Ray Lee Hunt
- Birth: 04 Jun 1943
- Death: —
- Age: 82 years
- Net Worth: $6.9B USD
- Income Source: Oil, Real Estate, Investments
Biography
The Quiet Empire Builder – Ray Lee Hunt's Legacy in Oil and Beyond
Ray Lee Hunt, born 06 04 1943 in Texas, emerged from the shadow of his father, H.L. Hunt—once America’s richest man—to become a discreet yet dominant force in global energy and real estate. Taking control of Hunt Oil Company in 1974 at age 31, Ray transformed a $200 million inheritance into a $6.9 billion empire by 2025.
His breakthrough came in 1984 with a massive oil discovery in Yemen, producing over 150,000 barrels daily and unlocking vast natural gas reserves. In 2007, Hunt Oil signed a controversial but lucrative production-sharing deal in Iraqi Kurdistan, valued at up to $14.5 billion, cementing its international footprint. Today, Hunt Consolidated, Inc. spans upstream oil, LNG infrastructure, power generation, and prime real estate holdings across the U.S.
A Southern Methodist University graduate, Ray served on the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board under George W. Bush and has donated heavily to SMU athletics, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and conservation efforts. Despite public scrutiny over Amazon drilling plans in Peru, he maintains a low profile, avoiding the flamboyance of his half-siblings who infamously tried to corner the silver market in 1980.
Married to Nancy Ann Hunt, Ray is father to five children, including son Hunter L. Hunt, now CEO of Hunt Consolidated Energy. At 82, Ray remains Chairman Emeritus, guiding one of America’s last great family-held energy dynasties. His philosophy—patient capital, strategic risk, and generational stewardship—defines modern wildcatting in a volatile world. In an era of flashy billionaires, Ray Lee Hunt proves quiet power endures.
Ray Lee Hunt, born 06 04 1943 in Texas, emerged from the shadow of his father, H.L. Hunt—once America’s richest man—to become a discreet yet dominant force in global energy and real estate. Taking control of Hunt Oil Company in 1974 at age 31, Ray transformed a $200 million inheritance into a $6.9 billion empire by 2025.
His breakthrough came in 1984 with a massive oil discovery in Yemen, producing over 150,000 barrels daily and unlocking vast natural gas reserves. In 2007, Hunt Oil signed a controversial but lucrative production-sharing deal in Iraqi Kurdistan, valued at up to $14.5 billion, cementing its international footprint. Today, Hunt Consolidated, Inc. spans upstream oil, LNG infrastructure, power generation, and prime real estate holdings across the U.S.
A Southern Methodist University graduate, Ray served on the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board under George W. Bush and has donated heavily to SMU athletics, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and conservation efforts. Despite public scrutiny over Amazon drilling plans in Peru, he maintains a low profile, avoiding the flamboyance of his half-siblings who infamously tried to corner the silver market in 1980.
Married to Nancy Ann Hunt, Ray is father to five children, including son Hunter L. Hunt, now CEO of Hunt Consolidated Energy. At 82, Ray remains Chairman Emeritus, guiding one of America’s last great family-held energy dynasties. His philosophy—patient capital, strategic risk, and generational stewardship—defines modern wildcatting in a volatile world. In an era of flashy billionaires, Ray Lee Hunt proves quiet power endures.