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A controversial figure, Harry Sargeant III has seen his share of media headlines in recent years. The overarching question being: Who is Harry Sargeant? According to his Wikipedia page (yes, he has his own wiki page), the 62-year-old oil magnate has a current net worth of over $3 billion. He’s also a former marine and he achieved the rank of Major during his 11 years of service. Following his service in the Marine Corps, the former fighter pilot worked briefly for Delta Airlines before taking the small shipping company his father had founded in the early 80s. With Sargeant at the helm, Sargeant Marine, Inc, transformed into a global operation.

Building his legacy

In 2005 Sargeant founded the Boca Raton-based company IOTC (International Oil Trading Company). IOTC has been awarded several government contracts and supplies aviation fuel to the U.S. military in Iraq through Jordan. In 2008, Sargeant was accused of “war profiteering” and overcharging for fuel by 36 cents per gallon by then U.S. Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA). Sargeant felt these accusations were politically motivated, citing “numerous accolades from [the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)] for its exemplary performance during the war.” Sargeant’s attorney, Chris Kise, noted that there is added cost and danger in transporting fuel through Jordan and into Iraq. “They should have said the reasons we pay extra are because trucks get blown up along the way,” Kise said. “The No. 1 priority in war time is making sure the company you hired can actually do the job.” Sargeant insisted he served the government “because of patriotism. It's part of being a patriot serving your country and not worrying about your wallet.” An investigation by the Department of Defense into the allegations of fraud concluded that “no fraud vulnerabilities were identified.” IOTC eventually reached a settlement with DLA and was awarded a $40 million payment for fuel delivered while under contract. Despite the allegations against IOTC, Sargeant seems to come out mostly unscathed and no less willing to take bold business risks. In late 2017, Sargeant flew to Venezuela to negotiate a partnership with Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) for crude oil during a time when Venezuela was in Trump’s crosshairs. The deal fell through following U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.

Giving back

Sargeant has been active in local politics. He has served as a Republican party official in Florida and has made significant donations ($1.5 million in contributions) to Florida politicians and the state Republican Party.