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'{{short description|American financier; Chairman, BP Capital Management}} {{Infobox person | name = T. Boone Pickens | image = T Boone Pickens 2011 Shankbone.JPG | image_size = | caption = Pickens at the 2011 [[Time 100]] gala | birth_name = Thomas Boone Pickens Jr. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1928|05|22}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2019|09|11}} | birth_place = [[Holdenville, Oklahoma]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2019|9|11|1928|5|22}} | death_place = [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], U.S. | alma_mater = [[Oklahoma State University]] | occupation = [[Chairperson|Chairman]] of BP Capital Management | boards = | spouse = {{Marriage|Lynn O'Brien|1949|1971|reason=divorced}}<br>{{Marriage|Beatrice Carr|1972|1998|reason=divorced}}<br>{{Marriage|Nelda Cain|2000|2004|reason=divorced}}<br>{{Marriage|[[Madeleine A. Pickens|Madeleine Paulson]]|2005|2012|reason=divorced}}<br>{{Marriage|Toni Brinker|2014|2017|reason=divorced}} | children = 5 | website = [http://www.boonepickens.com/ www.boonepickens.com] | signature = | networth = {{decrease}}US$500 million (November 2016)<ref name = NYT16/> }} '''Thomas Boone Pickens Jr.''' (May 22, 1928 – September 11, 2019) was an American [[capitalist]]. Pickens chaired the [[hedge fund]] BP Capital Management. He was a very well-known [[takeover]] operator and [[corporate raid]]er during the 1980s. As of November 2016, Pickens has a net worth of $100000 million.<ref name = NYT16>Joe Nocera, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/your-money/t-boone-pickens-risky-business.html?ref=dealbook "How T. Boone Pickens Sits Tight in the Riskiest of Businesses,"] ''[[New York Times]]'', November 12, 2016.</ref> ==Early life== Pickens was born in [[Holdenville, Oklahoma|Holdenville]], [[Oklahoma]], the son of Grace (née Molonson) and Thomas Boone Pickens. His father worked as an oil and mineral [[Landman (oil worker)|landman]] (rights leaser). During [[World War II]], his mother ran the local [[Office of Price Administration]], rationing gasoline and other goods in three counties.<ref name="UTPDF"/> Pickens was the first child born via [[Caesarean section]] in the history of Holdenville hospital.<ref name="OSU gift">Wieberg, Steve. [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2006-08-15-pickens-oklahoma-state-donation_x.htm "Tycoon's $165M gift to Oklahoma State raises both hopes and questions"], ''[[USA Today]]'', August 15, 2006.</ref> At age 12, Pickens delivered newspapers. He quickly expanded his paper route from 28 papers to 156.<ref name=PCOLHoratio/> Pickens later cited his boyhood job as an early introduction to "expanding quickly by acquisition", a business practice he favored later in life.<ref name=PCOLHoratio>[http://www.horatioalger.com/member_info.cfm?memberid=PIC06 "Boone Pickens, Chairman, Chevron Capital Management in Dallas, Texas"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617114350/http://www.horatioalger.com/member_info.cfm?memberid=PIC06 |date=2011-06-17 }}. The Horatio Alger Association.</ref> When the oil boom in Oklahoma ended in the late 1930s, Pickens' family moved to [[Amarillo, Texas]].<ref name=PCOLHoratio/> Pickens attended [[Texas A&M University|Texas A&M]] on a basketball [[Athletic scholarship|scholarship]], but he lost the scholarship<ref name=PCOLHoratio/> and transferred to [[Oklahoma State University–Stillwater|Oklahoma A&M]] (now Oklahoma State University), where he majored in geology. He is a member of the [[Sigma Alpha Epsilon]] fraternity. He graduated from Oklahoma State with a degree in [[geology]] in 1951. Following his graduation, Pickens was employed by [[Phillips Petroleum]]. He worked for Phillips until 1954.<ref name=PCOLBoonebook/> In 1956, following his period as a [[wildcatter]], he founded the company that would later become [[Mesa Petroleum]].<ref name=PCOLBoonebook>{{cite book |last= Pickens |first= T. Boone |title= Boone |year= 1987 |publisher= Houghton Mifflin |pages=22–41 |location= Boston |isbn= 0-395-41433-4}}</ref> ==Career== By 1981, Mesa had grown into one of the largest independent oil companies in the world. Pickens led Mesa's first major acquisition, a takeover of the [[Hugoton Production Company]], which was 30 times the size of Mesa.<ref>{{cite web| author=[[Shawn Baldwin]] |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3000437/secrets-of-the-most-productive-people/shawn-baldwin-analyzes-how-t-boone-pickens-generates-b |title=T. Boone Pickens Generates Billions in Value Creation Through Energy |work=[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]]|date=May 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Pickens |first= T. Boone |title= Boone |year= 1987 |publisher= Houghton Mifflin |location= Boston |isbn= 0-395-41433-4 }} p. 73.</ref> He then shifted his focus to acquiring other oil and gas companies by making solicited and unsolicited buyout bids and other [[merger and acquisition]] activity. Pickens' corporate acquisitions made him a celebrity during the 1980s, an era of vigorous and extensively reported takeover activity. His most publicized deals included attempted buyouts of [[Citgo|Cities Service]], [[Gulf Oil]], [[Phillips Petroleum]], and [[Unocal]].<ref>{{cite book |last= Pickens |first= T. Boone |title= Boone |year= 1987 |publisher= Houghton Mifflin |location= Boston |pages=149–260 |isbn= 0-395-41433-4 }}</ref> It was during this period that Pickens led Mesa's successful acquisitions of Pioneer Petroleum and the mid-continent assets of Tenneco. These as well as other deals placed Pickens at the center of controversy during the 1980s. His celebrity rose so quickly after the [[Gulf Oil]] takeover bid that ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19850304,00.html T. Boone Pickens]. Time Magazine cover. March 4, 1985. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> put Pickens on the cover for the March 1985 issue. He briefly considered running for president in the 1988 elections.<ref>{{Cite news| url =http://www.nasdaq.com/article/t-boone-pickens-recently-bought-these-5-energy-stocks-should-you-cm256195|title=T. Boone Pickens Recently Bought These 5 Energy Stocks – Should You? |author= StreetAuthority|publisher=[[NASDAQ]] |date = June 27, 2013}}</ref> During this period, he was often characterized as a [[corporate raider]] and [[greenmailer]]. This is due to the fact that many of his deals were not completed, although Pickens and the shareholders he represented received substantial profits through the eventual sale of their [[stock]] as a result. His later takeover targets included [[Newmont Mining]], a New York-based firm, [[Diamond Shamrock]], and [[KI Holdings|Koito Mfg.]], Ltd., a Japanese auto-parts manufacturer, making substantial gains in the process.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.famoustexans.com/boonepickens.htm T. Boone Pickens]. Famoustexans.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> He was also involved in the creation of the [[United Shareholders Association]] (USA), which from 1986–1993 attempted to influence the governance of several large companies. After nearly two years of periodic hearing and debate, in July 1998 the [[United States Securities and Exchange Commission|Securities and Exchange Commission]] voted 4–1 to approve a [[One share, one vote|one-share, one-vote rule]], a primary USA objective. On the local level, Pickens chaired the Board of Regents of [[West Texas A&M University|West Texas State University]] (now West Texas A&M University) in [[Canyon, Texas|Canyon]] and in 1987–1988 contributed to the restoration of the administration building known as "Old Main". He was also active in the Republican Party in [[Potter County, Texas|Potter County]]. Pickens organized a campaign in the mid-1980s against the ''[[Amarillo Globe-News]]'' newspaper, for what he claimed was inaccurate reporting about his deals and Mesa. Although the newspaper owner, [[Morris Communications]], replaced its publisher twice during the conflict, Pickens' attempts to have the paper change its editorial policy failed. Shortly thereafter, in 1989, Pickens and Mesa moved to a suburb of [[Dallas]].