Jean Nidetch

She died on April 29, 2015, of natural causes at her home in Parkland, Florida at the age of 91.

In 1973, the 10th anniversary of Weight Watchers, Jean decided to step down from the company. In 1978, the company was sold to J.D. Heinz for 24 dollars per share, or 71.2 million dollars. Jean received around 7 million dollars for her shares of the company, and signed a noncompete clause that she would never start another weight-loss company. She became the face of the company and continued to be a consultant for the company.

Instead, she chose to invite six overweight women over to her house, where they could meet weekly to talk about their struggles and discuss diet tricks and tips. She did establish one rule, which was that women should consult with their doctors before entering her support group, which is a rule that Weight Watchers continues to follow to this day. This support group was the beginning of what was soon to be Weight Watchers, as Jean incorporated her group in 1963.

In February 1952, the family moved back to New York, where Marty got a job as a bus driver. Jean stayed home with their ever-growing family. Although Jean decided to stay home as a mother and homemaker, she was involved with many charities in the area, which helped her develop some of the skills she used later to make Weight Watchers a global brand.

After meeting Marty Nidetch at the Internal Revenue Service, the two married on April 20, 1947. After a few months of marriage, the young couple moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, so Marty could take a job as a credit manager. Marty was then promoted to a manager at a store in Warren, Pennsylvania, which led to the couple’s second move in less than a year.

Jean’s career began when she dropped out of school after her father died in 1942. Providing for her family, Jean began working at Mullin Furniture Company, where she earned a mere total of 10 dollars a week ($177 in 2022 dollars). She then worked a quick stint at Man O’War Publishing Company, where she produced sheets for horse players. This job ended when Fiorello La Guardia's campaign for Mayor of New York City focused on ending horse racing, which was detrimental to the industry. Jean later found work at the Internal Revenue Service.

Jean Evelyn Nidetch (née Slutsky, October 12, 1923 – April 29, 2015) was an American business entrepreneur who was the founder of the Weight Watchers organization.

Jean Nidetch was born on October 12, 1923 in the New York City borough of Brooklyn to her parents, David and Mae Slutsky. Hailing from a working class family, Jean’s parents worked as a cab driver and a manicurist. Graduating from the Girls High School in Bedford, Jean’s academic talents led her to a scholarship offer from Long Island University. She chose, instead, to attend the City College of New York, where she majored in business administration.