With numerous honors to her name—including Chevalier of the Legion of Honor from the French government—Estée formally retired in 1995.  “My company is alive with a dauntless spirit of its own, and my children and grandchildren are here to cheer it on…I’ve passed them the baton of my conviction,” she said as she stepped down. That same year, she stood side by side with her sons Leonard and Ronald at the New York Stock Exchange as the company went public. Naturally, every stock trader left with a free sample.

With numerous honors to her name—including Chevalier of the Legion of Honor from the French government—Estée formally retired in 1995.  “My company is alive with a dauntless spirit of its own, and my children and grandchildren are here to cheer it on…I’ve passed them the baton of my conviction,” she said as she stepped down. That same year, she stood side by side with her sons Leonard and Ronald at the New York Stock Exchange as the company went public. Naturally, every stock trader left with a free sample.