T. Boone Pickens Jr. was a successful oilman and philanthropist who once said he enjoyed giving away his money almost as much as he enjoyed making it. Born on May 22, 1928, in Holdenville, Oklahoma, Pickens was a true entrepreneur. He was born into the energy industry — his father worked as a landman in Texas and Oklahoma. After building one of the nation's largest independent oil companies, Mesa Petroleum, he later found success as an investment fund operator with BP Capital. Over his lifetime, Pickens donated more than $1 billion to causes including medical research, athletic programs, and support for at-risk youth.