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Chris Cline

Category	Details

Full Name

Chris Cline

Nickname

“The Resurrector of Coal”

Date of Birth

July 5, 1958

Birthplace

Beckley, West Virginia, USA

Family Background

Came from a coal mining family; his grandfather mined with a pickaxe in the early 1900s, and his father passed on shares of the family business to him at age 21.

Education

Studied psychology at Marshall University but dropped out to pursue a career in coal mining.

Early Career

At 21, joined the family coal business and quickly began applying calculated risks in expanding the business.

Notable Achievements

– Revitalized Illinois’s coal industry – Purchased $300 million in Illinois mining rights, securing access to coal reserves with a value of over $1 billion

Company

Foresight Energy, founded by Cline

Milestone Projects

Opened Williamson longwall mine in 2005, acquired ExxonMobil’s Monterey No.1 mine, and expanded to the Macoupin complex and Sugar Camp mine

Coal Reserves

Over 3 billion tons in Illinois and Northern Appalachia, making Foresight Energy one of the cheapest energy suppliers in the U.S.

Philanthropy

– Donated $5 million to West Virginia University’s School of Medicine and Athletics – Contributed another $5 million to Marshall University for sports medicine research

Personal Life

Married twice, father of four children; dated Elin Nordegren, former wife of Tiger Woods

Net Worth

$1.2 billion (as of Forbes 2012 ranking)

Forbes Ranking

Ranked #736 among global billionaires in 2012

Legacy

Known for his resilience, dedication to the coal industry, and his ability to balance wealth with community impact, staying true to his roots.

Chris Cline: The Resurrector of Coal

There is more to Chris Cline than just any businessman; he is the revival force behind the Illinois coal industry. Standing at $1.2 billion in Fortune, he ranks among the richest Americans. More than his wealth, however, it is his vision and roots in the coal industry that put him in a different league.

Cline was born on July 5th, 1958, in Beckley, West Virginia. His direct association with coal mining reaches deep into family history. His grandfather mined coal with a pickaxe in the early 1900s. So, at least in theory and tradition, it was in his blood. In 1980, Cline’s father gave his psychology student son shares in the family business when he was just 21 years old at Marshall University. He dropped out instead of graduating to go all in on the coal mining venture, a move that would eventually pay off in huge margins.

Applying calculated risks and opportunism, he managed to become one of the industry leaders. One of his boldest moves included spending $300 million on Illinois mining rights; after all, the state boasts 250 years of supplyable coal. The reserve has an estimated value of near $1 billion in value and provides mining operations to 12 countries. Cline knew that new standards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would dictate the need for scrubbers on power plants, which remove pollutants from coal, positioning him to meet that demand head-on.

Cline’s company, Foresight Energy, grabbed attention by opening the Williamson longwall mine in Illinois back in 2005. Later, they purchased ExxonMobil’s Monterey No.1 mine and further extended their operation to other places such as the Macoupin complex and Sugar Camp mine. Currently, with Cline at the helm, his company boasts more than 3 billion tons of coal reserve in Illinois and Northern Appalachia. He proudly boasts that his company provides some of the cheapest energy in the U.S.

But Cline was always about business. But he also believed in giving back to his community. That year, 2011, donated $5 million to West Virginia University’s School of Medicine and Athletics as well as another $5 million to Marshall University for sports medicine research. He even earned praise from The Herald-Dispatch, saying he remained loyal to his roots.

On the personal front, Chris Cline has been married twice and has four children. He is also dating Elin Nordegren, wife of Tiger Woods. And even though his wealth and power has seen him achieve great fame and triumphs, he does not seem to lose focus on his ultimate goal: affordable energy.

In 2012, Forbes ranked him at number 736 in the billionaires list worldwide, putting him on a high echelon of wealth and power.

What remains with Chris Cline’s legacy is more to do with vision, endurance, and a deep understanding of his roots. His story testifies that in success, it has much to do with where you come from and staying true to that.