Estee Lauder: Cosmetics Pioneer and Founder of the Estee Lauder Companie

Estee Lauder was an American businesswoman who built one of the world's largest cosmetics companies. Born Josephine Esther Mentzer in Queens, New York, in 1908, she started by selling skin creams made by her uncle.

She founded Estee Lauder with her husband Joseph in 1946 and launched the best-selling fragrance Youth-Dew in 1953. She pioneered the gift-with-purchase promotion. Time named her the only woman on its list of the most influential business geniuses of the 20th century, and she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She remained honorary chairman of the company until her death. Lauder died of cardiopulmonary arrest at her home in New York City on April 24, 2004. She was said to be 95, though her exact birth year was long uncertain.

Achievements: Founder of Estee Lauder Companies, Youth-Dew fragrance (1953), Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Birth: July 1, 1908 - Queens, New York.

Profession: Businesswoman.

Interesting Facts: She refused to discuss her age and long kept her date of birth private.