Venture Global Executives' Stock Purchases Scrutinized Amid Regulatory and Market Concerns
Founders and co-chairs of Venture Global, Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, purchased millions of shares shortly after a meeting with senior White House officials. Their initial public offering (IPO) occurred three days after the Trump inauguration, with the prospectus highlighting the impact of the Unleashing America Energy order.
On March 6, 2025, Venture Global announced an $18 billion expansion of the Plaquemines LNG terminal, attended by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. In the following week (March 10–14), Sabel and Pender purchased large blocks of stock, accumulating approximately 1.2 million shares each by March 14, valued at about $12 million per person at that time.
Later in March, on the 19th, Energy Secretary Wright granted an export license to the CP2 LNG project—a decision that reversed a prior pause under Biden amid climate protests. The CP2 project has a capacity of 28 million tonnes per year.
By mid-November 2025, Venture Global was valued at approximately $19.6 billion, with shares priced near $7.90. Sabel and Pender together held about 2.37 million shares worth roughly $19 million, reflecting a 67% drop since the IPO.
Lobbying disclosures reveal that individuals linked to Venture Global spent around $860,000 on Capitol Hill activities in 2024 and about $810,000 in 2025 to date. OpenSecrets notes this level of lobbying is high and prompts scrutiny.
The company and its executives deny any wrongdoing, asserting that all share purchases complied with SEC regulations and Venture Global policies. They also maintain that the timing of the transactions was unrelated to any meetings or regulatory actions. Officials involved have likewise denied any conflicts of interest.
Analysts caution that the company's business model is vulnerable to market fluctuations due to a reduction in long-term contracts. While Venture Global retains long-term deals with Greece and Germany, it recently lost a $1 billion arbitration case against BP. Moreover, the International Energy Agency has issued warnings about an oversupply of LNG.
