William Ingraham Koch Wiki Biography
William Ingraham Koch is an American businessman, art collector and sailor born on 3rd May 1940. He is the twin brother of David Koch, the executive vice president of Koch Industries, who bought out his brother’s share in the company in 1983. Bill Koch then formed his own carbon company, building a fortune from oil and other investments.
Have you ever wondered how rich William Koch is? According to sources it has been estimated that William Koch’s overall net worth is $1.24 billion, as of July 2017, accumulated initially thanks to his share in his father’s Koch Industries corporation. However, after developing his own company and business, William significantly increased his net worth in his own right.
William Koch Net Worth $1.24 Billion
William is the son of Fred C.Koch, founder of the oil refining business empire Koch Industries, and grandson of Harry Koch, a Dutch immigrant and founder of the “Quanah Tribune-Chief” newspaper and shareholder of Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railway. He went to Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana, and eventually graduated with BA and MA degrees and a PhD in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At first, William worked in his family’s business, as he and his brother Frederick R. Koch inherited Koch Industries stock. In 1983 they decided to sell their shares to brothers David and Charles, and earned a sum of $800 million. However, the legal disputes between the brothers lasted for about two decades. Eventually, Bill and Frederick sided with J. Howard Marshall III, in their aim to take over the company. In 2001 the two brothers charged the Koch Industries for taking oil from federal and Indian land, which ended the dispute between the two sides. William received one third of the final settlement of $25 million, as CBS News reported.
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After leaving his family business, Koch founded and became president of an energy development holding company – Oxbow Group. This company donated a sum of $750 000 to political action committee “Restore Our Future”, supporting Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in 2011. Apart from this, William co-chairs the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, which fights the project of building an offshore wind farm of 130 turbines. In addition to his activities as a businessman, Koch is also a sailor, art collector and activist. In 1992 his yacht “America 3” won the America’s Cup, which earned him a place in the America’s Cup Hall of Fame a year later. He also supports the Sea Scout program of the Boy Scouts of America. As a collector of arts and wine, William filed several suits against sellers of false wines. His art collection includes model ships, nautical instruments and paintings.
When it comes to his personal life, Koch married Joan Granlund in 1994 with whom he has a son, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2004. William remarried in 2005, this time to Bridget Rooney, the granddaughter of Art Rooney, the original owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They mostly reside in Palm Beach, Florida.
Full Name | Bill Koch |
Net Worth | $1.24 Billion |
Date Of Birth | May 3, 1940 |
Died | September 17, 2001, Santa Claus, Indiana, United States |
Place Of Birth | Wichita, Kansas, United States |
Profession | Businessman, sailor, collector |
Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana |
Nationality | American |
Spouse | Angela Browder Gauntt (1996-2000), Bridget Rooney (m. 2005) |
Children | Charlotte, William Jr., Robin, Kaitlin Koch |
Parents | Mary Clementine (née Robinson), Fred C. Koch |
Siblings | David Koch, Charles Koch, Frederick R. Koch |
Partner | Marie Beard |
IMDB | http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4322198/ |
Awards | America’s Cup in 1992 with the yacht America 3 (1992) |
Nominations | America’s Cup Hall of Fame (1993) |
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