John Paul DeJoria
John Paul DeJoria: From the Open Road to the Global Stage
John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of the hair care empire John Paul Mitchell Systems, is known today as a billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist, and humanitarian. But his story is more than just a tale of business success. It’s a testament to resilience, the power of community, and the profound impact of the motorcycling brotherhood. From his humble beginnings to his role as a global ambassador and advocate, DeJoria’s journey is one of the great American rags-to-riches stories—a narrative steeped in the ethos of motorcycling and a relentless commitment to giving back.
Before DeJoria was a global success, he was just a man with a dream, down on his luck and searching for direction. During his early career, before he co-founded his first major venture, he found himself homeless, living out of his car and struggling to provide for his young son. But amidst his struggles, it was the motorcycling community that gave him hope. DeJoria came to the sport in his youth, drawn by the camaraderie and freedom of the open road. It was this community that took him in, offering him support when he had nowhere else to turn.
One of DeJoria’s key influences during this period was a fellow rider named Lee Meyer, who offered him and his son a room for just $22 a month—the only amount DeJoria could afford. Meyer did this not out of charity, but out of a sense of obligation to the unwritten code of the biker community: help those in need. Meyer himself had been in DeJoria’s shoes, once helped by another biker when life had dealt him a difficult hand. He knew that one day, DeJoria would pass on this act of kindness when he was able.
That simple act of generosity became the guiding light for DeJoria’s life and career. As he rose from adversity to build the John Paul Mitchell empire—now a global hair care giant—he never forgot the lessons of brotherhood and resilience that motorcycling had taught him. It shaped not only how he did business but also his philosophy on giving back.
DeJoria’s success as a businessman is only part of his story. Beyond the boardroom, he has dedicated his life to causes that align with the spirit of the road: protecting the environment, advocating for the disadvantaged, and ensuring that business practices are grounded in humanity and responsibility. He has served as a trouble-shooter for the United Nations, helping to mediate a truce between native fishing tribes in West Africa and a large oil corporation whose pollution had decimated their waters and livelihood. His efforts led to a historic agreement, improving environmental practices and restoring the tribes’ fishing rights. Similarly, he traveled to India to promote sustainable, non-pollutant manufacturing practices that could drive growth without sacrificing the environment.
A passionate advocate for clean energy, DeJoria has been a major proponent of solar exploration and application, believing that technological innovation must be part of the solution to climate change. His influence extends into unexpected realms; he’s worked with the CIA, advising on leadership, motivation, and patriotic service. These efforts, he says, are all rooted in the spirit of motorcycling: the idea that every individual has a responsibility to contribute to the greater good and to stand up for what’s right.
DeJoria’s philanthropy is as diverse as his career. He has supported Native American tribes by helping to regenerate their economies, underwritten the Mexican Olympic team, and even stepped in to aid environmental activists facing prison sentences for defending marine life in Europe. Closer to home, he’s a steadfast supporter of American workers, campaigning to stop the exportation of jobs and advocating for the revival of industries that have been outsourced.
The values of loyalty, honor, and helping others that he learned in the motorcycling community have also led him to become an active participant in biker-supported charity events. His hair care firm has sponsored the Southern California Love Ride for over 13 years, raising millions of dollars for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). In Austin, Texas, DeJoria launched and underwrote the Love, Peace & Happiness Ride, which generates funds for the Austin Children’s Shelter, providing critical support for children in need.
At the core of John Paul DeJoria’s incredible success story is a heart that beats for more than just business. Whether saving endangered whales, negotiating peace, or rallying behind workers’ rights, he is always driven by a desire to help others. The road from homelessness to billionaire didn’t change him; instead, it reinforced his belief that success is meaningful only if it is used to uplift others.
John Paul DeJoria’s journey from struggling biker to business tycoon is more than an inspiring tale—it’s a lesson in what true success looks like: a life lived with purpose, guided by the principles of brotherhood, and dedicated to making a difference.