COTY

Coty Inc.

A beauty giant selling fragrances, makeup, and skin care through its two arms — prestige labels like Calvin Klein, Gucci, and Hugo Boss fragrances, plus everyday brands like CoverGirl and Rimmel. It was founded in Paris in 1904 by François Coty, a Corsican-born perfumer who built a perfume empire on mass-produced scents. Fun fact: the name "Coty" is a tweak of his mother's maiden name, Coti — he changed the "i" to a "y" so it would sound elegant and be easy for Americans to pronounce.