Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen), a widow living in the country with his daughter Elly May (Donna Douglas) and mother-in-law Granny (Irene Ryan), discovers oil while hunting. An oil company pays Jed $25 million to drill for oil on his land. Jed's cousin Pearl Bodine (Bea Benaderet) prods him to move to California and take her son Jethro (Max Baer Jr.) along. The family moves into a mansion in wealthy Beverly Hills, California, next door to Jed's banker, Milburn Drysdale (Raymond Bailey), and his wife, Margaret (Harriet MacGibbon).