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🇺🇸 United States /Culture & Society

Why a cosmetics empire co-founder became a Catholic priest

From CBS News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Scott Vincent Borba, co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, left his successful business career to become a Catholic priest.
  • Borba felt unfulfilled despite his professional acclaim and wealth, questioning his life's purpose.
  • A profound spiritual experience after his father's death and a period of personal struggle led him to embrace his childhood calling to the priesthood.

Scott Vincent Borba, the co-founder of the massively successful e.l.f. Cosmetics, has traded the red carpets and acclaim of the beauty industry for the humble collar of a Catholic priest. Despite building a "lucrative business" worth millions and achieving significant professional recognition, Borba found himself deeply unfulfilled, grappling with existential questions about his life's path.

Was I created just to work and to party and to repeat and then die?

— Scott Vincent BorbaBorba reflected on his feelings of unfulfillment amidst his business success.

Borba recalled wondering amid his success, "Was I created just to work and to party and to repeat and then die?" He felt an insatiable desire for more, stating, "I couldn't make enough money. I couldn't be on enough red carpets. I couldn't be exposed enough on TV or in magazines. It was insatiable."

I always wanted more. It was never satisfying enough. I couldn't make enough money. I couldn't be on enough red carpets. I couldn't be exposed enough on TV or in magazines. It was insatiable.

— Scott Vincent BorbaBorba described his persistent desire for more despite his material wealth.

His life took a dramatic turn following the death of his father, Anthony Borba Sr., from pancreatic cancer in 2010. The loss "broke me apart emotionally," Borba said, leading him to increased partying as an escape. It was during one such party that he experienced what he described as a "mystical" come-to-Jesus moment.

I never saw my father scared before. He said, 'I need to close out my life before I go. Will you help me with that?' I said, 'Dad. We're going to do this together and I'm going to find you the best doctors ever.'

— Scott Vincent BorbaBorba recalled his father's final request before his death.

Looking up to heaven, unhappy and lost, Borba asked God for help to become the man he was created to be. This pivotal moment led him to leave his former life behind. He gave away his wealth, funded churches and charities, and entered seminary, embracing the calling to the priesthood he first felt as a child.

I remember looking around. I was so unhappy … I looked up to heaven. I remember I asked God to help me be the man he created me to be, but I couldn't do it without his help. It changed my life.

— Scott Vincent BorbaBorba described his spiritual turning point after his father's death.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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