No email, guided by peace and love. What a day in the life of a billionaire who lived in a car looks like
A billionaire tells how he came to run multibillion-dollar global businesses, guided by a philosophy based on peace and love and a daily routine.
John Paul DeJoria was 35 years old in 1980 when he founded John Paul Mitchell Systems while living in his car in Los Angeles. In an account for Business Insider, he recalls his early days. Back then, he says, inflation and unemployment were high, loans were hard to come by and there were long queues for gas.
Although everyone around told him that “you can't start a business without money”, he basically started from scratch. He helped build two billion dollar companies, including Patron Tequila, and is now a billionaire.
After selling Patron Tequila in 2018, he launched new businesses. These include two software platforms that help businesses and individuals manage returns and resell products online.
He says that his career path inspired him to write his autobiography called “Success Unshared Is Failure” to motivate people to find happiness in life on their own.
“Peace, love and happiness is what drives me. That's my purpose on this planet. Throughout the day, I remember that when you're kind to people, kindness comes right back to you,” says John Paul DeJoria, now 82.
What does the billionaire's daily routine look like?
The billionaire reveals the schedule of a typical day in his life. He says his morning routine starts between 6:00 and 7:30. First, he drinks 450-600ml of room temperature water because, he says, hydration is a priority for him.
Afterwards, he goes back to bed for at least five minutes to practice what he calls “the present moment.” He explains that this exercise is similar to meditation, the goal being to clear the mind.
After meditation, he does 30 push-ups for two minutes, an exercise inspired by the Navy SEALs technique and which is his main physical activity. Then he eats breakfast.
He works daily from home. His schedule includes phone calls to businesses in Europe, followed by managing the other projects he is involved in and his philanthropic work.
“I don't have an email address. I don't even have a computer,” says John Paul DeJoria. He explains that when needed, he uses his assistant's computer, preferring instead to call or send a handwritten letter. At 15:00 he stops for a nap.
DeJoria eats primarily at home, where meals are prepared by a 17-year-old chef. He follows a diet adapted to his blood type, based on moderate meat consumption, and mentions that he always gets up from the table a little hungry.
In the afternoons, he divides his time between his family and his company duties. He also volunteers at the homeless shelter he founded in Austin.
In the evening, the entrepreneur makes the last business calls in Asia. The relaxation program includes stretching, moments of gratitude, reading or watching TV shows, and by 22:00 it is ready for bed.
Before falling asleep, DeJoria again expresses his gratitude for his life and concludes that he wouldn't change anything about his past, considering that all of his experiences have brought him to where he is today.
He says he is often asked what he would change if he could, and his answer is always, “Nothing. I wouldn't change anything, because everything that has happened in my life has brought me to where I am today.”
