Ray Davis (businessman)
Ray C. Davis | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 15, 1941 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Business executive |
| Known for | Co-owner and co-chairman of the Texas Rangers; former co-CEO and chairman of Energy Transfer Partners and Energy Transfer Equity |
Ray C. Davis (born October 15, 1941) is a prominent American entrepreneur known for his past roles as co-CEO and chairman of Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) and chairman of Energy Transfer Equity (ETE). Additionally, he serves as co-owner and co-chairman of the Texas Rangers, a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise.
Business career
With a career spanning four decades in the energy industry, Davis retired from his CEO positions at ETP and ETE in 2007. He currently holds a director position within the companies and manages Avatar Investments LP, an investment firm headquartered in Dallas. Davis made his initial appearance on the Forbes 400 list in 2008, ranked 367th with a net worth estimated at $1 billion. By 2013, his wealth had increased to $1.9 billion, elevating him to the 296th spot.
Texas Rangers ownership
In 2010, Davis became part of a consortium led by Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan that acquired the Texas Rangers for $593 million. The majority of the capital was contributed by Davis and Bob R. Simpson. Both Davis and Simpson assumed co-chairman roles but preferred to maintain a low profile, entrusting day-to-day management to Greenberg and Ryan. Following Greenberg’s exit in 2011 and Ryan’s resignation in 2013, Major League Baseball designated Davis as the team’s control person, making him the principal liaison with the commissioner's office. Nevertheless, Davis and Simpson continued serving as senior advisors while delegating operational responsibilities to Jon Daniels (general manager from 2013 to 2020; president of baseball operations from 2020 to 2022) and Chris Young, who has been general manager since 2023.
On November 1, 2023, under Davis’s leadership as owner, the Rangers captured their first World Series title by winning the 2023 World Series.
Personal life
Known for maintaining a low public profile, Davis declined an interview request from D Magazine in 2010 concerning his acquisition of the Rangers.
He is married to Linda, and together they have three children.