Michael S. Smith is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and CEO of Freeport LNG, one of the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in the United States.

He made his first fortune with the oil and gas company Basin Exploration, which he sold in 2001 for $428 million. His foresight into the US shale gas boom led him to strategically pivot his operations.

• Core Company: Freeport LNG, one of the largest LNG export facilities in the U.S..
• Prior Venture: Sold Basin Exploration in 2001 for $428 million.
• Scale: Raised more than $15 billion in debt to build the Freeport facility.

Michael S. Smith's career is marked by shrewd strategic timing in the energy sector. After selling Basin Exploration, he launched Freeport LNG, originally envisioning it as an LNG import terminal. When the shale gas boom arrived, Smith brilliantly reversed his strategy 180 degrees to create an export facility.

He successfully raised more than $15 billion in debt to build three giant plants at Freeport, Texas, which chill and export 15 million tons per year of LNG. His structural contribution is immense, creating a major piece of U.S. and global energy infrastructure.