Co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics gave away his assets and will become a priest

This is according to People, citing ABC7 and previous interviews with Scott-Vincent Borba.

Scott-Vincent Borba, co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, has given away his wealth to become a Catholic priest.

According to ABC7, he is due to be ordained on 23 May in Visalia, California. This is Borba’s hometown.

“I have never been so happy in my life. As soon as I began to refocus and realign myself with God’s help, focusing on Him, joy came to me,” said Borba.

In 2004, he founded e.l.f. Cosmetics together with Alan and Joseph Shamah – father and son. The brand name stands for “eyes, lips, face”.

The company became known for its affordable prices and ethical products. By 2014, its sales had reached $100 million.

Back in 2019, in an interview with CBS47, Borba stated that he had decided to devote his life to serving the church. At the time, he explained that he had renounced the wealth he had earned in the cosmetics business.

Borba also spoke candidly about his former lifestyle.

“I was empty. I led a depraved life. I went to Los Angeles and got caught up in the Hollywood lifestyle. I almost reached the point of trying to sell my soul for all the riches in the world, and that is not what we should be striving for. I lived for myself. I was the epitome of luxury,” he said.

According to Borba, he had felt the desire to become a priest for a long time, but finally accepted this calling about three years ago.

He explained that he had had a connection with religion since childhood, but had suppressed these feelings for decades whilst the company was growing.

He returned to the faith at the age of 40 when, in his words, “I suddenly lost my joy”.

“I asked the Lord to help me become the person He created me to be. And at that moment, a huge wave of love and mercy flooded into my life. It was a very mystical experience,” said Borba.

After that, he decided to donate his assets to charity and devote himself to serving the church.

Borba is now a deacon and seminarian at St Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park.

According to him, he now lives much more modestly than before.

“I live in a tiny room; there’s almost nothing in it. I have a few items of clothing and a few pairs of shoes. My life has been reduced to the bare minimum,” he said.

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