Kinder among richest in America, sets an example ‘of giving back’

An award winning executive chairman of “one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America” is among Houston’s richest Americans.

Richard Kinder, co-founder and executive chairman at Kinder Morgan, is listed as the 128th richest in America in The Forbes 400 ranking of the richest Americans.

Stock prices and exchange rates from Sept. 3 were used to calculate the fortunes. Kinder is worth 7.1 billion and leads 10 others from Houston on the list.

“It has been a terrible year for many, but the good times keep on rolling for the nation’s richest. The 400 wealthiest Americans saw their collective fortune increase 40% over the last year, to $4.5 trillion,” Forbes said.

Also a philanthropist, Kinder funds education, quality of life initiatives and urban green space in Houston through his Kinder Foundation, Forbes said. He donated $25 million to the University of Missouri in October 2015 to support studies of the U.S. Constitution.

Kinder apparently is not one to seek the limelight, Jim Derrick, secretary of the Kinder Foundation, said in a video congratulating Kinder for his induction in the University of Missouri’s 2020 Mizzou Hall of Fame. Others noted that Kinder has integrity plus is thoughtful, the “best business man” and a natural leader.

“I’m not certain I deserve the honor, but I’m honored to be honored. It’s an institution that’s meant a lot to me over the years, and I’ve tried to stay in touch,” Kinder, an alum of Mizzou, said in the video. “I’m just hopeful that the example I’ve tried to set of giving back that other alums follow the same course of action.”

Other Houstonians making the Forbes list, according to the Houston Chronicle, were Robert Brockman, software engineer, No. 229, with a net worth of $4.7 billion; Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets and the Landry's restaurant, hotel and gaming empire, No. 158, $6.3 billion; siblings Dannine Avara, Scott Duncan, Milane Frantz and Randa Williams, heirs of Enterprise Pipeline Partners, No. 161, $6.2 billion; Jeffery Hildebrand, founder of energy company Hilcorp, No. 240, $4.6 billion; Dan Friedkin, owner of Gulf States Toyota, No. 253, $4.4 billion; Janice McNair, the widow of Bob McNair and majority owner of the Houston Texans, No. 269, $4.2 billion; and John Arnold, hedge funds, No. 358, $3.3 billion.