Kinder's Promise: 95% of $11.2 Billion Fortune to Houston Causes

Billionaires Nancy and Rich Kinder are reaffirming their enduring commitment to donate 95% of their $11.2 billion wealth—approximately $10.8 billion—to initiatives in their hometown of Houston.

During a conversation with ABC13’s Melanie Lawson, the couple emphasized their commitment to enhancing parks, education, and the arts via their Kinder Foundation. “We’ve experienced a great deal of luck,” Rich Kinder stated. “The wealth you gather is ultimately a reflection of the support and contributions of many others throughout your journey.”

The Kinders addressed the audience following the groundbreaking ceremony for the $18.5 million expansion of Emancipation Park in Houston’s historic Third Ward. The Kinder Foundation has taken the initiative by providing the primary funding for the project, which will feature a new outdoor performance stage alongside a revamped cultural center. The redesign is anticipated to be finished ahead of next year’s Juneteenth festivities—a big deal considering the park’s connections to Houston’s Black community.

“It truly embodies the essence of Third Ward,” Rich Kinder shared with the Houston Chronicle. “It requires improvement and safeguarding for future generations.”

The couple’s renewed commitment continues a philanthropic legacy that has been decades in the making. Since establishing the Kinder Foundation in 1997, the organization has contributed hundreds of millions to initiatives that have transformed Houston’s public spaces—such as Discovery Green, Buffalo Bayou Park, and the campus of Rice University.

Many billionaires have participated in The Giving Pledge, a campaign initiated in 2010 by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett. However, the Kinders committed to donating 95% of their wealth instead of the usual 50% when they signed The Giving Pledge in 2011.

Nancy Kinder emphasized that philanthropy goes beyond legacy; it’s about setting an example. “I want my grandchildren to feel a sense of pride in our legacy,” she shared with ABC13. “I want them to understand that our generosity is our expectation for their future.”

Forbes reports that the Kinders continue to hold the title of Houston’s wealthiest residents as of October 2025. However, they asserted that their wealth has consistently prioritized more than personal benefit. “The aim,” Rich Kinder stated, “is to make the world a bit better than it was when you arrived.”

The expansion of Emancipation Park is progressing, with its contributions consistently influencing Houston’s skyline and community—one initiative at a time.