Published on
16/05/2026 at 17:49
Founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics left a millionaire fortune, donated his share to charity, and will be ordained a Catholic priest after abandoning luxury, glamour, and the routine linked to the cosmetics market in the United States.
Scott-Vincent Borba, entrepreneur and founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, left million-dollar businesses, donated his share to charity, and will be ordained a Catholic priest on May 23, in Visalia, California, after exchanging luxury for a religious life.
From Million-Dollar Brand to Priesthood
Scott-Vincent created e.l.f. Cosmetics in 2004. The acronym stands for eyes, lips, and face. The company quickly grew in the makeup market.
The brand gained strength in the mid-2010s, driven by affordable prices and ethical products, without animal testing. In 2014, it reached $100 million, about 500 million BRL, in sales, according to Forbes.
Fortune Did Not Bring Happiness to the Entrepreneur
Despite the success, the 52-year-old American stated that money did not bring happiness. Besides being an entrepreneur, he also stood out as a model and mingled with the luxury environment linked to celebrities.
Borba described this period as a phase of vanity. He said he was superficial, had a depraved life, and was sucked into the Hollywood lifestyle when he moved to Los Angeles.
Longstanding Call to Religious Life
The future priest stated that he felt the call to priesthood for as long as he can remember. However, the decision was only accepted about three years ago when he began to see the change as a form of redemption.
With that, he left e.l.f. Cosmetics and gave up the millions of dollars of his share in the company.
The amount was donated to charity, ending his connection with the businesses that made him wealthy.
Luxury Gave Way to a Simple Routine
Scott-Vincent’s life is described by him as the opposite of glamour. The seminarian said he lives in a tiny, Spartan room, with almost nothing inside.
He claimed to have only a few pieces of clothing and a few pairs of shoes. His routine was reduced to the bare minimum, far from the former image of an entrepreneur in the cosmetics mecca.
Ordination will be in Visalia
Scott-Vincent Borba will be ordained a Catholic priest on May 23, in Visalia, California, United States. For him, the religious choice brought a happiness he did not find in fortune.
Speaking about the new phase, he declared that he has never been so happy in his life. The journey left behind luxury, glamour, and celebrities, maintaining as a central point the exchange between wealth, charity, and priesthood.
With information from Extra.globo.