Riley Peart Bechtel (born March 25, 1952) is an American billionaire businessman, heir, and former CEO and Chairman of Bechtel Corporation. He is the grandson of founder Warren A. Bechtel and son of former CEO Stephen D. Bechtel Jr., growing up in a prominent industrial family deeply embedded in global infrastructure projects. Bechtel joined the family business in 1977, became CEO in 1989 (serving until 1990), and served as Chairman of the Board from 1990 until April 2017, overseeing the company's expansion into diverse sectors including energy, transportation, and telecommunications. Under his leadership, Bechtel maintained its status as a privately held giant, securing contracts in politically sensitive regions while avoiding public scrutiny. He stepped down as Chairman to allow for generational transition, with his nephew Brendan Bechtel taking over. Throughout his career, he has been involved in high-profile projects such as the Hoover Dam, the Channel Tunnel, and various oil and gas pipelines worldwide, and has been recognized for his contributions to international business, earning the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to UK-US business relations. As of July 2021, his net worth is estimated at US$2.7 billion, primarily derived from his stakes in Bechtel Corporation and related family investments. He maintains a low public profile, focusing on philanthropy through family foundations that support education, environmental causes, and engineering initiatives. Bechtel resides in California and continues to influence the company's strategic direction informally, embodying the reclusive yet powerful nature of the Bechtel dynasty in global influence networks.