Bobbi Brown left Estée Lauder to launch a startup

Legendary makeup artist and entrepreneur Bobbi Brown revolutionized the beauty industry with her eponymous makeup line, which she sold her brand to Estée Lauder in 1995

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Bobbi Brown left Estée Lauder to launch a startup

Legendary makeup artist and entrepreneur Bobbi Brown revolutionized the beauty industry with her eponymous makeup line, which she sold her brand to Estée Lauder in 1995 for a reported $74.5 million.

At the time, Brown’s brand was gaining significant success and outperforming Estée Lauder in  major retail department stores. This caught the attention of then-CEO Leonard Lauder, who approached Brown with an offer to buy her brand. Although initially hesitant, Brown eventually agreed to the sale.

 

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As part of the deal, Brown signed a 25-year non-compete agreement, which prevented her from launching any new beauty brands during that period. She stayed on at the brand for more than two decades but eventually came to regret the non-compete agreement. Brown felt constrained by the corporate processes and found herself forced into approving things she didn’t believe in.

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