The invention provides an amphiphilic compound suitable for oil-in-water systems. The amphiphilic compound contains: (a) a lipophilic component that is hydrocarbon group containing about 20 or more carbon atoms; (b) a hydrophilic component selected from (i) a monomer or an oligomer of an oxyalkylene group containing 2 or more carbon atoms; (ii) a monomer or an oligomer of an oxyalkylene group containing 3 or more carbon atoms; (iii) an oligiomer containing: (1) an oxyalkylene group containing 3 or more carbon atoms; (2) an oxyalkylene group containing 2 or more carbon atoms, provided component (2) is different from component (1); (iv) a hydrocarbyl substituted hydroxyamino group; (v) a polyhydric alcohol group; and (vi) a polyamino group; and (c) a linker covalently bonding the hydrophilic component and the lipophilic component, wherein the hydrophilic component is present in an amount sufficient to at least partially disperse the amphiphilic compound in water. The invention further provides a method of preparing the amphiphilic compound.