Scott-Vincent Borba, the co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, is being ordained as a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Fresno [1, 2].
Borba's transition from a high-profile corporate executive to the clergy represents a significant departure from the luxury beauty industry. His decision highlights a personal shift toward faith over material wealth after helping build a global brand.
Borba co-founded e.l.f. Cosmetics in 2004 [4]. The business eventually reached an estimated value of $3 billion [5]. Despite this financial success, Borba chose to renounce his fortune in 2019 [6].
He is preparing for his ordination in Visalia, California, under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Fresno [2, 3]. Borba said he wanted to leave a life of luxury to pursue his faith [7, 1].
"I have never been happier," Borba said [7].
His departure from the beauty world marks the end of a career spent scaling one of the most recognizable makeup brands in the U.S. By joining the priesthood, Borba moves from managing a corporate empire to serving a religious community in the Central Valley of California [2, 3].
“"I have never been happier."”
The transition of a billionaire-tier entrepreneur into the priesthood is a rare occurrence in the modern corporate era. It underscores a trend of high-net-worth individuals seeking purpose outside of capital accumulation, while providing the Diocese of Fresno with a leader who possesses extensive organizational and leadership experience from the private sector.
