Harold Hamm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harold Hamm
|
|
|---|---|
Hamm at the 2012 Time 100 gala
|
|
| Born |
Harold Glenn Hamm
December 11, 1945 |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 5 |
Harold Glenn Hamm (born December 11, 1945) is a very successful American businessman. He works in the oil and gas industry. He is well-known for helping to start a new way of getting oil from the ground called fracking. This method helps get oil from shale rock.
As of 2022, Hamm's wealth was estimated to be about $18.5 billion. This made him one of the richest people in the world. He is the person who started and leads a big company called Continental Resources.
In 2012, a presidential candidate named Mitt Romney asked Hamm to be his energy advisor. Hamm also gave money to Romney's campaign. He has also helped raise money and donated to Donald Trump's presidential campaigns in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Harold Hamm was born on December 11, 1945, in Lexington, Oklahoma. He was the 13th and youngest child in his family. His parents, Jane Elizabeth and Leland Albert Hamm, were sharecroppers who grew cotton. Hamm finished high school at Enid High School in 1964.
Building an Oil Company
In 1967, Harold Hamm started his own company called Shelly Dean Oil Company. This company later became known as Continental Resources. His company was a leader in developing the Bakken oil field in North Dakota and Montana. They used special methods like drilling sideways (horizontal drilling) and hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
As Continental Resources grew, Hamm became a billionaire. The company became known for using shale oil. It was once the fourth-largest public company in Oklahoma.
Awards and Recognition
Harold Hamm has received many honors for his work:
- In 2007, he was named the Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of the Year."
- He was added to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2011.
- In 2012, Time magazine included him in their list of the "World's 100 Most Influential People."
- Forbes magazine featured him on its cover in May 2014. The story was called "Harold Hamm: The Billionaire Oilman Fueling America's Recovery."
Involvement in Politics
Harold Hamm has been very active in politics, especially concerning energy.
Supporting Presidential Campaigns
In March 2012, Hamm was named an energy advisor for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. Soon after, he gave nearly $1 million to a group that supported Romney. Hamm has also been linked to a group of conservative donors.
Hamm has been a strong supporter of Donald Trump. He gave money to Trump's campaigns in 2020 and helped raise money for his 2024 campaign.
Energy Policy Views
In 2016, Hamm spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention. He said that the Obama administration's energy policies were making gasoline prices go up. He also spoke against a deal with Iran about nuclear power. He believed it would let Iran export more oil and develop an atomic bomb.
Donald Trump considered making Hamm his energy secretary in 2016. Hamm has also criticized the energy and environmental policies of the Joe Biden administration.
Supporting Education and Health
Harold Hamm has given a lot of money to support education and health.
Health Initiatives
The Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at the University of Oklahoma is named after him. Hamm himself has type 2 diabetes. To help create this center, the Harold and Sue Ann Hamm Foundation gave $10 million.
University Donations
Hamm and Continental Resources gave $10 million to the University of North Dakota. This money helped create the Harold Hamm School of Geology and Geological Engineering. This was a very large gift to the university from someone who did not attend there.
In 2022, the Harold Hamm Foundation and Continental Resources gave $12 million to the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. This gift helped start the Hamm School of Engineering. It was one of the largest gifts for education in that region.
Personal Life
Harold Hamm lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also has homes in Enid and Nichols Hills.
He has received special honorary degrees from several universities. These include the University of Mary, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of North Dakota.
Family
Hamm was married to Judith Ann and they had three children. They divorced in 1987.
In 1988, he married Sue Ann Arnall. They had two children, Jane and Hilary. Sue Ann is an economist and lawyer. She also worked as an executive at Continental Resources. They divorced in 2014. She received a large financial settlement.
