Nethercutt-Richards family

• Merle Norman (1887–1972) - founder of Merle Norman Cosmetics
• J.B. Nethercutt (1913–2004) - founder of The Nethercutt Collection
• Jack Nethercutt II (born 1936) - former racing driver
• Helen Richards-Nethercutt (born 1952) - autism philanthropist

The family has over 250 prestigious and exotic vehicles housed mostly at the 10 story-tall Nethercutt Collection complex founded and primarily assembled by J.B. Nethercutt in 1971. It has been widely described as one of the most valuable and greatest collections in the world.[2] The car collection notably contains the famous Bugatti Dubos and the Twenty Grand Duesenberg.[2] Several cars were used as the lead car carrying the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade.[3]

J.B. Nethercutt holds the most Best of Show titles at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance with 6 victories and the collection holds the most Concours d'Elegance awards worldwide.[4] Jack Nethercutt II raced professionally from the 1950s to 1960s, most notably in the World Sportscar Championship series and achieved a podium at the 12 Hours of Sebring.[5]

Merle Norman founded Merle Norman Cosmetics in 1931 by opening her first studio in Santa Monica, California. The company expanded to a retail chain and encompassed dozens of studio outlets across the contiguous United States, most of which were owned by women. The company further expanded to thousands of outlets throughout North America, Europe, and Asia becoming a centi-million dollar operation.[6] In 1969, the company went public on the American Stock Exchange and sold 400,000 shares at $25. In 1974, the family bought back all the public stock and the company reverted to being privately held.[7]

They owned a chemistry laboratory in the 1970s and a luxury restaurant near the Las Vegas Strip in the 1980-90s.[8]

The family has donated several million to charities, medical institutions, veterans, and churches.[9] In 1985 J.B. Nethercutt donated $1 million to the town of Kenora, Canada for a new emergency department.[10] In 1986, the family donated several million which led to the construction of the six-story Merle Norman Pavilion at the UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. In 2007 the Nethercutt Emergency Center was opened at the hospital.[11] Helen Richards-Nethercutt has funded several autism charities, including the Exceptional Children's Foundation.[12] They have donated several million to the University of Southern California, including for Merle Norman Stadium.[13]

• Merle Norman House (built 1935), Mediterranean Revival ocean view estate in Santa Monica, California that became a Santa Monica Historic Landmark.[14]
• El Rancho Merlita (built 1950), 13-acre compound in Tucson, Arizona that was also used as a corporate retreat for Merle Norman Cosmetics executives, and later became a hotel.[15]
• San Sylmar (built 1971), Art Deco tower estate in Sylmar, Los Angeles that was one of the largest houses in the United States at 60,000 square feet.[16]

• The Nethercutt Collection