Charles Koch and David Koch inherited Koch Industries from their father, Fred. The company initially started in oil refineries and chemicals. Under the brothers' leadership, Koch Industries grew to more than 2,000 times its original size, encompassing interests in process and pollution control technologies, minerals, textiles, commodity trading and services, ranching, fertilizers, forest and consumer products. They are the company behind well-known brands such as Stainmaster, Lycra, Dixie paper products and Quilted Northern tissue paper.
Charles Koch is a noted philanthropist, apart from being a successful businessman. Koch Industries supports various charities, including the Institute for Humane Studies and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. A very active libertarian, Charles Koch also founded the Cato Institute in Washington DC, which was initially called the Charles Koch Foundation. The Cato Institute is a “think tank” that aims to promote applicable policy proposals for a better USA and the rest of the world. Charles Koch, along with wife Elizabeth, put up the Koch Cultural Trust as well, in order to fund artists in their projects. He has written a book entitled, “The Science of Success”, published in 2007, on his management philosophy that has helped him get to where he is now.
According to TIME magazine, Charles Koch was ranked among the most influential people of 2011, not only because of his achievements in business, but also because of his very vocal participation in philanthropic and political causes.