David Koch net worth: How much was the billionaire conservative donor worth?

Billionaire conservative donor David Koch has passed away at 79. The details surrounding his death are still unclear but his brother released a statement about his passing.

After attending MIT, he joined his father’s company, Koch Industries. He was a famous donor to the Republican party and fueled the right-wing, alongside his brother, Charles Koch. He and Charles donated to the GOP starting in the 1980s. They co-owned Koch Industries, which is the second largest privately held company in the US. Koch Industries is an oil, chemical and textiles business based in their hometown, Wichita, Kansas, known for frequently being fined for ignoring environmental regulations.

The billionaire leaves behind his wife, Julia, and three children.

How much was David Koch worth when he died?

When he died, he was worth an estimated $59 billion according to Bloomberg, which made him the 7th richest person in the world, tied with his brother. He’s also reported to be the fourth richest person in the United States and the wealthiest person residing in New York City.

What did David Koch spend his money on?

He owned two homes in New York. In Manhattan, he had a $40 million mansion on the Upper East Side. In Southampton, he lived on the aptly nicknamed "Billionaire Lane." His Aspen, Colarado compound is said to be worth $100 million and boasts 28 bedrooms, 25 bathrooms and five half bathrooms.

He owned a winter home in Palm Beach, Florida, thought to be worth $27 million. He famously tried to erect an enormous fence around the 30,000 square-foot beachfront home.

He also rented a Mediterranean yacht for $500,000 a week during the summer. He was a regular on the gala circuit in New York City alongside his wife. His brother leads a far quieter life in Kansas

What causes did David Koch financially support?

Koch Industries had to pay millions of dollars in penalties and fines for oil spills and disregarding environmental regulations. They famously donated to Republican campaigns. In 2011, David called President Obama “the most radical present we’ve ever had as a nation,” according to CNBC.

He spent at least $100 million on right-wing political campaigns in 2014, which helped the Republican party retake control of Congress. He donated to Americans for Prosperity, which is the right-wing advocacy group that helped fuel the Tea Party. He used his money to build the "Kochtopus," a network of right wing think tanks and political committees.

He donated $100 million to Lincoln Center and the New York State Theater was then renamed and called the David H Koch Theater. He donated $65 million to renovate the plaza at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They also donated to initiatives that went against efforts to address climate change, as they profited from fossil fuels. They were famously against renewable energy sources.

He’s thought to have given $395 million to medical research projects from 1998 to 2012 and donated to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the Museum of Natural History.