<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Pickens sold Mesa to [[Richard Rainwater]] in 1996 after Rainwater's wife, [[Darla Moore]], had him removed from the company.<ref>Mary Pilon, [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/sports/golf/darla-moore-new-augusta-member-knows-about-barriers.html?_r=0 "In World of Finance, One New Member Has Already Driven the Green,"] ''New York Times'', August 20, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/01/business/richard-rainwater-s-empire-adds-mesa.html Richard Rainwater's Empire Adds Mesa]</ref> Mesa merged with Parker & Parsley Petroleum in 1997 to form [[Pioneer Natural Resources]].<ref>[http://lubbockonline.com/news/043097/parker.htm Parker, Mesa deal needs lots of work]</ref> In 1997, Pickens founded BP Capital Management (then called BP Energy Fund)&nbsp;– the initials standing for "Boone Pickens" and not related to [[British Petroleum]]. He holds a 46% interest in the company which runs two hedge funds, Capital Commodity and Capital Equity, both of which invest primarily in traditional energy companies such as oil, natural gas, and nuclear power corporations like [[Halliburton]], [[Schlumberger]], and [[Shaw Group]]. In 2006, Pickens earned $990 million from his equity in the two funds and $120 million from his share of the 20% fees applied to fund profits.<ref>Michael K. Ozanian and Peter J. Schwartz [https://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2007/0521/102.html Forbes.com. "Wall Street's Highest Earners"]. Forbes.com. May 21, 2007. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> In 2007, Pickens earned $2.7&nbsp;billion, as BP Capital Equity Fund grew by 24% after fees, and the then $590&nbsp;million Capital Commodity fund grew 40%, thanks to, among others, large positions in the stocks of [[Suncor Energy]], [[ExxonMobil]] and [[Occidental Petroleum]].<ref>Peter J. Schwartz [https://www.forbes.com/2008/04/15/paulson-falcone-earners-biz-wall-cz_js_0415wallstreet.html "Wall Street's Top Earners: Your Pain, Their Gain "]. Forbes.com. April 15, 2008. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> Pickens' most recent recognition comes from The [[Franklin Institute]] in Philadelphia. T. Boone Pickens received the [[The Franklin Institute Awards|2009 Bower Award]] for Business Leadership for 50 years of visionary leadership in oil and other types of energy production, including domestic renewable energy, and for his philanthropic leadership contributing to education, medical research, and wildlife conservation. <ref>[http://www.fi.edu/franklinawards/09/bowerbus.html Bower Award for Business Leadership – The Franklin Institute Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429114856/http://www.fi.edu/franklinawards/09/bowerbus.html |date=2009-04-29 }}. Fi.edu. Retrieved on 2010-12-14.</ref> ===Natural gas=== In his 2008 book, ''The First Billion is the Hardest'', he noted a belief in the "peak oil" theory. He has since altered that position, noting technical achievements of the domestic oil and natural gas industries in utilizing horizontal drilling and fracking to unlock shale oil and gas reserves. He has called for the construction of more [[nuclear power plants]], the use of [[natural gas]] to power the country's transportation systems, and the promotion of [[alternative energy]]. Pickens's involvement with the natural gas fueling campaign is long-running. He formed Pickens Fuel Corporation in 1997 and began promoting natural gas as the best vehicular fuel alternative because it is a domestic resource that, among many advantages, is cleaner-burning (Natural Gas Vehicles or [[Natural gas vehicle|NGVs]] emit up to 30% less pollution than gasoline or diesel vehicles) and reduces foreign oil consumption.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} Reincorporated as [[Clean Energy Fuels|Clean Energy Fuels Corporation]] in 2001, the company now owns and operates natural gas fueling stations from British Columbia to the Mexico–US border.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} ==Political activity== Since 1980, Pickens has made over $5&nbsp;million in political donations.<ref>[http://www.newsmeat.com/billionaire_political_donations/T_Boone_Pickens.php T. Boone Pickens profile] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515002642/http://www.newsmeat.com/billionaire_political_donations/T_Boone_Pickens.php |date=May 15, 2006 }} at Newsmeat.com</ref> He was a financial supporter of President [[George W. Bush]] and contributed heavily to both his Texas and national political campaigns. In 2004, Pickens contributed to Republican [[527 groups]], including a $2&nbsp;million<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527indivsdetail.php?id=U0000000244&cycle=2004 Boone Pickens Contributions to 527 Organizations, 2004 cycle]. Retrieved 2010-02-22.</ref> contribution to the [[Swift Vets and POWs for Truth]] which ran a campaign asserting that Bush's rival, [[John Kerry]], exaggerated claims about his service in Vietnam, and $2.5&nbsp;million to the [[Progress for America]] advocacy group. In 2005, Pickens was among 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to Bush's second inauguration.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Drinkard |title=Donors get good seats, great access this week |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inauguration-donors_x.htm |publisher=USA Today |date=2005-01-17 |accessdate=2008-05-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Financing the inauguration |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inaugural-donors_x.htm |publisher=USA Today |date= January 16, 2005|accessdate=2008-05-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Some question inaugural's multi-million price tag |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-14-price_x.htm |publisher=USA Today |date=2005-01-14 |accessdate=2008-05-25 }}</ref> On July 16, 2007, Pickens wrote an article for ''[[National Review]]'' supporting [[Rudy Giuliani]] for President. "In Rudy Giuliani, a gracious and committed public servant I've known for many years, we see that rare blend of big-picture vision and proven track record of achieving the 'impossible.' We see a forward-looking, accomplished executive eager to tackle the challenges of today's America and ensure that tomorrow we wake up stronger, freer, and more united than ever before."<ref>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDUxYjFmNzA5ODBlNTVhZDFkMTFmYWNmMzg4NTliMjM= Rudy the Executive: An accomplished record to bank on] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020040728/http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDUxYjFmNzA5ODBlNTVhZDFkMTFmYWNmMzg4NTliMjM= |date=2007-10-20 }}, ''[[National Review]]'', July 16, 2007</ref> Pickens was an executive-committee member of the Rudy Giuliani presidential committee. Pickens chaired the celebration of the 40th anniversary of ''[[The American Spectator]]'', a conservative U.S. monthly magazine covering news and politics.<ref name=PCOLSpectator>Christopher Alleva [http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2007/11/happy_40th_to_the_american_spe.html "Happy 40th to The American Spectator!"]. American Thinker. November 5, 2007. