DList Magazine Fall "Fashion" Issue 2015 | Page 32

john paul dejoria DISTINCT
Growing up you had a strong determination for success and
took on multiple jobs, from working at a gas station to selling
encyclopedias. During that time did you have any idea what it
was that you really wanted to do or was it just to be successful?
JPD: Success is what you define it to be. My definition of
success is to know that you’ve worked hard, led an honest life,
and helped people. And for that, I’m very successful.
In 1980, Paul Mitchell teamed up to create a very successful
hair product line with only $700. Besides working for a hair
product company when you two met, what kept you interested in
that field or made you decide to launch the company?
JPD: The hair care business has long been a passion of mine,
and back then there was a tremendous void for high quality
products – and products that aren’t tested on animals, which is
something we never do at John Paul Mitchell Systems. When
people look good, they’re more confident and they’re happier. It’s
a great business to be in.

SIMPLY PERFECT
Interviewed by Charity Mainville I Photos by Patrón Spirits Company

John Paul DeJoria is one of 1,826 billionaires in the world, an achievement that didn’t come easy.
It would seem he was born to be an entrepreneur, with the intelligence to make the right decisions
and the perseverance to keep going, even when times were hard. He started working when he was a
child to support his family, served in the U.S. Navy, suffered homelessness, and worked multiple jobs
until he found his first major success: co-founder of Paul Mitchell. Nine years later, his friend Martin
Crowley returned from Mexico with a tequila he knew he could make better and smoother. Together
they founded Patrón Spirits Company, which is now the number one tequila brand in the US. Today,
John Paul owns multiple successful companies from mobile to pet products and created Peace, Love, &
Happiness Foundation to support his favorite non-profits. The list could go on to describe how amazing
this man is and the impact he has made, but instead I’ll use Patrón’s own tagline to describe him best,
“Simply Perfect.”

Patrón is the most recognizable name in tequila, not only in the
states but in Canada as well. What is the one distinct element
that puts it at the top?
JPD: Quality. Patrón is a high-quality, sophisticated spirit, and
though it’s grown to become a well-known and well-respected
brand, we have never compromised on our quality. As a matter
of fact, the way in which we’ve grown Patrón is not by increasing
the capacity of our fermenters or distillation stills, rather we’ve
actually replicated our original small distillery so that we can
continue to produce Patrón in the same small batches as the day
we started.
For a tequila drinker who has never tried Patrón, how would
you convince him or her to take a taste?
JPD: Not just tequila drinkers, but anyone who enjoys and
appreciates any high end spirits. The tequila category has
evolved very quickly, thanks in large part to Patrón. We’re a
high quality, flavorful 100% agave tequila, much different than

Fill in the blank:
Shampoo or conditioner: Both!

Favorite hairstyle: PONYTAIL! Slicked back, fresh and clean.
One word t