Early Life and Education
Jeffery Hildebrand was born in Texas in 1959. His father was a veterinarian. Hildebrand earned a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1981 and a master's degree in petroleum engineering from the same institution in 1985.
Rise to Success
Hildebrand's career began with roles at American Energy Capital Corporation, Dan A. Hughes Company, and Exxon Company. In 1989, he founded Hilcorp Energy Company, an oil and gas exploration and production company. He co-founded Hilcorp in 1990 and later bought out his partner for $500 million in 2003. Under his leadership, Hilcorp has grown into a major privately held oil and gas producer through strategic acquisitions and efficient management, buying underperforming assets from larger companies.
Key Business Strategies
Hildebrand's success is attributed to his ability to identify and revitalize underperforming assets. His company focuses on operational excellence, disciplined reinvestment, and revitalizing mature assets. Hilcorp is known for its employee-ownership culture, including generous bonus programs. In 2015, Hildebrand gave each of his 1,400 employees a $100,000 bonus after they doubled the size of his company in five years.
Philanthropy
Hildebrand and his wife, Melinda, are known for their philanthropy, particularly in the Houston area. They have contributed to the Houston Zoo, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and the Hildebrand Equine Complex at Texas A&M University. In November 2017, Hildebrand donated $25 million to the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. In recognition of this contribution, the university plans to name the department the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering. They also donated $20 million to the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business to create the Hildebrand MBA Program.