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> Pickens has focused his advocacy on [[alternative energy]] such as [[solar energy|solar]] and [[wind energy|wind]]. ''[[The Washington Post]]'' says that "perhaps the strangest role" Pickens "has fashioned for himself is his current one: the billionaire speculator as energy wise man, an oil-and-gas magnate as champion of wind power, and a lifetime Republican who has become a fellow traveler among environmentally minded Democrats – even though he helped finance the '[[Swiftboating|Swift boat]]' ads that savaged" [[John Kerry|Sen. John F. Kerry's]] presidential campaign. In an editorial, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported Pickens "has decided that drilling for more oil is not the whole answer to the nation's energy problems."<ref>[https://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_080722.htm Political Bulletin: Tuesday, July 22, 2008]. USNews.com (2008-07-22). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.</ref> In the spring of 2010, Senator Kerry reached out to Pickens and encouraged his support of energy/climate change legislation he was drafting with Senators Lieberman and Graham. During a May 2010 meeting with reporters, Senator Kerry endorsed key provisions of "the Pickens Plan," incorporating aspects of that in the Kerry-backed legislation calling for the greater use of domestic natural gas to replace foreign oil‑diesel‑gasoline in America's heavy‑duty vehicle fleets.<ref name="blogs.reuters.com">[http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2010/05/19/former-political-enemies-join-hands-to-save-the-world/ "Former political enemies join hands to save the world?"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526175132/http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2010/05/19/former-political-enemies-join-hands-to-save-the-world/ |date=2010-05-26 }}. Blogs.reuters.com. May 19, 2010. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> ===Swift Boat challenge=== {{Main|Swift Boat challenge}} On November 6, 2007, Pickens offered a million dollars to anyone able to dispute any claims made in political ads by the [[Swift Vets and POWs for Truth]] (SVPT), a group he had supported during the 2004 presidential election.<ref name=Johnson/> John Kerry, whose military record and anti-war activism during Vietnam was the target of the group's book and media campaign, sent Pickens a letter on November&nbsp;16, 2007, accepting the challenge, requesting that Pickens donate the money to the Paralyzed Veterans of America should he succeed in disproving any of the SVPT claims.<ref name=Johnson>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/11/16/kerry_takes_oilman_pickens_up_on_1_million_swift_boat_challenge/ |title=Kerry takes oilman Pickens up on $1 million Swift Boat challenge |first=Glen |last=Johnson |agency=Associated Press |date=2007-11-16 |work=The Boston Globe}}</ref> In response to Kerry's acceptance of the challenge, Pickens issued a letter the same day, narrowing the original challenge to the SVPT ads, and requiring Kerry to provide his Vietnam journal, all of his military records, specifically those covering the years after his active duty service, and copies of all movies and tapes made during his service. Pickens' letter also challenged Kerry to agree to donate $1 million to the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, if Kerry "cannot prove anything in the Swift Boat ads to be untrue."<ref name=rainey>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-kerry17nov17,1,7546193.story?coll=la-news-politics-national&track=crosspromo|title=Kerry takes on 'Swift Boat' challenge|first=James|last=Rainey|publisher=The Los Angeles Times|date=2007-11-17}}</ref> Kerry later accused Pickens of "parsing and backtracking" on his initial offer and wrote that "I am prepared to prove the lie and marshal all the evidence, the question is whether you are prepared to fulfill your obligation."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnkerry.com/2007/11/20/senator-kerry-replies-to-pickens-moving-the-goalposts|title=Senator Kerry Responds to Pickens' Moving the Goalposts|publisher=John Kerry for U.S. Senate|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112185628/http://www.johnkerry.com/2007/11/20/senator-kerry-replies-to-pickens-moving-the-goalposts|archivedate=2008-01-12|df=}}</ref> On June 22, 2008, a group of Vietnam veterans who previously served with and now work with Kerry accepted the challenge and sent a 12-page letter&nbsp;– with a 42-page attachment of military records to support their case&nbsp;– to rebut several of the accusations of the Swift boat group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/us/politics/22kerry.html|title=Veterans Rebut 'Swift Boat' Charges Against Kerry in Answer to Challenge | work=The New York Times | first=Kate | last=Zernike | date=June 22, 2008 | accessdate=May 24, 2010}}</ref> Pickens has responded with a message stating "In reviewing your material, none of the information you provide speaks specifically to the issues contained in the ads," he wrote, "and, as a result, does not qualify for the $1&nbsp;million."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/t-boone-pickens-says-no-deal/?scp=1&sq=Boone%20Pickens%20Swift&st=cse|title=T. Boone Pickens Says No Deal on Swift Boat Bounty. | work=The New York Times | first=Kate | last=Zernike | date=June 25, 2008 | accessdate=May 24, 2010}}</ref> ===Lobbying efforts to stop horse slaughter=== Pickens [[lobbying|lobbied]] for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (HR 503) which would prohibit the slaughter for human consumption and the trade and transport of horse flesh and live horses intended for human consumption.<ref>Quaid, Libby. (2006-09-07) [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/4171519.html House OKs ban on horse slaughter | Top stories | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle]. Chron.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-14.</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Pickens | first = Boone | title = The First Billion is the Hardest | publisher = [[Crown Publishing Group|Crown]] | year = 2008 | page = 189 | isbn = 978-0-307-39577-1 | url = https://archive.org/details/firstbillionis00pick }}</ref> ===Attempt to sell natural gas with a California Ballot Initiative=== In November 2008, California voters rejected a referendum by a 60% to 40% margin regarding natural gas. Pickens owns [[Clean Energy Fuels Corporation]], a natural gas fueling station company<ref>Associated Press (July 17, 2008) [http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1442362 "2 counties want natural gas fueling station"] ''Baltimore Sun'' (wtop.com).</ref> that was the primary backer of the [[California Proposition 10 (2008)|November 2008 Proposition&nbsp;10]] on [[California]]'s ballot. Much of the measure's sale of $5&nbsp;billion in general fund [[Bond (finance)|bonds]] to provide alternative energy rebates and incentives ($9.8&nbsp;billion after interest) would have benefitted Pickens' company to the exclusion of almost all other clean-vehicle fuels and technology.<ref>Rubenstein, A. (July 29, 2008) [http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-rubenstein29-2008jul29,0,2980323.story "T. Boone Pickens' 'clean' secret"] ''Los Angeles Times''</ref> ==Philanthropy== Pickens has given more than $700&nbsp;million away to charity,<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS249707+21-May-2008+BW20080521 ADDING MULTIMEDIA T. Boone Pickens Makes $100 Million Gift to Oklahoma State University,...] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110224827/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS249707+21-May-2008+BW20080521 |date=2009-01-10 }}. Reuters. May 21, 2008</ref> of which nearly $500 million has been donated to [[Oklahoma State University]].<ref name="Off">Gavin Off, [http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100804_11_0_Fortyo272829&archive=yes "Kaiser, Pickens pledge to donate half their wealth"], ''[[Tulsa World]]'', August 4, 2010.