Content deleted Content added
m Reverted edits by 27.32.131.166 (talk) (HG) (3.4.12) |
removed generic author name from source |
||
| (37 intermediate revisions by 30 users not shown) | |||
Line 29:
| signature_alt = Koch's signature
}}
{{Libertarianism
'''Charles de Ganahl Koch''' ({{IPAc-en|k|oʊ|k}} {{respell|KOHK}}; born November 1, 1935) is an American billionaire businessman. As of
Koch also supports a number of libertarian [[think tank]]s, including the [[Institute for Humane Studies]], the [[Cato Institute]], the [[Ayn Rand Institute]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayn Rand Institute - Ties to the Koch Brothers |website=SourceWatch |access-date=March 2, 2020 |url=https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Ayn_Rand_Institute#Ties_to_the_Koch_Brothers}}</ref> and the [[Mercatus Center]] at [[George Mason University]]. He also contributes to the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and candidates, [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] groups, and various charitable and cultural institutions. He co-founded the Washington, D.C.
▲'''Charles de Ganahl Koch''' ({{IPAc-en|k|oʊ|k}} {{respell|KOHK}}; born November 1, 1935) is an American billionaire businessman. As of June 2023, he was ranked as the 20th richest person in the world on the ''[[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]]'', with an estimated net worth of $62 billion.<ref name="char_net">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/charles-d-koch/ |title= Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Charles Koch|website=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref> Koch has been co-owner, chairman, and [[chief executive officer]] of [[Koch Industries]] since 1967, while his late brother [[David Koch]] served as executive vice president. Charles and David each owned 42% of the conglomerate. The brothers inherited the business from their father, [[Fred C. Koch]], then expanded the business.<ref name="time" /> Koch Industries is the largest privately held company by revenue in the United States, according to Forbes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020|title=America's Largest Private Companies|url=https://www.forbes.com/largest-private-companies/list/|access-date=17 March 2021|website=Forbes}}</ref>
▲Koch also supports a number of libertarian [[think tank]]s, including the [[Institute for Humane Studies]], the [[Cato Institute]], the [[Ayn Rand Institute]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayn Rand Institute - Ties to the Koch Brothers |website=SourceWatch |access-date=March 2, 2020 |url=https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Ayn_Rand_Institute#Ties_to_the_Koch_Brothers}}</ref> and the [[Mercatus Center]] at [[George Mason University]]. He also contributes to the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and candidates, [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] groups, and various charitable and cultural institutions. He co-founded the Washington, D.C.-based [[Cato Institute]]. Along with his brother, Koch has been an important funder of think tanks that [[Lobbying in the United States|lobby]] to [[Anti-environmentalism|oppose environmental regulation]]. Koch has published four books detailing his business philosophy, ''[[The Science of Success]]'' (2007),<ref>Charles G. Koch (2007). [http://www.kochind.com/MBM/science_of_success.aspx ''The Science Of Success''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517193106/http://www.kochind.com/MBM/science_of_success.aspx|date=May 17, 2014}} {{ISBN|978-0470139882}} Retrieved April 2011.</ref> ''Market Based Management'',<ref>2006, {{ISBN|978-1931721998}}</ref> ''[[Good Profit]]'' (2015),<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2015/10/12/charles-koch-s-new-book-out-tuesday.html "Charles Koch's New Book Out Tuesday"] ''Biz Journals, Wichita'', October 12, 2015. {{ISBN|978-0147520470}}</ref> and ''Believe in People'' (2020).<ref>{{Cite web |title="Believe in People" By Charles Koch & Brian Hooks |url=https://believeinpeoplebook.com/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Believe In People |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life and education==
Koch was born and lives in [[Wichita, Kansas]], one of four sons of Clementine Mary (née Robinson) and [[Fred C. Koch|Fred Chase Koch]].<ref name=forbes/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fmkfoundation.org/history.asp |title=FMK Foundation History |publisher=Fmkfoundation.org |access-date=2010-08-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114070358/http://www.fmkfoundation.org/history.asp |archive-date=November 14, 2013}}</ref> Koch's grandfather, [[Harry Koch (businessman)|Harry Koch]], was a [[Dutch people|Dutch]] immigrant who settled in West Texas, founded the Quanah Tribune-Chief newspaper, and was a founding shareholder of [[Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railway]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Koch's Laws |author=Daniel Fisher |newspaper=[[Forbes]] |date=February 26, 2007 |url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/02/26/science-success-management-lead-ceo-cz_df_0226kochbookreview.html |access-date=November 16, 2010}}</ref> Among his maternal great-great-grandparents were [[William Ingraham Kip]], an Episcopal bishop, and [[Elizabeth Clementine Stedman]], a writer.
