Pierre Schlumberger
Pierre Schlumberger | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1914 Paris, France |
| Died | 1986-02-18 Paris, France |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Chief Executive Officer |
| Years active | 1940s–1965 |
| Known for | CEO of Schlumberger |
Pierre Schlumberger (1914 – February 18, 1986) was a French-born American entrepreneur who served as the chief executive officer of Schlumberger, recognized as the largest oilfield services firm globally.
Early life
Pierre Schlumberger entered the world in Paris in 1914, the son of Marcel Schlumberger, a mechanical engineer who, alongside his brother Conrad, established Schlumberger in 1926. Pierre was the sole male descendant of the founding brothers. In 1946, he and his spouse Claire relocated to the United States.
Career
Over a span of 25 years, Schlumberger advanced within Schlumberger company ranks, assuming the roles of president and CEO in 1956 during Henri George Doll’s tenure as chairman. He stepped down in 1965, with Jean Riboud taking over leadership. During Pierre’s stewardship, the firm evolved from a privately held family enterprise into a publicly listed corporation, broadened its scope into electronics, and consolidated its headquarters in Houston, Texas.
Art collector
Pierre Schlumberger amassed an impressive collection of modern art that included works by Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse, and Piet Mondrian. Together with his second wife, São, they further enriched their holdings by acquiring pieces from contemporary artists such as Mark Rothko, Ad Reinhardt, Andy Warhol, and Robert Rauschenberg. Their collection was sold at auction by Sotheby's over four days in November 2014, earning them recognition as pioneering collectors of twentieth-century art.
He was also a co-founder of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.
Personal life
Schlumberger’s first marriage was to Claire Simone Schwob d'Héricourt (1917–1959), a French aristocrat and daughter of film producer Jacques Schwob d'Héricourt; they had five children before her passing in 1959.
In 1961, he wed Maria "São" da Conceição Diniz (1929–2007), who had previously been briefly married to Portuguese socialite Pedro Bessone Basto. The couple resided in Houston until his removal as CEO in 1965, after which they moved between New York City and Paris. Their Houston residence on Lazy Lane was designed by Pierre Barbe, the family’s French architect who also restored their Normandy vacation home and created their estate at Tourrettes-sur-Loup on the French Riviera.
In Paris, they lived in an eighteenth-century hôtel particulier on Rue Férou that Barbe renovated with interiors by Valerian Rybar combining traditional and contemporary elements. The couple were prominent figures within New York and Parisian social circles, hosting renowned artists and designers including Yves Saint Laurent, Andy Warhol, Rudolf Nureyev, Robert Rauschenberg, Christo, Man Ray, Salvador Dalí, and Roy Lichtenstein.
In 1964, Schlumberger purchased Quinta do Vinagre, a sixteenth-century manor set on 103 acres near Sintra, Portugal. Between 1965 and 1975, Barbe undertook restoration of the eighteen-bedroom estate. In 1968, Schlumberger and Antenor Patiño organized lavish gatherings at their Portuguese properties attended by celebrities such as Gina Lollobrigida, Audrey Hepburn, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Henry Ford II. Although rumored to have been acquired by Madonna in 2017 for €18 million, she ultimately chose a smaller nearby home.
Pierre and São had two children: Paul-Albert (born 1962) and Victoire (born 1968). After suffering health complications following a stroke earlier in life, Schlumberger passed away in Paris in 1986.