reported that Foundation CEO and President Alex Amouyel said the organization would provide guidance and advice to companies interested in moving toward a model in which 100% of profits are dedicated to social causes.

Humanitix, an Australian event-ticketing company, was identified by AP as the second founding member of the club. AP reported that Humanitix also donates 100% of its profits to charity.

Newman’s Own Foundation says the club was created to support and inspire organizations dedicating 100% of their profits for purpose.

Other Companies Have Taken Different Approaches

The AP report also mentioned other approaches to putting company profits toward charitable or social purposes, including Humanitix and Patagonia.

At the time of AP’s January 2025 report, it was not clear whether other companies had used the 2018 law to become fully owned by a foundation while giving away 100% of their profits.

From Salad Dressing to a Four-Decade Philanthropic Model

Paul Newman’s decision to give away the profits from his salad dressing business created a model that has continued for more than four decades.

Newman’s Own launched its salad dressing in 1982, and the Foundation now says more than $600 million has been given to good causes since then. Its income primarily comes from profits from Newman’s Own product sales and royalties paid by Newman’s Own, Inc. and third-party licensees.