Leonard Lauder, who built The Estée Lauder Company into a global beauty conglomerate, has died at 92 surrounded by family.

Lauder was born in 1933 in New York City, the oldest son of Estée and Joseph H. Lauder, the founders of The Estée Lauder Companies. He was a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, and the Officer Candidate School of the United States Navy. Mr. Lauder studied at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business and served as a lieutenant in the U.S, Navy and as a Navy Reservist.

He formally joined the family business in 1958, when the annual revenue was about $800,000, guided by the aspiration of becoming "the General Motors of cosmetics with multiple brands, multiple product lines, and multinational distribution." He took the company public in 1995 and was a legendary brand builder, launching Aramis, Clinique, and Lab Series, among others. Until his death, he remained deeply involved in the company's acquisition strategy, including the acquisitions of Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone London, La Mer, and MAC.

Lauder served as President of The Estée Lauder Companies from 1972 to 1995 and as Chief Executive Officer from 1982 through 1999. He was named Chairman in 1995 and served in that role through June 2009. When he stepped down as Chairman, the company's revenue topped $7.3 billion.

Lauder was a visionary and an innovator, helping transform the business from a handful of products sold under a single brand in US stores to the multibrand, global leader in prestige beauty that it is today.

He consistently challenged the status quo, developing and implementing innovative sales and marketing programs that revolutionized the beauty industry. He established the company's first research and development laboratory, introduced professional management at every level, and was the driving force behind The Estée Lauder Companies' international expansion, which helped increase the company's sales and profits exponentially.

"Throughout his life, my father worked tirelessly to build and transform the beauty industry, pioneering many of the innovations, trends, and best practices that are foundational to the industry today," said William P. Lauder, son and Chair, Board of Directors, The Estée Lauder Companies. "He was the most charitable man I have ever known, believing that art and education belonged to everyone, and championing the fight against diseases such as Alzheimer's and breast cancer. Above all, my father was a man who practiced kindness with everyone he met. His impact was enormous. He believed that employees were the heart and soul of our company, and they adored him and moments spent with him. His warmth and thoughtfulness made an imprint on our company, the industry, and, of course, our family."

During his many years as Chairman Emeritus, Lauder was closely involved in the business and day-to-day operations of the company and was a constant fixture at The Estée Lauder Companies' global headquarters in New York and company stores and counters across the globe until the time of his death.

Perhaps, the role Lauder was most proud of was the unofficial one as The Estée Lauder Companies' Chief Teaching Officer. He believed that a company's wealth is its people and focused on mentoring and fostering growth within the company's diverse talent pool. He strongly believed in the importance of recognition and gratitude and was a tireless advocate for his employees.

Speaking for The Estée Lauder Companies, President and Chief Executive Officer Stéphane de La Faverie said, "Leonard Lauder was beloved by many and will be missed tremendously. To our employees at The Estée Lauder Companies, he was an inspiration and a champion. To the industry, he was an icon and pioneer, earning respect worldwide. His energy and vision helped shape our company and will continue to do so for generations to come. He was a deeply compassionate leader who cared profoundly about every person in the company. I feel privileged to have worked with Leonard, who has been the best mentor I could have dreamt to learn from. He will be remembered by all of us."

"Lauder was a true visionary, fearless leader, and cherished friend to so many. He was the beacon of our company and the North Star of an entire industry. The world is a better place because Leonard Lauder was in it."