Haircare legend John Paul DeJoria has a classic rags-to riches life that defines the so-called American dream. The co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Spirits, went from growing up in poverty and briefly living in his car to building a business empire worth billions. Today, DeJoria has an estimated net worth of about $3.1 billion, but his journey to wealth was shaped by rejection, financial hardship, persistence and a strong belief in giving back.
Born John Paul Jones DeJoria in Los Angeles, DeJoria experienced financial difficulties from an early age. His parents divorced when he was two, and by the age of nine, he was selling Christmas cards and newspapers to help support his mother.
