Richard Kinder

Early Life

Richard D. Kinder was born on October 19, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He received a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri. During his time in college, he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.

Rise to Success

Kinder's career in the energy business began as an attorney with Florida Gas Transmission, which later became Enron Corporation. He became president and COO of Enron from 1990 to 1996. In 1997, he co-founded Kinder Morgan with William V. Morgan, purchasing Enron Liquids Pipeline for $40 million. Through strategic acquisitions, Kinder Morgan grew to become the largest midstream energy company in North America, operating approximately 83,000 miles of pipelines.

Key Business Strategies

Key business strategies included strategic acquisitions, such as the merger with KN Energy and the purchase of El Paso Corporation. Kinder focused on operational efficiency and a lean corporate structure. He also pioneered the use of the master limited partnership (MLP) structure for growth. Kinder stepped down as CEO of Kinder Morgan in 2015, but continues to serve as Executive Chairman.

Philanthropy

Richard Kinder and his wife, Nancy, established the Kinder Foundation in 1997. The foundation supports education, urban green space, and quality-of-life initiatives in Houston, Texas. In 2025, they pledged $150 million to create the Kinder Children's Cancer Center at Texas Children's Hospital and MD Anderson. They have also donated millions to Rice University and the University of Missouri.