Estée Lauder (businesswoman)

The daughter of immigrants in Queens, Lauder learned skin creams from her chemist uncle and co-founded her company with her husband Joseph in 1946. Counters in prestige department stores, free samples and a gift with purchase were the model, and later brands such as Clinique and acquisitions such as MAC turned it into a group. Her sons and grandchildren have run it since, and the family still controls the votes.