{"id":312805,"date":"2026-05-13T00:20:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T00:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/312805\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T00:20:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T00:20:07","slug":"e-l-f-cosmetics-founder-scott-borba-to-become-catholic-priest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/312805\/","title":{"rendered":"e.l.f. Cosmetics founder Scott Borba to become Catholic priest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"man\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Scott Borba, who founded e.l.f. Cosmetics before donating his fortune and entering the seminary, will be ordained at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Visalia on May 23.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tpublished on May 12, 2026 – 3:32 PM
Written by Ben Hensley<\/a><\/p>\n

Before he takes his vows, Scott Borba is already changing how some Valley Catholics put money in the collection plate.<\/p>\n

Borba, the founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics who is preparing to be ordained as a Catholic priest, has helped introduce tap-to-give technology to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno through Toronto-based company TipTap Giving. The system allows churchgoers to donate using debit or credit cards through tap-enabled devices installed at participating parishes \u2014 a decidedly modern touch for an ancient institution.<\/p>\n

\u201cScott\u2019s already making an impact as a seminarian and bringing innovative methods and ideas to the church,\u201d said Chandler Marquez, director of public affairs for the Diocese of Fresno.<\/p>\n

Ordination date<\/p>\n

Borba\u2019s ordination, set for Saturday, May 23 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Visalia, is drawing national and international attention as one of the more high-profile business figures to enter the priesthood in recent years.<\/p>\n

Marquez said Borba\u2019s path into ministry is not entirely uncommon \u2014 several priests in the diocese hail from business backgrounds. The scale of Borba\u2019s, however, is something else.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have priests from all sorts of different walks of life,\u201d Marquez said. \u201cGod calls a diverse group of men to serve because there\u2019s a diverse group of people within the church.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Like little businesses\u2019<\/p>\n

The diocese is one of the largest in the church, covering Fresno, Kings, Madera, Tulare, Kern, Inyo, Mariposa and Merced counties.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have 87 parishes and 21 schools throughout our Valley that are all managed by priests,\u201d Marquez said. \u201cThey\u2019re like little businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borba grew up in Visalia and felt called to the priesthood from a young age, according to Marquez. He pursued a career in business first, working with Neutrogena before founding e.l.f. Cosmetics in Los Angeles. According to thecatholicspirit.com<\/a>, he once gave a $7,000 facial to actress Mila Kunis before the 2011 Golden Globes.<\/p>\n

Felt the calling<\/p>\n

Borba has said in media interviews that he felt empty and miserable despite his fame and fortune \u2014 and Marquez said Borba\u2019s calling was too great to ignore.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat yearning to become a priest, and that tug at his heart was always there,\u201d Marquez said.<\/p>\n

Borba eventually donated his wealth to charitable causes and entered the Diocese of Fresno as a seminarian. He attended St. Patrick\u2019s Seminary and University in Menlo Park before preparing for ordination.<\/p>\n

Borba will be ordained alongside Marco Ayala and Jose Francisco Orozco. His parish assignment will be disclosed at the ordination Mass.<\/p>\n

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