Cody Campbell is an American oil and gas entrepreneur, investor, former football player, philanthropist, and college sports executive. Born on October 29, 1981, in Lubbock, Texas, Cody Campbell has built a net worth of $1 billion through the co-founding and sale of multiple energy companies. This Cody Campbell biography highlights the career of a fourth-generation Red Raider who transformed fragmented Permian Basin acreage into multibillion-dollar assets while reshaping the financial landscape of college athletics.
Demographic Data and Core Attributes of Cody Campbell
Cody Campbell was born on October 29, 1981, in Lubbock, Texas. The individual grew up in Canyon, Texas, within a family possessing deep generational ties to Texas Tech University.
Cody Campbell is currently 44 years old. The subject’s background includes being a fourth-generation Red Raider, with a great-grandfather who was a member of the university’s first class in the 1920s.
Cody Campbell attended Canyon High School, where the individual was a National Merit Scholar and an all-state high school debater. The academic and athletic foundation continued at Texas Tech University, where Cody Campbell earned undergraduate degrees in finance and economics.
Cody Campbell later completed a master’s degree in finance while maintaining an unusually heavy academic workload alongside athletic duties. This dual focus on high-level academics and competitive athletics established the groundwork for Cody Campbell’s later career in both business and sports administration.
Professional Career and Celebrity History of Cody Campbell
Cody Campbell played offensive line for coach Mike Leach at Texas Tech from 2001 through 2004. The athlete earned All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 recognition and became a three-year starter for the Red Raiders.
Cody Campbell was not selected in the 2005 NFL Draft but signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. The player spent portions of the 2005 and 2006 seasons with the organization during an era led by quarterback Peyton Manning and owned by Jim Irsay.
Cody Campbell’s NFL career was brief, and the individual did not become a long-term professional player. Following the end of the football career, Cody Campbell returned to the business world and real estate.
Cody Campbell and childhood friend John Sellers entered business together while still in college, purchasing land near Lubbock for development. When the 2008 financial crisis devastated the property market, the partners shifted their focus toward oil and gas.
Cody Campbell and Sellers founded Double Eagle to acquire mineral rights and oil and gas leases. The strategy centered on identifying fragmented acreage to assemble large, contiguous positions attractive to major oil producers.
Cody Campbell and Sellers repeatedly followed a model of establishing new entities, acquiring valuable acreage, selling the portfolio, and beginning again. The first Double Eagle venture attracted backing from Apollo Global Management, an investment firm co-founded by Leon Black.
Double Eagle Energy Holdings II became a major player in the Midland Basin. In 2017, the Permian assets were sold to Parsley Energy in a transaction valued at approximately $2.8 billion.
Cody Campbell and Sellers then formed Double Eagle III, which eventually became part of DoublePoint Energy. That business accumulated roughly 100,000 acres and was producing nearly 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
In 2021, Pioneer Natural Resources agreed to acquire DoublePoint for approximately $6.4 billion. Rather than retire, Cody Campbell and Sellers created Double Eagle IV and Tumbleweed Royalty IV with backing from EnCap, Apollo, Magnetar, and other investors.
Double Eagle IV assembled another major position in the Permian Basin. In 2025, Diamondback Energy agreed to acquire major Double Eagle assets for approximately $4.08 billion, consisting of $3 billion in cash and roughly 6.9 million Diamondback shares.
Within weeks of that transaction, Cody Campbell and Sellers launched Double Eagle V and Tumbleweed Royalty V with $2.5 billion in committed equity. This continuous cycle of asset assembly and sale established Cody Campbell as a central figure in the Permian Basin energy market.
Family, Brand, and Organization Connections of Cody Campbell
Cody Campbell has devoted a substantial portion of time and money to Texas Tech University. In 2021, the individual made a $25 million donation toward the redevelopment of the south end zone at Jones AT&T Stadium and construction of the university’s football facilities.
It was the largest single gift in the history of Texas Tech athletics at the time. In recognition of the contribution, the playing surface at Jones AT&T Stadium was named Cody Campbell Field.
Cody Campbell was appointed to the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents in 2021. The individual was elected chairman of the Board of Regents in 2025.
Cody Campbell co-founded the Matador Club, an outside collective created to provide name, image, and likeness opportunities for Texas Tech athletes. One of its first major initiatives offered $25,000 annual NIL agreements to every scholarship and walk-on football player on the roster.
The Matador Club has distributed tens of millions of dollars to Texas Tech athletes across football and other sports. This financial support helped transform the Red Raiders into a national contender and made Cody Campbell one of the most visible boosters in college athletics.
Cody Campbell established Saving College Sports, an advocacy organization focused on reshaping the financial and regulatory structure of college athletics. The individual has advocated for federal legislation addressing NIL, athlete compensation, conference economics, television rights, and the preservation of women’s and Olympic sports.
In 2025, President Donald Trump appointed Cody Campbell to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. This appointment solidified Cody Campbell’s role as an influential figure in debates over the future of the NCAA and college sports.
Cody Campbell is married to Tara Campbell, who is also a Texas Tech graduate. The couple has four children and lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
Cody Campbell serves as president of Double Eagle Charities. The organization supports educational, athletic, and community causes throughout Texas.
Awards, Rankings, and Achievements of Cody Campbell
Cody Campbell received several formal recognitions during the athletic and business career. These achievements reflect the dual success in competitive sports and corporate finance.
- National Merit Scholar: Recognized for exceptional academic performance during high school at Canyon High School.
- All-Big 12: Earned athletic honors for performance on the offensive line at Texas Tech.
- Academic All-Big 12: Received academic honors while competing as a varsity athlete at Texas Tech.
- Largest Single Gift in Texas Tech Athletics History: Awarded for the $25 million donation in 2021 for stadium redevelopment.
- Chairman of Texas Tech University System Board of Regents: Elected to this leadership position in 2025.
- Member of President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition: Appointed by President Donald Trump in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cody Campbell
How old is Cody Campbell?
Cody Campbell is 44 years old. The individual was born on October 29, 1981, in Lubbock, Texas.
What is Cody Campbell’s net worth?
Cody Campbell has a net worth of $1 billion. This wealth stems from co-founding Double Eagle Energy and selling assets in multibillion-dollar transactions.
Where did Cody Campbell attend college?
Cody Campbell attended Texas Tech University. The individual earned undergraduate degrees in finance and economics and a master’s degree in finance.
Who is Cody Campbell’s business partner?
John Sellers is the primary business partner of Cody Campbell. The two friends co-founded Double Eagle Energy and have sold multiple asset portfolios together.
What is Saving College Sports?
Saving College Sports is an advocacy organization founded by Cody Campbell. The group focuses on reshaping the financial and regulatory structure of college athletics.