Charif Souki
Charif Souki | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 Cairo, Egypt |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, banker, restaurateur, company founder, chief executive |
| Known for | Co-founder and former CEO of Cheniere Energy; co-founder of Tellurian Investments |
Charif Souki (born 1953) is an American entrepreneur, known for co-founding and previously leading Cheniere Energy, a prominent firm in the oil and gas sector with a focus on liquefied natural gas. In 2013, he ranked as the top-earning CEO across the United States.
Early life
Souki was born in 1953 in Cairo, Egypt. His father, Samyr Souki, was affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Church. In 1957, Charif moved with his family to Beirut, Lebanon.
Career
Starting his professional journey on Wall Street as a banker, Souki also gained experience in the restaurant industry. He held the position of CEO at Cheniere Energy until December 2015. During 2013, he received compensation totaling US$142 million, which made him the highest-paid chief executive officer that year. His exit from the company was triggered by a disagreement with board member Carl Icahn.
Subsequently, Souki partnered with Martin Houston to establish Tellurian Investments. However, in late 2023, Tellurian removed him from his roles as chairman and co-founder following auditors' concerns regarding the firm’s financial viability.