Oil Tycoon and Entertainment Mogul. Born in Newark, New Jersey, he perfected the art of drilling for oil with other people's money by leveraging Davis Oil Company, founded by his father in Denver, and becoming one of America's leading wildcatters, drilling wells in uncharted places focusing on the Rocky Mountain region. In 1981, he sold most of his oil and natural-gas holdings near the top of the energy market. Within months, he bought 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation with a silent partner whom he bought out in 1984, but kept the studio's remaining interest in the Pebble Beach and Aspen ski resorts. The Pebble Beach resort, rumored to be worth $150 million in 1985, was sold five years later for more than $800 million. Forbes Magazine estimated his worth at $4.9 billion in 2004.
Oil Tycoon and Entertainment Mogul. Born in Newark, New Jersey, he perfected the art of drilling for oil with other people's money by leveraging Davis Oil Company, founded by his father in Denver, and becoming one of America's leading wildcatters, drilling wells in uncharted places focusing on the Rocky Mountain region. In 1981, he sold most of his oil and natural-gas holdings near the top of the energy market. Within months, he bought 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation with a silent partner whom he bought out in 1984, but kept the studio's remaining interest in the Pebble Beach and Aspen ski resorts. The Pebble Beach resort, rumored to be worth $150 million in 1985, was sold five years later for more than $800 million. Forbes Magazine estimated his worth at $4.9 billion in 2004.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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