Good Fortune, a new documentary that chronicles the life of billionaire “rags-to-riches” philanthropist John Paul DeJoria, had a Los Angeles opening on June 29, 2017 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills.

DeJoria has a life story reads like its own movie plot: A man, from immigrant parents, grows up in East LA, drifts in and out of biker gangs and is at times homeless. His desire to get ahead takes him through a period of door-to-door sales jobs and living in his car—until a fortuitous meeting with a hairdresser changes his life forever. Filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell found inspiration in DeJoria’s passion to succeed—and to always share that success with others.  That story is captured in Good Fortune, which takes viewers on a road trip through DeJoria’s life.

DeJoria is perhaps best known for building two billion dollar businesses, John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Spirits. His professional accomplishments also include multiple global enterprises but, at the core of every decision and throughout his journey, what’s most important to this serial entrepreneur is that “Success Unshared is Failure.”

 

Narrated by actor, friend and former business partner, Dan Aykroyd, Good Fortune follows one of the world’s most celebrated entrepreneurs as he does business, and shares his ultimate secret of success: giving back.

 Through a series of flashbacks and interviews with friends, fellow entrepreneurs, and business partners, including Ariana Huffington, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Michelle Phillips and Angus Mitchell, Good Fortune is an uplifting, inspiring portrait of the man affectionately known as “JP,” that’s full of humor and substance. Chronicling his early years from his impoverished beginnings in East L.A. and early adulthood spent in the military, and in and out of biker gangs, to his ultimate rise to success, which began when he partnered with hair stylist, Paul Mitchell, and began the now iconic John Paul Mitchell Systems with a borrowed $700.

 In a time when CEO’s are stereotyped as “the greedy 1%,“ Good Fortune offers an exclusive look at someone whose leveraged his lucrative lot in life to make the world a better place, while encouraging others to do the same.  A pioneer of “conscious capitalism,” John Paul believes that people, the planet and profit are closely intertwined, and dedicates himself to creating back-to-work programs for the homeless, fighting whale poachers in the Arctic, and various other philanthropic ventures and causes. 

"Its subject is an extraordinary individual who started life with no material possessions and built a self-made fortune which has enabled him to act as one of the world's most contributive and effective leaders in philanthropy,” says Aykroyd. “Sharing his good fortune and giving back he continuously encourages others to do the same and has created a network of positive influencers and initiators all over the planet.”

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to share my story with the world,” said John Paul DeJoria. “Life wasn’t always easy for me, but I always had the drive and faith that I would succeed. I hope the lessons I’ve learned will help inspire others and most importantly remind people that ‘success unshared is failure,’ and we all have the power to make the world a better place.”

 Good Fortune is produced by Big Picture Ranch and directed by husband and wife team, Josh and Rebecca Tickell.  The documentary made its world premiere as part of the Zurich Film Festival on September 22nd, 2016, and its U.S. premiere in John Paul’s hometown, Austin, TX, at the Austin Film Festival, on October 14th, 2016. It will debut nationwide in June 2017.

  www.bigpictureranch.com.  

 

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