Mon, 16 Jun 2025

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 Son of Estee Lauder, who took the brand global, dies aged 92

Leonard Lauder joined his parents' company in 1958 and served as chief executive for 17 years.
Leonard Lauder, the businessman who built Estee Lauder into one of the world's largest cosmetic companies, has passed away at 92 years old. Born in 1933, he joined his parents' company in 1958 and served as CEO for 17 years. During his tenure, he was an accomplished dealmaker and acquired several brands including Clinique, Bobbi Brown, and MAC. Under his leadership, the company expanded into Europe and Asia, established its first research and development laboratory, and went public in 1995 with a successful initial public offering. He took on the role of chairman emeritus after stepping down as CEO in 1999. Lauder's legacy is being celebrated by business leaders and celebrities alike. Elizabeth Hurley, who got her start with Estee Lauder, remembered him as "my American Daddy". Steve Forbes said that Lauder "lived life well" and his passing was a loss to the world. Mike Bloomberg described him as having a "legacy that will be felt for generations to come". Lauder's contributions went beyond business; he was also passionate about art and donated his collection of Cubist artworks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2013. He was an advocate for cancer research, serving as honorary chairman of the board at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. At the time of his passing, Lauder had an estimated net worth of $10.1 billion according to Forbes' 2025 rich list.
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