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

Endeavor Energy Resources Endeavor Energy Resources (officially Endeavor Energy Resources LP) is a privately-held hydrocarbon exploration and production company based in Midland, Texas. Founded in 1979 by Autry Stephens, it grew to become one of the largest private oil ...

based in Midland, Texas, in 1979. In February 2024, it was announced that the company would be sold to Diamondback Energy for $26 billion, which ultimately led to Stephens being included on the Forbes 400 list (2023).

Early life and education

Stephens was born March 8, 1938, in De Leon, Texas, one of five children to Martin Elmore Stephens, a watermelon and peanut farmer, and Hazel Lila Stephens (

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Johnson; 1905–2011). He earned his

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, B.S., B.Sc., SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree that is awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Scienc ...

in 1961 and his

Master of Science A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medici ...

in 1962, both in Petroleum engineering from the

University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public university, public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 stud ...

Career

Stephens founded

in 1979. He remained a general partner of the LP. In February 2024, it was announced that the company would be sold to Diamondback Energy for $26 billion.

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.Autry Stephens, Endeavor Energy Founder Who Became Richest US Oilman, Dies at 86
Energy Connect

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Autry 1938 births 2024 deaths American business executives American philanthropists University of Texas at Austin alumni Deaths from prostate cancer in Texas People from De Leon, Texas