Rodney Lewis | $1B+
Get in touch with Rodney Lewis | Rodney Lewis, cofounder of Lewis Energy Group, built one of the most successful privately held natural gas producers in the United States by focusing on disciplined drilling and long-term acreage strategy in South Texas. Alongside his wife EOG Resources cofounder, he helped expand Lewis Energy into a major operator in the Eagle Ford Shale and other prolific basins, developing extensive infrastructure and maintaining a reputation for conservative execution in cyclical commodity markets. Known for operating with a low public profile, Lewis has also become a significant philanthropist supporting education, healthcare, and community development in Texas.
Rodney Ray Lewis, known professionally as Rod Lewis (born 1954), is an American businessman and aviation enthusiast best known as the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Lewis Energy Group, a major independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused on the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas.[1][2][3]
Lewis began his career in the energy industry in 1978 as a gauger servicing natural gas wells in Webb and La Salle Counties, Texas, drawing on hands-on experience to launch his own operations in the early 1980s.[4] By 1983, he had founded Lewis Petro Properties with a single natural gas well, eventually expanding to control over 500,000 acres of land in the Eagle Ford Shale region, making Lewis Energy one of the largest producers of natural gas in South Texas and a key player in the U.S. shale boom.[1][4] In September 2024, TotalEnergies agreed to acquire a 45% interest in Lewis Energy's dry gas producing assets in the Eagle Ford basin.[5] The company's growth propelled Lewis to billionaire status, with his net worth estimated at $1 billion as of 2018, derived primarily from energy assets and related ventures.[1] In recent years, Lewis Energy has pursued international opportunities, including a 2024 agreement with Venezuela's state-owned oil company to rehabilitate aging fields, highlighting Lewis's ongoing influence in global energy markets.[6][7]
Beyond energy, Lewis has built a renowned collection of historic military aircraft through Lewis Air Legends, a nonprofit organization based in San Antonio, Texas, which he established to preserve and showcase aviation heritage.[8] Starting with the purchase of a T-28 Trojan trainer in 1995, his fleet has grown to over 25 restored warbirds, including rare examples like the Lockheed C-121A Constellation "Bataan" and the North American B-25J Mitchell, often displayed at airshows and events to educate the public on aviation history.[8] Born in Laredo, Texas, to a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot father, Lewis's passion for flight was nurtured from an early age, leading to his 2023 induction into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame for contributions to both industry and aerospace preservation.[9]
Early life and education
Childhood and family background
Rodney Lewis was born on July 13, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri,[10] and grew up along the U.S.-Mexico border in Laredo, Webb County, South Texas.[1] As the son of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, he spent much of his early years moving across the United States with his family before they settled in Laredo in 1971, where his father was stationed.[2] This military upbringing fostered a strong sense of discipline in Lewis from a young age.[11]
His father's career also ignited Lewis's lifelong passion for aviation, as he often played with airplane parts and tools in air base hangars during childhood.[11] The family's involvement in ranching near the border further shaped his early environment, providing hands-on exposure to land management practices and the stewardship of natural resources.[2] Living 30 miles north of Laredo on the family ranch introduced him to the rugged demands of rural life in South Texas.[2]
These formative years in the border region acquainted Lewis with the intricacies of local economics, including cross-border trade dynamics and the adjacent natural gas fields that defined the area's resource-driven economy.[1] The proximity to South Texas's energy sector, with its active oil and gas operations, subtly influenced his understanding of resource extraction long before he entered the industry professionally.[2]
Education
Rodney Lewis attended Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas, during the 1970s, following his graduation from United High School in 1972.[10]
In 1976, Lewis graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a degree that provided foundational knowledge in legal systems and ethical principles relevant to complex industries.[12]
Business career
Early career in energy
After graduating from Texas A&M University in Laredo with a degree in criminal justice in 1976, Rodney Lewis entered the oil and gas industry in 1978, initially working as a gas well gauger for Stampede Energy in South Texas.[13][14] In this role, he serviced natural gas wells, often driving hundreds of miles daily on rough dirt roads and working extended hours to monitor production, a demanding job that provided him with foundational knowledge of field operations despite his lack of prior industry experience.[2]
Lewis subsequently transitioned to supervising field production for R.L. Burns Corporation, also in South Texas, where he gained hands-on experience in drilling oversight and operational management.[14] This position deepened his practical understanding of the sector's logistical and technical challenges, building on his initial gauging work and exposing him to the intricacies of well maintenance and resource extraction in a competitive environment.[14]
In 1982, Lewis marked his entry as an independent operator by purchasing his first natural gas well for $13,000 using a $13,000 loan, a modest investment that allowed him to take direct control of a small producing asset amid the industry's uncertainties.[1][14] This step represented a pivotal shift from employee to owner, though it came with significant financial risks given his limited capital at the time.
