Estée Lauder, founder of the cosmetics and fragrance manufacturer Estée Lauder, was born on July 1, 1906, in New York. She was born and raised to a Czech father and a Hungarian mother. With the help of her uncle, a dermatologist, she started a business selling skincare products. In 1946, she co-founded Estée Lauder with her uncle. Starting with just four skincare products, the company continued to expand, opening stores at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and Harrods in London. In 1995, the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Currently, its subsidiary includes cosmetics brands such as Clinique, De La Mer, and MAC.

In 1967, Estée Lauder's achievements were recognized when she was named one of the "10 Most Influential Women in American Business" by business and economic magazines. After her death in 2004, her sons Leonard Lauder and Ronald Lauder took over the company's management.

In Japan, the Estée Lauder Japan branch was established in March 1967. Currently, products from 10 brands are sold at over 490 sales points nationwide, including department stores.