</ref> Pickens is among the billionaires who have made [[The Giving Pledge]], a commitment to give away half of his wealth for charitable purposes.<ref name="Off"/><ref>Ashli Sims, [http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12935458 "Kaiser, Pickens Take The Giving Pledge"], [[KOTV-DT|KOTV]], August 5, 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://givingpledge.org/#enter | title= The Giving Pledge| accessdate=2010-08-08}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=August 2010}} ===Donations to Oklahoma State University=== [[File:Boone Pickens Stadium.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.15|Boone Pickens Stadium at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.]] Pickens has been a major financial contributor to his alma mater, the [[Stillwater, Oklahoma|Stillwater]] campus of Oklahoma State University (OSU). Through his contributions, Pickens spearheaded an initiative to create an athletic village just north of the existing campus. In order to do so, hundreds of homes were acquired by the OSU administration, one via [[eminent domain]], and demolished using Pickens' contributions. Pickens' gift remains the largest donation to a university's athletic program in collegiate history. His total contributions to OSU come to over $1 billion. Over $265&nbsp;million, or 66%, of his donations have been towards athletics. Pickens also has made substantial academic gifts to Oklahoma State University, particularly to the [[Boone Pickens School of Geology|School of Geology]], which is named for him. On December 30, 2005, Pickens made a $165&nbsp;million gift to Oklahoma State University. ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that "the money spent less than an hour on December&nbsp;30 in the account of the university's charity, O.S.U. Cowboy Golf Inc., before it was invested in a [[hedge fund]] controlled by Pickens, BP Capital Management."<ref name=waive>Stephanie Strom [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/24/national/24pickens.html?ex=1140930000&en=da19748d91540a35&ei=5070 Billionaire Gives a Big Gift but Still Gets to Invest It] ''The New York Times''. February 24, 2006</ref> Pickens, who is on the board of the O.S.U. Cowboy Golf, waived any management fees for the OSU monies.<ref>{{cite book | last = Pickens | first = Boone | title = The First Billion is the Hardest | publisher = [[Crown Publishing Group|Crown]] | year = 2008 | pages = 181–82 | isbn = 978-0-307-39577-1 | url = https://archive.org/details/firstbillionis00pick }}</ref> All profits of the fund go to enlarging the OSU gift. The gift is intended to help fund an upgrade of the football stadium and construction of an athletic village, but sparked controversy because OSU planned to use [[eminent domain]] to acquire residential property for the projects.<ref>[http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/7258470/detail.html?rss=okl&psp=news Document: OSU Planned Eminent Domain Use – Oklahoma City News Story – KOCO Oklahoma City]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Channeloklahoma.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> The donation comes after a $70 million gift from Pickens to OSU in 2003, which was similarly structured using O.S.U. Cowboy Golf, Inc. On July 28, 2007, the Board of Regents of Oklahoma State University approved a resolution to move $28&nbsp;million from the OSU Foundation into Pickens' BP Capital Management company in Dallas. Oklahoma State has previously invested $277&nbsp;million in the fund. Pickens has been waiving fees for the university's investments with his fund.<ref name=waive/><ref>{{cite web|title=Okla. St. hopes investing with alum Pickens will help athletic expansion|author=Associated Press|publisher=ESPN.com|date=July 28, 2007|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2952800}}</ref> On May 21, 2008, Pickens donated $100&nbsp;million to academics at Oklahoma State University. The gift will be matched by the state of Oklahoma.<ref>Lisa Lewis {{cite web |url=http://ocolly.com/2008/05/21/boone-pickens-announces-100m-donation-to-osu/ |archive-url=https://archive.is/20080919233730/http://ocolly.com/2008/05/21/boone-pickens-announces-100m-donation-to-osu/ |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |title=Boone Pickens announces $100M donation to OSU |dead-url=yes |accessdate=June 1, 2016}}. The Daily O'Collegian. May 21, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Pickens | first = Boone | title = The First Billion is the Hardest | publisher = [[Crown Publishing Group|Crown]] | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-307-39577-1 | page = 169 | url = https://archive.org/details/firstbillionis00pick }}</ref> In October 2008, it was reported in the NY Times that due to the recent financial recession, some of Pickens's gifts to the athletic department had seen a large decline in their market value while being managed in his hedge funds. The same NY Times article noted that due to the worldwide recession, most other schools and charitable organizations were also experiencing problems with investments. The article also mentions that Pickens' management of donated funds had previously "turned $6 million into $31 million" for the school's athletic fund.<ref name=waive/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/sports/21boosters.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin | work=The New York Times | title=Financial Straits of Boosters Hit Athletic Programs | first1=Joe | last1=Drape | first2=Thayer | last2=Evans | date=October 21, 2008 | accessdate=May 24, 2010}}</ref> ===Humanitarian contributions=== Pickens and employees of his [[BP Capital LLC]] donated $7&nbsp;million to the [[Hurricane Katrina|Hurricane Katrina relief]] effort. The ''[[Chronicle of Philanthropy]]'' lists Pickens as among its largest charitable givers 2005 and 2006. He has donated nearly a half a billion dollars to philanthropic causes during his career. In 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Pickens chartered airplanes to transport dogs rescued from the floodwaters in New Orleans.{{cn|date=August 2019}} On Nov. 6, 2006, Pickens donated $5 million toward the construction of Texas Woman's University's T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences-Dallas Center. On May 16, 2007, Pickens donated $100&nbsp;million to two [[University of Texas]] health care institutions. The gifts were donated to the [[UT Southwestern Medical Center]] at Dallas and [[The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center]] in Houston. The donations are required to grow to $1&nbsp;billion within 25 years before they can be disbursed by the recipient institutions. On August 23, 2007, Bizjournals.com reported that Pickens is donating $2.5&nbsp;million to [[Happy Hill Farm Academy]]/Home, a residential school for at-risk children and teenagers, to build a training center and guest lodge. Pickens donated $1&nbsp;million to Happy Hill Farm for the construction of a new academic campus at the residential school in February 2007.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/08/20/daily33.html "Pickens gives $2.5M to residential school]. Dallas Business Journal. August 23, 2007. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> On December 5, 2007, the ''[[Dallas Business Journal]]'' reported that Pickens had donated $6&nbsp;million to Jubilee Park located at S. Carroll Avenue and Lindsley/Parry Avenue in Dallas and would man a bulldozer to begin demolition of an abandoned building across the street from a kindergarten Head Start program in Jubilee Park.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/12/03/daily15.html "Leppert, Pickens announce major donation"]. Dallas Business Journal. December 5, 2007.</ref> On June 20, 2008, Pickens donated $25&nbsp;million to the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine during a visit with Calgary Flames owner Harley Hotchkiss.