Throughout the early 1980s, Lewis navigated the volatile oil market, characterized by fluctuating prices and economic instability that strained small operators like himself.[2] Low oil prices, exacerbated by global oversupply and the onset of the 1986 price crash, combined with dry wells and tight finances, forced him to endure lean years while living frugally in a mobile home and scraping by on minimal income.[2] These challenges tested his resilience, as he balanced operational demands with the sector's boom-and-bust cycles, often facing setbacks that delayed profitability for independent ventures.[2]
Founding and expansion of Lewis Energy
Rodney Lewis founded Lewis Energy Group in 1983 as an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.[4] Initially, the company operated with a modest $13,000 loan to acquire Lewis's first natural gas well in Webb and La Salle Counties, building on his prior experience as a field gauger.[4] Over the following years, Lewis Energy expanded by acquiring additional leases and wells in South Texas, focusing on tight gas sands in formations such as the Olmos and Escondido.[15]
A pivotal moment in the company's scaling occurred in 1995, when Lewis secured a $5 million loan from Enron Capital & Trade to buy out a partner and fund new drilling operations; the loan was fully repaid in just eight months, demonstrating early financial discipline and enabling accelerated growth.[16] By the early 2000s, Lewis Energy shifted its emphasis to the emerging Eagle Ford Shale play in South Texas, aggressively acquiring mineral leases that eventually encompassed more than 500,000 acres across key counties including Webb, La Salle, and Dimmit.[1] This strategic focus on unconventional resources positioned the company as a pioneer in the Eagle Ford gas window, driving production to over 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day by the 2010s and establishing it as one of Texas's top natural gas producers.[4]
Domestic partnerships further bolstered Lewis Energy's expansion, notably a 2010 joint venture with BP plc, under which BP acquired a 50% working interest in 80,000 acres of Lewis's Eagle Ford holdings for approximately $200 million, allowing for joint drilling and development in Webb County.[17] This collaboration, along with ongoing lease acquisitions and horizontal drilling innovations, solidified the company's footprint in South Texas without venturing abroad during this period.[18]
International ventures
Lewis Energy's international expansion began in the early 2000s, with Rodney Lewis becoming the first U.S. wildcatter to secure drilling rights in Mexico following decades of restrictions on foreign involvement in the country's oil sector. In 2004, the company signed a 15-year public works contract with Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) to explore and develop the Olmos Block, spanning 80,000 acres in the Burgos Basin adjacent to the U.S. border.[16] This partnership allowed Lewis Energy to drill 17 wells across multiple formations, including a milestone in 2010 when it completed the first Eagle Ford well in Mexico, leading to the discovery of two new fields in that shale play.[19] Leveraging expertise from its domestic Eagle Ford operations in South Texas, the company applied advanced horizontal drilling techniques to these sites.[19]
The Pemex contract presented significant operational challenges, including stringent environmental regulations, bureaucratic delays, and landowner disputes that required settlements.[16] Cross-border logistics added complexity, with equipment transport complicated by customs procedures and infrastructure limitations, while security threats such as kidnapping risks necessitated heightened precautions for personnel.[16] Despite these hurdles, the venture proved lucrative; by 2008, Lewis Energy had invested $30 million and begun producing natural gas, with potential payments from Pemex reaching up to $350 million upon full completion of the contract scope.[16] In 2018, the partnership evolved into an Integrated Exploration and Extraction Contract focused on unconventional resources in the Eagle Ford, committing over $617 million in investments to achieve peak production of 103 million cubic feet of gas per day.[20]
Expanding further into Latin America, Lewis Energy established operations in Colombia through key partnerships. In 2001, it entered a deal with Hupecol Caracara LLC to drill and produce in the Putumayo Basin, followed by a 2006 agreement with Solana Resources for additional exploration in the same region.[16] These ventures contributed approximately 10% of the company's overall output at the time, benefiting from a relatively modest 20% royalty rate to the Colombian government compared to higher concessions elsewhere.[16] Regulatory challenges in Colombia mirrored those in Mexico, including navigating complex permitting processes and managing security risks in remote areas, where teams avoided overnight stays due to ongoing threats.[16] Cross-border logistics strained operations, with supply chain disruptions from mountainous terrain and political instability complicating equipment mobilization.[16]
