Born at Chilly-Mazarin, a southern suburb of Paris, he was the illegitimate son of Philippe d'Orléans (future Regent of France, 1715–1723, acting for the infant Louis XV) and his mistress Marie-Louise Madeleine Victorine Le Bel de La Bussière (1684–1748), known as the comtesse d'Argenton or madame d'Argenton.

This infuriated Louis XIV, who maintained that actresses were bad enough, particularly when they gave birth to sons, but which the Duchess of Orléans did not.

Under the direction of the Maréchal de Tessé, Jean Philippe was named the Général des galères (a sort of master of ships) in June 1716.

It is a great pity that the Abbe is illegitimate: he is well made; his features are not bad; he has very good talents, and has studied much.

He intends to make him a Knight of Malta, so that he may live unmarried, for my son does not wish to have the illegitimate branches of his family extended.

He commissioned the artist Jean-Marc Nattier to decorate the Palais du Temple, the Parisian residence of the Grand Prieur.

During the Regency, Jean Philippe had a range of diplomatic missions on behalf of his cousin Louis XV.

Jean Philippe had one natural daughter, named Amable Angélique de Villars, (March 18, 1723 - Versailles September 16, 1771), who married February 4, 1744 , Guy-Félix Pignatelli (1720-1753) Count of Egmont, Prince of Gavre, Duke of Bisaccia and Grandee of Spain (Widow, she took the veil at the convent of Calvary in Paris on 18 June 1754 and made her profession on 20 June 1755); she was Jean Philippe's only child.