Early Life and Education
Jeffery Howard Hildebrand was born in Houston, Texas, in 1959. Growing up in the heart of the oil industry, he developed a strong interest in the energy sector early in life. He pursued higher education at the University of Texas at Austin, earning a Bachelor's degree in Geology in 1981 and a Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1985. His father was a veterinarian.
Rise to Success
Hildebrand's career began with working for American Energy Capital Corporation, Dan A. Hughes Company, and Exxon Company. In 1989, he founded Hilcorp Energy Company. He co-founded Hilcorp in 1990 and later bought out his partner for $500 million in 2003. Under Hildebrand's leadership, Hilcorp has grown into a major privately-owned oil and gas exploration and production company. The company has been recognized on Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For list multiple times. In 2020, Hilcorp finalized the $5.6 billion acquisition of BP's assets in Alaska.
Key Business Strategies
Hildebrand's success has been attributed to his ability to identify underperforming assets and his focus on operational excellence and strategic decision-making. Hilcorp is known for its employee-focused culture, including generous bonuses. In 2015, Hilcorp gave each of its 1,380 employees a $100,000 Christmas bonus.
Philanthropy
Jeffery Hildebrand is involved in philanthropy. He has made significant charitable contributions to institutions such as the Houston Zoo and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. He also donated $25 million to the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, which was subsequently named the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering. Additionally, he and his wife have contributed to various Christian ministries and political campaigns.