In 2024, Lewis extended his international footprint through LNG Energy Group, a company he founded, which secured contracts with Venezuela's state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) to rehabilitate five aging oil fields in eastern Venezuela.[21] This agreement, announced amid U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil, aims to restore production in mature assets, drawing on Lewis's experience in challenging Latin American environments.[21] Like prior ventures, it faces regulatory uncertainties and logistical barriers, including sanctions compliance and infrastructure decay in the region.[21]
Major deals and recent developments
In 2006, Lewis Energy sold its South Texas natural gas gathering systems and related contracts to Enterprise Products Partners, led by Dan Duncan, for $325 million, allowing the company to focus more on exploration and production activities.[22]
Under Rodney Lewis's leadership as CEO since founding the company in 1983, Lewis Energy has evolved from a single-well operation into a major independent producer, emphasizing operational efficiency and strategic expansions that have sustained its growth in natural gas.[4][3]
In October 2023, Lewis was inducted into the Hart Energy Hall of Fame, recognizing his pioneering role in South Texas energy development and his contributions to the industry's innovation.[23]
In August 2023, Lewis Energy sold its Colombia operations to LNG Energy Group, a company founded by Lewis, for approximately $100 million.[24]
Earlier, in April 2024, Lewis Energy sold a 20% interest in the Dorado field to TotalEnergies for an undisclosed amount, boosting the buyer's net U.S. natural gas production by 50 million cubic feet per day in 2024.[25] A significant recent transaction occurred in September 2024, when Lewis Energy agreed to sell a 45% interest in its dry gas producing assets in the Eagle Ford Shale to TotalEnergies, enhancing the French company's U.S. natural gas portfolio while providing Lewis Energy with capital for further domestic investments.[5]
As of 2025, Lewis Energy continues its commitments to responsible natural gas development in South Texas, prioritizing clean-burning energy production and environmental stewardship in its Eagle Ford operations.[4]
International contracts have bolstered the company's financial position, supporting these major domestic deals and ongoing leadership stability.[16]
Personal life
Family and marriage
Rodney Lewis, commonly known as Rod Lewis, has been married to Kimberly Annette Spicer since approximately 1978.[26] The couple resided primarily in San Antonio, Texas, with their family, though Lewis also owns a ranch in Encinal, Texas, where aspects of family life were centered during earlier years of his career.[13][27]
Lewis and his wife have four adult children.[13] Details on their involvement in Lewis's business operations at Lewis Energy Group remain private, with no public records indicating direct participation in company management or expansion decisions. The family has occasionally influenced his approach to work-life balance, as Lewis has described balancing his demanding energy ventures with family time on the Encinal ranch.[27]
In March 2013, after 35 years of marriage, Kimberly Lewis filed for divorce from Rod Lewis in Bexar County, Texas.[26] The proceedings were handled discreetly, and the divorce was finalized in August 2019, leading to her being referred to as his ex-wife in subsequent public and media accounts.[28] Despite the separation, the former couple has continued to appear jointly at select philanthropic events, including those supporting educational causes in South Texas.[28] In 2023, she joined a group of local investors in the San Antonio Spurs NBA franchise.[28]
Health issues
In 2004, Rodney Lewis was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, undergoing a year of chemotherapy to combat the disease.[29][30] The treatment successfully eradicated the cancer, marking his survival, though it necessitated the surgical removal of his salivary glands.[29][1]
The loss of his salivary glands has had lasting physical effects, requiring Lewis to sip water constantly to manage dry mouth.[29] During the height of his treatment, he relied on a feeding tube for nutrition, yet demonstrated remarkable resilience by piloting a newly acquired L-39 Albatross jet at the Oshkosh airshow in July 2004, despite significant physical challenges.[29]
Lewis's health battle coincided with a pivotal period in his business career, as the Eagle Ford shale boom propelled Lewis Energy's growth, elevating his net worth to $2.6 billion by 2012; however, the experience shifted his personal outlook, prompting him to pursue aviation interests more vigorously post-recovery, including the acquisition of historic warbirds.[29][30]
