United StatesInherited and grew it
Charles Koch
Charles Koch has been chairman of Koch, Inc. (Koch Industries), the private conglomerate his father started in 1940, since 1967; his fortune is his share of that company.
- Forbes estimate
- $76.9B
- Forbes, 14 Oct 2026
- Forbes rank
- No. 28
- 14 Oct 2026
- Stake in Koch, Inc.
- 38%
- Net worth, Bloomberg
- $70.5B
- Bloomberg, 10 Oct 2026
- Born
- 1 Nov 1935
- Wichita, Kansas, United States
- Education
- Graduate degree
- BS in general engineering (1957), MS in nuclear engineering (1958) and MS in chemical engineering (1959), MIT
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
Where the fortune sits
Koch, Inc. (Koch Industries), a private conglomerate
Koch, Inc.
pipelines, refining, chemicals and manufacturing, founded 1940
42% of the votes
Bloomberg: 'He owns 38% of the company'
Bloomberg and Forbes estimates; Koch, Inc. is private and publishes no ownership filing, 10 Oct 2026
Chairman and co-CEO
Where Charles stands among 73
Everyone on the site, grouped by their answer. Charles Koch is outlined.
How the fortune started
Inherited and grew it
Inherited and grew it 12
Founded it 42
Built it up 8
Inherited it 6
Through marriage 5
Industry
Several industries
Several industries 9
Technology 24
Finance 10
Metals and mining 6
Retail 4
Fashion and beauty 4
Media 3
Food and drink 3
Shipping 3
Crypto 2
Oil, gas and chemicals 2
Healthcare 1
Casinos and resorts 1
Property and sports 1
Giving Pledge
Not a signer
Not a signer 61
Signed 11
Not stated 1
Education
Graduate degree
Graduate degree 24
Bachelor's degree 27
Left university without a degree 6
No university 5
Not stated 11
Role today
Runs the company
Runs the company 32
Chair, board or owner 25
Founder, no executive role 8
No role 4
Retired 4
The person
- Born
- 1 Nov 1935Wichita, Kansas, United States
- Citizenship
- United States
- Lives in
- Wichita, Kansas, United States
- Education
- Graduate degreeBS in general engineering (1957), MS in nuclear engineering (1958) and MS in chemical engineering (1959), MIT
- Parents
- Father Fred C. Koch was an MIT-trained engineer who developed an oil-refining process and ran refining, engineering and ranching businesses; mother Mary's occupation not stated
What they give
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
- Foundation
- Stand TogetherFounded in 2003 and the hub of his philanthropy; he also founded the Charles Koch Foundation
- Lifetime giving
- $1.8BForbes, 10 Oct 2023. Forbes' estimate of lifetime giving, excluding amounts not yet distributed
Role and record
- Role now
- Runs the companyChairman and co-CEO of Koch, Inc.
- Successor
- None named
- Public office
- None found
- Legal record
- None found
