Darren Woods

Darren W. Woods

Personal details
Born	Darren Wayne Woods 1965/12/16 (age 60) 🇺🇸 Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Nationality	🇺🇸 American
Education	BS Electrical Engineering, MBA
Spouse	Kathryn Woods (m. College years)
Children	3
Career details
Occupation	ExxonMobil Chairman & CEO
Compensation	$44.1 million (2024)
Net worth	Undisclosed

Darren Wayne Woods (born December 16, 1965) is an American businessman serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation, the world's largest publicly traded international oil and gas company with over $350 billion in annual revenue, since January 2017. Born in Wichita, Kansas to a military supplier father, Woods spent his childhood bouncing between U.S. Military bases across South Korea, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Texas before paying his own way through a Texas A&M electrical engineering degree (1987) while juggling two jobs.

His 2024 compensation reached $44.1 million (up 19.3%), with a 231-to-1 pay ratio versus median worker.

Early Life and Education

Born December 16, 1965, in Wichita, Kansas, Woods' father worked as a military supplier for the Army and Air Force exchange service, supplying retail services on U.S. Military bases. He moved to Texas shortly after birth, then to South Korea (where he has his fondest childhood memories), and the Philippines for several formative years. He bounced between San Antonio and Dallas through elementary school, then moved to Hawaii for four years. This global military base childhood shaped his worldview.

Woods attended Texas A&M University, earning a BS in electrical engineering in 1987. He juggled two jobs during college and paid his own way through. He later earned an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Personal Life

Woods met his wife Kathryn at Texas A&M, where she studied accounting. She came from an "entire family of Aggies" and her collegiate fate was "virtually sealed from birth." Woods chose Texas A&M partly because, as he has said, "being so in love with this woman, her destined decision to attend pretty much confirmed where he was going too."

They have three children and the family lives in Texas. Woods maintains strict privacy about his wedding and personal life. Kathryn lives a low-profile life, and the couple keeps their family life separate from Woods' prominent public role.

Career

Early Exxon Career (1992-2016)

Woods joined Exxon in 1992 after completing his MBA. He worked for 24 years across refining, chemicals, and upstream operations, holding various positions globally including leadership roles in multiple business segments.

CEO Appointment (2017)

In January 2017, Woods was appointed Chairman and CEO following Rex Tillerson's nomination by President Donald Trump as U.S. Secretary of State. He was 51 at the time of appointment, succeeding one of the most politically connected oil executives in modern history.

CEO Tenure (2017-Present)

Woods has led ExxonMobil through volatile oil markets, the pandemic demand collapse, and energy transition pressures. In October 2021, he testified at a historic congressional hearing on the oil industry's role in the climate crisis. ExxonMobil faces 26 state and municipal climate lawsuits - more than any other Big Oil company. In 2022, The Guardian named Woods one of the U.S.'s top "climate villains."

Compensation

Woods' compensation in 2024 totaled $44.1 million (up 19.3% from the prior year):

• $1.96 million base salary
• $4.5 million bonus
• $26.8 million stock-based awards

His pay ratio is 231-to-1 versus the median worker. In 2023, he earned $36.9 million (up 2.8%). Performance-based equity comprises over 70% of his total compensation, and Exxon requires executives to hold stock awards for 10 years.

Controversies

Congressional Climate Testimony (2021)

In October 2021, Woods testified at a historic congressional hearing where he was accused of deceiving the public about fossil fuels and climate change influence. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney charged Woods with creating a "conflict" between ExxonMobil's public statements and internal scientific studies - 1970s Exxon scientists had recognized global warming risks from fossil fuel use while the firm publicly issued climate science skepticism.

Blaming the Public for Climate Inaction

Woods told Fortune editors the world "waited too long" to invest in technologies slowing planetary heating, blaming governments and the public for acting too slowly - despite Exxon's "well-established campaign to undermine climate science over several decades." Experts and advocates accused Woods of "gaslighting" the public while Exxon lobbies against meaningful climate policy and doubles down on oil and gas production.

Climate Liability Lawsuits

ExxonMobil faces climate lawsuits from 26 states and municipalities - more than any other Big Oil company. Around 30 lawsuits filed by cities, states, and Indigenous tribes seek to hold Exxon and other fossil fuel companies accountable for deceiving the public about product harms. The lawsuits cite decades of internal research contradicting public messaging.

"Climate Villain" Designation

In 2022, The Guardian named Woods one of the U.S.'s top "climate villains" following allegations of delaying climate legislation. Climate activists confronted Woods at a Chemical Marketing & Economics gala in New York City, calling him a "climate criminal" and questioning how scientists could honor someone "who increases production of oil and gas every year."

Activist Shareholder Battles

Woods took activist shareholder groups to court over proposals seeking to shut down the company's Scope 3 emissions reduction plans. He has resisted shareholder pressure for aggressive emissions targets and defended traditional oil and gas production expansion strategy against climate-focused investors.