The Estée Lauder Companies facts for kids
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| Public | |
| Traded as | |
| Industry | Cosmetics |
| Founded | 1946 in New York City, U.S. |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters | General Motors Building,
New York City
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U.S.
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Key people
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| Products |
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| Brands | |
| Revenue |  US$15.6 billion (2024) |
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Operating income
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US$970 million (2024) |
| US$409 million (2024) |
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| Total assets | US$21.7 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$5.31 billion (2024) |
| Owner | Lauder family (38% equity, 86% voting) |
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Number of employees
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62,000 (2024) |
| Footnotes / references Financials as of June 30, 2024[update]. |
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The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is a big American company. It makes and sells many kinds of beauty products. These include makeup, skincare, perfume, and hair care items. The company is based in New York City.
It is one of the largest cosmetics companies in the world. Estée Lauder Companies owns many popular brands. Some of these are La Mer, Jo Malone London, Clinique, and Tom Ford Beauty. You can find their products in stores and online all over the world.
Contents
History of Estée Lauder Companies
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The Estée Lauder Companies started in 1946. A woman named Estée Lauder and her husband, Joseph, began making cosmetics. They started in New York City with just four products. These were a cleansing oil, skin lotion, a rich all-purpose cream, and a cream pack.
Just two years later, in 1948, they opened their first store account. This was with Saks Fifth Avenue, a famous department store in Manhattan.
Over the next 15 years, the company grew. They added more products and sold them across the United States. In 1960, Estée Lauder went international. They opened their first account in London at the Harrods department store. The next year, they opened an office in Hong Kong.
New Brands and Growth
In 1964, the company launched Aramis. This was a new line of fragrances and grooming products just for men. Estée Lauder herself was recognized for her success. In 1967, she was named one of the top ten women in business in the U.S.
In 1968, the company expanded again. They opened Clinique, a new cosmetic brand. Clinique products were developed with a skin doctor. They were tested for allergies and did not contain any fragrance.
Clinique was also a leader in men's beauty. In 1976, it launched "Skin Supplies for Men." This was the first time a women's cosmetic company created a separate line for men. In 1981, Estée Lauder products became available in the Soviet Union.
Becoming a Public Company
The 1990s were a time of huge growth for the company. It started buying other brands and making deals to sell their products. This helped it change from a family business to a company whose shares could be bought by the public.
In 1993, they made a deal with fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger for fragrances. Later, they partnered with Kiton (1995) and Donna Karan (1997).
The company also bought several well-known brands. In 1994, they invested in MAC Cosmetics, then fully bought it in 1998. They also acquired Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and La Mer in 1995. La Mer is famous for its luxury cream. In 1997, they bought Aveda, a hair care and holistic beauty brand. The fragrance company Jo Malone London was acquired in 1999.
On November 16, 1995, The Estée Lauder Companies became a public company. This meant people could buy shares of the company on the New York Stock Exchange.
Continued Expansion in the 2000s
The company kept growing in the 2000s. They bought a majority of the hair salon Bumble and bumble and fully acquired it in 2006. They also signed a deal with fashion designer Michael Kors in 2003.
In 2005, they partnered with designer Tom Ford. This led to the creation of the Tom Ford Beauty brand, which makes fragrances and cosmetics. In 2010, they bought Smashbox Beauty Cosmetics.
In 2011, Estée Lauder partnered with Tory Burch LLC for fragrances. This was Tory Burch's first step into the beauty world. The first Tory Burch fragrance products came out in 2013. In 2012, the company launched AERIN Beauty. This brand was inspired by the style of its founder, Aerin Lauder.
In 2014, Estée Lauder bought RODIN olio lusso, a skincare brand. They also acquired Le Labo, a fragrance brand. That same year, they invested in Forest Essentials, an Indian luxury cosmetics company. In 2015, they bought Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle and GLAMGLOW, a Hollywood skincare brand.
In 2016, the company acquired Becca Cosmetics. Later that year, they made their biggest purchase yet. They bought Too Faced, a cosmetics company, for $1.45 billion.
In 2019, they acquired Dr. Jart+, a Korean brand known for pioneering BB cream. In 2021, they bought Canadian-based Deciem Beauty Group Inc. In 2022, Estée Lauder opened a large distribution center in Switzerland.
In November 2022, the company announced it would acquire the fashion house Tom Ford. This was a $2.8 billion deal. Tom Ford himself stayed on as creative director. In June 2024, Estée Lauder completed the purchase of DECIEM Beauty Group.
Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Estée Lauder Companies made some changes. In August 2020, they announced they would reduce their workforce. They also planned to close some stores and beauty counters. The company decided to focus more on selling products online.
Marketing and Ambassadors
The Estée Lauder company has many different brands. The Estée Lauder brand itself has used famous people to promote its products. These people are often called 'faces' or 'spokesmodels'.
Many well-known models and actresses have been 'faces' for Estée Lauder. These include Elizabeth Hurley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Rhoda, and Kendall Jenner. In 2010, they added Chinese model Liu Wen, Puerto Rican model Joan Smalls, and French model Constance Jablonski.
Current Estée Lauder Global Ambassadors include Ana de Armas, Amanda Gorman, Karlie Kloss, and Yang Mi. In 2024, the company announced IU, a singer and actress, as their first Korean Global Brand Ambassador.
Operations and Leadership
Finances
The Estée Lauder Companies is a very successful business. For the fiscal year 2024, the company had net sales of $15.6 billion. This shows how large and active the company is in the global beauty market.
Executive Management
William P. Lauder is the chairman of the board for the company. As of 2025, Stéphane de la Faverie is the president and chief executive officer of The Estée Lauder Companies.
International Operations
Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner was very important for the company's international growth. She was the president of the International Operations division. She helped introduce Estée Lauder products to countries like the Soviet Union and China in the 1980s and 90s.
Under her leadership, the international part of the company grew a lot. It started bringing in about half of the company's total money. She helped launch marketing campaigns in over 100 countries.
Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
In October 1992, the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign began. This campaign was started by Evelyn Lauder, who was Estée Lauder's daughter-in-law. She helped create the "Pink Ribbon" symbol. This ribbon is a sign of breast health and awareness.
The Estée Lauder Companies' annual Breast Cancer Awareness campaign involves all of its brands. They are the biggest supporter of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Since 1992, the campaign has raised over $89 million around the world. This money goes to research, education, and medical help for breast cancer.
Brands of Estée Lauder Companies
The Estée Lauder Companies owns many different beauty brands. Here are some of them:
Cosmetics
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Fragrance
Haircare
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Images for kids
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The large Estée Lauder cosmetics counter at MYER Sydney City
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A smaller Estée Lauder counter at New Zealand retailer Farmers
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Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner, 2003
