How Wealthy Are These Family Dynasties?

Published on May 14, 2019 By Chloe Draws

The Lauder Family

Fortune: $24.3B Business: Estee LauderIndustry: CosmeticsFamous Member: Leonard Lauder

The Lauder family obtained its wealth from their cosmetics company, Estée Lauder. The empire started shortly after World War II when the husband and wife founders Estée and Joseph Lauder opened its first doors.

At the time, they worked only in New York City and sold four basic products: cleansing oil, all-purpose crème, a crème pack, and skin lotion. Within two years, they’d made enough money to open their first branch on Fifth Avenue and became one of America’s first dynasties.