Scott Vincent Borba, the co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, is trading his multi-billion-dollar empire for a life of religious service. The 52-year-old beauty mogul is donating his entire estimated $3 billion fortune to charity and will be ordained as a Catholic priest on May 23 in his hometown of Visalia, California.
From Beauty Mogul to Priesthood
Borba, who once hobnobbed with celebrities like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, described himself as a "poster boy for luxury living." He confessed to ABC7 that his lavish lifestyle included a California beach house, luxury cars, and frequent global travel. However, after a profound spiritual experience at an industry party, he decided to abandon his worldly possessions.
"I was at a party and I was very, very unhappy," Borba told OSV News. "I just felt like I was empty... I was burning the candle on both ends." This feeling led him to pray, asking God for help to change his life. Initially, he thought giving up his Aston Martin convertible would suffice, but he felt called to give up everything.
A Long-Delayed Calling
Borba's path to priesthood began decades earlier. In third grade, his mother suggested he consider becoming a priest, and he recalled seeing a priest's robes shimmer like glitter. But he ignored that calling to pursue a career in beauty. After graduating from Santa Clara University, he worked as a model, singer, and actor before co-founding e.l.f. Cosmetics in 2004 with Alan and Joseph Shamah. The brand, known for being cruelty-free, grew rapidly, reaching $100 million in sales by 2014. Borba left the company in 2019, long before Hailey Bieber's Rhode label was sold to e.l.f. for $1 billion in 2025.
During his career, Borba also authored books including "Makeup for Dummies" (2007), "Skintervention" (2011), and "Cooking Your Way to Gorgeous" (2011). He was a supporter of Covenant House California, a nonprofit aiding homeless youth.
A New Life of Simplicity
Since 2021, Borba has been living at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California, as a deacon and seminarian. His room is sparse, with only a crucifix on the wall. "My life has been culled down to the bare minimum," he said, adding, "I have never been happier in my life." He now works to bring people back to Catholic and Christian faiths and to help children who have been kicked out of their homes.
Borba's transition from beauty mogul to priest is unprecedented in the industry, and it remains to be seen if others will follow his example.
