Charles Koch

Charles Koch has been chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, America's second largest private company by revenue, since 1967.The diversified company has some $110 billion in revenues from businesses including pipelines, chemicals, Dixie cups, and Stainmaster carpet.His father, Fred Koch, improved a method of refining heavy oil into gasoline in 1927 and started the family business in 1940.The Kansas native owns a 42% stake in the firm, as does his brother, David; they bought their two other brothers' shares in 1983. His son Chase heads the company's venture capital arm, which has invested in hybrid cloud firm Mesosphere and 3D metal printing startup Desktop Metal.