In an interview with Warren Cassell Jr., which was recorded in February 2016, Koch stated that as a child he did not live a privileged lifestyle despite growing up in a wealthy family. Koch said, "My father wanted me to work as if I was the poorest person in the world."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kochinterview.com|title=Interview with Charles Koch|website=Warren Cassell Jr.}}</ref> After attending several private high schools,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tankersley|first1=Jim|title='I don't like the idea of capitalism': Charles Koch, unfiltered|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/08/01/i-dont-like-the-idea-of-capitalism-charles-koch-unfiltered/|access-date=December 6, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 1, 2016}}</ref> Koch was educated at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]. He is a member of the [[Beta Theta Pi]] fraternity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forbes: Charles Koch Bio |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/charles-koch/#17030e6a57d7 |website=Forbes |access-date=January 17, 2019}}</ref> He received a [[Bachelor of Science]] (B.S.) in [[Engineering|
After college, Koch started work at [[Arthur D. Little, Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Charles G. Koch [1935] |url=https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_americans/charles-g-koch/ |publisher=New Netherland Institute |access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref>
==Career==
In 1961 he moved back to Wichita to join his father's business, [[Koch Industries|Rock Island Oil & Refining Company]] (now known as [[Koch Industries]]).<ref name=Twenty/> In 1967, he became president of the business, which was then a medium-sized oil firm.<ref name=Moore>{{cite news |title=The Weekend Interview with Charles Koch: Private Enterprise |author=Stephen Moore |author-link=Stephen Moore (writer) |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]<!--Eastern Edition--> |date=May 6, 2006 |page=A.8 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114687252956545543?mod=googlenews_wsj}}</ref> In the same year, he renamed the firm Koch Industries in honor of his father.<ref name=Greik/> Charles's brothers [[Frederick R. Koch|Frederick]] and [[Bill Koch (businessman)|Bill]] had inherited stock in Koch Industries. In June 1983, after a legal and boardroom battle, the stakes of Frederick and Bill were bought out for $1.1 billion and Charles and his younger brother David became majority owners in the company.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/28/business/brother-versus-brother-koch-family-s-long-legal-feud-is-headed-for-a-jury.html | title=Brother Versus Brother; Koch Family's Long Legal Feud Is Headed for a Jury | first=Leslie | last= Wayne | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=April 28, 1998 | url-status=live | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180326160300/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/28/business/brother-versus-brother-koch-family-s-long-legal-feud-is-headed-for-a-jury.html | archive-date=March 26, 2018 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Despite the settlement, legal disputes continued until May 2001, when [[CBS]] News reported that Koch Industries settled for $25 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=
In 2006, [[Koch Industries]] generated $90 billion in revenue, a growth of 2000 times over, which represents an annual compounded return of 18%.<ref name=Skousen>{{cite news |title=Business Bookshelf: A Short Course In Long-Term Value |author=Mark Skousen |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]<!--Eastern Edition--> |date=March 4, 2007 |page=D.8}}</ref> {{As of|2014}}, Koch was worth approximately US$41.3<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/charles-koch/|title=Charles Koch|author=Carrie Sheffield|work=Forbes}}</ref> billion (in 2013 $36 billion) according to the [[Forbes 400]] list.<ref name=forbes>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/charles-koch |work=Forbes |title=The 400 Richest Americans |quote= Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Arts / Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Master of Science Son of Koch Industries founder Fred C. Koch (d. 1967), MIT grad who invented method of refining gasoline from heavy oil. Took refining innovation to Soviet Union 1929; returned home 1930s. Sons Frederick, Charles, David and William inherited Koch Industries after father's death; Charles and David bought out William and Frederick for $1.3 billion in 1983.}}</ref> Koch would routinely work 12-hour days at the office (and then spent more time working at home), weekends, and expected executives at Koch Industries to work weekends as well.<ref>{{Cite web| author1=Brian O'Reilly|author2= Patty De Llosa |url=
