E.L.F. Founder on Giving Up Fortune to Become a Priest (Fr. Scott-Vincent Borba) | Ep. 588
July 20, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readFrom Cosmetics Mogul to Catholic Priest: The Conversion of Fr. Scott-Vincent Borba
Fr. Scott-Vincent Borba was the co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, creator of the Borba skincare and nutraceutical lines, and a fixture in Hollywood's party scene—dining with Paris Hilton, the Kardashians, and Demi Moore from his renovated Hollywood Hills home. Today, three weeks into his priesthood, he describes his former self bluntly: "I was vapid. I had a perverse life. My soul was in hell." His conversion story, which he shared on Pints With Aquinas, involves a mystical encounter with St. Michael the Archangel, a vision of his own place in hell, and a face-to-face meeting with Jesus Christ that led him to liquidate his entire net worth, give away designer clothes to homeless people, and enter seminary at age 48.
The Moment Everything Changed
Borba describes being at the height of his success—newly renovated home, multiple luxury cars, parties, and people everywhere—when he looked around and realized: "I had everything. Why am I not happy? Why don't I feel fulfilled? Why don't I feel loved?" In that moment, he looked up and prayed: "God, if you created me just to be successful and to make money and to be a hedonist and to repeat, why did you create me?"
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:15) **From Cosmetics CEO to Catholic Priest** - Father Scott-Vincent Borba introduces his former life as co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics and founder of Borba Nutriceuticals, and the host asks him to summarize his journey from a multi-million dollar estate to the priesthood.
- 2 (03:00) **The Vocation Director's First Impression** - Father Borba recounts his first meeting with his vocation director, showing the stark contrast between his former worldly presentation and the humility required for seminary.
- 3 (12:06) **"Why Am I Not Happy?" - The Moment of Crisis** - Father Borba describes the pivotal moment in his Hollywood Hills home where, surrounded by wealth and people, he realized his soul was empty and cried out to God.
- 4 (13:21) **The Mystical Vision of St. Michael and Hell** - Father Borba describes a supernatural vision where St. Michael the Archangel appeared, suspended time, and showed him the reality of his soul's destination in hell.
- 5 (18:10) **The Encounter with Jesus and His Father** - Immediately after the vision of hell, Father Borba fell to his knees in a hotel hallway, weeping, and was given a vision of Jesus and his deceased father.
- 6 (21:38) **The Aftermath: Confession and Torment** - Father Borba details the immediate aftermath of his conversion, including a terrifying confession and the beginning of his spiritual purification.
- 7 (24:35) **Divesting the Fortune and Giving Away the Aston Martin** - Father Borba describes the difficult process of liquidating his entire portfolio and selling his prized possessions, beginning with his Aston Martin.
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Show Notes
Fr. Scott-Vincent Borba, co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics and former Hollywood beauty mogul turned Catholic priest, recounts his conversion after a mystical vision of Saint Michael the Archangel, his decision to give away his multi-million-dollar fortune to charity, and his path through seminary to ordination.
Ep. 588
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