The late cosmetics tycoon Estée Lauder’s “favorite vacation home” in Cannes is for sale, twenty years after her passing. The perfume industry is naturally associated with the French Riviera, and it’s fascinating to note that some of the well-known fragrances Lauder made were inspired by her former vacation residence.
The elegant mansion is located on Avenue du Roi Albert in La Californie, a posh residential neighborhood in the city’s Alpes-Maritimes district, and is listed with Hamptons for £6.7 million, or around $8.7 million. The opulent estate was purchased in 1961 by Estée and her late husband, Joseph, according to the ad. The self-made beauty queen remained in the position until 2004, the year of her death at the age of 97.
Soon later, the new owners bought the sun-filled pad from the Lauder children and thoughtfully renovated the space. They discovered some of Estée’s old documents—among them a letter from Stanley Marcus, the guy who founded Neiman Marcus—during the makeover.
The 4,305 square foot villa was built in 1926 and has six bedrooms and six bathrooms. Inside, there are roomy living areas, a gorgeous master suite, a kitchen with wood and marble countertops, and a home office. Every level offers expansive views of the Mediterranean Sea. There is a heated pool, a covered patio, and formal gardens all around the beautifully manicured grounds outside.
There are plenty of opulent homes in the verdant La Californie neighborhood, with estates costing anything from $5 million to an astounding $35 million. The enclave is minutes from the best beaches and upscale shops in the area, as well as the historic city center. It is situated on the “colline des milliardaires,” often known as “billionaire’s hill.” From 1955 until 1961, Pablo Picasso resided here at his renowned artist retreat, Villa La Californie. In recent times, the neighborhood and the surrounding area have attracted a significant number of billionaires from big pharma, private equity heavyweights, and internet giants.
Together with Joseph, Estée co-founded her own enterprise in 1946. Known for its range of skincare, beauty, and fragrance goods, the New York-based corporation currently manages brands like Clinique, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, and La Mer. In 2022, Estée Lauder paid $2.8 billion to buy the Tom Ford brand. More recently, the business declared that the acquisition of Deciem Beauty, the owner of The Ordinary, has been completed.
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