Koch has been a director of INTRUST
==Political and economic views==
Charles Koch describes himself as a [[Classical liberalism|classical liberal]] and has formerly identified as a [[Libertarianism in the United States|libertarian]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Charles Koch opens up about his 'classical liberal' views|url=https://video.foxnews.com/v/4561118939001/charles-koch-opens-up-about-his-classical-liberal-views/|access-date=December 27, 2015|publisher=Fox News|date=October 15, 2015}}</ref> He is opposed to [[corporate welfare]]<ref>The Koch Brothers December 24, 2012 p. 96 Forbes</ref> and told the ''[[National Journal]]'' that his "overall concept is to minimize the role of government and to maximize the role of private economy and to maximize personal freedoms."<ref>''[[National Journal]]'' (May 16, 1992)</ref> He has expressed concern
According to [[Stephen Moore (writer)|Stephen Moore]], influences on Koch include [[Alexis de Tocqueville]],<ref>Koch, Charles, ''[[The Science of Success]]'', p. 57</ref> [[Adam Smith]], [[Michael Polanyi]],<ref name=Twenty/> [[Joseph Schumpeter]], [[Julian Simon]], [[Paul Johnson (writer)|Paul Johnson]], [[Thomas Sowell]], [[Charles Murray (political scientist)|Charles Murray]], [[Leonard Read]],<!--it seems Moore meant to spell Reed as Read--> and [[F. A. Harper]].<ref name=Moore/> The presidents he most admires include [[George Washington]], [[Grover Cleveland]], and [[Calvin Coolidge]]. In an interview with the ''[[American Journal of Business]]'', Koch said he owes "a huge debt of gratitude to the giants who created the [[Austrian School]] [of economics]. They developed principles that enabled me to gain an understanding of how the world works, and these ideas were a catalyst in the development of Market-Based Management." In particular, he expresses admiration for [[Ludwig von Mises]]' book ''[[Human Action]]'', as well as the writings of [[Friedrich Hayek]].<ref name=Twenty>{{cite journal |title=Twenty Questions for Charles Koch |journal=[[American Journal of Business]] |url=http://www.bsu.edu/mcobwin/majb/?p=584 |location=[[Muncie, Indiana|Muncie]] |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=15–8 |date=Spring 2009 |access-date=April 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013171247/http://www.bsu.edu/mcobwin/majb/?p=584 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Koch said "the short-term infatuation with quarterly earnings on Wall Street restricts the earnings potential of Fortune 500 publicly traded firms."<ref name=Moore/> He also considers public firms to be "feeding grounds for lawyers and lawsuits," with regulations like [[Sarbanes–Oxley]] only increasing the earnings potential of privately held companies.<ref name=Moore/>
Line 65 ⟶ 64:
His opposition to corporate welfare includes lobbying for the end to [[Energy subsidies#Allocation of subsidies in the United States|ethanol subsidies]] even though Koch Industries is a major ethanol producer. He is quoted as saying: "The first thing we've got to get rid of is business welfare and entitlements."<ref name=Forbes20121205 />
In an April 2014 ''Wall Street Journal'' op-ed, Koch wrote, "the fundamental concepts of dignity, respect, equality before the law and personal freedom are under attack by the nation's own government." He criticized the [[Obama
===Market-based management===
Koch's business philosophy, "market-based management" (MBM), is described in his 2007 book ''[[The Science of Success]]''. In an interview with the ''[[Wichita Eagle]]'',<ref name=Greik>{{cite news |title=Charles Koch: His philosophy and his company |author=Phyllis Jacobs Griekspoor |newspaper=[[Wichita Eagle]] |date=March 4, 2007 |url=http://www.charleskoch.com/newsroom/news_releases_details.aspx?id=904 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912054947/http://www.charleskoch.com/newsroom/news_releases_details.aspx?id=904 |archive-date=September 12, 2011 }}</ref> he said that he was motivated to write the book by Koch Industries' 2004 acquisition of [[Invista]] so he could give new employees a "comprehensive picture" of MBM. According to the website of the Market-Based Management Institute, which Koch founded in 2005, MBM is "based on rules of just conduct, economic thinking, and sound mental models", harnessing the dispersed knowledge of employees just as markets harness knowledge in society. "It is organized in and interpreted through five dimensions: vision, virtue and talents, decision rights, incentives, and knowledge processes."