Leonard A. Lauder Remembered in Touching Tributes

Some of the biggest names in fashion, beauty, art, and beyond have taken to Instagram to pay tribute to Leonard A. Lauder, who died last weekend at age 92. Leonard was the eldest son of Estée and Joseph Lauder, and eventually joined the family’s business in 1958 before serving as CEO.

His impact on the modern-day beauty industry is immeasurable, but his contributions to society did not end there. His philanthropy extended to the arts and to medical causes. Lauder and his brother co-founded the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, and he was heavily involved in fundraising efforts for breast cancer.

In an Instagram post announcing his death, the Estée Lauder team reflected on their “brilliant and fearless leader,” who is being remembered as “a visionary whose wisdom, kindness, and generosity shaped our industry and touched countless lives.” In the days that have followed, other prominent figures have taken to their accounts to share tributes of their own.

The Whitney Museum had heartfelt words to share about Lauder, a longtime trustee and chairman emeritus. “Peerless in his generosity, Mr. Lauder was the Museum’s greatest benefactor since its founder, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney,” the team wrote. “His belief in the power of art, artists, and museums to change lives made him an inspirational force not only at the Whitney but at cultural organizations throughout the world. The driving force behind the growth and transformation of the Whitney, Mr. Lauder’s commitment to the Museum’s success was born of a genuine passion for the role Museums can play in inspiring visitors and shaping contemporary culture.”

Aerin Lauder had loving words for her uncle, who she said will “be missed by so many.” Her post added, “His famous blue notes, his big smile, the perfect red tie, his love of a breakfast danish with a cup of coffee, the list of special memories goes on. He mixed business and family with love and passion, and always reinforced the importance of quality and hard work. I have so many unforgettable memories of him in meetings discussing products and stores. I will never forget his dedication and love for the beauty industry, but most of all I will never forget what an incredible uncle he was.”

Max Hollein also highlighted Lauder’s boundless generosity in his post, calling him one of New York’s “most outstanding businessmen,” adding, “the Met lost the transformative, extraordinarily generous donor of this generation—and a wonderful friend. Leonard Lauder will be profoundly missed as a beloved, kind and elegant man, yet he will live on through the many ways that he shared his joy, passion and wisdom with everyone and made sure that generations to come can benefit from his philanthropy. The Met will cherish his many, many major gifts to the museum’s holdings—the one of a kind, most extraordinary Cubism collection, the important 19th century literary poster collection, the Irving Penn photographs and much more. And the Leonard Lauder Research Center will continue to be a major force of scholarship on Modern Art. Sincere condolences to Judy Lauder and the entire Lauder family.”

Actress Elizabeth Hurley had heartfelt words for the man she considered a father figure that she posted alongside a reel of their photos together. “I’m devastated to hear about the passing of my beloved friend and mentor, the remarkable Leonard Lauder,” she wrote. “Since welcoming me into the Estée Lauder family in 1995, Leonard remained a beacon of constant love and support. I called him my American Daddy and I can’t imagine a world without him. We last spoke a few weeks ago, when Leonard called to congratulate me on entering my 30th year with the Estée Lauder Companies. A truly kind, endlessly charming and unbelievably intelligent man… I shall cherish our memories for the rest of my life.”

Elton John called Lauder a legend while sharing a series of photos with his longtime friend. “Leonard Lauder The truest friend. The kindest and most generous of men. They don’t come any better. Love to Judy and the whole family. Elton xo”

Michael Kors wrote about Lauder’s life lead by a passion for New York City and the arts. “His life was guided by passion. Passion for his family and friends. Passion for his work. Passion for art and New York City. Passion to eradicate breast cancer. And passion for the customer and the people on the selling floor. My condolences to his family and loved ones,” Kors wrote.

The staff at Neue Galerie in New York, which was founded by Lauder’s younger brother Ronald, also offered their condolences. “The staff and trustees of Neue Galerie New York express our condolences to the Lauder family on the passing of Leonard A. Lauder at the age of 92. Mr. Lauder was the elder brother of Neue Galerie cofounder Ronald S. Lauder, and is best known for his successful, decades-long stewardship of the Estée Lauder Companies, founded by their mother Estée Lauder in 1946. His legacy is immense, as he was also one of the nation’s leading philanthropists and supporters of the arts. At the Neue Galerie, we are forever grateful for his unyielding friendship and support of our exhibitions and programs,” the post said.

Designer Margot McKinney reflected on their time spent together at cancer fundraisers in Palm Beach. “Each year, he would host a beautiful long-table, family-style dinner at his home the evening prior—warm, intimate, gracious, it was a privilege and joy to be included. I remember one particular year I was running late after meeting a client at Neiman Marcus. I rushed back to the hotel to quickly change, only to receive a phone call asking my whereabouts. Mr. Lauder wouldn’t seat guests until everyone had arrived. I surely put my skates on… fortunately, nowhere is very far on the Island and I made it on time. It spoke volumes about Mr. Lauder’s attention to detail.”

Jerrod Blandino, co-founder of Too Faced Cosmetics, shared a black and white photo of the pair at a dinner and wrote that he was “blessed” to know Lauder. “His kindness, support, leadership, guidance & friendship was the most invaluable & cherished part of our journey selling @toofaced to the @esteelauder company. Getting to know Mr Lauder was one of the greatest privileges of my life. I’ve never told this to anyone, but the afternoon I had to tell him we were leaving TF & going to start a new makeup brand, not only was he understanding but he was encouraging and loving to us. That’s the kind of incredible man he was. He is icon, a legend, & most of all a loving son, father, brother, husband & friend. May God bless his family.”

The team at the Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art shared a collection of photos alongside his countless contributions to The Met. “Leonard’s transformative generosity shaped the Museum in countless ways,” the post said, in part. “In 2013, he made a landmark contribution to The Met—the Leonard A. Lauder Cubist Collection, featuring iconic works by Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Fernand Léger, and Juan Gris—which The New York Times described as “one of the most transformative gifts” in the Museum’s history. It also led to the creation of the Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art, a vibrant hub for scholarship and discovery that continues to deepen our understanding of Cubism and modernism. His commitment extended across the Museum, helping to strengthen the Departments of Photographs, Drawings and Prints, and European Paintings, among many others. Beyond his generosity, Leonard was a guiding presence, a champion of curators and scholarship, and a beloved member of the Museum community.”