Nethercutt-Richards family
The Nethercutt-Richards family is an American family associated with cosmetics, automobile collecting and racing, real-estate holdings, and philanthropy.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Nethercutt-Richards family is an American family whose prominence developed through business, cosmetics, automobiles, motorsport, and philanthropy. The family originated in the Midwestern United States during the nineteenth century and accumulated substantial wealth through the cosmetics business in the early twentieth century. The central commercial enterprise associated with the family is Merle Norman Cosmetics. Merle Norman, born in 1887, established the company in 1931 by opening a cosmetics studio in Santa Monica, California, during the Great Depression. The studio model developed into a broad retail network in which many outlets were owned and operated by women. The business expanded from the contiguous United States into a larger North American, European, and Asian network and became a privately controlled, centi-million-dollar operation according to the cited reference material. Merle Norman Cosmetics was publicly listed on the American Stock Exchange in 1969, when it sold 400,000 shares at $25 per share. In 1974, the family repurchased the publicly held shares, returning the company to private ownership. During the 1970s the family also controlled a chemistry laboratory, and later operated Boison's, a luxury restaurant near the Las Vegas Strip. The family is also strongly associated with historic automobiles. J. B. Nethercutt founded the Nethercutt Collection in 1971. The collection, displayed primarily in a ten-story museum structure, contains more than 250 prestigious vehicles and is regarded as one of the world's notable automobile collections. Among its best-known cars are the Bugatti Dubos and the Duesenberg Twenty Grand. Vehicles from the collection have served as lead cars for Grand Marshals in the Rose Parade. J. B. Nethercutt accumulated six Best of Show victories at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, while the Nethercutt Collection team received a large number of concours awards internationally. J. B. Nethercutt's son, Jack Nethercutt II, was a professional racing driver from 1957 through 1965. He competed in the World Sportscar Championship with Ferrari and was part of Ferrari's successful 1960 championship season. Other prominent family members include Helen Richards-Nethercutt, whose public work has included support for autism-related charities. Philanthropy has been another major part of the family's public identity. Merle Norman contributed millions of dollars to charities, medical institutions, veterans' organizations, and churches. In 1985, J. B. Nethercutt donated $1 million to Kenora, Canada, for an emergency medical department. In 1986, the family provided several million dollars toward the six-story Merle Norman Pavilion at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. The Nethercutt Emergency Center opened at the same hospital in 2007 and commemorated J. B. Nethercutt after his death. The family has also supported the University of Southern California, including the Merle Norman Stadium and the establishment of the USC Trojans beach volleyball program. The family has been associated with several architecturally significant properties. The Merle Norman House, built in 1935 in Santa Monica, is a Mediterranean Revival ocean-view estate and a designated Santa Monica Historic Landmark. El Rancho Merlita, completed in 1950 on a thirteen-acre site in Tucson, Arizona, served both as a family property and as a corporate retreat before later becoming a hotel. San Sylmar, completed in 1971 in Sylmar, Los Angeles, is an Art Deco tower estate of approximately 60,000 square feet. The family is therefore best understood not as a conventional consumer brand but as a business and cultural lineage connected to cosmetics, collector automobiles, motorsport, landmark properties, and charitable giving.
History
The Nethercutt-Richards family emerged from Midwestern American origins in the nineteenth century and became prominent through the cosmetics enterprise founded by Merle Norman. In 1931, during the Great Depression, Norman opened the first Merle Norman Cosmetics studio in Santa Monica, California. The studio concept allowed the company to distribute cosmetics through a network of retail locations, many of which were owned by women. The model expanded across the United States and subsequently into North America, Europe, and Asia. By the mid-twentieth century, Merle Norman Cosmetics had become the family's principal commercial platform. The company was headquartered at the Merle Norman Building until the 1950s and later grew into a large multi-market operation. It entered public markets in 1969 through an American Stock Exchange offering of 400,000 shares at $25 each. The family reversed that arrangement in 1974 by acquiring all publicly held stock. Other business interests included a chemistry laboratory during the 1970s and Boison's, a luxury restaurant located near the Las Vegas Strip in the later twentieth century. A second defining chapter began with J. B. Nethercutt's automobile activities. He founded the Nethercutt Collection in 1971, creating a museum and preservation enterprise centered on prestigious historic vehicles. The collection came to include more than 250 automobiles and was housed mainly in a ten-story facility. Its holdings included the Bugatti Dubos and the Duesenberg Twenty Grand, both described in the reference material as among the world's most valuable cars. The collection also gained visibility through concours participation and appearances in the Rose Parade. J. B. Nethercutt achieved six Best of Show victories at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and the collection's team became associated with an extensive record of concours awards. Motorsport extended the family's automotive profile. Jack Nethercutt II competed professionally between 1957 and 1965, including in the World Sportscar Championship with Ferrari. He participated in Ferrari's winning 1960 championship season. The family therefore combined collecting, museum presentation, competitive driving, and participation in the international culture of historic automobiles. The family's philanthropic record includes support for health care, veterans, religious institutions, charities, and educational organizations. Merle Norman donated millions to charitable and medical causes. In 1985, J. B. Nethercutt gave $1 million to the town of Kenora, Canada, for an emergency medical department. The family subsequently contributed several million dollars to the Merle Norman Pavilion at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. The Nethercutt Emergency Center opened at the same medical center in 2007. The family has also supported USC, including through Merle Norman Stadium and assistance connected with the USC Trojans beach volleyball program. Helen Richards-Nethercutt has supported autism charities, including the Exceptional Children's Foundation. The family's estates add an architectural and cultural dimension to its history. The Merle Norman House, constructed in 1935 in Santa Monica, is a Mediterranean Revival ocean-view residence that became a local historic landmark. El Rancho Merlita, built in 1950 on thirteen acres in Tucson, served as both a private compound and a corporate retreat before later becoming a hotel. San Sylmar, completed in 1971 in Sylmar, Los Angeles, is an Art Deco tower estate measuring approximately 60,000 square feet. Together, these properties reflect the family's combination of commercial wealth, collecting, hospitality, and philanthropy.
