Former Tidewater Chairman: I Didn't Start My Own Company Until 55, Then Sold It For Half A Billion | Larry Rigdon
By Griffin Blackmon
February 5, 2026
Interview with Larry Rigdon
Larry Rigdon founded Rigdon Marine at 55, built it into an offshore vessel company and sold it for about half a billion dollars. He later chaired Tidewater and helped build Jackson Offshore. He was born in Missouri, studied accounting and business administration at Truman State University, and now lives in Colorado. He was 55 when he started his own business, and that wait is the first thing he brings up.
Draft built from the interview notes. Answers are summarized and are not direct quotes.
Prioritize a good education with a focus on math and writing, and make the move to your own business early.
Larry Rigdon · Advice to his high school self
What was your biggest failure or mistake in your career, and what did you learn from it?
Staying in Corporate Life Too Long
Rigdon's biggest mistake was staying in corporate life too long instead of making the entrepreneurial move sooner. He was 55 when he finally started his own company. Everything he built after that, he believes he could have started earlier.
What non-academic skills mattered most?
Salesmanship and the ability to develop strong interpersonal relationships.
How does he stay sharp and relevant?
Reading daily about the industry, general economics, and foreign affairs. He also seeks out mentors and serves as one.
What problem is he working on now?
Deciding whether to sell Jackson Offshore, a successful company, or keep operating it for long-term cash flow.
What I Learned from Larry Rigdon
Griffin writes this section in his own words after each interview.
The Rigdon Framework
- 01
Prepare Thoroughly Before You Commit
He views preparation as the foundation of every move he has made.
- 02
Treat Failure as a Lesson
A failure is a learning opportunity, never a catastrophe.
- 03
Make the Entrepreneurial Move Early
The years spent waiting are the ones he would most like back.
Playbook Success Interview Profile
- Interviewee
- Larry Rigdon
- Date of Interview
- February 5, 2026
- Primary Industry
- Maritime
- Based in
- Colorado
- Born in
- Missouri
- Education
- Truman State University, accounting and business administration
- Business
- Jackson Offshore
- Biggest Career Lesson
- Rigdon's biggest mistake was staying in corporate life too long instead of making the entrepreneurial move sooner. He was 55 when he finally started his own company. Everything he built after that, he believes he could have started earlier.
- Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
- Prioritize a good education with a focus on math and writing, and make the move to your own business early.
Griffin Blackmon
Hi, I’m Griffin. I’m a student entrepreneur and the host of Playbook Success. I interview successful entrepreneurs and millionaires, so you don’t have to. During the interviews, I distill their biggest wins and hardest lessons into the “entrepreneurial intel” we need to build our futures today. Join me as I decode what it actually takes to win in business before graduation. Check out the Playbook Success Blog for more interviews and entrepreneurial tips to help you turn your hobby into an empire. Thanks again for reading!