T. Boone Pickens

Background

T. Boone Pickens launches his book, The First Billion is the Hardest, which outlines his Pickens Plan for reducing America's dependence on foreign oil. His vision calls for major investments in wind, solar, and 21st century power grid, as well as natural gas as a transportation and bridge-fuel to batteries. Called the "Oracle of Oil" for his reputation in predicting oil and gas prices, Pickens manages over $4 billion through his investment company, BP Capital. Thomas Boone Pickens, Jr. was born May 22, 1928, in Holdenville, Oklahoma. His father worked as an oil and mineral land man and later for Philips Petroleum. During World War II, his mother ran the local Office of Price Administration, rationing gasoline and other goods in four counties. Pickens graduated from Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State, where he majored in geology. He worked for Philips Petroleum until 1954 and founded Mesa Petroleum in 1956. He lives in Dallas with his wife. He has five children and 12 grandchildren. This past speaker page shares highlights from his presentation and Q&A with the audience.