Estée Lauder – the most successful Hungarian businessperson of the 20th century?

Estée Lauder’s name is known all over the world, as it is one of the biggest cosmetics company worldwide. However, what do you really know about the woman behind the brand and where she came from?

Estée Lauder was born in July 1906 in New York. She was originally named Josephine Esther Mentzer, reports Divany. Even though as a child, she liked to make up stories about a glamorous upbringing by American, French, or sometimes Austrian aristocrats who catered to her every need, in her autobiography, she finally opened up about the truth.

Her mother, Rose, was from a Hungarian Jewish family. She followed her husband, Abraham Rosenthal, to America in 1898 with their five children. However, in 1905, she married the Czech grocer, Max Mentzer, giving birth to their daughter a year later. It is unknown what had happened to her first husband.

Even though the baby was named Josephine, she was nicknamed ‘Eszti’ after her mother’s favourite aunt. As an adult, she turned the English spelling of ‘Estee’ into ‘Estée’ so that it looked more French.

The beginning

Estée was first introduced to cosmetics by her uncle, John Schotz, who was also of Hungarian origins. She enthusiastically observed how he made creams for moustaches or for protecting the skin, while she learned the basics of business from her father. She fell in love with skincare and was dedicated to perfecting and selling her uncle’s products.

Estée met Joseph Lauter, and they got married in 1930. They later changed their name to the better-sounding Lauder. Estée and her husband had two sons. Leonard was born in 1934 and Ronald was born in 1944.