How to Invest in Oil & Gas Without Risking It All
Listen or watch on your favorite platforms
Episode Gallery
About this Episode
Jay Young is a fourth-generation Texas oilman and the founder and CEO of King Operating Corporation, a privately held energy company based in Addison, Texas. From measuring oil tanks with his grandfather in East Texas to cold-calling strangers at Dean Witter Reynolds in the World Trade Center, Jay's path to building an oil and gas empire was anything but direct.
Jay shares the 2015 chairlift conversation at Beaver Creek that completely reshaped his business model, why the first two King Operating funds failed and what he learned from it, and how a chance connection through Nolan Ryan led to tens of thousands of acres of leases. He breaks down his Acquire, Develop, and Divest (ADD) framework, explains why 95% of oil and gas promoters leave money on the table, and makes the case that now is the time to drill while rigs are cheap and oil is climbing.
About Jay Young
Jay Young
Founder & CEO, King Operating Corporation
Jay R. Young grew up in Sulphur Springs, Texas, where he took over his grandfather's hardware store before pursuing a career in energy and finance. He earned his BBA from Angelo State University, then served as Vice President at Texakoma Oil and Gas Corp., traded stocks and commodities as Vice President at Dillon Gage, and worked at World Market Equities before founding King Operating Corporation in October 1996. A fourth-generation energy professional with over 30 years in the industry, Jay built King into a platform that acquires, develops, and divests oil and gas projects, working with over 2,200 high-net-worth investors. He is an Amazon #1 best-selling author (Forbes Books), host of The Jay Young Show with co-host Jordan Soto, a member of Tiger 21 since 2011, and a former minority owner of the World Series Champion Texas Rangers. Jay serves on the executive board of Scouting America, is active with the Alzheimer's Association in North Central Texas, and sits on the board of Nancy Lieberman Charities.
Book by Jay Young
The Upside of Oil and Gas Investing
How the New Model Works and Why It Puts the Traditional Model to Shame
by Jay R. Young
The Upside of Oil and Gas Investing reframes the industry from a high-risk, opaque asset class into a structured, repeatable investment strategy. The book introduces a modern model built around acquiring, developing, and strategically exiting oil and gas assets at peak value, rather than holding them long-term and absorbing declining returns. It emphasizes transparency, disciplined risk management, and the use of tax advantages to enhance overall performance. At its core, the book positions oil and gas not as a speculative bet, but as an infrastructure-like investment capable of generating passive income, strong cash flow, and accelerated returns when executed with the right framework.
Jay Young's Show
The Jay Young Show
Jay R. Young and co-host Jordan Soto explore leadership, entrepreneurship, and investment strategy in the oil and gas industry. With 185+ episodes featuring guests like Anthony Scaramucci, David Feherty, and Nancy Lieberman, The Jay Young Show covers energy markets, the economy, and what's really happening behind the scenes. A Forbes Books production.
Jay Young in the News
From Capital Deployment to Investor Understanding: Jay R. Young on Oil & Gas Investing Through Structure and Transparency
Jay R. Young, CEO of King Operating Corporation, discusses how structured transparency in oil and gas investing helps accredited investors understand where their capital goes and how energy projects are developed.
Exclusive 360 Energy Expert Network Video Interview: Jay Young, King Operating Corporation
Jay Young, CEO of King Operating, discusses his firm's model that changes oil and gas operating economics for stakeholders.