About
Haroldson Lafayette Hunt, known as H.L. Hunt, was an American businessman who made his fortune in oil, notably through his investments in the East Texas Oil Field. In 1948, Fortune magazine named him the richest man in America. He used his wealth to promote ultraconservative and anti-communist views through the Facts Forum foundation and the Life Line radio program. He was also the author of several self-published political works, including Alpaca, a right-wing utopia describing a society where voting power is proportional to taxes paid.
Major works
- Alpaca (1960)novel
- Hunt for Truth (1965)collected columns
- Alpaca Revisited (1967)political essay
- H.L. Hunt: Early Days (1973)memoir
Key milestones
- 1930Acquires a stake in the East Texas Oil Field.
- 1936Founds the Hunt Oil Company.
- 1948Fortune magazine names him the richest man in America.
Themes
Anti-communismUltraconservatismCapitalismPolitical utopiaMedia influence
Sources: britannica.com · ebsco.com · sf-encyclopedia.com