Last updated: August 2026
| Founded | 1879 (as Pacific Coast Oil Company, a predecessor folded into Standard Oil of California) |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Industry | Oil, Gas & Energy |
| CEO | Mike Wirth (Chairman & CEO) |
Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s largest integrated energy companies, engaged in the exploration, production, refining and marketing of oil, gas and petrochemical products. As of mid-2026, Chevron has a market capitalization of roughly $380 billion.
Origins & Early History
Chevron traces its roots to the Pico Canyon oil field in California and the Pacific Coast Oil Company, founded in 1879. Pacific Coast Oil was acquired by Standard Oil in 1900 and later became the Standard Oil Company of California (“Socal”) following the 1911 breakup of Standard Oil.
Rise to Prominence
Socal grew rapidly through the 20th century, playing a key role in early Middle Eastern oil exploration through the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia in the 1930s, which laid the foundation for what became Chevron’s international operations.
Corporate History
The company adopted the Chevron name after its 1984 merger with Gulf Oil, one of the largest corporate mergers in history at the time. Chevron went on to merge with Texaco in 2001 and acquired Hess Corporation in 2025, further expanding its upstream oil and gas portfolio.
How Chevron Built Its Wealth
Chevron’s revenue comes from its integrated operations spanning upstream exploration and production, downstream refining and marketing, and chemicals manufacturing through joint ventures such as Chevron Phillips Chemical. The company reported roughly $187 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2025.
Corporate Structure & Operations
Chevron relocated its global headquarters from San Ramon, California to Houston, Texas in 2024. The company is led by Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth and operates in more than 180 countries.
Known Assets
Chevron’s major assets include its stake in Chevron Phillips Chemical, extensive oil and gas production operations in the Permian Basin, and international projects including operations acquired through its 2025 purchase of Hess Corporation.
With a market capitalization of roughly $380 billion, Chevron Corporation remains one of the largest and most influential energy companies in the world.