15. John DeJoria

John DeJoria is to many an inspiration; he started his business career selling Christmas cards door to door aged nine and as a young man went into business when homeless and living in his car.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

DeJoria is co-founder of the hair care products business John Paul Mitchell Systems and founder of tequila maker The Patron Spirits Company, in which he sold his stake in 2018 to Bacardi in a deal worth $5.1bn.

John DeJoria is a philanthropist and supports numerous organisations, including Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Food4Africa, Mineseeker, and Blazer House.

He may not own the obligatory superyacht, but he does have a ship named after him.

The M/V John Paul DeJoria is a 110-foot Island-class fast patrol boat launched by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the direct-action marine conservation non-profit, to recognise his environmental campaigning.

The vessel was christened surprise, surprise with a bottle of Patron Spirits tequila.

He does own an unusual billionaire toy in the Patrón Tequila Express, a historic private railroad car built in 1927. He purchased it in 1996and spent $2m to renovate it.

DeJoria is a signatory to the Giving Pledge, a campaign to encourage billionaires to donate their wealth to charity.

DeJoria became involved in Formula 1 initially through his investment in the Circuit of the Americas circuit in Texas.

DeJoria explains, “My wife, Eloise, and I attended our first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1995 with our good friend, the entertainer Cher.

“We were in Monaco, and Michael Schumacher won that year. I will never forget that experience, and I’ve been in love with Formula 1 ever since. When I learned about the chance to bring F1 to Texas through a facility like Circuit of The Americas, I couldn’t wait to be involved.”

An active environmentalist DeJoria helped ensure the CoTA’s were committed to sustainability in the construction and operation of its venue.

He further became involved in F1 after the ROKiT group, which he founded with Jonathan Kendrick, sponsored the Williams team in 2019 before an acrimoniously falling out in 2020.

ROKiT sponsors various teams across motor racing, including the FormulaE Venturi Racing team.

DeJoria also sponsors the American Le Mans Series through his Patron Spirits business.

His daughter Alexis has been a competitive drag racer since 2005.

What influence does DeJoria have in F1?

Well, it is limited, but he may well hold Liberty Media’s feet to the fire when it comes to sustainability.