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/06/20/pickens-donation.html "Billionaire hands U of C unexpected $25M gift"]. CBC. June 20, 2008.</ref> On October 21, 2008, Pickens donated $5 million to the Downtown Dallas YMCA. The Downtown YMCA will now be renamed "T. Boone Pickens YMCA" in his honor. "I want this gift to encourage individuals, corporations and the entire city to make a serious commitment to fitness and health," Boone Pickens said. "This money isn't just helping people work out&nbsp;– it will revitalize this area and make the YMCA a place for the citizens of Dallas today, and will inspire our next generation to be healthy."<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/10/20/daily16.html "T. Boone Pickens donates to Dallas YMCA"]. Dallas Business Journal. October 21, 2008.</ref> In 2010, Pickens was awarded the annual, "Effecting Change" award by [[100 Women in Hedge Funds]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.absolutereturn-alpha.com/Article/2649270/T-Boone-Pickens-Ladies-man.html|work=Absolute Return + Alpha|title=T. Boone Pickens: Ladies Man|author=Suzy Kenly Waite|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227080527/http://www.absolutereturn-alpha.com/Article/2649270/T-Boone-Pickens-Ladies-man.html|archivedate=2010-12-27|df=}}</ref> In December 2008, the Texas Legislative Conference honored Pickens as its "Texan of the Year".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2008/12/08/daily5.html|title=Activism earns Pickens 'Texan of the Year' honor|work=San Antonio Business Journal|date=December 8, 2008|accessdate=2008-12-11}}</ref> Pickens has also donated over $11 million to The University of Texas at Dallas Center for Brain Health to fund educational and research initiatives in the area of brain science.<ref>Christopher Helman, [https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0630/076.html "Inside T. Boone Pickens' Brain,"] ''[[Forbes]], June 12, 2018.</ref> Part of the donation is funding the "T. Boone Pickens Distinguished Scientist" chair that is held by Dr. Ian Robertson, Ph. D. ===Honors and awards=== In May 2012, Pickens was awarded the [[Albert Schweitzer]] Leadership Award by the [[HOBY|Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation]] for his lifetime of accomplishments and in particular for the example that he has set for the future leaders of the world. In 2003, Pickens was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.<ref name="OHOF">[http://www.oklahomaheritage.com/Portals/0/docs/T%20Boone%20Pickens.pdf Oklahoma Hall of Fame: T. Boone Pickens]</ref> ==Alternative energy== On September 19, 2007, Pickens told [[CNBC]] that the price of oil could rise to $100 per barrel. "Demand is up and supply is flat, so it's got to go on up," said Pickens, whose company is betting on [[natural gas]] for vehicles. "I can give you an [[Oklahoma]] guarantee<ref>[http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/oklahoma_guarantee/ defines the term] ''"An "Oklahoma guarantee" isn't much of a guarantee. The term probably began with Oklahoma used car dealers offering shady "guarantees" for their used cars."''</ref> that natural gas will never sell above [[Diesel fuel|diesel]] and gasoline prices" as fuel for vehicles, Pickens added.<ref>Amy Strahan [http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=070920_5_E4_spanc60366 Tulsa World. Pickens sees $100 oil, maybe in 2008"]. Tulsaworld.com. September 20, 2007. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> On January&nbsp;2, 2008, the first contract for $100 bbl oil was sold on the [[NYMEX]] exchange.<ref>[http://blogs.opisnet.com/archive/2008/01/02/one-brief-shining-100-bbl-moment-so-far.aspx One Brief Shining $100 Bbl Moment.. So Far] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919074825/http://blogs.opisnet.com/archive/2008/01/02/one-brief-shining-100-bbl-moment-so-far.aspx |date=2008-09-19 }}, January 2, 2008 Oil Price Information Service report by Tom Kloza.</ref> In early July 2008, the price of oil briefly closed above $145 per barrel. By the beginning of September 2008, the price of oil settled to under $110 per barrel. By October 9, 2008, the price plummeted back below $85 per barrel. As of November 21, 2008, the price of oil had fallen below $50 a barrel, mostly riding fears of a global [[recession]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-11-12-oil-wednesday_N.htm | work=USA Today | title=Oil drops to just above $56 a barrel on global growth pessimism | date=November 13, 2008 | accessdate=May 24, 2010 | first=Dirk | last=Lammers}}</ref> Subsequently, in early 2009, Pickens restated during a Meet the Press interview with Tom Brokaw that he would bet $10 the price of oil would "be back to $100 a year from now". Two weeks later reporter [[John Stossel]] made a public $10,000 bet with financier T. Boone Pickens about whether or not the price of oil would surpass $100 by the first quarter of 2010.<ref>[http://www.lonelyconservative.com/2010/01/21/video-john-stossels-energy-special/ Video: John Stossel's Energy Special] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123220238/http://www.lonelyconservative.com/2010/01/21/video-john-stossels-energy-special/ |date=2010-01-23 }}. The Lonely Conservative. Retrieved on 2010-12-14.</ref> The bet ended on May 22, 2010 with the price of oil at $69.92. Pickens donated $10,000 to Stossel's charity but refused to concede total defeat, claiming he won on the futures markets and that Stossel should also donate $10,000 to Pickens' charity.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} ===Wind power=== {{Main|Wind power|Wind power in the United States|Wind power in Texas}} In June 2007, Pickens announced the intention to build the world's largest [[Wind power|wind farm]] by installing large [[wind turbine]]s in parts of four [[Texas Panhandle]] counties. The project would produce up to four [[gigawatts]] of [[electricity]]. Pickens' [[Mesa Power LP]] will undertake the construction. If completed, the farm would generate more than five times the 735&nbsp;megawatts produced at the present largest such farm near [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]], according to Susan Williams Sloan, spokesman for the American Wind Energy Association.<ref>[http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/061407/nat_061407027.shtml Pickens aims to build world's largest wind farm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015358/http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/061407/nat_061407027.shtml |date=2007-09-30 }}. Lubbockonline.com (2007-06-14). Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> On August 16, 2007, Pickens' [[Mesa Power]] announced that it had filed documents with the state of Texas to add four [[gigawatts]] of [[electricity]] to the state grid. The filing with the [[Electric Reliability Council of Texas]] (ERCOT) projected that the project would be completed in 2011 and would include up to 2,700 turbines on up to {{convert|200000|acre|km2}} in [[Roberts County, Texas|Roberts]] and adjacent counties in the Texas Panhandle. "We are now meeting with Panhandle landowners and negotiating wind lease and easement agreements," said Pickens. "We are excited at how quickly the pieces are falling into place."<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-16-2007/0004647032&EDATE= Mesa Power's Plans for World's Largest Wind Farm Move Forward with ERCOT Filing]. Prnewswire.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> On January 30, 2008, ''The Oklahoman'' reported that Pickens was ready to start buying [[wind turbine]]s for the project within a month, that he planned to buy between 1,700 and 2,000 turbines, and that they will cost from $200&nbsp;million to $300&nbsp;million.