Beauty leader Leonard A. Lauder dies at 92

June 16, 2025

New York City-born businessman Leonard A. Lauder has passed away. Image credit: The Estée Lauder Companies

By Kiran Gill for Luxury Daily News Service

Leonard A. Lauder, longtime leader of U.S. beauty group The Estée Lauder Companies and a towering figure in philanthropy, has passed away.

On Saturday, June 14, the beauty pioneer died at the age of 92. Following a career spanning over six decades, he leaves behind a legacy of innovation and a beauty empire.

“Throughout his life, my father worked tirelessly to build and transform the beauty industry, pioneering many of the innovations, trends and best practices that are foundational to the industry today,” said William P. Lauder, son and chair of the board of The Estée Lauder Companies, in a statement.

“He was the most charitable man I have ever known, believing that art and education belonged to everyone, and championing the fight against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and breast cancer,” Mr. Lauder said.

A lifelong commitment
Born in 1933 to Estée and Joseph H. Lauder, the founders of the eponymous company, Mr. Lauder served in the U.S. Navy before joining the company in 1958. Under his stewardship, Mr. Lauder transformed the company from a single-brand business into a global beauty brand.

Mr. Lauder also oversaw the acquisition of brands such as Clinique, Bobbi Brown, M·A·C, Jo Malone London and La Mer.

Mr. Lauder served as president of the company from 1972 to 1995, CEO from 1982 to 1999 and chairman through 2009. Even after stepping down from formal leadership roles, he remained active as chairman emeritus and maintained a daily presence at company headquarters until his death.

“Above all, my father was a man who practiced kindness with everyone he met,” Mr. Lauder said, in a statement.

“His impact was enormous,” he said. “He believed that employees were the heart and soul of our company, and they adored him and moments spent with him.

“His warmth and thoughtfulness made an imprint on our company, the industry, and, of course, our family.”

Leonard A. Lauder, recipient of the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion, at the award ceremony in 2024. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus

An avid art collector, Mr. Lauder pledged his collection of Cubist art to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2013; his 78-piece collection is the largest single gift in the institution’s history. He also helped establish the Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art at the Met.

Mr. Lauder served as chairman emeritus of the Whitney Museum of American Art and supported numerous cultural and educational institutions throughout his life.

“Leonard was a wonderful brother and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, colleague and friend,” said Ronald S. Lauder, chairman of Clinique Laboratories, LLC at The Estée Lauder Companies, in a statement.

“But his legacy extends far beyond being the heart of our family,” Mr. Lauder said. “His impact will be felt for generations to come thanks to his tireless philanthropy, advocacy and creativity in tackling some of the world’s greatest challenges.”

Among his many philanthropic endeavors, Mr. Lauder co-founded the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation with his brother, and served as honorary chairman of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, founded by his first wife, Evelyn H. Lauder.

In 2020, Mr. Lauder donated $125 million to the University of Pennsylvania to launch a tuition-free nurse practitioner program aimed at expanding primary care access.

“The number of lives he touched and positively impacted across all his endeavors is immeasurable,” said Mr. Lauder, in a statement.

“His passion and generosity have inspired us all, and there are no words to express how much he will be missed.”

In November, U.S. retailer Neiman Marcus recognized Mr. Lauder’s contributions to the luxury industry by awarding him the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion (see story).

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