Estee Lauder

Date of Birth: July 1, 1908

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: April 24, 2004

Biography

Estée Lauder was an American businesswoman and co-founder of Estée Lauder Companies, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. Born Josephine Esther Mentzer, she grew up in Corona, Queens, New York City, where she developed an early interest in beauty and skincare. Her entrepreneurial journey began in the 1940s when she started selling skincare products created by her uncle, a chemist, to beauty salons, hotels, and even door-to-door. Lauder officially founded her company in 1946 with her husband, Joseph Lauder. With an initial focus on high-quality skincare products, she quickly expanded her offerings to include a wide range of beauty products. Her keen sense of marketing, including the innovative practice of giving free samples, helped her brand achieve significant growth. By the 1960s, Estée Lauder products were sold in high-end department stores worldwide. Throughout her career, Estée Lauder received numerous accolades, including being named one of Time magazine’s 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century. She continued to be actively involved in her company until her retirement in the 1990s. Her legacy lives on through the global empire she built.

5 Interesting Facts about Estee Lauder

1. Estée Lauder was the first woman to be named Entrepreneur of the Year by the United States Commerce Department in 1988.

2. She was known for her hands-on approach to selling, often demonstrating her products personally to potential clients.

3. Lauder was a pioneer in the concept of “gift-with-purchase,” which became a standard marketing strategy in the beauty industry.

4. Her company launched the first-ever men’s fragrance, Aramis, in 1964.

5. Estée Lauder Companies now owns numerous high-profile brands, including MAC, Clinique, and Bobbi Brown.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Estee Lauder

1. “Beauty is an attitude. There’s no secret.”

2. “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.”

3. “If you don’t sell, it’s not the product that’s wrong, it’s you.”

4. “I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.”

5. “If you put the product into the customer’s hands, it will speak for itself if it’s something of quality.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the time of her death in 2004, Estée Lauder’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 billion.

Children

Estée Lauder had two sons with her husband, Joseph Lauder: 1. Leonard A. Lauder, who succeeded her as the head of the Estée Lauder Companies. 2. Ronald S. Lauder, who has held various positions in the company and is also known for his activities in politics and philanthropy.