Count Guillaume Marie Emmanuel Ludovic Rodolphe d'Ornano (25 June 1894 – 16 May 1985) was a French aristocrat and industrialist, who co-founded Lancôme in 1935, and was an owner-breeder of thoroughbred race horses.
[2] His maternal grandparents were François Colonna d'Istria and the former Marie Madeleine Pozzo di Borgo (a member of the noble Corsican family).
The name "Lancôme", inspired by the forest of Lancosme that lies in the Indre valley in the heart of France in the region of Brenne [fr], was chosen by Guillaume's wife Elisabeth.
[6] After he sold his stake in Lancôme, he joined his sons Michel and Hubert at Jean d'Albret-Orlane, which they founded in 1954 with an investment from Guillaume.
[7][8] Count d'Ornano served as mayor of Moulins-sur-Céphons and general councillor for the Indre region for twenty-five years.
[10] In 1962, his horse, Misti, captured the Prix Ganay at Longchamp, beating Sir Winston Churchill's Vienna by a half-length.