Scott-Vincent Borba, the co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, is preparing to be ordained as a Catholic priest on May 23 [3].
Borba's transition from the beauty industry to the clergy marks a rare departure from extreme corporate wealth to a life of religious service. By donating his fortune to charity, he has shifted his focus from commercial success to spiritual leadership.
The 52-year-old entrepreneur [2] studied at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California, before returning to his hometown of Visalia for the final steps of his journey [4, 5]. Borba said he is happiest when devoting his life to serving God, a decision that led him to leave behind the millions he earned from his business ventures [6, 7].
Borba helped build e.l.f. Cosmetics into a global brand known for affordable beauty products. The company saw significant early growth, reaching $100 million in sales by 2014 [1]. Despite the financial success of the brand, Borba sought a different path, eventually choosing the priesthood over the corporate boardroom.
His ordination is scheduled to take place in Visalia, where he will officially enter the priesthood [3, 5]. The move has drawn attention for the stark contrast between the luxury cosmetics industry and the vow of poverty associated with the Catholic clergy.
Borba's decision to divest his wealth reflects a personal commitment to faith over material gain. He said he wanted to dedicate his remaining years to religious service, and the community [6, 7].
“Scott-Vincent Borba is giving away his fortune to charity before his ordination.”
Borba's transition represents a total pivot from the pursuit of capital to the pursuit of spiritual service. His decision to liquidate his wealth and join the priesthood highlights a personal rejection of the 'billionaire' archetype often associated with successful tech and beauty founders, replacing corporate influence with ecclesiastical authority.