<ref name=PCOLOklahoman/> Pickens added that he has been approached by twenty potential partners on the project but has not yet made a final decision.<ref name=PCOLOklahoman/> "We have not picked any banker and we have not picked any partner," Pickens said.<ref name=PCOLOklahoman/> "It is kind of nice ... I have decided I can get pretty far down the track before having to make those choices."<ref name=PCOLOklahoman>Jack Money [http://www.newsok.com/article/3198755/ "Boone Pickens shares his views on energy, politics, the Olympics, OSU's new president"]. Newsok.com. January 30, 2008. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> Pickens predicted that similar wind farm projects could be built in the Texas Panhandle and the Canada–US border in the future.<ref name=PCOLOklahoman/> On May 15, 2008, Pickens' Mesa Power announced that it had placed a first order for 667 1.5-megawatt turbines from [[General Electric]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/OILPRD/idUSN1521224020080515 | title=UPDATE 2-Pickens' Mesa Power orders GE wind turbines | first=Matt | last=Daily | date=May 15, 2008 | work=Reuters}}</ref> The turbines will be delivered in 2010 and 2011.<!-- Please don't add an apostrophe, it's not correct --> On July 17, 2008, the Texas Public Utilities Commission approved ratepayer funding of $4.98 billion in electric transmission lines to connect wind farms in the Texas Panhandle to the electric grid.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/20/business/19wind.php |first=Kate |last=Galbraith |date=2008-07-20 |title=Texas approves a $4.93 billion wind-power project |work=International Herold Tribune |quote=Transmission companies will pay the upfront costs of the project. They will recoup the money from power users, at a rate of about $4 a month for residential customers.}}</ref> This implements the provisions of a 2005 Texas law designed to promote new wind energy projects.<ref>[http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2008/2008-07-18-094.asp Texas to Spend Billions on Wind Power Transmission Lines]. Ens-newswire.com (2008-07-18). Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> On July 8, 2009, [[The Wall Street Journal]] reported that T. Boone Pickens has postponed plans to build his Texas wind farm. He said the project was stopped partly because existing transmission line capacity wasn't available. His company had planned to build new lines, but couldn't get financing. On the same date, [[The New York Times]], reported that Pickens is committed to purchasing 667 wind turbines and will develop wind projects for them. On his Mesa Power Group website, Pickens said he expected to continue development of the Pampa project, but not at the pace originally expected. On December 15, 2010, Nathanael Baker, in an article for www.theenergycollective.com, wrote that Pickens has scrapped plans for wind farms and will instead focus exclusively on natural gas. According to the article, on December 10, 2010, [[MSNBC]] reported that "Pickens said low natural gas prices have made utility companies view wind power as too expensive."<ref>{{cite web|title=T. Boone Pickens Drops Wind Power From His Energy Plan|author=Nathanael Baker|publisher=theenergycollective.com|date=December 15, 2010|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://theenergycollective.com/nathanaelbaker/48644/t-boone-pickens-drops-wind-power-his-energy-plan}}</ref> ===The Pickens Plan=== {{Main|Pickens Plan}} On July 8, 2008, Pickens announced a major energy policy proposal, called the [[Pickens Plan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pickens Plan|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://www.pickensplan.com}}</ref> The plan promotes a radical reduction in the United States' dependency upon foreign energy, particularly oil provided by nations in the [[OPEC]] cartel. Although the plan calls for introduction of various alternatives to oil, including wind and solar, its major component is the conversion of the nation's commercial transport sector away from OPEC diesel to natural gas.<ref>[https://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/07/08/big-pickens-t-boone-the-oilman-ups-the-ante-in-his-wind-bet Big Pickens: T. Boone the Oilman Ups the Ante in his Wind Bet], July 8, 2008, ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref> The Pickens Plan also calls for the United States to utilize its wind corridor in the middle of the country stretching from Texas northerly through the [[Great Plains]] to the Canada–US border. He noted in Congressional testimony in July 2008 that his plan would generate new jobs and provide economic stimulus to this area, while noting that it would also require new [[transmission lines]] which traditionally antagonize some environmentalists and/or nearby populations. The announcement of the plan also coincides with Pickens' need for federal subsidies for wind to be renewed, as he has already begun placing orders for his planned wind farm in Texas.<ref>Johnson, Keith (May 15, 2008). [https://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/05/15/texas-wind-boone-pickens-big-big-bet/ "Texas wind: Boone Pickens' big, big bet"]. ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref> Pickens plans to spend $58&nbsp;million on his multi-media effort to promote the Pickens Plan. Pickens multi-media campaign includes traditional media, such as newspaper and TV, and new media, such as [[YouTube]] and [[Facebook]].<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D91PUFLO0.htm Financial News] [[Business Week]].</ref> The television ads for the Pickens Plan were produced by veteran Democratic political consultant, [[Joe Slade White]].<ref>Allison Fass, [https://www.forbes.com/2008/07/11/pickensplan-wind-energy-tech-science-cz_af_0710pickens.html "Pickens Goes For The Grass Roots"], July 11, 2008, ''[[Forbes]]''.</ref> [[Carl Pope (environmentalist)|Carl Pope]], executive director of the [[Sierra Club]], has expressed support for the Pickens Plan.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-07-08-t-boone-pickens-plan-wind-energy_N.htm T. Boone Pickens Plan: Wind Energy], July 8, 2008, ''[[USA Today]]''.</ref> On December 27, 2009, during what is called the "Meet the Press Roundtable", New York City Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] made the Pickens Plan case by talking about the need for energy independence. This discussion was in the context of the failed attack on an airliner on Christmas Day.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://thepage.time.com/transcript-gingrich-gov-patrick-mayor-bloomberg-on-meet-the-press|title=Transcript: Gingrich – Gov. Patrick – Mayor Bloomberg on 'Meet the Press{{'-}}|journal=Time|date=December 27, 2009}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Pickens' proposal for increased use of natural gas in heavy duty trucks and fleet vehicles is included in the NAT GAS Act (H.R. 1835 and S. 1408)<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/id/36497893/Natural_Gas_Plan_Gaining_Support_in_Congress_Pickens "Natural Gas Plan Gaining Support in Congress: Pickens"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013095457/http://www.cnbc.com/id/36497893/Natural_Gas_Plan_Gaining_Support_in_Congress_Pickens |date=2013-10-13 }}. CNBC. April 14, 2010. Retrieved on 2011-12-06.</ref> and the American Power Act.<ref name="blogs.reuters.com"/> On February 21, 2013, Pickens spoke on behalf of Clean Energy Fuels along with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in support of a new eco-friendly food truck. A press conference took place in front of city hall where the company, Neapolitan Express, explained how their mobile pizzeria emits 75% less greenhouse gases than trucks running on gas or diesel. The company launched in early 2013.