Early Life and Education
Ronald Steven Lauder was born in New York City on February 26, 1944, to Estée and Joseph Lauder, the founders of the Estée Lauder Companies. He attended the Bronx High School of Science and holds a Bachelor's degree in International Business from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also studied at the University of Paris and received a Certificate in International Business from the University of Brussels.
Rise to Success
Lauder began working for the Estée Lauder Company in 1964, eventually becoming the head of the international department. In 1984, he was appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO policy at the United States Department of Defense. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan named him the United States Ambassador to Austria, a position he held until 1987. Lauder has also been involved in investments in real estate and media.
Key Business Strategies
While his brother Leonard Lauder spent decades running the family business, Ronald pursued a more eclectic path. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Austria, ran for mayor of New York City, founded a media company in Eastern Europe (Central European Media Enterprises), and became one of the world's leading advocates for Jewish causes. He also founded RWL Water, LLC.
Philanthropy
Lauder's philanthropic efforts include founding the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, which supports Jewish schools, kindergartens, and summer camps in Central and Eastern Europe. He co-founded the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. He has also been involved in the preservation of historical sites, including Auschwitz-Birkenau. Lauder has donated to various causes and organizations, and he has also been involved in efforts to fight antisemitism. Lauder founded and became the president of Lauder Business School in Vienna, Austria.
