SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-1004
                             ______________________

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

               Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) :
                                 October 1, 2002


                         The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


              Delaware                                  11-2408943
 (State or other jurisdiction of             (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  incorporation or organization)

 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York                      10153
 (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)


                         Commission File Number: 1-14064

                                  212-572-4200
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

On October 1, 2002, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. issued a press release
reaffirming its expectations for sales growth and earnings per share for its
first fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2002. A copy of the press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.


                                            THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

Date:  October 1, 2002                    By:      /s/Richard W. Kunes
                                                   -------------------
                                                     Richard W. Kunes
                                                   Senior Vice President
                                                and Chief Financial Officer
                                                   (Principal Financial and
                                                      Accounting Officer)

<PAGE>

                         THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.        Description
-----------        -----------

       99.1        Press release dated October 1, 2002 of The Estee Lauder
                   Companies Inc.

<PAGE>

The                                                                         News
Estee                                                                   Contact:
Lauder                                                       Investor Relations:
Companies Inc.                                                   Dennis D'Andrea
                                                                  (212) 572-4384

                                                                Media Relations:
767 Fifth Avenue                                                    Sally Susman
New York, NY  10153                                               (212) 572-4430

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


           ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES REAFFIRMS OUTLOOK FOR FIRST QUARTER


New York, NY, October 1, 2002 - The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) today
reaffirmed expectations for sales growth and earnings per share for its first
fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2002. Net sales for the period are expected
to rise approximately 2% on a constant currency basis. The positive effect of
exchange rates is expected to increase reported sales growth for the quarter by
approximately 1 to 2 percentage points. The Company said its estimate for
earnings per share for the fiscal first quarter remains between $.25 and $.28.

Forward-looking Statements
--------------------------

The forward-looking statements in this press release, including those containing
words like "will," "believes," "expect," "anticipate," "could," "plan," and
"estimate," and those in Mr. Langhammer's remarks involve risks and
uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those forward-looking statements include the following:
   (i)   increased competitive activity from companies in the skin care, makeup,
         fragrance and hair care businesses, some of which have greater
         resources than the Company does;
   (ii)  the Company's ability to develop, produce and market new products on
         which future operating results may depend;
   (iii) consolidations, restructurings, bankruptcies and reorganizations in the
         retail industry causing a decrease in the number of stores that sell
         the Company's products, an increase in the ownership concentration
         within the retail industry, ownership of retailers by the Company's
         competitors and ownership of competitors by the Company's customers
         that are retailers;
   (iv)  shifts in the preferences of consumers as to where and how they shop
         for the types of products and services the Company sells;
   (v)   social, political and economic risks to the Company's foreign or
         domestic manufacturing, distribution and retail operations, including
         changes in foreign investment and trade policies and regulations of the
         host countries and of the United States;
   (vi)  changes in the laws, regulations and policies, including changes in
         accounting standards and trade rules, and legal or regulatory
         proceedings, that affect, or will affect, the Company's business;
   (vii) foreign currency fluctuations affecting the Company's results of
         operations and the value of its foreign assets, the relative prices at
         which the Company and its foreign competitors sell products in the same
         markets and the Company's operating and manufacturing costs outside of
         the United States;
   (viii)changes in global or local economic conditions that could affect
         consumer purchasing, the financial strength of our customers, the cost
         and availability of capital, which the Company may need for new
         equipment, facilities or acquisitions and the assumptions underlying
         our critical accounting estimates;
   (ix)  shipment delays, depletion of inventory and increased production costs
         resulting from disruptions of operations at any of the facilities
         which, due to consolidations in the Company's manufacturing operations,
         now manufacture nearly all of the Company's supply of a particular type
         of product (i.e., focus factories);
   (x)   real estate rates and availability, which may affect the Company's
         ability to increase the number of retail locations at which the
         Company's products are sold;















                                   Page 1 of 2
<PAGE>
   (xi)  changes in product mix to products which are less profitable;
   (xii) the Company's ability to acquire or develop e-commerce capabilities,
         and other new information and distribution technologies, on a timely
         basis and within the Company's cost estimates;
   (xiii)the Company's ability to capitalize on opportunities for improved
         efficiency, such as globalization, and to integrate acquired businesses
         and realize value therefrom; and
   (xiv) consequences attributable to the events that took place in New York
         City and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, including further
         attacks, retaliation and the threat of further attacks or retaliation.

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world's leading manufacturers and
marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The
Company's products are sold in over 130 countries and territories under well-
recognized brand names, including Estee Lauder, Clinique, Aramis, Prescriptives,
Origins, M.A.C, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, La Mer, jane, Donna Karan, Aveda,
Stila, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, and Kate Spade.

An electronic version of this release can be found at the Company's website,
www.elcompanies.com.



