Leonard Lauder, the longtime leader of Estée Lauder and son of founders Estée and Joseph Lauder, died on Saturday at 92, the company announced Sunday per CNBC.
He joined the company in 1958 and helped grow it from a small U.S.brand into a global beauty business with many popular cosmetic lines.
Leonard Lauder and his younger brother, Ronald Lauder, 81, inherited the company from their parents.
As of September 2021, Leonard’s net worth was estimated at $32.3 billion, ranking him as the 44th richest person in the world, according to the Daily Mail. Their mother, Estée Lauder, the daughter of Hungarian Jewish immigrants, founded the brand in 1946 and spent decades growing it into a household name.
Leonard A. Lauder was an American businessman, philanthropist, and longtime leader of the global cosmetics company Estée Lauder. The eldest son of company founders Estée and Joseph Lauder, he was born and raised in New York City, where he attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and later earned an MBA from Columbia University.
Lauder joined Estée Lauder in 1958 and played a key role in transforming the company from a single-brand operation into one of the world’s largest beauty conglomerates. Under his leadership, Estée Lauder expanded its reach internationally and introduced several successful brands, including Clinique, Origins, and Aveda. He became president of the company in 1972 and served as CEO from 1982 to 1999, then as chairman until 2009. After stepping down from the board, he was named chairman emeritus.
Often referred to as the “Chief Teaching Officer,” Lauder was known for his deep involvement in mentoring employees and preserving the company’s culture. He helped take Estée Lauder public in 1995, significantly expanding its global influence and setting the stage for continued growth.
Beyond the business world, Lauder was a noted philanthropist and art collector. He was a major benefactor of the Whitney Museum of American Art and donated over 80 Cubist masterpieces to the Metropolitan Museum of Art—considered one of the most significant art gifts in history. His charitable giving also extended to medical research, education, and Alzheimer’s awareness.
He was the founder of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation and supported a variety of healthcare initiatives. Lauder was also a dedicated supporter of Jewish causes and education.
Leonard Lauder was married to Evelyn Lauder, who passed away in 2011. They had two sons, William and Gary. He later married Judy Glickman Lauder, a photographer and philanthropist.