<ref>[http://www.mbminstitute.org/what-is-mbm.cfm What is MBM?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114065550/http://www.mbminstitute.org/what-is-mbm.cfm |date=January 14, 2011 }} www.mbminstitute.org. Retrieved April 2011.</ref> In the book, Koch attempts to apply [[Friedrich Hayek]]'s [[spontaneous order]] theory and [[Austrian School|Austrian entrepreneurial theory]], such as that of [[Ludwig von Mises|Mises]] and [[Israel Kirzner]], to organizational management.<ref name=Forbes20121205>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2012/12/05/inside-the-koch-empire-how-the-brothers-plan-to-reshape-america/| title=Inside The Koch Empire: How The Brothers Plan To Reshape America|date=December 5, 2012|author=Daniel Fisher|newspaper=Forbes}}</ref><ref name=Times20120516>{{cite news|last=Schor|first=Elana|title=In Right's Energy-Subsidy Clash, Shades of Koch vs. Pickens|url=https://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/05/16/16greenwire-in-rights-energy-subsidy-clash-shades-of-koch-94124.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 19, 2011|date=May 16, 2011}}</ref>
==Political activities and philanthropy==
Line 80 ⟶ 79:
In 2008, Koch was included in ''[[Businessweek]]'''s list of top 50 American givers. Between 2004 and 2008, Koch gave $246 million, focusing on "libertarian causes, giving money for academic and public policy research and social welfare."<ref>{{cite web|title=The 50 Top American Givers|url=http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/11/1124_biggest_givers/41.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203023933/http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/11/1124_biggest_givers/41.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2008|access-date=April 27, 2011|work=Bloomberg Businessweek}}</ref> Koch was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from [[George Mason University]] in recognition of his financial support "through scholarships, faculty recruitment, and research grants".<ref>[http://www.kochind.com/newsroom/news_stories_details.aspx?id=492 Charles Koch receives honorary degree from George Mason University] www.kochind.com. Retrieved April 2011.</ref>
In June 2019, the Charles Koch Foundation announced the foundation of anti-war think tank [[Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft]], cosponsored by George Soros' [[Open Society Foundations]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kinzer|first=Stephen|date=June 30, 2019|title=In an astonishing turn, George Soros and Charles Koch team up to end US 'forever war' policy|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2019/06/30/soros-and-koch-brothers-team-end-forever-war-policy/WhyENwjhG0vfo9Um6Zl0JO/story.html|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> He is a board member at the [[Mercatus Center]], a market-oriented research [[think tank]] at [[George Mason University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Board of Directors – Mercatus|url=http://mercatus.org/all-people/1285|access-date=January 23, 2014|publisher=Mercatus Center at George Mason University}}</ref>
Koch's [[Philanthropy|philanthropic]] activities have focused on research, policy, and educational projects intended to advance free-market views. He has underwritten scholarships and financed the research of economists such as [[James M. Buchanan|James Buchanan]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=MacLean |first=Nancy |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/987376346 |title=Democracy in chains : the deep history of the radical right's stealth plan for America |date=2017 |isbn=978-1-101-98096-5 |location=New York |oclc=987376346}}</ref> and Friedrich Hayek. He has also "supported efforts to inspire at-risk young people to consider entrepreneurship, to teach American students the principles of limited government, and to connect recent graduates with market-oriented organizations, in an effort to launch their careers in public policy."<ref name="philanthropy" /> Koch has given money to support public policy research focused on "developing voluntary, market-based solutions to social problems."<ref name="cgkf-bio">{{cite web|date=February 2009|title=About Charles G. Koch|url=http://www.cgkfoundation.org/about/charles-g-koch/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212065027/http://www.cgkfoundation.org/about/charles-g-koch|archive-date=December 12, 2010|access-date=December 12, 2010|publisher=[[Charles G. Koch Foundation]]}}</ref> He has given to the [[Bill of Rights Institute]], a non-profit group that educates teachers, students, and others about the [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]].