R obert Rowling is a self-made American billionaire who built his fortune in the oil and gas industry and has since diversified into a wide range of other businesses. He is the founder of TRT Holdings, his private investment company. A lawyer by training, he founded his own oil and gas exploration company, Tana Oil and Gas, which he later merged with Texaco. His career-defining deal came in 1989 when he sold his company to Texaco for a massive sum, a deal that provided the foundation for his multi-billion dollar fortune.

He has since used his private holding company to make a series of major and successful investments in other industries. His most significant holdings include the Omni Hotels & Resorts chain, the Gold's Gym fitness chain (which he has since sold), and a portfolio of other real estate and energy investments. He is a major political donor to the Republican party and a prominent and influential figure in his hometown of Dallas, Texas.