Autry Stephens

Autry Carl Stephens (March 8, 1938 – August 16, 2024) was an American billionaire businessman, investor, and philanthropist best known for founding Endeavor Energy Resources.

Biography Early life and education Stephens was born March 8, 1938, in De Leon, Texas, the fourth of five children to Martin Elmore Stephens, a watermelon and peanut farmer, and Hazel Lila Stephens (née Johnson; 1905–2011). His father owned a dealership that sold Massey Ferguson tractor equipment. He enrolled in Tarleton State College but transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in 1958.

Career In 1962, he began his career as a petroleum engineer for Humble Oil.

In 1996, he founded Big Dog Drilling.

After an auction process, in September 2024, one month after Stevens died, Diamondback Energy acquired the company for $26 billion, including $8 billion in cash and the remainder in stock.

Personal life and death Stephens was married to Linda (née Nagy), with whom he had two children.

Stephens died from prostate cancer in Midland, Texas, on August 16, 2024, at the age of 86.