<ref name="cgkf-bio" /><ref name="mm-bofri">{{cite web|title=Bill of Rights Institute|url=http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Bill_of_Rights_Institute|publisher=[[Media Matters for America]]}}</ref> He has also given to the [[Youth Entrepreneurs Kansas|Youth Entrepreneurs]], an organization that teaches business skills to at-risk youth in Kansas schools.<ref name="cgk-yek">{{cite web|title=Youth Entrepreneurs Kansas|url=http://www.kochfamilyfoundations.org/ProjectsYEK.asp|publisher=Charles G. Koch Foundation|access-date=December 12, 2010|archive-date=February 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205181441/http://www.kochfamilyfoundations.org/ProjectsYEK.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Line 87 ⟶ 86:
Koch acknowledges [[anthropogenic climate change]], but opposes top-down government regulation as a solution. Rather, he favors bottom-up technological innovation from private entities, saying they can lower emissions while improving efficiency and lowering costs.<ref name=reason-interview>{{cite interview | url=https://reason.com/podcast/2020/11/25/charles-koch-and-brian-hooks-believe-in-people/ | last=Koch | first=Charles | interviewer=[[Nick Gillespie]] | title=Charles Koch and Brian Hooks: Believe in People | quote=And so for many years I've been saying it. Okay, the temperature's been rising for over a century now, and human activity has contributed to it. But the approach is wrong. This top-down approach which they are using supposedly around the world, and emissions keep rising. So it's not accomplishing. What does, what has accomplished and what will accomplish are innovations, bottom-up innovations that, for example, substitute natural gas for coal.... And we're working on inventing things that will do two things: not just have less emissions, but will be cheaper and more affordable rather than much more expensive and unreliable, which makes people's lives worse. | date=November 25, 2020 | access-date=November 27, 2020}} (36:37-38:00)</ref>
He has heavily funded organizations and politicians who oppose [[Environmental policy of the United States|environmental regulations]].<ref name=nytimes2017>{{Cite news|last1=Davenport|first1=Coral|last2=Lipton|first2=Eric|date=2017-06-03|title=How G.O.P. Leaders Came to View Climate Change as Fake Science|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/us/politics/republican-leaders-climate-change.html|access-date=2020-09-05|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Mayer|first=Jane|title="Kochland" Examines the Koch Brothers' Early, Crucial Role in Climate-Change Denial|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/kochland-examines-how-the-koch-brothers-made-their-fortune-and-the-influence-it-bought|access-date=2020-09-05|magazine=The New Yorker|date=August 13, 2019|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Goldenberg |first1=Suzanne
The [[Pacific Legal Foundation]], funded by Koch, has litigated against increased environmental regulation.<ref name="NABT">{{cite news|last=Ahmed|first=Nafeez|author-link=Nafeez Ahmed|date=9 October 2020|title=Climate Science Denial Network Behind Great Barrington Declaration|work=Byline Times|url=https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/09/climate-science-denial-network-behind-great-barrington-declaration/|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010075115/https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/09/climate-science-denial-network-behind-great-barrington-declaration/|archive-date=10 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="Ahmed2">{{Cite news|author=Ahmed|first=Nafeez|author-link=Nafeez Ahmed|date=2020-10-03|title=Koch-Funded PR Agency Aided Great Barrington Declaration Sponsor|language=en|website=BylineTimes|url=https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/13/koch-funded-pr-agency-aided-great-barrington-declaration-sponsor/|access-date=2020-10-13}}</ref> The [[American Enterprise Institute]] received $2.1 million over two decades from the Charles Koch Foundation for its [[climate change denial]]ist activities.<ref name="NABT" /><ref name="Ahmed2" /> Together with [[ExxonMobil]]'s, Koch's wealth was also supplied to the [[Independent Institute]], another think-tank known for lobby in favor of climate change denial.<ref name="NABT" /><ref name="Ahmed2" /> Koch has also given money to the [[American Institute for Economic Research]], a right-wing libertarian think tank which also lobbies against climate science.