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DeJoria
John Paul DeJoria
Rank #1371
UNITED STATES•Fashion & Retail•Hair products, tequila

John Paul DeJoria

Net Worth
$3.069B
+0.39% (24h)
John Paul DeJoria, born April 13, 1944, is an American billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is best known as the co-founder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair products and co-founder of the Patrón Spirits Company. DeJoria's net worth is estimated at $3.0 billion as of March 2024. His source of wealth stems from his successful ventures in hair products and tequila. He is known for his "rags-to-riches" story, having experienced homelessness before achieving significant success. Throughout his career, he has emphasized ethical business practices and a strong commitment to philanthropy.

How to read John Paul DeJoria's profile

Public net-worth figures are estimates. They combine observable inputs—typically listed equity, disclosed transactions, and market prices—with editorial judgment where filings are incomplete (for example, private holdings, debt, or cross-holdings). For John Paul DeJoria, we anchor the narrative to Hair products and Hair products, tequila, then update the headline number as markets move. The chart on this page is meant to show trajectory, not a certified balance sheet.

When you see $3.069B alongside global rank #1371, interpret it as our best synthesis of widely cited ownership and price signals—not a claim about cash on hand. Estimates can diverge from other publishers because of different treatment of options, trusts, charitable vehicles, or illiquid assets. We document the general approach in methodology and welcome corrections via corrections.

Country (UNITED STATES) and career milestones on this page are curated for reader context; they should be verified against primary sources when used for research. Editorial metadata for this profile is refreshed on a rolling basis, with deeper audits at least annually (last noted cycle: 2026).

Looking for depth? When available, the dossier and timeline sections below add long-form context beyond the headline number—prioritize those modules when evaluating claims about strategy, controversies, or philanthropic commitments.

The Full Dossier

Early Life

John Paul Jones DeJoria was born in Los Angeles, California, to an Italian immigrant father and a Greek immigrant mother. His parents divorced when he was young, and he experienced financial hardship during his childhood, including time in foster care. At nine, he started selling Christmas cards and newspapers to help support his family. He graduated from John Marshall High School in Los Angeles and served in the U.S. Navy.

Rise to Success

After various jobs, DeJoria entered the hair care industry as an employee of Redken Laboratories but was later fired. In 1980, he co-founded John Paul Mitchell Systems with Paul Mitchell, starting with a $700 loan. The company became a major player in the professional hair care industry, known for its quality products and commitment to the salon professional. DeJoria co-founded Patrón Spirits Company in 1989, which produced ultra-premium tequila. Patrón grew to become a leading brand in the luxury tequila market, later sold to Bacardi in 2018 for $5.1 billion.

Key Business Strategies

DeJoria's success is attributed to his focus on quality products, ethical business practices, and a strong emphasis on building relationships. He prioritized creating a strong brand image for both John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón, which involved innovative marketing and distribution strategies. He was known for his hands-on approach, his belief in the importance of repeat business, and giving back to the community. He stresses the importance of "paying attention to the vital few and ignoring the trivial many".

Philanthropy

DeJoria is recognized for his extensive philanthropic work. He founded JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation in 2011, which supports various charitable causes. He also signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate a significant portion of his wealth to philanthropic causes. He supports many charities, including Food4Africa, and Grow Appalachia. In 2022, he pledged around $24,000 to save the HMS Unicorn.

Career Timeline

2018

Sold Patrón Spirits Company to Bacardi

Sold his stake in Patrón to Bacardi for $5.1 billion.

2011

Established JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation

Launched the foundation to support charitable causes, including environmental protection and animal welfare.

1989

Co-founded Patrón Spirits Company

Co-founded a tequila brand, which became a leading brand in the ultra-premium tequila market.

1980

Co-founded John Paul Mitchell Systems

Launched a hair care company with Paul Mitchell, with a $700 loan, revolutionizing the professional hair care industry.

Philanthropic Impact

Hunger reliefUndisclosed

Food4Africa

Supported efforts to provide meals for orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Community developmentUndisclosed

Grow Appalachia

Co-created an organization that promotes healthy food and teaches farming skills.

MultipleUndisclosed

JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation

A hub for charitable investments that support the core values of sustainability, social responsibility, and animal friendliness.

Key Business Ventures & Holdings

CompanyStakeValue
Patrón Tequila——

Net Worth History

In-Depth Analysis

Early Life

John Paul Jones DeJoria was born in Los Angeles, California, to an Italian immigrant father and a Greek immigrant mother. His parents divorced when he was young, and he experienced financial hardship during his childhood, including time in foster care. At nine, he started selling Christmas cards and newspapers to help support his family. He graduated from John Marshall High School in Los Angeles and served in the U.S. Navy.

Rise to Success

After various jobs, DeJoria entered the hair care industry as an employee of Redken Laboratories but was later fired. In 1980, he co-founded John Paul Mitchell Systems with Paul Mitchell, starting with a $700 loan. The company became a major player in the professional hair care industry, known for its quality products and commitment to the salon professional. DeJoria co-founded Patrón Spirits Company in 1989, which produced ultra-premium tequila. Patrón grew to become a leading brand in the luxury tequila market, later sold to Bacardi in 2018 for $5.1 billion.

Key Business Strategies

DeJoria's success is attributed to his focus on quality products, ethical business practices, and a strong emphasis on building relationships. He prioritized creating a strong brand image for both John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón, which involved innovative marketing and distribution strategies. He was known for his hands-on approach, his belief in the importance of repeat business, and giving back to the community. He stresses the importance of "paying attention to the vital few and ignoring the trivial many".

Philanthropy

DeJoria is recognized for his extensive philanthropic work. He founded JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation in 2011, which supports various charitable causes. He also signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate a significant portion of his wealth to philanthropic causes. He supports many charities, including Food4Africa, and Grow Appalachia. In 2022, he pledged around $24,000 to save the HMS Unicorn.

Data Sources & Methodology

Figures for John Paul DeJoria are synthesized from the sources below and cross-checked against our net worth methodology. Estimates may lag market moves; see corrections to report discrepancies.

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