A lubricant is obtained by mixing at least one compound selected from specific fluorine-based diester dicarboxylic acid compounds having has two carboxyl groups, two ester bonds, terminal groups each of which is an alkyl group or an alkenyl group, and one fluoroether or one fluoropolyether chain with at least one compound selected from specific fluorine-based diester compounds having two ester bonds, two terminal groups each of which is an alkyl group or an alkenyl group, one fluoroether or one fluoropolyether chain and specific fluorine-based monoester compounds one ester bond, one terminal group that is an alkyl group or an alkenyl group, and one terminal group that is a fluoroalkyl group, a fluoroether group or a fluoropolyether group, and preferably a specific fluorine-based amino-alcohol compound, and this lubricant is used to form a lubricant layer of a magnetic recording medium.