Charles de Ganahl Koch born November 1, 1935 is an American billionaire businessman, industrialist, and philanthropist. As of February 2024, he was ranked the 23rd richest person globally by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with an estimated net worth of $64.9 billion. Koch has served as co-owner, chairman, and CEO of Koch Industries since 1967, expanding the company into the largest privately held business in the United States by revenue, according to Forbes.
He and his late brother, David Koch, each owned 42% of the conglomerate, which they inherited from their father, Fred C. Koch. Under their leadership, the company grew substantially, diversifying into sectors including energy, chemicals, manufacturing, and finance.
Early Life and Education
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| Born | Charles de Ganahl Koch November 1, 1935 |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS, MS, MS) |
| Occupations | Businessman |
| Political party | Libertarian |
| Title | Chairman and CEO of Koch Industries |
| Spouse | Liz Koch (m. 1972)
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Charles Koch was born on November 1, 1935, in Wichita, Kansas, where he continues to reside. He is one of four sons of Clementine Mary (née Robinson) and Fred Chase Koch, founder of Koch Industries. His paternal grandfather, Harry Koch, was a Dutch immigrant who settled in West Texas, where he founded the Quanah Tribune-Chief newspaper and became a founding shareholder of the Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railway. On his mother’s side, his great-great-grandparents included William Ingraham Kip, an Episcopal bishop, and Elizabeth Clementine Stedman, a writer.
Despite his family's wealth, Koch has described his upbringing as disciplined and hardworking. In a 2016 interview with Warren Cassell Jr., he stated that his father insisted he work "as if I was the poorest person in the world."
Koch attended several private high schools before enrolling at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity during his time there. Koch earned multiple engineering degrees from MIT:
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in General Engineering (1957)
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Nuclear Engineering (1958)
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Chemical Engineering (1959)
His academic focus included methods for refining oil, which would later influence his leadership at Koch Industries.
In 1961, Charles Koch returned to Wichita, Kansas, to join his father's business, Rock Island Oil & Refining Company, which he later transformed into Koch Industries in 1967, renaming the firm in honor of his father. At the time, the company was a medium-sized oil firm. Koch became president in 1967 and led its transformation into one of the largest privately held companies in the United States.
His brothers, Frederick and Bill Koch, inherited shares in Koch Industries. After legal battles, Charles and his younger brother David Koch bought out their brothers’ stakes for $1.1 billion in 1983. The disputes persisted until 2001, when Koch Industries settled for $25 million.
Under his leadership, the company's revenue grew from $90 million to $90 billion by 2006, reflecting a 2000-fold increase, with a compounded annual return of 18%. Koch is known for his demanding work ethic, regularly working 12-hour days and expecting similar commitments from his executives.
Koch also holds directorial roles in several companies, including:
- INTRUST Financial Corp. (since 1982)
- Invista (resin and fiber production)
- Georgia-Pacific LLC (paper and pulp products)
Political and Economic Views
Koch identifies as a classical liberal and has been affiliated with libertarianism. He opposes corporate welfare, advocating for minimal government intervention in the economy. He has expressed concerns about overregulation and government overreach, arguing that they threaten economic freedom and prosperity.
Koch’s influences include:
- Alexis de Tocqueville, Adam Smith, Friedrich Hayek
- Ludwig von Mises, Joseph Schumpeter, Thomas Sowell
He co-founded the Cato Institute and has criticized Wall Street's focus on short-term profits, advocating instead for private ownership due to its insulation from regulatory pressures and lawsuits.
Climate Change
Charles Koch acknowledges anthropogenic climate change but opposes government regulation as a solution. He instead advocates for market-driven technological innovation to lower emissions while improving efficiency and reducing costs.
However, Koch has heavily funded organizations and politicians opposing environmental regulations. Some of the Koch-funded entities involved in climate change denial include:
- Heartland Institute (received $25,000 from the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation in 2011)
- Pacific Legal Foundation (litigated against environmental regulation)
- American Enterprise Institute ($2.1 million over two decades for climate change denial activities)
- Independent Institute (lobbied against climate science alongside ExxonMobil)
- American Institute for Economic Research (a libertarian think tank opposing climate science)
- Americans for Prosperity (fought against EPA carbon regulations)
Koch Industries has received EPA awards for environmental efforts for three consecutive years as of 2023, despite Koch being named one of the top climate villains by The Guardian in 2022.
COVID-19 Pandemic
Koch funded the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), the organization that sponsored the controversial Great Barrington Declaration, which opposed lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. His foundation contributed $68,100 to AIER in 2018, and Emergent Order, a PR firm working with AIER, received $1.4 million from 2014 to 2019.
Political Campaigns and Influence
Koch supported his brother David Koch's 1980 vice-presidential bid for the Libertarian Party. He has funded libertarian groups, Republican candidates, and think tanks while mentoring young libertarians through the Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program. He has also funded the Tea Party Movement and groups opposing the Obama administration.
In 2020, Koch Industries donated $2.8 million to Republican causes and $221,000 to Democratic causes.
Koch has expressed regret over his role in fostering hyper-partisanship and has since advocated for bipartisanship.
Criminal Justice Reform
Koch has supported criminal justice reform for over a decade, aligning with groups like the ACLU and Center for American Progress. His goals include:
- Reducing recidivism
- Easing employment for rehabilitated offenders
- Defending property rights against asset forfeiture
In 2015, President Barack Obama and activist Van Jones praised Koch's reform efforts.
Sports and Cultural Contributions
- Donated $6 million to renovate Wichita State University’s basketball arena, later renamed Charles Koch Arena.
- Donated $11.25 million to WSU in 2014, funding arena improvements and academic support.
His wife, Elizabeth Koch, founded the Koch Cultural Trust, which has provided over $1.7 million in grants for Kansas-based artists.
Personal Life
- Married to Liz Koch since 1972 with two children, Chase and Elizabeth Koch.
- Resides in Wichita, Kansas, with homes in Indian Wells, California, and Aspen, Colorado.
- He and his brothers have battled prostate cancer.
- Described as irreligious and maintains a low media profile.
Awards and Honors (Selected)
- Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2022)
- William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership (2011)
- Honorary Doctor of Science from George Mason University
- Spirit of Justice Award from The Heritage Foundation
- Adam Smith Award from ALEC
Koch has also been inducted into the Kansas Oil and Gas Hall of Fame and the Wichita and Kansas Business Halls of Fame.
References
- (No date a) Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/charles-d-koch/ (Accessed: 09 January 2025).
- (No date b) Wikimedia Commons. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_III_Signature.png (Accessed: 09 January 2025).
- Charles and David Koch (2025) Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-and-David-Koch (Accessed: 09 January 2025).
- Charles Koch & Family (no date) Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/profile/charles-koch/?list=rtb%2F (Accessed: 09 January 2025).
