Which American billionaire founded the cosmetics company Estée Lauder?

Estée Lauder founded the cosmetics company that bears her name, Estée Lauder Companies, with her husband, Joseph Lauder, in 1946.

Born Josephine Esther Mentzer in Queens, New York, Lauder learned cosmetics from her chemist uncle, John Schotz. She first sold his creams and lotions through personal demonstrations, a hands-on approach that became central to her retail strategy. The couple began with four products and opened their business at 501 Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

Her breakthrough product was Youth-Dew, introduced in 1953 as a bath oil that could also be used as perfume. Its success helped turn a small family business into an international beauty group. A common mix-up is confusing her with Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein, or Coco Chanel, all major figures in cosmetics, but none founded Estée Lauder Companies. Lauder was also a co-founder rather than the company's sole founder.