Cody Campbell hasn’t lost his edge for someone who used guts and handshake agreements to build a billion-dollar energy company. Not because it was likely, but because it wasn’t, his journey from small-town Texas lineman to oil mogul is especially amazing. Building a single energy company that sells for billions of dollars is unlikely. This is not the first time Campbell has done it.
His most recent high-profile deal was in 2025 when Diamondback Energy paid $4.1 billion to buy Double Eagle Energy Holdings IV, the corporation he co-founded with longstanding business partner John Sellers. It wasn’t an exception. It came after sales of $2.8 billion in 2017 and $6.4 billion in 2021. These aren’t paper unicorns or speculative enterprises. Built from the ground up in the Permian Basin—deal after deal, lease by lease—these are asset-driven, cash-heavy oil and gas companies.
Cody Campbell – Biographical and Financial Snapshot
| Name | Cody Campbell |
|---|---|
| Born | Texas, United States |
| Net Worth | Estimated in billions (as of 2025) |
| Occupation | Co-CEO, Double Eagle Energy |
| Notable Transactions | $15 billion+ in total oil asset sales |
| Key Sale | $4.1 billion to Diamondback Energy (2025) |
| Education | Texas Tech University (Former football player) |
| Public Roles | Chair, Texas Tech Board of Regents; U.S. Sports Council appointee |
| Philanthropy | $25 million donation to Texas Tech football |
| NIL Involvement | Co-founder of The Matador Club, raised $63.3 million |
| Reference Link |
The magnitude of the numbers isn’t the only thing that makes Campbell unique. It’s the strategy. Early on, Campbell and Sellers were well-known for signing oil contracts on pickup truck hoods. Their strategy was refreshingly traditional: land rights, patience, and hustle. Instead of being given money, they had to earn it, one contract at a time, frequently in underappreciated settings. In a field dominated by international behemoths, that fundamental scrappiness has proven to be extremely effective.
Campbell’s commercial success could have easily stayed in the background, but thanks to his close connections to Texas Tech University, he is now well-known. Campbell, who played offensive line for the Red Raiders from 2001 to 2004, remained a part of the program. Rather, he emerged as one of its most prominent supporters. He gave $25 million in 2021 to renovate the football program’s facilities. His name has been added to the field: Cody Campbell Field.
He moved deeper into the NIL landscape by 2022, which may have been the most significant change to college athletics since scholarships were instituted. In its first year, the donor collective he co-founded, The Matador Club, raised $63.3 million from 3,500 contributors. Campbell said, “There’s no way anyone has come even close to matching this number,” because it was so glaringly large. He was not mistaken. Recruiting was immediately affected. In 2025, Texas Tech had the second-best transfer class in the country. In response to fans’ mocking request that he “buy us an O-line,” Campbell merely said, “I will.” And he did.
Campbell showed that donors do more than simply write checks; they create ecosystems by fusing fundraising strategy with athletic operations. Few colleges have combined financial architecture with athletic strategy as well as he has, making him a particularly creative leader in NIL circles.
In the realm of higher education, it was hardly surprising that he was appointed Chair of the Texas Tech Board of Regents in 2025. His impact had already changed the university’s national prominence, financial potential, and athletic direction. However, Campbell’s influence has permeated legislation far outside of Texas. He was named to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition by President Trump in the same year. Critics’ eyebrows went up. In response, Campbell said, “I’ve built and sold businesses worth $15 billion.” It was characteristically direct: “I’m not a dumba**.”
However, beneath the headlines lies a consistent story. For years, Campbell has been reinvesting in community impact and streamlining operations. The expansion of his firm did not happen overnight. Getting leases, increasing value, and leaving at the correct moment were all steps in a process. Every transaction demonstrates a methodical grasp of leverage and timing.
Campbell is incredibly dependable when it comes to follow-through, in contrast to many contributors who stick to ceremonial. Results, not just walls, bear his name. Athletes are aware of their helpers. Supporters are aware of who stepped in when the show faltered. Campbell can seal a transaction with the same vigor that he previously used to hold the offensive line, and other executives are aware of this.
He operates in a convincing rhythm: earn initially, give back frequently, and remain straightforward. That strategy has surprisingly broad popularity, especially in a time when oil money is frequently questioned. He doesn’t sugarcoat his views or conceal the source of his fortune. He does, however, direct a large portion of it toward initiatives that give people access to brilliance.