H. L. Hunt
Business People

H. L. Hunt Net Worth

H.L. Hunt was an incredibly successful American oil tycoon and political activist. He began his business empire with a small investment in oil in Arkansas and went on to found Hunt Oil Company, becoming one of the largest independent oil producers and gas suppliers in the country. He also invested in canned goods, health products, and cosmetics. At the time of his death, his fortune was estimated to be between two and three billion dollars, with a weekly income of more than one million. Despite his success, Hunt was involved in various controversies throughout his life, including allegations of being involved in John F Kennedy's assassination.
H. L. Hunt is a member of Business People

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Businessman
Birth Day February 17, 1889
Birth Place Illinois, United States
Age 130 YEARS OLD
Died On November 29, 1974(1974-11-29) (aged 85)\nDallas, Texas
Birth Sign Pisces
Occupation Oil business
Spouse(s) Lyda Bunker Frania Tye Ruth Ray
Children fifteen

💰 Net worth: $1 Billion (2024)

H. L. Hunt, a prominent businessman in the United States, is projected to have a net worth of $1 billion by 2024. Known for his entrepreneurial pursuits, Hunt has made significant contributions to various industries and accumulated substantial wealth throughout his career. With his astute business acumen and strategic investments, he has established himself as a renowned figure in the American business landscape. As he continues to navigate the ever-changing economic landscape, his net worth is expected to grow, solidifying his position as one of the wealthiest individuals in the country.

Biography/Timeline

1912

Hunt was educated at home. As a teenager, Hunt traveled to various places before settling in Arkansas, where he was running a cotton plantation by 1912. He had a reputation as a math Prodigy and was a gambler. It was said that after his cotton plantation was flooded, he turned his last $100 into more than $100,000, gambling in New Orleans. With his winnings, he purchased oil properties in the neighborhood of El Dorado, Arkansas. He was generous to his employees, who in turn were loyal to him, informing him of rumors of a massive oil field to the south, in East Texas—the East Texas Oil Field. In negotiations over cheese and crackers, at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, with the wild-catter who discovered the field—"Dad" Joiner—Hunt secured title to what was then the largest known oil deposit in the world, having agreed to pay only $1,000,000, and protect Mr. Joiner from liability for his many fraudulent transactions surrounding the property. In 1957 Fortune estimated that Hunt had a fortune of between U.S. $400 million and $700 million ($4.5 billion in 2011, adjusted for inflation), and was one of the eight richest people in the United States. J. Paul Getty, who was considered at the time to be the richest private citizen in the world, said of Hunt: "In terms of extraordinary, independent wealth, there is only one man—H. L. Hunt."

1914

He married Lyda Bunker of Lake Village, Arkansas in November 1914, and remained married to her until her death in 1955. His seven children by her were: Margaret (1915-2007), Haroldson ("Hassie," 1917-2005), Caroline (1923), Lyda (born and died in 1925), Nelson Bunker (1926-2014), william Herbert (1929), and Lamar (1932-2006). Their home on White Rock Lake in Dallas was styled after Mount Vernon though much larger.

1925

While still married to Lyda, H. L. Hunt is said to have married Frania Tye of Tampa, Florida in November 1925, using the name Franklin Hunt. Frania claimed to have discovered the bigamous nature of her marriage in 1934, and in a legal settlement in 1941, Hunt created trust funds for each of their four children and she signed a document stipulating that no legal marriage between them had ever existed. About the same time, she briefly married then divorced Hunt's employee, John Lee, taking the last name Lee for herself and her four children. Her four children by Hunt were: Howard (born 1926), Haroldina (1928), Helen (1930), and Hugh ("Hue," 1934). Frania Tye Lee died in 2002.

1957

Hunt supported and had children by Ruth Ray of Shreveport, Louisiana, whom he met when she was a secretary in his Shreveport office. They married in 1957 after the death of Hunt's wife Lyda. His four children by her were: Ray (born 1943), June (1944), Helen (1949), and Swanee (1950). His youngest son, Ray Lee, ultimately inherited the Business, and was a major supporter of President George W. Bush.

1975

A scandal emerged in 1975, after his death, when it was discovered that he had had a hidden bigamous relationship, with his second wife living in New York. Nonetheless, Hunt was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, and was a major financial contributor toward the establishment of the conservative Christian evangelical Criswell College in Dallas, Texas.

Some H. L. Hunt images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.