<ref name="NABT" /><ref name="Ahmed2" /> Koch-backed [[Americans for Prosperity]] has fought efforts by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] to regulate carbon emissions.<ref name="Ramkumar">{{Cite news |last=Ramkumar |first=Amrith |date=2022-03-22 |title=WSJ News Exclusive {{!}} Koch Industries, Built on Oil, Bets Big on U.S. Batteries |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/koch-industries-built-on-oil-bets-big-on-u-s-batteries-11647946147 |access-date=2022-03-29 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> The Republican [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] adopted [[Environmental policy of the Donald Trump administration|environmental policies]] similar to those advocated for by Koch-funded groups.<ref name=nytimes2017/> Koch has backed the [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]] and the [[CO2 Coalition]], both of which also supported former President [[Donald Trump]]’s 2017 withdrawal from the [[Paris Agreement|Paris climate agreement.]]<ref name="Ramkumar"/>
In 2022, Koch was named one of the US' top 'climate villains' by ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-27 |title=The dirty dozen: meet America's top climate villains |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/27/climate-crisis-villains-americas-dirty-dozen |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> As of 2023, his company has received awards from the EPA for three consecutive years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCoy |first=Daniel |date=March 28, 2023 |title=Koch Industries Inc. notches EPA Energy Star award for third straight year |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2023/03/28/koch-epa-energy-star-third-consecutive-wichita.html |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref>
Line 112 ⟶ 111:
=== Sports and culture ===
In 2002, Koch Industries donated $6 million to renovate the Wichita State University basketball arena. The gift was given in honor of Koch, and the arena was subsequently renamed the [[Charles Koch Arena]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Charles Koch Arena|url=http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/buildingtour/?tour_sysid=15|access-date=May 22, 2013|publisher=Wichita State University|archive-date=March 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305231419/http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/buildingtour/?tour_sysid=15|url-status=dead}}</ref> Koch has continued to be a major donor to both the university and [[Wichita State Shockers|its athletic program]]. In December 2014, Koch Industries and the Koch family foundation donated $11.25 million to the university, the largest one-time gift in school history, with $4.5 million of that going toward a plan to renovate the arena and expand the athletic program's academic support center.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wenzl|first=Roy|date=December 16, 2014|title=Koch gives $11.25 million to Wichita State|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/special-reports/koch/article4517821.html|access-date=April 3, 2015}}</ref> Several months later, when [[Wichita State Shockers men's basketball|men's basketball]] head coach [[Gregg Marshall]] was considering an offer to become head coach at the [[Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball|University of Alabama]], Koch led a group of local business leaders and [[Booster club|WSU boosters]] that raised Marshall's annual salary from $1.85 million to $3 million and kept him at the school. The raise was seen as an unprecedented move for a school outside the [[Power Five conferences]], and likely to make Marshall among the 10 highest-paid college basketball coaches.<ref>{{cite news|last=Suellentrop|first=Paul|date=April 2, 2015|title=Wichita State, community work together to keep Gregg Marshall|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|url=http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article17258015.html|access-date=April 3, 2015}}</ref>
Through the Koch Cultural Trust, founded by Charles
==Personal life==
