Leonard Lauder, Billionaire Art Patron and Cosmetics Heir, Dies at 92
The Bronx‑born billionaire businessman is remembered for headline‑making contributions to New York City museums, driven by the philosophy that art is to conserve rather than possess. Save to My Ocula
Leonard Lauder, heir of cosmetics empire Estée Lauder and billionaire art patron, has died at the age of 92.
His mother’s namesake company Estée Lauder announced his passing at his Upper East Side home in Manhattan over the weekend, calling the Bronx-born executive ‘a visionary and an innovator’, who helped grow the company from a single-brand, handful of products into a multi-brand, global beauty leader.
The eldest son of Estée and Joseph H. Lauder, who started Estée Lauder in 1946, Lauder first joined the business in 1958 and went on to serve over six decades as president (1972–1995) and chairman (1995–2009), later retiring as chairman emeritus.
His son William P. Lauder remembers the American businessman as the ‘most charitable man [he] have ever known, believing that art and education belonged to everyone’.
Besides commercial ventures, Lauder was known for his contributions to the arts and philosophy that art was to conserve rather than possess.
In 2013, Lauder gifted his 78-piece collection of cubist works to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was valued at over $1 billion and counted work by Picasso, Braque, and Léger, marking the largest single gift in the museum’s history.
He later established the Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art, which provided fellowships, special exhibitions, and public lectures.
From 1977 to 2011, Lauder served as trustee and later chairman of the Whitney Museum of American Art, helping the museum secure close to a thousand works, including 760 he donated. In 2008, he made the largest donation the museum ever received of $131 million.
Whitney director Adam D. Weinberg called him ‘one of the greatest benefactors’ in the museum’s history.
Lauder’s philanthropy also contributed to institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Portland Museum of Art, among others. —[O]
Main image: Leonard A. Lauder. Courtesy Estée Lauder.
A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services