Trending Now - Family Offices Invest Heavily in Oil Amid Capital Shortages

WHO:

CNBC - Keith Behrens, head of energy and clean energy investment banking at Stephens.

CNBC - Jeff Peterson, representative of Gillon Capital.

Bloomberg - Michele Della Vigna, head of EMEA natural resources research at Goldman Sachs.

WHAT:

CNBC - Family offices have increased investments in oil as capital from private equity funds and institutional investors has dried up.

CNBC - Oil prices have risen to above $94 a barrel, an increase of about 30% since the conflict in Iran began in late February 2026.

Bloomberg - Goldman Sachs reports the highest energy capital expenditure since the shale revolution.

WHERE:

Bloomberg - Strait of Hormuz, a key region affected by the US-Iran conflict.

WHEN:

CNBC - The conflict in Iran began in late February 2026.

CNBC - A September 2025 survey by Citi Private Bank indicated family offices' investment intentions.

WHY:

CNBC - Family offices are filling the investment void left by private equity funds due to pressure from environmentally conscious stakeholders.

CNBC - Family offices are not subject to the same ESG mandates as private equity firms, allowing them to invest in oil and gas.

Bloomberg - The energy industry has been underinvesting in hydrocarbons for too long, according to Michele Della Vigna.

HOW:

CNBC - Family offices are described as "contrarian players" who capitalize on the flight of capital from the oil sector.

CNBC - Family offices typically hold investments for longer periods, allowing them to manage oil price fluctuations better than private equity firms.

(UPDATED April 9, 2026 13:22 UTC)

Family offices are stepping up their investments in oil as private equity funds and institutional investors pull back, with oil prices now exceeding $94 a barrel, marking a 30% increase since the conflict in Iran began in late February 20th26. According to Goldman Sachs, this surge in investment has led to the highest energy capital expenditure since the shale revolution, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, a region significantly impacted by the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Unlike private equity firms, family offices are not bound by the same environmental, social, and governance mandates, allowing them to take advantage of the current market conditions as "contrarian players" who can weather oil price fluctuations more effectively.