According to CQ72, from a cultural merchant-family
Born in Sakai, in a time when Japan was in constant war (Warring States) (1467-1615). Sakai was a merchant city, trading spot with China and Portuguese, including weapons, which the tea men traded with warlords
We have a letter from Nobunaga thanking 利休 for 1000 muskets. So it's likely that Nobunaga liked 利休 because of that, not just for his aesthetic. Nobunaga formed special bonds with the merchants of Sakai in the tea room
1582 Nobunaga dies, Hideyoshi becomes 利休's boss. As his advisor, he would also oversee the castle when 秀吉 was absent (so he was pretty important). Was also given a large fief by 秀吉.
Names
Other names: 宗易（そおえき）
Got his name and title 利休 koji from Emperor Ōgimachi
Students
なんぼう, やまのうえ (tortured and killed by 秀吉),
Takayama Ukon, Hosokawa Sansai and 織部, all of which where powerful daimyō.
Suicide
Suicide on 28日2月 in 1591
Statue at Daitokuji? (But it was quite common for statues of donors to be placed like 利休's on the second floor) (🙇♂️ statue stands in Konnichian now, by the way!)
Tea object market manipulation? (But 秀吉 was also part of it, and benefited from high tea toy prices)
Didn't like 秀吉's plan to invade Korea (not just in the film; Sen XV sais so, too, in CQ72
Most probably just to influential over other daimyō as the main cultural figure of the day
Killed himself with a sword called Yoshimitsu (吉光) made by 粟田口藤四郎吉光（あわたぐち とうしろう よしみつ）, one of the great swordsmiths of his time ( article).