W illiam P. Lauder is an American billionaire and a key member of the family that controls the global cosmetics and beauty giant, The Estée Lauder Companies. He is the grandson of the company's iconic founder, Estée Lauder, and the son of Leonard Lauder, the company's chairman emeritus who is credited with transforming it into a global powerhouse. William represents the third generation of family leadership at the company.

He has been deeply involved in the family business for his entire career, having worked his way up through various roles. He served as the chief executive officer of the company from 2004 to 2009, a period during which he oversaw the company's continued global expansion and the acquisition of several new brands. He has since transitioned to the role of executive chairman, where he continues to guide the long-term strategy of the publicly traded company. His vast fortune is derived from his substantial inherited and accumulated stake in the iconic beauty empire his grandmother founded.