e.l.f. founder – Scott-Vincent Borba says he left a billion-dollar fortune behind to become a Catholic priest, with ordination set for May 23.
A startling pivot from Hollywood-branded beauty to religious devotion has captured attention this week: Scott-Vincent Borba, the co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, says he has traded his business life for the path of becoming a Catholic priest.
In a recent interview with ABC 7 in El Lay. Borba described the decision as a complete restart. framing the change as something driven by faith rather than business strategy.. The former makeup entrepreneur—long known for building a name in the beauty world—now says he is choosing a different calling entirely.
Borba told the outlet that he gave up his billion-dollar fortune and has been living simply as he prepares for ordination.. He described his current situation as living in what he called a “tiny room” with “nothing in it. ” pointing to how far his lifestyle has shifted from the luxury culture he once embraced.
Part of what he seems to be walking away from. he said. is the image of himself as a kind of poster figure for excess.. Borba referenced moving through glamorous circles and aligning himself with the Hollywood atmosphere. describing it as a period when he wasn’t “humble” and where pride had a big role in how he saw himself.
The report also says that after donating his money to charity, Borba believes he found a new kind of joy.. He stated that happiness arrived as he reoriented his life—realigning himself with God’s help and placing his focus on religion. rather than the fast-moving lifestyle that came with his earlier success.
While the story has already sparked plenty of online reaction, there is also a concrete timeline behind the transformation. Borba is set to officially become a member of the Diocese of Fresno in just a couple weeks, with ordination scheduled for May 23.
As his ordination date approaches. Borba’s comments raise questions about what happens when someone with deep roots in commerce chooses to start over in a vocation built on spiritual service.. For many followers. the appeal is that it doesn’t read like a casual personal reinvention. but rather a deliberate reshaping of daily priorities—money. identity. and routine all moving in the same direction.
There’s also a broader cultural thread to how this kind of news lands.. When a high-profile founder tied to an everyday consumer industry makes a dramatic pivot. the conversation tends to spread beyond faith communities. reaching people who mainly know the brand from shelves and social media—then meeting the story with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Meanwhile. the report’s mention of his charitable giving and current stripped-down living suggests a focus on action over aesthetics. even as his public reputation is rooted in beauty.. His claim that life feels happier after recalibrating with God is at the center of the story. turning the spotlight from makeup and business success to a spiritual framework for meaning.
And with the ordination date now set. the next chapter will be something fans won’t have to wait long to see.. Borba’s public transformation is already stirring debate and support alike. but the Diocese of Fresno ceremony on May 23 is the moment that will formalize what he says began with a sudden. life-altering shift.
Scott-Vincent Borba e.l.f. Cosmetics Catholic priest Diocese of Fresno ordination May 23 entertainment news celebrity career change