Julia Koch

Julia Koch

Director of Koch Industries and president of the David H. Koch Foundation · Updated 14 Nov 2026

Julia Koch, 64, inherited David Koch's 42% of Koch, Inc. with her children; Forbes valued the family at $84.6 billion on 12 November 2026 4.

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QUICK FACTS
Full nameJulia Margaret Flesher Koch
Born12 April 1962, Iowa
Age64 (November 2026)
EducationUniversity of Central Arkansas
SpouseDavid Koch (married 1996; died 2019)
ChildrenThree
RolesDirector of Koch Industries; president of the David H. Koch Foundation
Net worthAbout $84.6 billion with family (Forbes, 12 November 2026)
01 · Biography

Who is Julia Koch?

Julia Koch is the widow of David Koch and, with her three children, the co-owner of a 42% stake in Koch, Inc. Forbes lists the fortune as “Julia Koch and family” and valued it at $84.6 billion on 12 November 2026, 24th in the world and third among women 4. She sits on the board of Koch Industries and is president of the David H. Koch Foundation 1.

How did Julia Koch make her money?

She inherited it. When David Koch died in August 2019, Julia and their three children inherited his 42% stake in Koch, Inc., formerly Koch Industries. His brother Charles Koch holds another 42%, and the Marshall family holds the rest, according to a summary of the company’s ownership 15.

Early life and education

Julia Margaret Flesher was born on 12 April 1962 in Iowa, the daughter of Margaret and Frederic Flesher, who owned a furniture store. She grew up in Arkansas and studied at the University of Central Arkansas 16.

Fashion career and marriage

Before she married, she worked in fashion as an assistant to the designer Adolfo, whose clients included former First Lady Nancy Reagan. She married David Koch in 1996 13.

Philanthropy

She is president of the David H. Koch Foundation. The Kochs gave $10 million to Mount Sinai’s Jaffe Food Allergy Institute in 2012 to create a food-allergy research programme, according to Powerbase 2. Read Julia Koch’s family.

Julia Koch net worth

Forbes put the family at $84.6 billion on 12 November 2026, about ₹8.0 lakh crore at ₹94 to the dollar, up from about $81.2 billion in August 14. See Julia Koch net worth and our ranking of the wealthiest women in the world.

In this profile · 6 pages

Everything about Julia Koch

Net worth1 min$84.6 billion from a 42% stake in Koch, Inc.Read net worth → Biography1 minIowa birth, Arkansas upbringing, a fashion job and marriage to David Koch.Read biography → Family1 minWidow of David Koch and mother of three.Read family → Companies1 minA 42% stake shared with her children and a board seat.Read companies → Lifestyle1 minThe David H. Koch Foundation and a food-allergy research gift.Read lifestyle → Timeline1 min1996 marriage and the 2019 inheritance of a 42% stake.Read timeline →
02 · Timeline

Career timelineCareer at a glance

Full timeline
  1. 1962BORNBorn in Iowa as Julia Margaret Flesher
  2. 1996MILESTONEMarries David Koch
  3. 2012MILESTONEThe Kochs give $10 million to Mount Sinai's Jaffe Food Allergy Institute
  4. 2019MILESTONEDavid Koch dies; she and her children inherit his 42% stake in Koch, Inc.
  5. 2026MILESTONEForbes values her family at $84.6 billion, third among women
06 · FAQ

Questions people ask

Julia Koch is the widow of David Koch and, with her three children, holds a 42% stake in Koch, Inc. She is one of the richest women in the world.
She was born on 12 April 1962, so she is 64 in November 2026.
About $84.6 billion with her family, on Forbes' real-time list on 12 November 2026.
She and her children inherited David Koch's 42% stake in Koch, Inc. after he died in August 2019.
Sources Last verified 14 Nov 2026
  1. 1Wikipedia, Julia Koch, 1 Aug 2026, Birth, inheritance
  2. 2BillionaireTracker, Real-Time Billionaires List, 12 Nov 2026, Forbes real-time
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