C atherine Phillips is an American billionaire and a major shareholder of the Tennessee-based company Phillips and Jordan, a large, privately held heavy civil construction contractor. The company was co-founded by her late husband, Ted Phillips, in 1952. It specializes in large-scale, complex projects, particularly in land clearing, earthmoving, and disaster response.

Phillips and Jordan has been involved in some of the most significant infrastructure and disaster recovery projects in U.S. history, including cleanup efforts after major hurricanes like Katrina and Andrew, and the recovery at the World Trade Center site after the 9/11 attacks. After her husband's death, Catherine Phillips inherited a majority stake in the company. Her son now runs the business, continuing the family's legacy in the heavy construction industry. Her wealth is derived from her ownership of this major and highly respected private contractor.