During his time in college, his aunt had created a small local cosmetics business in her home, making formulas in her kitchen.

[10] Norman created the products and Nethercutt peddled to dealers on his bicycle, picking up discarded boxes from groceries for packing shipments.

The company also had begun experimentally selling in European markets, specifically Switzerland and Austria, earning a million dollars in first year sales.

In 1999 he directed the refurbishment of all Merle Norman studios in North America for a universal consistent interior design, which was last updated in the late 70s.

The fourth floor also featured a Louis XV styled dining room with a private chef for his family and friends.

[16] In the late 1970s, Nethercutt purchased the Twenty Grand, the only 1933 Rollston Arlington Torpedo-bodied Duesenberg SJ and gave it a full original restoration, changing the exterior color from black to a metallic silver and refining the interior.

[7] Jay Leno described Nethercutt's collection as a "Smithsonian-style effort on the history of transportation in America" and "the hall of fame for cars.

As Autoweek magazine put it, "You can be as rich as Bill Gates or have a collection as big as that of the Sultan of Brunei, but you don't get a personal invitation from J.B. Nethercutt himself.

"[3] Nethercutt competed in dozens of Concours d'Elegance shows in North America with his cars from the collection and was one of the most successful competitors in history.

He holds the most Best of Show victories at the pinnacle Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance at six: 1958 with a duPont Model G Merrimac Town Car, 1959 with a Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff Atalante Coupe, 1969 with a Duesenberg J Murphy Dual Cowl Phaeton, 1970 with a Daimler Double-Six 50 Royal Limousine, 1980 with the Twenty Grand Duesenberg, and 1992 with a Rolls-Royce Phantom II Brewster Town Car.

[22] In 1986, he donated several million to the UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, which led to the construction of the six-story Merle Norman Pavilion complex.

Dorothy was a collector of David Winter sculpted ceramics, including cottages, miniature pianos, and dolls which are featured in the Nethercutt Collection.

[1][25] Nethercutt was friends with fellow Los Angeles-based car enthusiasts and collectors Jay Leno, Barry Meguiar, and Bruce Meyer.

[27] It included a Louis XV-styled dining room and a large industrial kitchen that J.B. used for private dinners with French private chef Yvon Hunckler, who previously cooked for The Beverly Hills Hotel, Grand Hotel Birmingham, and Hôtel de Paris in Monaco.

[28] The sixth floor penthouse included a full balcony and a rotating Rococo-style bedroom overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains.

[8] The J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car Award at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is named in their honor.