In 1967, Mary Kay Ash, the visionary behind Mary Kay Cosmetics, embarked on a quest for a symbol of her newfound success. At a Lincoln dealership in Dallas, Texas, she faced gender bias when a salesman dismissed her, insisting she return with her husband. Undeterred, Mary Kay turned to Frank Kent Cadillac in Fort Worth, where she purchased a 1968 Sedan de Ville custom painted "Mountain Laurel," a former GM color that mirrored the color palette of her lipstick and eye palette she kept in her purse. This marked the beginning of a legendary tradition that would see over 100,000 pink Cadillacs associated with the cosmetics empire. To this day, a variation of that original color, retitled as Mary Kay Pink Pearl, is an official GM color that is produced in-house. A common misconception is that official Mary Kay Cadillacs are vinyl wrapped, but in fact, they are all painted.
The iconic pink Cadillacs became a symbol of achievement for Mary Kay consultants, especially those reaching the rank of Sales Director. To qualify for a leased Cadillac, consultants must demonstrate exceptional sales performance, including purchasing at least $100,000 of inventory annually and consistently selling a monthly quota of $17,000. This exclusive perk has turned the pink Cadillac into a coveted emblem of success within the Mary Kay community. While originally the Coupe DeVille was the only eligible Cadillac, this has grown into various models of Cadillac’s lineup, with the Escalade as the top dog.
While you may think that the pink Cadillac is awarded, or “won” by sales consultants, Mary Kay covers the lease payment when sales goals are met on a monthly basis. Participants in the Career Car Program enjoy a two-year lease, with Mary Kay covering lease payments and a majority of insurance costs, provided sales targets are maintained. Independent sales force members meeting goals can consistently retain the vehicles for two years with unlimited mileage. At the end of the lease, participants have the option to purchase the vehicle or return it, with unclaimed vehicles being repainted to their OEM color. Customers cannot buy a preowned Mary Kay Cadillac, as it is an exclusive privilege for their sales members only.
We're happy to be the home of the Mary Kay Cadillac, and even if you're not part of their team, visit us and you may catch a glimpse of one of these pink Cadillacs in the showroom!