Koch has been married to his wife Liz since 1972.<!-- Feb 2009 source says 37 years--><ref name="cgk-bio">{{cite web |url=https://www.charleskochfoundation.org/about-us/charles-g-koch/ |title=Charles G. Koch {{!}} Charles Koch Foundation |publisher=Charles G. Koch Foundation |access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> He has two children, [[Chase Koch]] and [[Elizabeth Koch (publisher)|Elizabeth Koch]].<ref name=covert/><ref name="Mr. Big">[https://www.forbes.com/global/2006/0313/024.html Mr. Big] Forbes.com. Retrieved November 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nnp.org/nni/Publications/Dutch-American/kochc.htm|title=Koch, Charles (1935)|publisher=New Netherland Project|access-date=November 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213104651/http://www.nnp.org/nni/Publications/Dutch-American/kochc.htm|archive-date=December 13, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Charles and his three brothers have all suffered from [[prostate cancer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncrp.org/news-room/news-2008/122-a-personal-stake-in-giving/ |title=Donor aims to 'lick' illness that he has battled for 15 years |publisher=The Chronicle of Philanthropy |access-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301211246/http://www.ncrp.org/news-room/news-2008/122-a-personal-stake-in-giving |archive-date=March 1, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Koch "rarely grants media interviews and prefers to keep a low profile".<ref name=Greik/> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine included Charles and David Koch among the most influential people of 2011. According to the magazine, the list includes "activists, reformers and researchers, heads of state and captains of industry." The article describes the brothers' commitment to free-market principles, the growth and development of their business, and their support for [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]] organizations and political candidates.<ref name=time>{{cite magazine|last=Ferguson|first=Andrew|title=The 2011 Time 100 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425093926/https://time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066324,00.html |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066324,00.html|magazine=Time|access-date=April 22, 2011 |date=April 21, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 25, 2011}}</ref> Koch lives in Wichita, Kansas,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.charleskochinstitute.org/about-us/charles-g-koch/|title=Charles G. Koch {{!}} Charles Koch Institute|work=Charles Koch Institute|access-date=2018-05-05|archive-date=May 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506035908/https://www.charleskochinstitute.org/about-us/charles-g-koch/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and has homes in [[Indian Wells, California]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Robinson|first1=Peter |author-link1=Peter Robinson (speechwriter)|title=Good Profit Part I|url=http://www.hoover.org/research/good-profit-part-1|website=Uncomomn Knowledge|publisher=[[Hoover Institution]]|date=April 14, 2016|quote=Video Interview, recorded March 18, 2016}}</ref> and Aspen, [[Colorado]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aspenjournalism.org/2012/04/02/the-aspen-50-forbes-billionaires-in-pitkin-county/|title=The Aspen 50 – Forbes billionaires in Pitkin County|work=Aspen Journalism|access-date=2018-05-05|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162239/https://www.aspenjournalism.org/2012/04/02/the-aspen-50-forbes-billionaires-in-pitkin-county/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Koch is [[Irreligion|irreligious]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=McGurn|first=William|date=2017-10-02|title=The Morality of Charles Koch|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-morality-of-charles-koch-1506983981|access-date=2022-01-29|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
==Awards==
Line 149 ⟶ 148:
* The 2011 William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership from the [[Philanthropy Roundtable]]
* The 2011 Defender of Justice award from the [[National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers]]<ref name=tAtl>{{cite web| last =Ball| first =Molly| title =Do the Koch Brothers Really Care About Criminal-Justice Reform?| work =The Atlantic| date =Mar 3, 2015| url =https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/do-the-koch-brothers-really-care-about-criminal-justice-reform/386615/}}</ref>
* In 2013, AdvisoryCloud ranked him number two on their Top Chief Executive List <ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 Top Private CEOs |url=https://www.advisorycloud.com/rankings/2013-top-private-company-ceos/
* In 2022, [[Ellis Island Honors Society]] presented Charles Koch with the [[Ellis Island Medal of Honor]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MEDALISTS |url=https://www.eihonors.org/medalists |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=ELLIS ISLAND HONORS SOCIETY |language=en-US}}</ref>
Line 203 ⟶ 202:
[[Category:People named in the Paradise Papers]]
[[Category:Member of the Mont Pelerin Society]]
[[Category:Kansas Business Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni]]
| |||