John Paul DeJoria. Once in a motorcycle gang, homeless, living in a car. Now billionaire with a “B,” he co-owns Paul Mitchell hair products, plus Patrón, the world’s A-1 tequila. Called J.P., he’s the subject of the film “Good Fortune”:
“In LA, age 6, I had one 10-cent piece. My mother and brother, we passed a Salvation Army man. She said, ‘Give him your dime.’ But we had no food. She said these people care for others. They have nothing. Give him the dime. I did.”
About Clooney unloading his Casamigos tequila brand for a billion dollars: “He sold 120,000 cases annually. Patrón sells 3 million. Buying ours, a major spirit company takes a loan or individual investors get together. I’ve had it 28 years.
“Listen, nothing came easy. I sold door-to-door. I partnered with wrong guys. I sold phones and failed. My life was so down, I was lower than an ant walking.”
Philanthropic J.P. now helps schools, children, invalids, elderly — and the US.
“America’s the world’s greatest country. America works. But you must be prepared for rejection, the ability to not go down. I was bankrupt, fired by companies, I was in Hells Angels. But … I believed in God. I believe in a universal force. I believe the world will be better, not worse. And I believe in America.”
“Good Fortune” is narrated by Dan Aykroyd, who told me: “J.P. and I brought Patrón up to Canada. We met when he helped me out with my House of Blues. Now everywhere, Blues has 4,000 employees, but when we had trouble he bailed us out.
“I also own Crystal Head Vodka with three partners. We’re all over Europe. Testing 400 liquids, the Russian government awarded us ‘excellent.’
“Look, I’m in business. Entertainers sell services in what’s called ‘show business.’ Any artist just into the word ‘show’ — their advisers will rob them. A second word’s ‘business.’ People like us make deals with agents, manage capital, pay taxes. We’re in business.”
Fran’s roamin’ holiday
And why’s Fran Drescher there for J.P.’s “Good Fortune” movie opening?
“He’s a friend. Supportive, helpful to everybody. His company supported my [nonprofit] Cancer Schmancer. He gave me money to fight this disease.
“Look, I’ve overcome, but then I’ve also had to learn to be myself. I have a place in New York, home in Malibu. I’m off now to vacation in Paris, Amsterdam, London. I’m ecstatic. I’ve learned gratitude.
“I’m a practicing Buddhist. I don’t swim upstream anymore. I love looking at life as a classroom. I’m now filled with me.”
Ally’s island nuptials
As we speak, Ally, 32, Tommy Hilfiger’s daughter by first wife Susie, marries Steve Hash on the Caribbean isle of Mustique. They’ve been together for years … HIZZONER the mayor’s giving a birthday party to honor earlier Hizzoner David Dinkins. DD is nearly 90 … YEARS ago, the late James Nederlander created the Jimmy Awards to honor youngsters coming up in musical theater. It’s Monday. His widow Charlene was not invited to attend. Anyone know why?
Goodbye, Gabe
We lost quintessential newsie Gabe Pressman. I worked with him on TV. Gruff, rough, tough, smartest mouth to make it out of The Bronx. No knee-slapper, but I sat with him in ’87 when Inner Circle reporters made dung out of VIPs and he sang to His Eminence: “Cardinal John Superstar/are you as great as you think you are.” The Prince of St. Pat’s loved it.
But only in New York, kids, only in New York.