Robert Rowling - Biography

Biography

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Rowling has an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Southern Methodist University.

In 1972, Rowling began working for Tana Oil and Gas, which was owned by his father, Reese Rowling, and William Colson. In 1989 Texaco acquired Tana for $476 million, thereby providing money that was used to form TRT Holdings. Five years later, TRT Holdings sold Corpus Christi National Bank for $131 million. TRT Holdings would later purchase Omni Hotels for $500 million and Gold's Gym for $180 million. In August 2010, Rowling made the winning bid to acquire the bankrupt Amelia Island Plantation Resort for $67.1 Million.

Rowling served as a regent to the University of Texas System until February 6, 2009 when he resigned over a controversy regarding bonuses paid to the UTIMCO investment staff. Governor Rick Perry and Texas state senators had sought to go back on compensation agreements with the staff. Unwilling to break the contracts and disgusted by their grandstanding, Rowling quit during a Texas Senate Finance Committee meeting and followed it up a day later with a formal letter of resignation

As of March 2012, he is worth US$4.8 billion. He is the 66th richest person in the United States. He is married, with two children. He lives in Dallas, Texas.