# David Koch

_American billionaire heir and businessman (1940–2019)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/david-koch
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> David Hamilton Koch ( KOHK; May 3, 1940 – August 23, 2019) was an American businessman, philanthropist, limited government advocate and chemical engineer. In 1970, he joined the family business: Koch Industries, the second-largest privately held company in the United States. He became president of the subsidiary Koch Engineering in 1979 and became a co-owner of Koch Industries (along with elder brother Charles) in 1983. Koch served as an executive vice president of Koch Industries until he retired due to health issues in 2018.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 3 May 1940 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Wichita ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P19))
- **Died:** 23 August 2019 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P570))
- **Place of death:** Southampton ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P27))
- **Occupation:** businessperson; engineer; entrepreneur; politician; merchant; chemist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P106))
- **Political party:** Republican Party (since 1984); Libertarian Party (until 1984) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P102))
- **Education:** Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Deerfield Academy ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P69))
- **Spouse:** Julia Koch ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P26))
- **Official website:** davidkochfoundation.org ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P856))
- **Positions held:** trustee (since 2008) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P39))
- **Facebook:** OfficialDavidKoch ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641#P2013))

## About

Koch was a libertarian. He was the 1980 Libertarian candidate for Vice President of the United States and helped finance the campaign. He founded Citizens for a Sound Economy and donated to advocacy groups and political campaigns, the majority of which were Republican. Koch became a Republican in 1984; in 2012, he spent over $100 million in a failed bid to oppose the re-election of President Barack Obama.

As of 2012, Koch was the fourth-richest person in the United States, and as of 2013 the wealthiest resident of New York City. As of June 2019, Koch was ranked as the 11th-richest person in the world (tied with his brother Charles), with a net worth of $50.5 billion. Koch contributed to the Lincoln Center, Sloan Kettering, NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital, and the Dinosaur Wing at the American Museum of Natural History. The New York State Theater at Lincoln Center, home of the New York City Ballet, was renamed the David H. Koch Theater in 2008 following Koch's gift of $100 million for the renovation of the theater.

## Questions

**When was David Koch born?**  
David Koch was born on 3 May 1940 in Wichita.

**What positions has David Koch held?**  
Positions held by David Koch include: trustee (since 2008).

**Where did David Koch study?**  
David Koch was educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Deerfield Academy.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): David Koch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koch) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q1174641](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1174641) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: David Koch by Gage Skidmore.jpg by Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_Koch_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article David Koch, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: David Koch by Gage Skidmore.jpg — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"David Koch". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/david-koch. Retrieved 5 November 2026.