e.l.f. Cosmetics Co-Founder Walks Away From Fortune to Become Catholic Priest

For years, Scott-Vincent Borba lived the kind of life that people dream of. He took an idea, turned it into a business, and then saw that business turn into a multi-billion-dollar corporation. However, Borba recently made news, but not because of his business acumen. Instead, he’s in the headlines for making a decision that has left many people scratching their heads. The beauty entrepreneur shocked the world and became a priest.

The dramatic shift has drawn widespread attention not just because of what Borba gave up, but because of how openly he has spoken about why he walked away. Find out more about what was behind Borba’s decision and how people are reacting to his life-altering choice.

A Life Built Around Success and Luxury

Borba helped launch e.l.f. Cosmetics in 2004, alongside Alan and Joseph Shamah, eventually transforming the brand into one of the most recognizable affordable makeup companies in the world. The cruelty-free cosmetics line grew rapidly and eventually surpassed $100 million in sales, and is valued at over $3 billion today.

Even outside the boardroom, Borba was a success. He earned a high-profile reputation in the fashion industry and celebrity culture and was one of the faces of luxury living. When asked about that chapter of his life, Borba said, “We ran around with the likes of Paris Hilton, partying with the Kardashians, and just doing up the Hollywood life. I was the poster boy for luxury living.”

However, he also acknowledged that he was “very prideful” during that period, an issue that steered him away from the spiritual values that he once prioritized. That realization is largely responsible for the e.l.f. Cosmetics founder to seek a position in the Catholic Church.

The Turning Point

Borba cites a sudden spiritual and emotional collapse in his 40s for the decision to walk away from the luxury lifestyle that was such a part of his image. Despite wealth and professional success, he said he experienced a “sudden loss of joy” that forced him to reevaluate his life.

“I asked our Lord to help me be the man that he created me to be,” Borba said. “And upon that instance, I had this massive flood of love and mercy that came into my life. It was a very mystical experience.” That moment became the turning point for Borba, who decided to walk away from boardrooms and Hollywood premieres for a life of service in the priesthood.

Leaving Behind His Old Life

In a time when people often cite CEOs as pictures of greed, Borba donated his multi-million-dollar wealth to charity and turned away from the successful life that he had built for himself. The contrast between his former life and his current one is certainly drastic.

Borba said, “I live in a tiny little room. It’s sparse, nothing in it. I have a few bits of clothes and a few pairs of shoes. And my life has been culled down to the bare minimum.”

While many people could never envision leaving the lap of luxury for a small room with virtually nothing in it, Borba says that he has never been happier. “Once I started to reorient myself, recalibrate myself with God’s help to the focus on Him, the joy started coming.”

A Calling That Began in Childhood

While many people assumed that Borba’s decision came quickly, he says that’s not the case at all. According to interviews, he first felt drawn toward religious life when he was just a child attending Mass with his mother.

“At Mass, she asked me to look up at the altar, and if I wanted to be the man in the robes,” Borba recalled. “And I knew God was placing on my heart to become a priest.” He says that he resisted that calling for decades, instead choosing to pursue success in the business world.

A Different Definition of Success

Part of the fascination surrounding Borba’s transformation comes from the sheer contrast between the life he had and the one he’s now leading. When one of the most successful beauty entrepreneurs becomes a priest, the decision gets a lot of attention. However, it also highlights a broader shift in how society views fulfillment and success.

In recent years, many people have begun questioning whether wealth, status, and constant achievement actually create lasting happiness. Stories about burnout, career pivots, and intentional living have become increasingly common. While Borba’s story may represent the most extreme version of this idea, it has resonated with countless people who respect his decision to pursue something more personally fulfilling.

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