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Estée Lauder 1906-2004

Born Josephine Esther Mentzer in Queens, New York, Estée Lauder started her career selling the skin-care creams concocted by her uncle John Schotz, a Hungarian chemist. Together with her husband, Joseph Lauder, she founded the Estée Lauder Company in 1946. Two years later, they established their first department-store account at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. In 1964, Lauder's Aramis brand became the first women's cosmetic company to introduce a line for men. Lauder was the only woman included in Time magazine's 1998 list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the twentieth century. Devoted to philanthropy, Mrs. Lauder was involved with numerous charities worldwide.