Leonard A. Lauder, beauty industry icon and Alzheimer’s advocate, dies at 92

Leonard A. Lauder, the founders of The Estée Lauder Companies, passed away on Sunday. Not just a businessman, Leonard was known for his love for art, philanthropy and his contribution to medical institutions, and breast cancer and Alzheimer’s research.

The death was announced by the Estée Lauder Companies. He was 92.

“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, Board of Directors, The Estée Lauder Companies. “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. Above all, my father was a man who practiced kindness with everyone he met. His impact was enormous. 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. Together with my family, The Estée Lauder Companies, and the countless people he touched, we celebrate his extraordinary life.”

Born in 1933 in New York City, the oldest son of Estée and Joseph H. Lauder, Leonard was was a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and the Officer Candidate School of the United States Navy. He also studied at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He served as President of The Estée Lauder Companies from 1972 to 1995 and as Chief Executive Officer from 1982 through 1999.

The man who dreamt of taking Estee Lauder to great heights

When Leonard A. Lauder joined Estée Lauder, the company was making just around $800,000 a year. But his dream, as he wrote in his 2020 memoir The Company I Keep, was much bigger—he wanted to turn Estée Lauder into the "General Motors of the beauty business." And he did just that. By 2021, the company’s annual sales had skyrocketed to over $16 billion—even with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, Estée Lauder grew into a global beauty powerhouse, with around 30 brands sold in 150 countries. While the company went public in 1995, the Lauder family still kept a tight grip. As of January 2025, they owned about 85% of the voting stock and roughly 38% of the total common stock. Leonard remained a senior board member until the end, watching the company grow from a family-run brand into a global beauty empire.

His contribution to Alzheimer's research

Leonard Lauder wasn’t just a beauty mogul—he was a force in philanthropy too. He co-founded and chaired the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) with his brother in honor of their mother, Estee Lauder's, battle with Alzheimer's. He also helped launch the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering with his first wife, and served as an emeritus trustee at the University of Pennsylvania. Beyond business, he was one of America’s most generous art lovers and donors, giving hundreds of millions to museums, hospitals, and research in Alzheimer’s and breast cancer.

"Leonard Lauder was a once-in-a-generation visionary whose leadership, along with his brother Ronald, reshaped the Alzheimer's research landscape," said Dr. Howard Fillit, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of the ADDF. "From the very beginning, Leonard understood that Alzheimer's does not just impact the patient, it affects entire families. The Lauder family recognized the emotional, financial, and societal toll of this disease, and built the ADDF to accelerate the discovery and development of treatments that could change the trajectory for patients and their loved ones. Leonard's vision, generosity, and humanity spanned across his business acumen to his philanthropic endeavors, touching countless lives, and his legacy will endure in every breakthrough we help bring forward."