Interests and collections
Rodney Lewis developed a profound passion for aviation early in life, influenced by his father, a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, which sparked his lifelong enthusiasm for aircraft mechanics and flight.[11] This interest evolved into one of the world's most extensive private collections of vintage warbirds, emphasizing World War II-era planes that he personally pilots.[31]
Lewis's aviation pursuits began in earnest in 1995 when he acquired his first World War II vintage aircraft, a T-28 Trojan trainer, laying the foundation for the Lewis Air Legends squadron.[8] The collection has since grown to encompass over 80 aircraft, with more than 30 being flyable World War II warbirds, including rare fighters and bombers showcased through public airshows and events like EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and Wings Over Houston.[9] A highlight is the P-38F Lightning "Glacier Girl," recovered from Greenland ice after being lost in 1942, which Lewis purchased in 2007 for approximately $7 million and restored as a centerpiece of his fleet.[29][32]
Beyond aviation, Lewis maintains an interest in yachting, owning the M5, the world's largest single-masted sailing yacht at 78 meters, originally built as Mirabella V in 2004 and acquired by him in 2011.[33] He has logged extensive voyages aboard her, embracing the thrill of wind-powered sailing akin to "flying on water."[33] Additionally, Lewis pursues ranching on his personal properties, including a 10,649-acre estate in Colorado's Gunnison County purchased in 2021.[34]
Philanthropy and legacy
Charitable foundations and donations
Rodney Lewis co-founded the Rod and Kim Lewis Foundation in 2005 with his then-wife, Kimberly Lewis, to support charitable causes including education and child welfare.[35] The private foundation, based in San Antonio, Texas, focuses on enhancing the quality of life for children through grants to organizations such as the Charity Ball Association of San Antonio, which aids children in Bexar County.
A notable contribution from Lewis was a $1 million donation in 2011 to Laredo Community College, which funded the furnishing of the three-story Lewis Energy Academic Center on its campus; the facility opened in January 2012 to support academic programs in the border region.[36] This gift exemplified Lewis's commitment to educational infrastructure in South Texas, particularly in Webb County and surrounding border communities.[35]
Lewis has also directed philanthropic efforts toward local Texas charities addressing border region development, including support for community enhancement projects in Laredo, his hometown.[37]
Through the foundation, Lewis's philanthropy has scaled to multimillion-dollar disbursements since 2005, with peak annual giving exceeding $1 million in 2013 and 2014, though grant-making has been minimal since 2019 with no reported disbursements as of 2023. As of the latest available data in 2023, the foundation reported minimal assets and no recent grants, indicating reduced activity following its peak years.[38]
Awards and recognitions
Rodney Lewis received the Angel of Hope Award in August 2014 in Laredo, Texas, recognizing his contributions to child welfare through holiday gift programs for underprivileged children in Webb County.[39]
In 2010, Lewis was inducted into the Laredo Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame for his leadership in the local energy sector and economic impact on South Texas.[13][40]
Lewis's business achievements were highlighted by his inclusion on Forbes' 2018 World's Billionaires list at #1,756, with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion derived from his stakes in Lewis Energy's operations in the Eagle Ford Shale and international ventures.[1] His net worth has fluctuated with energy market conditions and company developments, estimated at $1.1 billion in 2024 amid ongoing drilling contracts in regions like Venezuela.[6]
In recognition of his pioneering role in the Eagle Ford Shale—where Lewis Energy amassed over 300,000 net acres and became a major natural gas producer—and his innovative international drilling contracts, such as the 2004 Pemex agreement in Mexico, Lewis was inducted into the Hart Energy Hall of Fame in October 2023.[23][41]
Lewis's personal interest in aviation, including ownership of one of the world's largest private fleets of World War II-era aircraft, led to his induction into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame in April 2023, honoring his contributions as a pilot and aviation enthusiast.[42][9]
His philanthropic efforts through family foundations, supporting community initiatives in education and child welfare, have underpinned several local honors for social impact in South Texas.
Disclaimer: This profile is based on publicly available information. No endorsement or affiliation is implied.
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