Charles Revson

Miffed that he didn't land the plum job of national distributor in the cosmetics firm where he worked, Revson convinced his brother and Charles Lachman, a chemist, to start their own business, Revlon Cosmetics. They specialized in nail polishes in a greater variety of colors than was available elsewhere, and sold them first through salons then through department stores. Eventually they introduced matching lipsticks, and introduced marketing innovations such as exotic names for the products' colors. Though Revson's perfectionist personality drove his partners to quit by 1965, the business was phenomenally successful under his leadership, first as president (1932–62) then as chairman (1962–75).