The Rise and Fall of Estée Lauder

Julia Chang
Feb 13
2 min read

Updated: Jul 16

From humble beginnings to global domination, Estée Lauder built a billion-dollar beauty empire that redefined skincare and luxury cosmetics. A true industry pioneer, Josephine "Estée" Lauder revolutionized beauty marketing—introducing free samples, the gift-with-purchase model, and an exclusive brand image that made luxury skincare both accessible and aspirational.

But today, the brand is facing some of its toughest challenges yet—its stock has plunged to a 12-year low, it's grappling with major layoffs, and internal family drama between cousins William and Jane made headlines last year. In this episode, we dive into Estée Lauder’s groundbreaking legacy, uncover the secrets behind its meteoric rise, and explore the internal turmoil, corporate missteps, and fierce competition shaking its reign.

Is this the downfall of a beauty giant? Tune in for the inside scoop from GlowJob™ Podcast on one of the industry’s biggest powerhouses.

01:56 - Julia’s Korean-American “faux mitzvah”

04:00 - Just how big is Estée Lauder?

04:33 - The legend of Josephine “Estée” Lauder

07:55 - Early innovations & bold marketing moves

11:00 - Gen 2: Leonard Lauder’s era of expansion

13:00 - The IPO & strategic super-voting shares

14:51 - The acquisition spree: MAC, Bobbi Brown, La Mer & more

17:08 - Family fortune: How rich are the Lauders?

19:25 - Gen 3: William’s short stint & the first outsider CEO

20:52 - Jane Lauder & corporate drama

27:05 - Estée’s stock hits a 12-year low