Origins & Early Life

Mary Kay Ash (born Mary Kathlyn Wagner; May 12, 1918 – November 22, 2001) was an American businesswoman and founder of direct sales company Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. At the time of her death, she had a fortune of $98 million, and her company had more than $1.2 billion in sales with a sales force of more than 800,000 in at least three dozen countries. Mary Kay Ash, born Mary Kathlyn Wagner in Hot Wells, Harris County, Texas, was the daughter of Edward Alexander and Lula Vember Hastings Wagner. Her mother was trained as a nurse and later became a manager of a restaurant in Houston.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Ash attended Dow Elementary School and Reagan High School in Houston and graduated in 1934. Ash married Ben Rogers at age 17. They had three children, Ben Jr., Marilyn Reed, and Richard Rogers. While her husband served in World War II, she sold books door-to-door. After her husband's return in 1945, they got divorced.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

She later married Charles Weaver, the brother of Mary C. Crowley who was the founder of Home Interiors and Gifts. Ash went to work for Stanley Home Products in 1939. Frustrated when passed over for a promotion in favor of a man that she had trained, Ash retired...

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