Leonard Lauder, the man who elevated Estée Lauder Companies to global prominence, has died at the age of 92. Joining his family’s beauty business in 1958, he spent 17 years as chief executive, acquiring popular brands like Clinique, MAC, and Bobbi Brown. Lauder's extraordinary vision and energetic leadership paved the way for the company to reach annual sales of $15.6 billion, making it a major player in the global cosmetics market across 150 countries. He became the face of the brand expansion into Europe and Asia, as well as the establishment of its research lab. A proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, he took the company public in 1995, witnessing a historic share price surge on its first day of trading in New York. Lauder stepped down as CEO in 1999, later serving as chairman emeritus until his death with his family by his side. Tributes poured in from celebrities and notable figures alike, celebrating his lasting impact on both the business world and the arts, having pledged his extensive collection of Cubist art to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.