Jeffrey Hildebrand is a billionaire businessman, philanthropist, executive chairman and founder of well-known Houston companies, including Hilcorp Energy Company, Harvest Midstream Company and JDH Capital. Read more about the path and achievements of the successful entrepreneur at houston1.one.
Education and early career
Jeffrey Hildebrand was born and raised in Texas in a family of entrepreneurs. After moving to Houston, Jeffrey’s parents opened Airport Animal Hospital. His mother, who was a pilot, passed away in a plane crash in 1974.
Jeffrey graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied geology as a bachelor’s degree and petroleum engineering as a master’s degree. After completing his education, Hildebrand served at the energy investment firm American Energy Capital Corporation and the oil and gas companies Dan A. Hughes Company and Exxon Company.
Three successful companies
In 1989, the entrepreneur formed Hilcorp Energy Company. While most of the industry barely survived due to the low oil prices in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Hilcorp Energy Company continued to expand, often using debt to buy assets. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, it was listed among the 100 Best Companies to Work For by Fortune magazine. In December 2015, Hilcorp Energy Company awarded a Christmas bonus of $100,000 to all 1,380 employees. As of 2023, it is the largest private oil and gas company in the country.
In 2002, the businessman also created Harvest Midstream Company, a private provider of critical energy resources for American families and businesses. The company manages pipelines in various US states and operates marine terminals. In 2021, the Houston Chronicle named Harvest Midstream Company one of the best places to work.
In 2017, Hildebrand formed JDH Capital, a private investment firm that collaborates with numerous portfolio companies to provide growth capital or assistance in special situations.
In 2010, the Houstonian was worth $1.9 billion, making him the 77th wealthiest citizen in the United States. In 2023, his fortune had grown to $10.2 billion, which put him 171st on the list of the world’s richest people.
Charity and political contributions
Hildebrand donated funds to the Houston Zoo and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. He was also the main donor to the Hildebrand Equine Complex.
In November 2017, the businessman made a $25 million donation to the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He also gave $50,000 to Republican Rick Perry during his run for governor of Texas.
Active member of the community
Jeffrey Hildebrand is a board member of:
· Central Houston, Inc. (an organization working to strengthen downtown Houston through long-term vision, intellectual leadership and activism)
· The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (the largest livestock show and rodeo in the world)
· The Houston Police Foundation (a non-profit foundation that supports the local police department)
· The Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University
· The University of Texas Investment Management Company.
Personal life
Jeffrey Hildebrand’s wife, Melinda Hildebrand, is vice president of the Hildebrand Foundation and president of the Memorial Park Conservancy Endowment of Houston. In October 2011, she also began working as a director of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. The couple has three children together.
