Charles Koch

Charles Koch - Co-owner of Koch Industries, Timeline and Life

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Charles Koch's Personal Details

Charles Koch is an American businessman and philanthropist who is the co-owner of Koch Industries

InformationDetail
BirthdayNovember 1, 1935
NationalityAmerican
FamousBillionaires, Philanthropists, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Business People, Oil Barons, Co-owner of Koch Industries
SpousesLiz Koch
SiblingsDavid H. Koch
Known asCharles de Ganahl Koch, Charles G. Koch
ChildrensChase Koch, Elizabeth Koch
Universities
  • Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT)
  • 1960 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 1958 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 1957 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Notable Alumnis
  • Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT)
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Koch family foundations
  • Cato Institute
  • Market-Based Management Institute
Birth PlaceWichita
Height175
GenderMale
FatherFred C. Koch
MotherMary R. Koch
Net Worth$47.6 billion as of Feb 23,2017
Sun SignScorpio
Born inWichita
Famous asCo-Owner of Koch Industries

// Famous Co-owner of Koch Industries

David H. Koch

David H. Koch

David Koch is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the co-owner of Koch Industries. This biography of David Koch provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Charles Koch's photo

Who is Charles Koch?

Charles Koch is an American businessman and philanthropist who is the co-owner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Koch Industries. Charles and his younger brother David inherited the business from their father, Fred Koch, who had founded the company in 1940. The brothers, especially Charles, played a major role in expanding the business and growing it into one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. Born as one of the four sons in an industrialist’s family, Charles was intelligent and hardworking from an early age. He was also a brilliant student who went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to study engineering and earned two Master’s degrees, one each in mechanical engineering and chemical engineering. After working for a while in Arthur D. Little, Inc. after completing his studies, Charles joined his father’s business, Rock Island Oil & Refining Company. He eventually became the president of the business and renamed the firm Koch Industries in honor of his father. He also has an interest in politics and along with his brother David has made significant financial contributions to libertarian and conservative think tanks and campaigns. A generous philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to fund research, policy, and educational projects.

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Childhood & Early Life

Charles Koch was born on November 1, 1935, in Wichita, Kansas, to Mary and Fred Chase Koch. His father was an engineer turned industrialist who later founded what was to become Koch Industries. Charles has three brothers: Frederick, David, and William.

He went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to study engineering. He earned his Bachelor of Science in general engineering in 1957, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in mechanical engineering in 1958. He then completed another Master’s degree and received his M.S. in chemical engineering in 1960.

Career

After graduation he joined Arthur D. Little, Inc. However, this job lasted for a very short while as he moved back to Wichita in 1961 in order to join his father’s business, Rock Island Oil & Refining Company.

He was a hard working young man, determined to expand the family business which had become a medium sized oil firm by the late 1960s. He became the president of the business in 1967 and renamed it Koch Industries in his father’s honor. He has also been serving as the Chairman of the Board and CEO since then.

A highly competitive businessman, he worked tirelessly to grow the business which is today involved in diverse fields such as the manufacturing, refining, and distribution of petroleum, chemicals, energy, fiber, intermediates and polymers, minerals, fertilizers, pulp and paper.

He became the Director of Koch Industries in 1982 and also serves, or has served, as the Director of other corporations including Entrust Financial Corp. and Georgia-Pacific LLC, paper and pulp products.

Under the leadership of Charles Koch, the Koch Industries saw an unprecedented rate of expansion and at present has its presence in around 60 countries around the world and employs more than 100,000 people worldwide.

Over the recent years Koch Industries have invested more than $70 billion in acquisitions and other capital expenditures and own Invista, Georgia-Pacific, Molex, Flint Hills Resources, Koch Pipeline, Koch Fertilizer, Koch Minerals, and Matador Cattle Company.

Charles Koch credits his phenomenal success to the business philosophy of Market Based Management (MBM), a concept which he developed. He describes this philosophy in detail in his 2007 book, ‘The Science of Success: How Market-Based Management Built the World's Largest Private Company’.

The principles of MBM are taught to students, educators, community leaders and government officials by the Market-Based Management Institute, an educational non-profit, through their partnership with the Wichita State University (WSU).

He is a libertarian and is in favor of free-enterprise policy and advocacy organizations. He supports a number of free market-oriented educational organizations, including Cato Institute, the Institute for Humane Studies, Bill of Rights Institute, and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

Major WorkS

As the co-owner, chairman of the board, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Koch Industries, Charles Koch, has played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a medium sized firm to one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. Koch Industries is also the recipient of more than 930 awards for safety, environmental excellence, community stewardship, innovation, and customer service.

Awards & Achievements

He was presented with the Adam Smith Award by American Legislative Exchange Council in 1994.

In 1999, he won the Directors’ Award for Global Vision in Energy from the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The Heritage Foundation bestowed upon him the Spirit of Justice Award in 2003.

In 2005 he won the Herman W. Lay Memorial Award by the Association of Private Enterprise Education.

