Richard D. Kinder is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder, Executive Chairman, and former CEO of Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE: KMI), one of North America's largest energy infrastructure companies (natural gas pipelines and terminals). His career is rooted in law, energy finance, and entrepreneurial audacity.

Kinder holds a B.A. in Arts and Science and a J.D. Law degree from the University of Missouri (1968). His philosophical approach centers on scale, long-term asset hold, and vertical integration in the essential natural gas and energy infrastructure sector (specializing in pipelines and terminals).

• Kinder Morgan, Inc. (Co-founder & Executive Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a major provider of midstream energy services (controlling 70,000+ miles of natural gas pipelines).
• Enron Corporation (Former President & COO): His foundational career role, where he was a key executive before leaving to found Kinder Morgan.
• Investment Strategy: His success is built on opportunistic acquisition (buying privatized or distressed pipeline assets) and long-term asset hold in a highly regulated, high-cash-flow sector.
• Philanthropy: He and his wife, Nancy, are major donors to park restoration and children's healthcare (funding the Kinder Foundation).

Richard Kinder's strategic genius was his commitment to resource logistics. He co-founded Kinder Morgan in 1997 (acquiring Enron's liquid terminal business) with William V. Morgan after leaving his role as President and COO of Enron Corporation. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the consolidation and professionalization of the U.S. pipeline industry through aggressive M&A, making Kinder Morgan a market leader.

He successfully navigated the energy market, expanding the company's footprint to control 70,000+ miles of natural gas pipelines. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the U.S. energy pipeline and infrastructure sector.

Richard Kinder's social impact is structural, stemming from Kinder Morgan's role in providing essential energy transportation infrastructure for the U.S. economy. His Kinder Foundation provides a massive structural contribution to urban green space and park restoration (e.g., Memorial Park in Houston) and children's healthcare. His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful industrialization and scale of the U.S. energy pipeline sector.

Richard Kinder maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the high-capital energy sector.

Residing in Houston, Texas, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to investment strategy, energy asset management, and philanthropy.