T. Boone Pickens Dallas; Texas Panhandle
Chairman of Dallas-based BP Capital Management and operates two hedge funds, Capital Commodity and Capital Equity. Pickens recently started up Mesa Water, which owns the water rights to 200,000 acres with the intent of providing drinking water to Dallas. He also owns Clean Energy (formerly Pickens Fuel Corp.) to develop sources of natural gas, and recently formed Mesa Power LP, which announced in April 2008 the development of $2 billion worth of power wind farms. Wealth:$3 billion (117th-richest person in the United States). 
Power/Influence:After a brief attempt at running for president in 1988, he has backed several GOP causes and candidates. He has financially contributed to President George W. Bush in his Texas and national campaigns. In 2004, Pickens gave contributions to 527 Republican groups, including $3 million to the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth attacking John Kerry’s war record. He also gave $2.5 million to the Progress for America advocacy group. In July 2007, Pickens came out early in support of Rudy Giuliani for president and put his considerable influence behind making the former New York mayor the nominee, proving that even money and power have their limits. Role in Campaign ’08:Pickens has stated repeatedly that he will vote for McCain, but will not financially support him in hopes that both parties will listen to his proposed alternative-energy plan. Who Knew: Texas A&M University withdrew its $25-a-month basketball scholarship Pickens was going to use to pay for college. The school decided Pickens was too short and “not fast enough to scatter leaves.” He went to Oklahoma State University instead, where he earned a degree in geology in 1951. Since then, Pickens has donated $400 million to OSU.
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