John Paul DeJoria’s rags-to-riches biography exemplifies the American dream – he is a first-generation American turned entrepreneur, philanthropist, government servant, and pillar of the business community.  John Paul DeJoria has struggled against the odds not only to achieve success, but to share this success with others.

In 1980, with just $700, John Paul DeJoria and the late Paul Mitchell had a vision—to found a company for hairdressers—one that would provide products and tools of success for hair care professionals, their salons, and the entire beauty industry. Despite hugely lucrative offers from public corporations to purchase John Paul Mitchell Systems. John Paul refuses to sell the company because of the initial vow he took to stand by the professional beauty industry. Since no public corporation can guarantee it will market John Paul Mitchell Systems products exclusively through salons, selling is simply not an option. He also owns Patron Spirits and is in the energy business.

John Paul’s commitment to caring for the earth and giving back to the community informs every aspect of the company’s policy an strategy. Recent donations (totaling millions of dollars) of cash, products, and services have been made to non-profit organizations operating in the fields of health care, social services, environmental protection and awareness, and the arts.

In his capacity as businessman, environmentalist, and philanthropist, John Paul has donated his time, money and expertise to helping others. John Paul has advised on the environmentally-sound harvesting of energy in Africa. He has also donated considerable personal care and money to supporting those who have served in the armed forces, as well as to the support of widows and orphans of deceased servicemen. John Paul, along with Brad Pitt, Richard Branson and Nelson Mendela, is a patron of Mineseeker, a non-profit organization dedicated to seeking solutions to the worldwide problem of landmines. John Paul is also a supporter of Austin Mobil Loaves and Fishes, a local nonprofit. In 2006 he was appointed honorary Admiral by the Governor of Texas, and received the Citizen of the Year Dolphin Award from The Malibu Times. He received the Horatio Alger Award in the halls of the Supreme Court and Lone Sailor Award in Washington, D.C.