Leonard Lauder, a key architect in making Estée Lauder a leading name in cosmetics, has passed away at 92, as confirmed by the company. Joining the family business in 1958, Lauder became its CEO for 17 years, executing strategic acquisitions such as Clinique, Bobbi Brown, and MAC. Lauder’s visionary leadership helped elevate the company, which reported sales of $15.6 billion last year and operates in 150 countries.
Born in 1933 in New York City to Estée and Joseph Lauder, he served as a Navy lieutenant before entering the family business when its annual revenue was under $1 million (approximately $11 million today). Lauder was influential in expanding operations into Europe and Asia, and he established the company’s first research and development lab. He took Estée Lauder public in 1995, with a remarkable 33% increase on its first trading day. Although he stepped down as CEO in 1999, Lauder remained an honorary chairman until his death on Saturday, surrounded by family.
Notable figures have paid tribute, including actress Elizabeth Hurley who fondly referred to Lauder as her "American Daddy," expressing disbelief at the world without him. Steve Forbes remarked on Lauder’s impactful life, while former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg emphasized the lasting nature of his legacy. In addition to his business acumen, Lauder was a passionate art lover, donating his billion-dollar Cubist collection to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His advocacy for cancer research was evident in his role as honorary chairman for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