He was honored with the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership by Philanthropy Roundtable in 2011.

Personal Life & Legacy

Charles Koch is a very private person and likes to avoid the limelight. He is also particular about guarding the privacy of his family. He has been married to his wife Liz since 1972 and has two children. He is a prostate cancer survivor.

Net Worth

As of 2015, Charles Koch has a net worth of $ 43.1 billion.

Philanthropic Works

He is a renowned philanthropist and focuses on funding projects in the fields of research, policy and education which are intended to advance free-market views. He has financed the research of economists like James Buchanan and Friedrich Hayek. Till date he has donated millions to the causes he believes in. Koch Industries and the Koch family foundation donated $11.25 million to the Wichita State University in 2014.

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Charles Koch's awards

YearNameAward

Other

0Honorary Doctor of Commerce from Washburn University
0Honorary Doctor of Laws from Babson College
0Honorary Doctor of Science
0 from George Mason University
0 for his continued support of the economics program at GMU

Charles Koch biography timelines

  • // 1st Nov 1935
    Charles Koch was born on November 1, 1935, in Wichita, Kansas, to Mary and Fred Chase Koch. His father was an engineer turned industrialist who later founded what was to become Koch Industries. Charles has three brothers: Frederick, David, and William.
  • // 1957 To 1960
    He went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to study engineering. He earned his Bachelor of Science in general engineering in 1957, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in mechanical engineering in 1958. He then completed another Master’s degree and received his M.S. in chemical engineering in 1960.
  • // 1961
    After graduation he joined Arthur D. Little, Inc. However, this job lasted for a very short while as he moved back to Wichita in 1961 in order to join his father’s business, Rock Island Oil & Refining Company.
  • // 1967
    He was a hard working young man, determined to expand the family business which had become a medium sized oil firm by the late 1960s. He became the president of the business in 1967 and renamed it Koch Industries in his father’s honor. He has also been serving as the Chairman of the Board and CEO since then.
  • // 1972
    Charles Koch is a very private person and likes to avoid the limelight. He is also particular about guarding the privacy of his family. He has been married to his wife Liz since 1972 and has two children. He is a prostate cancer survivor.
  • // 1982
    He became the Director of Koch Industries in 1982 and also serves, or has served, as the Director of other corporations including Entrust Financial Corp. and Georgia-Pacific LLC, paper and pulp products.
  • // 1994
    He was presented with the Adam Smith Award by American Legislative Exchange Council in 1994.
  • // 1999
    In 1999, he won the Directors’ Award for Global Vision in Energy from the New York Mercantile Exchange.
  • // 2003
    The Heritage Foundation bestowed upon him the Spirit of Justice Award in 2003.
  • // 2005
    In 2005 he won the Herman W. Lay Memorial Award by the Association of Private Enterprise Education.
  • // 2007
    Charles Koch credits his phenomenal success to the business philosophy of Market Based Management (MBM), a concept which he developed. He describes this philosophy in detail in his 2007 book, ‘The Science of Success: How Market-Based Management Built the World's Largest Private Company’.
  • // 2011
    He was honored with the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership by Philanthropy Roundtable in 2011.
  • // 2014
    He is a renowned philanthropist and focuses on funding projects in the fields of research, policy and education which are intended to advance free-market views. He has financed the research of economists like James Buchanan and Friedrich Hayek. Till date he has donated millions to the causes he believes in. Koch Industries and the Koch family foundation donated $11.25 million to the Wichita State University in 2014.
  • // 2015
    As of 2015, Charles Koch has a net worth of $ 43.1 billion.

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Charles Koch's FAQ

  • What is Charles Koch birthday?

    Charles Koch was born at 1935-11-01

  • Where is Charles Koch's birth place?

    Charles Koch was born in Wichita

  • What is Charles Koch nationalities?

    Charles Koch's nationalities is American

  • Who is Charles Koch spouses?

    Charles Koch's spouses is Liz Koch

  • Who is Charles Koch siblings?

    Charles Koch's siblings is David H. Koch

  • Who is Charles Koch childrens?

    Charles Koch's childrens is Chase Koch, Elizabeth Koch

  • What was Charles Koch universities?

    Charles Koch studied at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT), 1960 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1958 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1957 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • What was Charles Koch notable alumnis?

    Charles Koch's notable alumnis is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT)

  • Which company or organization was founded by Charles Koch?

    Charles Koch was the founder/co-founder of Koch family foundations, Cato Institute, Market-Based Management Institute

  • How tall is Charles Koch?

    Charles Koch's height is 175

  • Who is Charles Koch's father?

    Charles Koch's father is Fred C. Koch

  • Who is Charles Koch's mother?

    Charles Koch's mother is Mary R. Koch

  • What is Charles Koch's sun sign?

    Charles Koch is Scorpio

  • How famous is Charles Koch?

    Charles Koch is famouse as Co-Owner of Koch Industries