<ref>Moore, Tina. [http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-neapolitan-express-unveil-eco-friendly-food-truck-article-1.1270160 "Neapolitan Express unveils city's first eco-friendly food truck powered by compressed natural gas"]. ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]'' (New York). February 21, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.</ref> ==In popular culture== In ''[[American Psycho]]'' there is a scene in which [[Patrick Bateman]] played by [[Christian Bale]], having noticed the arrival of Private Investigator Donald Kimball ([[Willem Dafoe]]), pretends to be talking to a business associate on the phone, and says to the fictitious caller, for Kimball's benefit, "You'll have to excuse me - T. Boone Pickens just walked in." ==Personal life== In 1949, Pickens married Lynn O'Brien. They had four children together; Deborah Pickens, Michael O. Pickens, Thomas B. Pickens III, and Pam Pickens. Pickens divorced Lynn in 1971.<ref name="fortunehunter">{{cite news|title=Fortune Hunter|author=Harry Hunt III|publisher=Conde Nast Portfolio|date=April 16, 2007|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://upstart.bizjournals.com/executives/features/2007/04/16/Fortune-Hunter.html?page=all}}</ref> In April 1972, Pickens married Beatrice "Bea" Carr Stuart and adopted one of her daughters, Elizabeth "Liz" Cordia. They had no children together.<ref name="fortunehunter"/> In November 2000, Pickens married Nelda Cain. They divorced in November 2004. They had no children together.<ref>{{cite news|title=Return Of The Raider At 73, former takeover artist T. Boone Pickens Jr. is doing deals, making big money, and learning--at long last--how to be happy.|author=Joseph Nocera|publisher=Fortune|date=May 27, 2002|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2002/05/27/323668/|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222065500/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2002/05/27/323668/|archivedate=February 22, 2014|df=}}</ref> In 2005, Pickens married [[Madeleine A. Pickens|Madeleine Paulson]], the third wife and widow of the founder of [[Gulfstream Aerospace]], [[Allen E. Paulson]]. Pickens and Madeleine lived in [[Preston Hollow, Dallas]] and owned a ranch along the [[Canadian River]] in the [[Texas Panhandle]]. They divorced amicably in 2012 and had no children together.<ref>{{cite web|title=T. Boone and Madeleine Pickens' Super Sad True Divorce Story|author=Sonia Smith|publisher=Texas Monthly|date=October 4, 2012|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/t-boone-and-madeleine-pickens'-super-sad-true-divorce-story}}</ref> It was reported on December 4, 2013 that Pickens' [[public relations]] representative told an [[KXAS-TV|NBC 5]] affiliate reporter that he had proposed to Toni Chapman Brinker, widow of restaurateur [[Norman E. Brinker|Norman Brinker]], at his ranch in [[Pampa, Texas|Pampa]]. The couple married on February 14, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=T. Boone Pickens and Toni Brinker's Valentine's Day wedding in prairie chapel|author=Alan Peppard|publisher=Dallas Morning News|date=February 14, 2014|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2014/02/t-boone-pickens-and-toni-brinkers-valentines-day-wedding-in-prairie-chapel.html/|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426085324/http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2014/02/t-boone-pickens-and-toni-brinkers-valentines-day-wedding-in-prairie-chapel.html/|archivedate=April 26, 2014|df=}}</ref> The couple later divorced in June 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/78652-financier-t-boone-pickens-lists-dallas-mansion-for-6-million|title=Financier T. Boone Pickens Lists Dallas Mansion for $6 Million|last=Lucking|first=Liz|access-date=2018-05-02|language=en}}</ref> Pickens has four biological children and one adopted daughter.<ref name="fortunehunter"/> {{As of|2007}}, Pickens had twelve grandchildren.<ref name="UTPDF">{{cite web|title=T. Boone Pickens, Chairman and CEO, BP Capital |publisher=University of Texas System |date=2007 |url=http://www.utsystem.edu/news/2007/PickensBio.pdf |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031113846/http://www.utsystem.edu/news/2007/PickensBio.pdf |archivedate=October 31, 2007 }}</ref> In 2007, Pickens' son Michael O. Pickens of [[Nocona, Texas]] was sentenced to probation for a [[penny stock]] trading scheme and entered drug rehabilitation afterward, emerging in March 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title= T. Boone Pickens' son gets probation in fraud case|author=Paritosh Bansal|publisher=Reuters|date=December 10, 2007|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2007/12/10/us-pickens-sentencing-idUSN1040329320071210}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=T. Boone Pickens Picks Up His Son's Bill For Stock Fraud Scheme|author=Robert Wilonsky|publisher=Dallas Observer|date=December 10, 2007|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2007/12/t_boone_pickens_picks_up_his_s.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Boone Pickens's Son Gets 5 Years Probation for Scam (Update2)|author=David Glovin|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=December 10, 2007|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aCpvWcfdWwnA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Son of T. Boone Pickens charged with burglary of fly fishing shop|author=Associated Press|publisher=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=June 17, 2006|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/061706/nat_061706046.shtml}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Son of Famous OSU Alum Arrested|author=Associated Press|publisher=KXII|date=July 20, 2005|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/1717092.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Coral Gables Promoter Charged In Fax Scheme|author=Ian Katz|publisher=Florida Sun-Sentinel|date=July 19, 2005|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-07-19/business/0507180279_1_faxes-stock-tip-boone-pickens}}</ref> In October 2012, Michael, then 58 years old, began blogging under the title "5 Days In Connecticut."<ref>{{cite web|title=5 Days In Connecticut|author=Michael Pickens|date=October 2012|url=http://michaelpickens.blogspot.com|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306214148/http://michaelpickens.blogspot.com/|archivedate=2014-03-06|df=}}</ref> In the blog, he made a number of allegations about his family, including that his drug addiction stemmed from physical abuse by his father, T. Boone Pickens. He also claimed his siblings stole from their mother and were addicted to drugs; and that his father sabotaged a family member's business. Pickens and three of his children&nbsp;– Elizabeth Cordia, Pamela Pickens and Thomas B. Pickens III&nbsp;– subsequently filed a lawsuit against Michael.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pickens family in fight over tell-all blog|author=Maria Halkias|publisher=Dallas Morning News|date=March 29, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2013/03/pickens-family-in-fight-over-tell-all-blog.html/|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528040317/http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2013/03/pickens-family-in-fight-over-tell-all-blog.html/|archivedate=May 28, 2014|df=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=T. Boone Pickens is in a Strange Family Legal Feud Over His Son's Tell-All Blog|author=Eric Nicholson|publisher=Dallas Observer|date=April 19, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2013|url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/04/t_boone_pickens_lawsuit_tell-a.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pickens Family Feuding Over Tell-All Blog|author=David Lee|publisher=Courthouse News Service|date=April 8, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/04/08/56477.htm}}</ref> They alleged libel, invasion of privacy and extortion via cyberbullying and cyberstalking. The plaintiffs said the blog was part of an effort to extort $20 million from Pickens.