- 2007
Nethercutt Emergency Center opens
[1]The Nethercutt Emergency Center opened at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica.
- 1986
Merle Norman Pavilion support
[1]The family contributed several million dollars toward construction of the Merle Norman Pavilion at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica.
- 1985
Kenora emergency medical donation
[1]J. B. Nethercutt donated $1 million toward a new emergency medical department in Kenora, Canada.
- 1974
Merle Norman Cosmetics returns to private ownership
[1]The family repurchased all publicly traded shares of the cosmetics business.
- 1971
The Nethercutt Collection is founded
[1]J. B. Nethercutt established the automobile collection and its museum enterprise.
- 1969
Merle Norman Cosmetics goes public
[1]The cosmetics company sold 400,000 shares at $25 each on the American Stock Exchange.
- 1950
El Rancho Merlita is completed
[1]The thirteen-acre Tucson compound was built and later used as a corporate retreat before becoming a hotel.
- 1935
Merle Norman House is built
[1]A Mediterranean Revival ocean-view estate was completed in Santa Monica and later recognized as a Santa Monica Historic Landmark.
- 1931
Merle Norman Cosmetics is founded
[1]Merle Norman opened the first cosmetics studio in Santa Monica, California, establishing the business that became the family's principal commercial enterprise.
Products and positioning
A family business and collecting legacy spanning accessible cosmetics retail, high-value automotive preservation, motorsport, historic estates, and institutional philanthropy.
Cosmetics and beauty retail · 1931
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Founded by Merle Norman in 1931, Merle Norman Cosmetics developed from a Santa Monica studio into a multi-market cosmetics retail network. Its studio model was notable for the participation of women as outlet owners and operators. The business expanded across the United States and into other regions before returning to private family ownership in 1974.
Automobile collection and museum · 1971
The Nethercutt Collection
Founded by J. B. Nethercutt in 1971, the Nethercutt Collection preserves and exhibits more than 250 prestigious vehicles. Its holdings include the Bugatti Dubos and Duesenberg Twenty Grand, and its vehicles and team have participated in concours events and ceremonial appearances including the Rose Parade.
Brand decisions
1974
Family take-private transactionM&ABackground
The family reassessed the public ownership structure of Merle Norman Cosmetics after its 1969 listing.
Action taken
The family bought back all publicly held shares and returned the company to private ownership.
Aftermath
Merle Norman Cosmetics again operated as a privately held family business.
1969
Public offering of Merle Norman CosmeticsOtherBackground
After expanding its cosmetics studio and retail network, Merle Norman Cosmetics entered the public market during the late 1960s.
Action taken
The company sold 400,000 shares on the American Stock Exchange at $25 per share.
Aftermath
The company remained publicly traded until the family repurchased all public stock in 1974.
Share offering. $25 per share; 400,000 shares offered (1969)
Recent events
- 2007
Nethercutt Emergency Center opens at UCLA Medical Center[1]
Other
A new emergency center opened at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, carrying the Nethercutt name after family support for the institution.
- 1974
Family repurchases Merle Norman Cosmetics shares[1]
M&A
The family bought back all publicly held shares, returning Merle Norman Cosmetics to private ownership.
- 1969
Merle Norman Cosmetics becomes publicly listed[1]
Other
Merle Norman Cosmetics sold 400,000 shares at $25 per share in an American Stock Exchange offering.
Sources1 sources
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