Koch family

Koch family, of industrialists and businessmen is most notable for their control of Koch Industries, the largest privately owned company in the United States, as of October 4th, 2011. The family business was started by Fred C. Koch, who developed a new method for refining heavy oil into gasoline. Fred's four sons became involved in litigation against each other in the 1980s and 1990s.[According to the Koch Family Foundations and Philanthropy website, "the foundations and the individual giving of Koch family members" have financially supported organizations "fostering entrepreneurship, education, human services, at-risk youth, arts and culture, and medical research." 
David H. Koch and Charles G. Koch—the two brothers still with Koch Industries—are affiliated with the Koch family foundations. Annual revenues for Koch Industries have been "estimated to be a hundred billion dollars." 




Political activities


All about: Political activities of the Koch family


David and Charles have funded conservative and libertarian policy and advocacy groups in the United States. Since the 1980s the Koch foundations have given more than $100 million to such organizations, among these think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute, as well as more recently Americans for Prosperity. Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks are Koch-linked organizations that have been involved in the Tea Party movement.




Family members


Fred C. Koch (1900–1967), American chemical engineer and entrepreneur who founded the oil refinery firm that later became Koch Industries
Mary Robinson Koch, wife of Fred C.. The company tanker vessel Mary R. Koch is a namesake.
Frederick R. Koch (1933–), collector and philanthropist
Charles G. Koch (1935–), chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Koch Industries
David H. Koch (1940–), executive vice president of Koch Industries
William Koch (1940–), businessman, sailor, and collector



All about:

• Koch Brothers Key to Cain's Campaign
• David H. Koch
• Koch Industries
• Koch family
• Political activities of the Koch family
• Herman Cain