<ref name="sonsuit">{{cite news|title=Billionaire T. Boone Pickens Sues His Son, Alleging 'Cyberbullying|publisher=Forbes|author=Caleb Melby|date=April 16, 2013|accessdate=May 17, 2013|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2013/04/16/billionaire-t-boone-pickens-sues-his-son-alleging-cyberbullying/}}</ref> In January 2013, Pickens' 21-year-old grandson Thomas "Ty" Boone Pickens IV died from a [[heroin]] overdose.<ref>{{cite news|title=Autopsy: T. Boone Pickens' grandson died from heroin|author=Associated Press|publisher=USAToday.com|date=April 25, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/04/25/t-boone-pickens-grandson-dies/2113391/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Boone Pickens' grandson dies at Fort Worth hospital|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01/29/4583852/t-boone-pickens-grandson-dies.html#storylink=cpy|author=Domingo Ramirez Jr.|publisher=Star Telegram|date=January 29, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2014|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222001532/http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01/29/4583852/t-boone-pickens-grandson-dies.html#storylink=cpy|archivedate=February 22, 2014|df=}}</ref> Ty, the son of Thomas B. Pickens III, was a student at [[Texas Christian University]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Billionaire T. Boone Pickens Sues His Son, Alleging 'Cyberbullying'|author=Caleb Melby|publisher=Forbes.com|date=April 16, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2013/04/16/billionaire-t-boone-pickens-sues-his-son-alleging-cyberbullying/}}</ref> In July 2009, Pickens was the subject of controversy after he had a construction crew go to his grandmother's former home, that was now owned by someone else, in [[Holdenville, Oklahoma]] and remove a slab of driveway concrete that he had signed as a child.<ref>{{cite news | first = Sonya | last = Colberg | title = Pickens' signature taken from Holdenville man's driveway | date = 2009-07-13 | url = http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20090713_298_0_HOLDEN425581 | work = [[Tulsa World]] | accessdate = 2011-02-12}}</ref> The current owner of the home asserted ownership, and the slab was returned.<ref>{{cite news | title = Pickens returns slab, court battle looms | date = 2009-07-30 | url = http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/07/30/Pickens-returns-slab-court-battle-looms/UPI-80631248983704/ | work = [[UPI]] | accessdate = 2011-02-12}}</ref> In February 2010, a judge ruled that the slab belonged to the current homeowner.<ref>{{cite news | first = Sonya | last = Colberg | title = Driveway slab Pickens took is back with homeowner | date = 2010-02-25 | url = http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100225_12_A7_HLEVLE645696&allcom=1 | work = [[Tulsa World]] | accessdate = 2011-02-12}}</ref> Pickens owns a ranch in [[Roberts County, Texas]] that has three pipelines that cross his property.<ref>{{cite episode |title=CNBC Squawk Box|airdate=November 16, 2011}}</ref> Pickens owns a [[Gulfstream 550]] jet that he uses to fly to [[Stillwater, Oklahoma|Stillwater]] for [[Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls|OSU]] games from his private airport near [[Pampa, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news|title=T. Boone Pickens Makes His Holiday Gift Picks|author=Monte Burke|publisher=Forbes.com|date=December 4, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/monteburke/2013/12/04/t-boone-pickens-makes-his-holiday-gift-picks/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Up in the Air With T. Boone Pickens|author=Meredith Land|publisher=NBCDFW.com|date=April 27, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/business/Up-in-the-Air-With-T-Boone-Pickens-204955691.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=OSU booster Boone Pickens is living the suite life|author=Jenni Carlson|publisher=NewsOK.com|date=October 5, 2009|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://newsok.com/article/3405888}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=T. Boone Pickens is in no rush for new digs|author=Alan Peppard|publisher=Dallas Morning News|date=February 20, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2014|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/columnists/alan-peppard/20130220-t.-boone-pickens-is-in-no-rush-for-new-digs.ece}}</ref> On September 11, 2019, Pickens died. Pickens was in declining health and suffered series of strokes and a fall in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/11/t-boone-pickens-oracle-of-oil-and-corporate-raider-dies-at-91.html|title=T. Boone Pickens, the 'Oracle of Oil,' corporate raider and billionaire philanthropist, dies at 91|last=Steinberg|first=Marty|date=2019-09-11|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==Bibliography== * Pickens, T. Boone, ''The First Billion is the Hardest: Reflections on a life of Comebacks and America's Energy Future'', 2008, {{ISBN|0-307-39577-4}} * Pickens, Boone, ''The Luckiest Guy in the World'', 2001, {{ISBN|1-58798-019-3}} * Pickens, Boone, ''Boone'', 1987, {{ISBN|0-395-47811-1}} ==External links== * {{cite web | title = Boone Pickens | publisher = BP Capital Fund Advisors | url = https://www.bpcfunds.com/content/team/boone-pickens/ | accessdate = 2018-12-02}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231934/http://www.horatioalger.com/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=PIC06 Biography of Boone Pickens (Horatio Alger Awards)] * [http://www.pickensplan.com PickensPlan] * {{C-SPAN|tpickens}} * [http://writetv.okstate.edu/bestofWOL.html ''Write TV'' Public Television Interview with T. Boone Pickens] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110426162352/http://us.hsmglobal.com/interior/index.php?p=speaker&idPersona=4245&idEvento=184 T. Boone Pickens Biography and Session Description] on the [[World Business Forum]] where Pickens is a featured speaker for the 2009 event *[http://www.voicesofoklahoma.com/interview/pickens-boone/ Voices of Oklahoma interview with T. Boone Pickens.] First person interview conducted on August 6, 2010, with T. Boone Pickens. * [http://seekingalpha.com/article/312319-t-boone-pickens-and-andrew-hall-are-bullish-about-these-energy-stocks T. Boone Pickens And Andrew Hall Are Bullish About These Energy Stocks] December 7, 2011. Seeking Alpha {{Private equity investors}} {{National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Pickens, T. Boone}} [[Category:1928 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American billionaires]] [[Category:American businesspeople in the oil industry]] [[Category:American chairmen of corporations]] [[Category:American environmentalists]] [[Category:American financiers]] [[Category:American hedge fund managers]] [[Category:American investors]] [[Category:American money managers]] [[Category:American philanthropists]] [[Category:Ranchers from Texas]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Oklahoma]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Texas]] [[Category:Corporate raiders]] [[Category:Giving Pledgers]] [[Category:National Review people]] [[Category:Oklahoma State University alumni]] [[Category:People associated with solar power]] [[Category:People associated with wind power]] [[Category:People from Amarillo, Texas]] [[Category:People from Holdenville, Oklahoma]] [[Category:Amarillo High School alumni]] [[Category:Private equity and venture capital investors]] [[Category:Sustainability advocates]] [[Category:The American Spectator people]] [[Category:Texas A&M University alumni]] [[Category:Texas Republicans]] [[Category:Activists from Texas]]'