William Herbert Hunt

American oil billionaire (1929–2024)

William Herbert Hunt

Born| (1929-03-06)March 6, 1929

El Dorado, Arkansas, U.S.

Died| April 9, 2024(2024-04-09) (aged 95)

Dallas, Texas, U.S.

Occupation(s)| Heir, owner of 25% of Halcon
Children| 5
Parent(s)| H. L. Hunt
Lyda Bunker
Relatives| Margaret Hunt Hill, Nelson Bunker Hunt, Caroline Rose Hunt, and Lamar Hunt (siblings)
Clark Hunt (nephew)

William Herbert Hunt (March 6, 1929 – April 9, 2024) was an American oil billionaire, who along with his brothers Nelson Bunker Hunt and Lamar Hunt[1] tried but failed to corner the world market in silver.[2] According to Forbes, as of April 2024[update] his net worth was estimated at US$5.3 billion.[3]

## Early life

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William Herbert Hunt was born in 1929 to Lyda Bunker and the oil well wildcatter H. L. Hunt.[3]

## Career

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In the 1970s Hunt and his brother Nelson Bunker Hunt acquired 195 million ounces of silver, worth nearly $10 billion at the peak. When the price of silver collapsed 80% in 1980 the brothers lost their fortune in the silver trading scandal called Silver Thursday; together they lost a billion dollars.[4] William Herbert Hunt went bankrupt in 1990,[5] but was able to recover years later.[6]

In 2012, Hunt sold a minor portion of Petro-Hunt's assets in the Williston Basin to Halcon Resources[7] for $1.45 billion, lifting his net wealth to an estimated $3 billion. Petro-Hunt continues to operate in the Williston Basin, Permian/Delaware Basins and other basins across the US.[8]

## Personal life and death

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Hunt lived in Dallas, Texas, and had five children.[3] He died there on April 9, 2024, at the age of 95.[9] He was the last surviving child of H. L. Hunt by the latter's first wife Lyda.

His nephew, Clark Hunt, is chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs.

## References

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1. ^ McFadden, Robert D. (October 22, 2014). "Nelson Bunker Hunt, 88, Oil Tycoon With a Texas-Size Presence, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
2. ^ Eichenwald, Kurt (December 21, 1989). "2 Hunts Fined And Banned From Trades". The New York Times. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
3. ^ a b c "W. Herbert Hunt". Forbes. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
4. ^ "Nelson Hunt Denies Plotting to Manipulate Silver Market". Los Angeles Times. June 2, 1988. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
5. ^ Robert Wilonsky (November 30, 1995). "Giddy-up!". Dallas Observer. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
6. ^ "Hunt Becomes Billionaire on Bakken Oil After Bankruptcy". Bloomberg.com. March 28, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
7. ^ "Energy tycoons on Forbes 400 list". November 13, 2014.
8. ^ Rupert Cornwall (October 23, 2014). "Nelson Bunker Hunt dead: Former world's richest man dies in 'modest circumstances' in US after losing his fortune". Independent.co.uk.
9. ^ Oil magnate Herbert Hunt — famous Texas wildcatter and developer — dies at 95 (subscription required)

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