Leonard A. Lauder, visionary leader of The Estée Lauder Companies and one of the most influential figures in the global beauty industry, has died at the age of 92. The company announced that Mr. Lauder passed away peacefully on June 14, surrounded by family.
Born in New York City in 1933 to Estée and Joseph H. Lauder, Leonard Lauder spent over six decades shaping what began as a family brand into a multi-billion-dollar global powerhouse. Under his leadership, Estée Lauder evolved from a modest U.S. operation into a global leader in prestige beauty, with over 20 iconic brands in its portfolio.
“He was the most charitable man I have ever known,” said William P. Lauder, his son and current Chair of the Board. “Above all, my father was a man who practiced kindness with everyone he met.”
Mr. Lauder served as President of Estée Lauder from 1972 to 1995, and as CEO from 1982 until 1999. He launched transformative brands like Clinique and Aramis, and guided major acquisitions such as MAC, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone London, and Aveda. Even after stepping down as Chairman in 2009, he remained deeply involved in company operations as Chairman Emeritus.
Known affectionately as Estée Lauder’s “chief teaching officer,” Mr. Lauder mentored generations of employees and emphasized values of kindness, integrity, and excellence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a key role in establishing the ELC Cares Employee Relief Fund to support staff globally.
A Legacy Beyond Beauty
Mr. Lauder’s influence extended far beyond the boardroom. He was a philanthropist whose generosity spanned the arts, medical research, education, and global public health.
A lifelong art patron, he made history in 2013 by donating his Cubist collection — including works by Picasso, Braque, and Léger — to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, calling it a “gift to the nation.” He also helped found the Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art.
In health advocacy, he was instrumental in the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, founded by his late wife Evelyn Lauder, and in co-founding the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation with his brother, Ronald Lauder.
He supported numerous academic institutions, most notably the University of Pennsylvania, where he established a $125 million nursing scholarship program to address the shortage of primary care providers.
Remembering a Giant
Mr. Lauder’s legacy includes countless awards and honors: the Légion d’Honneur from France, the Lone Sailor Award from the U.S. Navy Supply Corps Foundation, and induction into the Retail Hall of Fame. He also received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy alongside his family in 2011.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Glickman Lauder; sons William and Gary; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his brother Ronald Lauder and family; and numerous stepchildren and relatives.
Private services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation — two causes close to Mr. Lauder’s heart.
The Estée Lauder Companies stated, “The world is a better place because Leonard Lauder was in it.”
