“Getting Rich and Catching Fish”

The proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, well-known to the angling community, is making waves in other places too, writes Wendy Perrin for Conde Nast Traveler.  One unlikely ally that has emerged is Bob Gillam, “an arch-conservative money manager, said to be Alaska’s only billionaire (a label he denies, though he won’t elaborate), who dresses all in black, owns a fleet of airplanes, and believes it is ‘stupid not to drill’ for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.”

Gillam has established various nonprofits that have made life difficult for John Shively, CEO of PLP Partnership, the organization responsible for the mine.  While some question Gillam’s motives, the fact is he has poured cash into fighting the mine and will most likely continue to do so because as Gillam says, “Only two things matter in life—getting rich and catching fish.”