Harold Hamm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harold Hamm
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Hamm at the 2012 Time 100 gala
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Harold Glenn Hamm
December 11, 1945 |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Political party | Republican |
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| Children | 5 |
Harold Glenn Hamm, born on December 11, 1945, is a very successful American businessman in the oil and gas industry. He is famous for being a leader in using a method called fracking to get oil from shale rock. As of 2022, his wealth was about US$18.5 billion, making him one of the richest people globally. He started and leads a company called Continental Resources.
In 2012, when Mitt Romney was running for president, he asked Mr. Hamm to be his energy advisor. Mr. Hamm also gave money to Mr. Romney's campaign. He continued to support Donald Trump's presidential campaigns in 2016, 2020, and 2024 by raising money and donating.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Harold Hamm was born in Lexington, Oklahoma, on December 11, 1945. He was the 13th and youngest child in his family. His parents, Jane Elizabeth and Leland Albert Hamm, were cotton sharecroppers. This means they farmed land owned by someone else and shared the crops they grew.
When he was 16, Harold started working at a gas station to help his family. Later, he cleaned oil tanks at a refinery. He finished high school at Enid High School in 1964.
Becoming an Oil Explorer
Mr. Hamm began his career as a "wildcatter." This is a nickname for someone who drills for oil in new, unexplored areas. It's a risky job because there's no guarantee of finding oil. After he successfully found oil, he decided to go to college at Phillips University in Enid.
Building an Oil Empire
In 1967, Harold Hamm started his own company, Shelly Dean Oil Company. This company later became known as Continental Resources. His company was a pioneer in developing the Bakken oil field in North Dakota and Montana. They used new techniques like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to get oil from the ground.
As Continental Resources grew into a major oil producer, Harold Hamm became a billionaire. His company became known for its use of shale oil and was once Oklahoma's fourth-largest public company.
Awards and Recognition
Mr. Hamm has received many honors for his work.
- In 2007, he was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young.
- In 2011, he was added to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
- In 2012, Time magazine recognized him as one of the "World's 100 Most Influential People."
- Forbes magazine featured him on its cover in May 2014. The story was titled "Harold Hamm: The Billionaire Oilman Fueling America's Recovery."
Involvement in Politics
Harold Hamm is a well-known supporter of the Republican Party.
Supporting Presidential Campaigns
In March 2012, after being named an energy advisor for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, Mr. Hamm donated a large sum of money to a group supporting Romney. He has also been linked to the conservative donor network of the Koch brothers.
At the 2016 Republican National Convention, Mr. Hamm spoke out against the energy policies of the Obama administration. He believed that new rules were making gasoline prices higher. He also criticized the Iran nuclear deal, saying it would allow Iran to export more oil and develop an atomic bomb.
During the 2016 United States presidential election, Donald Trump considered making Mr. Hamm his energy secretary.
Mr. Hamm also contributed to Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign. Although he initially criticized Trump after the January 6 United States Capitol attack, he later fundraised for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
Views on Energy Policy
Mr. Hamm has often criticized the energy and environmental policies of the Joe Biden administration.
In April 2024, Mr. Hamm organized an event at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. At this event, leaders from the oil industry were invited to donate a large amount of money to Trump's 2024 campaign. The idea was that if Trump were re-elected, environmental protections might be reduced. Mr. Hamm himself gave over $1.6 million to the Trump campaign, and Continental Resources gave over $2 million.
Journalist Emily Atkin has noted that Mr. Hamm organized most of the fundraising events for the Trump campaign from the fossil fuel industry.
Supporting Education
Harold Hamm has also made significant contributions to education.
Diabetes Research
The Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at the University of Oklahoma is named after him. Mr. Hamm has type 2 diabetes, and his foundation, the Harold and Sue Ann Hamm Foundation, donated $10 million to create this center.
University Donations
Mr. Hamm and Continental Resources donated $10 million to the University of North Dakota's College of Engineering and Mines. This gift helped create the Harold Hamm School of Geology and Geological Engineering. This was believed to be the largest gift ever given to the Grand Forks, North Dakota university by someone who did not attend it.
On February 1, 2022, the Harold Hamm Foundation and Continental Resources announced another large gift of $12 million. This donation went to the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. It helped establish the Hamm School of Engineering and create a special teaching position called the "Continental Resources | Monsignor James Shea Chair of Engineering." This was considered the largest single gift for education in the western North Dakota and eastern Montana region, which is where the Bakken formation is located.
Personal Life
Harold Hamm has been married twice. His first wife was Judith Ann, and they had three children before divorcing in 1987.
In April 1988, he married Sue Ann Arnall. They had two children, Jane and Hilary. Sue Ann is an economist and lawyer who also worked as an executive at Continental Resources. They divorced in 2014.
Mr. Hamm lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also owns homes in Enid, Oklahoma and Nichols Hills, Oklahoma.
He has received several honorary degrees from universities, including the University of Mary, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of North Dakota.
