John Paul DeJoria is best known as the co-founder and face for the Paul Mitchell line of hair products. It wasn’t an easy climb to the top for the now 71-year-old billionaire businessman. At the age of 2, in 1946, his father left his family in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Echo Park. When his single mother wasn’t able to provide for John and his brother, they were sent to a foster home. After graduating from high school DeJoria spent two years in the US Navy.
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Twenty long years later, he formed John Paul Mitchell systems with hairdresser Paul Mitchell. From the success of that company, DeJoria invested in a several other businesses including The Patron Spirits Company (premium tequila), House of Blues nightclubs, Solar Utility, and Three Star Energy, among others. In 2013, he sat in for Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec. DeJoria is married to Eloise Broady, a model/actress who was named Playboy’s Playmate of April 1988. They married in 1993.
