ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti, sˈɪd bˈeɪs, ɐ klˈæsmeɪt ʌv ɹˈeɪnwɔːɾɚ, ɪnvˈaɪɾᵻd hˌɪm, ðˈɛn twˈɛnti sˈɪks jˈɪɹz ˈoʊld, tə mˈænɪdʒ ðə bˈeɪs fˈæmɪli ɪnvˈɛstmənts.
In 1970, Sid Bass, a classmate of Rainwater, invited him, then 26 years old, to manage the Bass family investments.