The Story Behind M-Tex Oil: Landman’s Fictional Oil Empire

The Story Behind M-Tex Oil: Landman’s Fictional Oil Empire

The Story Behind M-Tex Oil: Landman’s Fictional Oil Empire

In Paramount+’s hit series Landman, M-Tex Oil stands tall as a powerful force in the rugged oilfields of West Texas. From the bustling patches of Odessa to the boardrooms of Fort Worth, the fictional company is central to the show’s high-stakes drama. But is M-Tex Oil a real company? The short answer: No. However, its roots in Texas oil lore run deeper than you might think.

A Fictional Giant Born from Reality

M-Tex Oil was created by Landman co-creators Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, who drew inspiration from Texas’s real oil titans. Sheridan’s decision to make M-Tex Oil fictional allowed the show’s creators to explore the gritty reality of the oil industry without legal complications or restrictions.

"We’ve had shows that explored the corporate side of the energy world," Wallace explained in an interview. "But none that showed both the working class and the white-collar world." This dual perspective is central to Landman, as viewers follow Tommy Norris, M-Tex’s crisis executive, tasked with navigating everything from corporate lawsuits to intense negotiations in the oil patch.

Reality Meets Fiction

Though M-Tex Oil doesn’t exist, its creation was clearly inspired by real oil industry giants like ExxonMobil and Chevron Corporation. Consider this:

  • ExxonMobil Corp: With 1.75 million acres in the Permian Basin and revenues of $413.68 billion in 2022, ExxonMobil’s scale mirrors M-Tex’s far-reaching influence.

  • Chevron Corporation: Operating on 2.2 million net acres, Chevron represents another Texas oil heavyweight that likely shaped M-Tex’s corporate identity.

These real-life companies provide thousands of jobs, extract billions of dollars in oil, and dominate vast portions of West Texas — much like Monty Miller’s M-Tex Oil empire.

The Fictional Legacy of M-Tex Oil

In Landman, M-Tex Oil was established during the 1980s energy crisis, a period of booming domestic oil production. The show merges historical elements with fictional storytelling. This backdrop gives authenticity to Tommy Norris’s pursuit of mineral rights, lease agreements, and profit-driven survival in an industry defined by booms and busts.

By choosing a fictional company, Sheridan and Wallace crafted a world free of legal constraints, giving viewers an unflinching look at the oil industry’s complexities. Whether M-Tex Oil is drilling a new well, negotiating with landowners, or battling environmental regulators, the company’s ambition and struggles feel remarkably real.

More Than Just a Name

While M-Tex Oil exists solely within the world of Landman, its impact extends beyond the TV screen. The company serves as a storytelling tool that explores themes of power, survival, and morality in the oil industry. In that sense, M-Tex Oil is more than a fictional corporation—it’s a symbol of the rugged, relentless spirit that defines Texas’s oil heritage.

So, next time you watch Landman, remember: While M-Tex Oil may be a product of Hollywood, its story is steeped in the real-world legends of the oil patch.

Want to rep the patch and bring a piece of M-Tex Oil home? Snag one of our hats.

 

Back to blog