David Koch, billionaire conservative donor, dies at 79
Businessman, prolific political donor, and philanthropist David Koch has died at 79, CBS News and NBC News report.
The death of Koch, who was ranked by Forbes as the 11th richest person in the world in 2019 with a net worth of $42 billion, was confirmed on Friday by his brother, Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch, in a statement per CNN's Kaitlan Collins.
Along with his brother Charles, Koch had been an extraordinarily influential conservative political donor and activist for decades. During the 2012 presidential election, the Koch brothers' network spent nearly $400 million, The New York Times reports, and it spent more than $1 billion in the past few elections, NBC News reports. The network earlier this year said it would stay out of the 2020 election.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"With millions of dollars in donations over the years, the Kochs' contribution to today’s Republican Party has been seminal, helping to solidify doctrine that favored businesses and worked against stricter environmental regulations," the Times wrote last year.
Outside of political contributions, Koch also donated more than $1 billion to charity, The Wall Street Journal reports. He served as the Libertarian Party's nominee for vice president during the 1980 presidential election, and The New Yorker in 2018 described him as the "more visible of the brothers."
In June 2018, Koch retired as vice president of Koch Industries due to his "declining health" that was first reported in 2016, reports USA Today. "Unfortunately, these issues have not been resolved, and his health has continued to deteriorate," Charles Koch said upon David's retirement. In his statement on Friday, Charles said that David was given only a few years to live when being diagnosed with prostate cancer 27 years ago.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Not cross buns': the row over recipe revamps
Talking Point New versions of the Easter favourite have sparked controversy but sales are soaring
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
The England kit: a furore over the flag
Why everyone's talking about Nike's redesign of the St George's Cross on the collar of the English national team's shirt has caused controversy
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: March 29, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published