[BREAKING] Haircare legend John Paul DeJoria had a hard-scrabble childhood — but always felt rich on the American dream

Through July 4, The Post, in conjunction with the Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream, will feature American citizens explaining what the American Dream means to them in 2026, including John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of the Paul Mitchell hair product line and Patrón Spirits Company.

My mother came on a boat from Greece looking for the American dream.

She was very, very young when she came here [and] she was told the streets would be paved in gold...she found out that wasn't the case when she got here.

I was married to my father; Unfortunately, he turned out to be a lazy father.

When I was about five years old, my mother had some medical problems.

So for about five years, my brother and I were in foster care in East Los Angeles.

But we were one of the lucky ones because we got to see our mom over the weekend.

Unfortunately, others in the foster home were not in the same situation.

Nobody ever visited them.

My mom was so big that she invited any child who wanted to come with us during the holidays to come.

We had a great mom.

She always told my brother and me, “No matter what, you guys can do it”… And by God, we sure did it.

We had no money, no money.

But we didn't know it.

We didn't have television, we didn't have newspapers to read.

[But] we thought we had it all.

And my mom was the best mom.

We returned home when I was nine and a half years old.

Finally he bought a small house for us to live in.

And one Friday weekend, Mom said, "Let's put all our money together.

I'll show you something." We had 27 cents.

I will never forget it.

All of us together had 27 cents.

And Mom told us, "Boys, what is it to be rich? We are very rich because we are happy and we are all healthy.

We have 27 cents.

But in our little garden, we grow vegetables.

We have water.

Our bills are paid up to date and we have things.

We are going to get through the week and the next." The American Dream Video Project showcases real stories that illuminate paths to opportunity.

Presented at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), this series is part of the Center's celebration of America's 250th anniversary.

MCAAD is Washington, DC's newest cultural institution, offering interactive exhibits and stories about achieving the American Dream.

For more information, visit mcaad.org.

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