Collin County Living Well Magazine Fall 2013 | Page 52

T. Boone Pickens The Energy King:
Legendary billionaire entrepreneur talks about staying healthy and becoming wealthy.
Boone Pickens is a man who has never been afraid to take calculated risks. Pickens is the first to admit that you often have to take risks to get rewards. In his own words, “If you want to really get rich, you got to stick your neck out.” However, Pickens has always hedged his bets in one area––his health. From a young age, Pickens was taught the ideals of health and fitness. As a child, he ate healthy––even during the Depression. His grandmother had a garden, from which he and his family ate many meals. “My grandmother told me I could do anything in moderation––except smoke. She said that if I didn’t drink coffee or smoke cigars, I would be 6 feet tall.” At 20, Pickens complained, “Grandmother, I followed your advice and I’m only 5 feet 10 inches.” Pickens laughs as he recalls her reply, “Sonny, if you hadn’t listened to me, you may not have even been 5 feet tall.” This early advice became a lifelong habit for Pickens, which he continues to this day. “I’ve never smoked, and I’ve still never tasted coffee.”

T.

By Conner Sheley
drilling exploration wells on wildly optimistic speculation and taking big risks in the hope of striking oil. As a wildcatter, Pickens showed some unique characteristics that became trademarks of his success. He was willing to take big risks when others were not, he was a compelling leader, and he had a knack for predictions on oil. Pickens formed two companies during his wildcatter years: Petroleum Exploration Inc. and Altair Oil & Gas Co. In 1956, he founded the predecessor companies to what would become Mesa Petroleum which ultimately grew to one of the largest independent oil and gas companies in the United Sta