Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1995-04-02

Duration: 00:25:46

Subjects: Moffett, James R. | FREEPORT-MCMORAN | Business | Gold

Contributors:

• Weill, Gus Host
• Fowler, Ken Producer
• Moffett, James Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from April 2, 1995, features an interview with James “Jim Bob” Moffett conducted by Gus Weill. Moffett, a native of Golden Meadow, is the CEO of Freeport-McMoRan. He discusses: his move to Houston as a child; the role of the “American Dream” in relation to the Cold War; his time at the University of Texas at Austin; working for an independent oil company while also pursuing a master’s degree at Tulane University; entrepreneurial spirit; how Freeport-McMoRan came into existence; his work in Indonesia; the decision to locate his company in New Orleans; what it felt like to discover the largest gold mine in the world; the importance of trusting instinct; and luck and opportunity.