Cody Campbell went from playing offensive line for Texas Tech to building a billion-dollar business empire. Now, he is one of the most critical figures in college sports reform, leading his alma mater to new heights with the help of donations and influence.
Cody Campbell’s Journey from Red Raider to Billionaire
Cody Campbell was born into Texas Tech tradition as a fourth-generation Red Raider. He played offensive line for the Red Raiders from 2001 to 2004 under coach Mike Leach. During his four-year career, Campbell also earned All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 honors.
After college, the Indianapolis Colts signed him as an undrafted free agent, but a severe injury ended his NFL dreams.
Campbell’s business journey started small with childhood friend and teammate John Sellers. They formed Double Eagle Energy and began buying oil leases in the Permian Basin, sometimes signing deals on truck hoods at drilling sites.
“We were the underdog, and we had to find out a way to squeeze out some success amid titans, among huge companies,” Campbell explained about their early struggles.
Their hard work paid off big time. Campbell and Sellers have sold multiple energy companies for massive profits. In 2017, they sold one company for $2.8 billion. Their 2021 sale brought in $6.4 billion. Most recently, in 2025, they sold Double Eagle Energy Holdings IV to Diamondback Energy for $4.1 billion.
Campbell was elected as Chairman of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents by Governor Greg Abbott in 2021 and took over in April 2025. However, his power is not limited to positions. In 2021, Campbell donated $25 million for football facilities, which resulted in the football field being named after him, “Cody Campbell Field.”
The billionaire co-founded The Matador Club, Texas Tech’s NIL collective, in February 2022. Under his leadership, they raised $63.3 million from 3,500 donors. “There’s no way, based on the information I have, that anyone has come even close to matching this number in a donor collective,” Campbell stated proudly.
Campbell’s impact shows on the field. Texas Tech landed the No. 2 transfer portal class nationally for 2025. When a fan told him to “buy us an O-line” after a tough loss, Campbell simply replied, “I will” and delivered by assembling top talent.
He’s talking about basketball. By the way, we bought linemen too, dude. Look up Cody Campbell “I will”
— Stiffler69 (@Stiffler694) September 19, 2025
Beyond Texas Tech, Campbell leads nationwide college sports reform efforts. President Trump appointed him to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition in July 2025. “I’ve built and sold $15 billion worth of companies. I’m not a dumba**,” Campbell said when discussing his reform qualifications.
