David J. O'Reilly was the Chairman and CEO of Chevron Corporation until he retired in 2009 after leading the company for nearly a decade. He had a degree in Chemical Engineering from University College Dublin, which set the foundation for...

David J. O'Reilly was the Chairman and CEO of Chevron Corporation until he retired in 2009 after leading the company for nearly a decade. He had a degree in Chemical Engineering from University College Dublin, which set the foundation for his long career at Chevron, starting in 1968. O'Reilly's leadership helped Chevron grow consistently, focusing on performance metrics like earnings and returns on investments. In his last year, he earned around $5.2 million, which included a salary of $1.75 million and a bonus of $3 million tied to the company's success. His highest compensation peaked at over $21.3 million in 2008, thanks to strong stock performance. He made many smart decisions regarding stock options and performance shares that aligned his pay with the company's results. He passed the baton to John S. Watson, ensuring a smooth leadership transition. O'Reilly remains a significant figure in the energy sector, known for steering Chevron through both good and challenging times, reflecting how one strong leader can impact a giant corporation.