Early Life
Aerin Rebecca Lauder Zinterhofer was born on April 23, 1970, in New York City. She is the eldest daughter of Ronald S. Lauder, a prominent businessman and former U.S. Ambassador to Austria, and Jo Carole Knopf. Aerin grew up immersed in the world of beauty and luxury, inheriting a legacy tied to the Estée Lauder empire founded by her grandmother in 1946. Her upbringing in New York City and East Hampton, with homes in Aspen, Colorado, and on the Pacific coast of Panama, cultivated her appreciation for beauty and design.
Rise to Success
Aerin graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School of Communications in 1992, majoring in communications. She began her career at Estée Lauder in 1992 as an assistant to the senior vice president of creative marketing. Over the next two decades, Aerin advanced through key roles at Estée Lauder, including director of creative product development, senior vice president, and global creative director. She served on the company's board of directors until 2016. In 2012, she launched AERIN, a luxury lifestyle brand.
Key Business Strategies
Aerin's business acumen stems from her early experiences at Estée Lauder and her grandmother's entrepreneurial spirit. She has expertly blended classic elegance with modern sensibility, launching AERIN and building a successful brand across beauty, fashion accessories, jewelry, and home décor. Her brand is now available in over 45 countries. Aerin is also known for her hands-on approach and strong team collaboration, fostering a warm and detail-oriented work environment. She is currently the Style and Image Director for the Estée Lauder Companies, where she oversees the creative direction and branding of the company's products.
Philanthropy
Aerin is a dedicated philanthropist. She is passionate about supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, co-founded by her aunt Evelyn Lauder, and is an active board member of the Education Committee for the Board of Trustees at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other organizations. She was presented with the Golden Heart Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 2013 God's Love We Deliver Golden Heart Awards.
