ESTEE LAUDER: Beyond the Magic

by lee Israel ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 2, 1985

A number of writers have reportedly attempted and failed to produce a biography of cosmetic queen Est‚e Lauder. According to the Wall Street Journal, Israel turned down a six-figure sum from the Lauder family to break her contract for this book. She didn't, and the result is a considerably more sharply focused look at the woman who has built the world's largest privately held cosmetics company than can be found in Est‚e's autobiography (below). So what do we learn? Her age, among other things: she's 77. Israel also makes much of what she sees as Est‚e's shortcomings: her snobbery, which (according to Israel) led her to hide her Jewish roots and spin myths about a privileged childhood; her social climbing; her business aggressiveness. There's also a lot more about Est‚e Lauder, Inc. than its founder reveals. The book, however, starts out in a muddle as Israel tries to sort out truth from fiction in Est‚e's early days. This could have been avoided had she had the benefit of Est‚e's hastily written autobiography. But there are a few hard finds: Who's Who, 1976-1977 has Est‚e born in Vienna, a romantic confection she changed (to New York City) in later editions. A few other coups: Est‚e's family lived over their father's hardware store in Corona, Queens, and uncle John Schotz (who had made the original skin-care products that gave Est‚e her start) died ""barely solvent"" while his niece became one of the world's richest women. As for later years, there are various stories (some catty, some admiring) about Est‚e's attempts to bull her way into society--particularly Palm Beach society, where she and hubby Joe bought a ""mansion"" near the beach. The more solid material relates to Est‚e Lauder, Inc. Israel gives son Leonard-who became president in 1972--credit for pushing the company ""into the real big time."" Est‚e, however, preferred younger son Ronald, who left the family business in 1983 for the Pentagon and who, Israel says, may be gearing up for a political career. The company today grosses about $1 billion annually. About half comes from overseas sales. There are no sales to Israel (the country) because Arab business is too profitable. Fun to read: especially in tandem with Est‚e's opus.

Pub Date: Dec. 2, 1985

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: MacMillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1985

Categories: NONFICTION