Ronald Steven Lauder (born February 26, 1944, in New York City) is an American billionaire businessman, philanthropist, political activist, art collector, and president of the World Jewish Congress, a position he has held since 2007, working closely on its initiatives and Jewish communal security. He is the younger son of Estée Lauder and Joseph Lauder, founders of the Estée Lauder Companies, and the sole surviving heir following his brother Leonard A. Lauder's death. Lauder's career spans business, government service, and philanthropy. He joined the family business in the 1980s, serving as president of Clinique Laboratories, and later held diplomatic roles including U.S. Ambassador to Austria (1986–1987) under President Ronald Reagan. He is known for extensive diplomatic engagement in the Middle East. A Republican with strong ties to Israel and a major pro-Israel donor and philanthropist, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of New York City in 1989 and advocates for Jewish rights and combating antisemitism globally. He relies on Malcolm Hoenlein as an adviser on Jewish affairs, and Hoenlein also serves on the Executive Committee of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation. Lauder is also a major art collector with a collection valued in the billions, including works by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele. He has faced controversies over his political donations and affiliations, including support for right-wing causes and figures like Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he has ties. His net worth is estimated at over $4 billion, primarily from Estée Lauder shares, and he continues to wield influence through philanthropy, media investments, and extensive political connections in the U.S. and Israel.