John Paul Jones DeJoria (1944- ) – Businessman & Philanthropist
John Paul DeJoria is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist best known as a co-founder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair products and The Patron Spirits Company. After going through a rough adolescence, DeJoria fought to overcome his tribulations. After two years in the Navy, followed by a series of jobs ranging from janitor to insurance salesman, he entered the world of hair care as an employee of Redken Laboratories. He was fired from his position, he claims over a disagreement on business strategies. In1980, he formed John Mitchell Systems with hairdresser Paul Mitchell and a loan for $700. As of 2011, John Paul Mitchell Systems had revenues of $900 million annually. DeJoria also owns 70% of The Patron Spirits Company. The Company is the world’s premium tequila brand, and in 2011, they had sold approximately 2,450,000 cases.
While running his business, John Paul DeJoria has been dabbling in philanthropy as well. In 2008, DeJoria traveled to sub-Saharan Africa to join Nelson Mandela in his efforts to help feed over 17,000 orphaned children through Food4Africa. In the same year, his company Paul Mitchell helped provide over 400,000 life-saving meals for the children. The next year, DeJoria donated $150,000 to start Grow Appalachia, a charity that teaches people how to cultivate, cook and can their own fruits and vegetables. Last season Grow Appalachia helped roughly 400 people raise 120,000 pounds of produce. This year DeJoria has given an additional $200,000 to finance another crop. Then in 2011, DeJoria signed the Giving Pledge, a formal promise to give back, and in the same year founded JP’s Peace, Love, and Happiness Foundation to invest in charities that share the core values of his companies, which are sustainability, social responsibility, and animal-friendliness.
We honor John Paul DeJoria because his philanthropic work makes him a Legacy Champ. If you want to be a Legacy Champ in your own special way, then contact The Mendel Law Firm, L.P. for a free initial consultation on estate planning, trust planning, and/or probate issues.
Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney
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