                                  Page 2 of 2
                                       ###
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC", "cik": "0001001250", "assigned-sic": "2844", "irs-number": "112408943", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-14064", "film-number": "02778642"}, "business-address": {"street1": "767 FIFTH AVE", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10153", "phone": "2125724200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "767 FIFTH AVE", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10153"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-1004
                             ______________________

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

               Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) :
                                 October 1, 2002

                         The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Delaware                                  11-2408943
 (State or other jurisdiction of             (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  incorporation or organization)

 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York                      10153
 (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

                         Commission File Number: 1-14064

                                  212-572-4200
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

On October 1, 2002, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. issued a press release
reaffirming its expectations for sales growth and earnings per share for its
first fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2002. A copy of the press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                            THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

Date:  October 1, 2002                    By:      /s/Richard W. Kunes
                                                   -------------------
                                                     Richard W. Kunes
                                                   Senior Vice President
                                                and Chief Financial Officer
                                                   (Principal Financial and
                                                      Accounting Officer)
THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.        Description
-----------        -----------

       99.1        Press release dated October 1, 2002 of The Estee Lauder
                   Companies Inc.
The                                                                         News
Estee                                                                   Contact:
Lauder                                                       Investor Relations:
Companies Inc.                                                   Dennis D'Andrea
                                                                  (212) 572-4384

                                                                Media Relations:
767 Fifth Avenue                                                    Sally Susman
New York, NY  10153                                               (212) 572-4430

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

           ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES REAFFIRMS OUTLOOK FOR FIRST QUARTER

New York, NY, October 1, 2002 - The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) today
reaffirmed expectations for sales growth and earnings per share for its first
fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2002. Net sales for the period are expected
to rise approximately 2% on a constant currency basis. The positive effect of
exchange rates is expected to increase reported sales growth for the quarter by
approximately 1 to 2 percentage points. The Company said its estimate for
earnings per share for the fiscal first quarter remains between $.25 and $.28.

Forward-looking Statements
--------------------------

The forward-looking statements in this press release, including those containing
words like "will," "believes," "expect," "anticipate," "could," "plan," and
"estimate," and those in Mr. Langhammer's remarks involve risks and
uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those forward-looking statements include the following:
   (i)   increased competitive activity from companies in the skin care, makeup,
         fragrance and hair care businesses, some of which have greater
         resources than the Company does;
   (ii)  the Company's ability to develop, produce and market new products on
         which future operating results may depend;
   (iii) consolidations, restructurings, bankruptcies and reorganizations in the
         retail industry causing a decrease in the number of stores that sell
         the Company's products, an increase in the ownership concentration
         within the retail industry, ownership of retailers by the Company's
         competitors and ownership of competitors by the Company's customers
         that are retailers;
   (iv)  shifts in the preferences of consumers as to where and how they shop
         for the types of products and services the Company sells;
   (v)   social, political and economic risks to the Company's foreign or
         domestic manufacturing, distribution and retail operations, including
         changes in foreign investment and trade policies and regulations of the
         host countries and of the United States;
   (vi)  changes in the laws, regulations and policies, including changes in
         accounting standards and trade rules, and legal or regulatory
         proceedings, that affect, or will affect, the Company's business;
   (vii) foreign currency fluctuations affecting the Company's results of
         operations and the value of its foreign assets, the relative prices at
         which the Company and its foreign competitors sell products in the same
         markets and the Company's operating and manufacturing costs outside of
         the United States;
   (viii)changes in global or local economic conditions that could affect
         consumer purchasing, the financial strength of our customers, the cost
         and availability of capital, which the Company may need for new
         equipment, facilities or acquisitions and the assumptions underlying
         our critical accounting estimates;
   (ix)  shipment delays, depletion of inventory and increased production costs
         resulting from disruptions of operations at any of the facilities
         which, due to consolidations in the Company's manufacturing operations,
         now manufacture nearly all of the Company's supply of a particular type
         of product (i.e., focus factories);
   (x)   real estate rates and availability, which may affect the Company's
         ability to increase the number of retail locations at which the
         Company's products are sold;

                                   Page 1 of 2
(xi)  changes in product mix to products which are less profitable;
   (xii) the Company's ability to acquire or develop e-commerce capabilities,
         and other new information and distribution technologies, on a timely
         basis and within the Company's cost estimates;
   (xiii)the Company's ability to capitalize on opportunities for improved
         efficiency, such as globalization, and to integrate acquired businesses
         and realize value therefrom; and
   (xiv) consequences attributable to the events that took place in New York
         City and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, including further
         attacks, retaliation and the threat of further attacks or retaliation.

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world's leading manufacturers and
marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The
Company's products are sold in over 130 countries and territories under well-
recognized brand names, including Estee Lauder, Clinique, Aramis, Prescriptives,
Origins, M.A.C, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, La Mer, jane, Donna Karan, Aveda,
Stila, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, and Kate Spade.

An electronic version of this release can be found at the Company's website,
www.elcompanies.com.

                                  Page 2 of 2
                                       ###