A seemingly minor contract clause has escalated into a heated, personal dispute between oil giants Exxon and Chevron, with Chevron's CEO openly criticizing the drawn-out conflict as unnecessary. The disagreement, which hinges on the interpretation of contractual terms, has clearly frayed tempers at the highest levels.

Editor’s Note: Corporate spats usually play out behind closed doors, but this one’s spilled into the open—revealing how even dry legal language can ignite major tensions between industry titans. It’s a reminder that billion-dollar deals often hinge on the fine print, and when egos get involved, things get messy fast.