Ed Bass

Father, Perry (d. 2006), inherited family fortune created by oil baron uncle Sid Richardson 1959. Passed on to eldest son, Sid, 1968; brother Robert split same year. Bass Enterprises Production still among biggest private oil companies; sold one division to Southern Union for $1.6 billion 2005. Ed is an ardent environmentalist, studied architecture at Yale. Built hotel in the Himalayas; spent $200 million building Biosphere 2 project in Arizona 1990s, sold with surrounding land to housing developer for $50 million last year with agreement University of Arizona can conduct scientific experiments in the Biosphere. Donating millions to protect Yale historic buildings. Fine Line investment firm holds interests in venture capital, ranches in Texas, Kansas, Australia.