What is Julia Flesher Koch's net worth?
Julia Flesher Koch is an American businesswoman and philanthropist who has a net worth of $63 billion.
Julia Flesher Koch inherited her fortune as the widow of billionaire tycoon David Koch. She inherited 42% of Koch industries upon his death.
She was married to David Koch from 1996 until his passing in August 2019 at the age of 79. Julia and David have three children Mary Julia, John Mark, and David Koch Jr.
At the time of his death in August 2019, the fortune she inherited was worth around $50 billion. That amount at that time instantly made Julia one of the 10 richest people on the planet and the #1 richest woman in the world. As of this writing Julia is the second richest woman on the planet and one of the 25 richest people in the world.
Koch Industries Inheritence
Julia Flesher Koch and her children inherited a 42% stake in Koch Industries upon his death in August 2019. Koch Industries is one of the largest and most valuable private companies in the world with annual revenues north of $120 billion.
Biography
Julia Flesher Koch was born in Indianola, Iowa in 1963. Her family operated a furniture store in town until the early 1970s when they moved to Conway, Arkansas to open a clothing store.
Julia is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas.
Prior to meeting David, Julia worked as an assistant to designer Adolfo and also helped style Nancy Reagan.
Julia met David Koch in 1991 when they were set up on a blind date. The first date did not result in a relationship. Interestingly, a few years later they were set up on another date. Julia knew who the date was with, but David apparently had no recollection of their previous date. Despite the awkward re-start, the two finally hit it off and began seeing each other regularly. They married in 1996 at Davids estate in Southampton. Julia and David would go on to have three children and remained together until his death in 2019.
David Koch became president of Koch Engineering in 1979 and co-owner of Koch Industries in 1983. He was an executive vice president until he retired because of health issues in 2018. He was also a Libertarian candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1980.
Getty
Real Estate Portfolio
Over two transactions, the first in 1989 and the second in 1991, David paid $4 million for two side-by-side mansions in Aspen. David's brother Charles owns a home directly across the street. Today this combined property is worth at least $20 million.
In 1992, four years prior to marrying Julia, David paid $7.5 million for a seven-bedroom mansion on Meadow Lane in Southampton, New York. Today this property is likely worth $40-50 million.
In 1998, David and Julia paid $10.5 million for a 1920s-era mansion called Villa el Sarmiento in Palm Beach, Florida. Today this property is potentially worth north of $70 million.
In 2004, Julia and David paid $17 million for an 18-room duplex co-op apartment at 740 Park Avenue. The seller at the time was the Japanese government, which had been using it as a residence for their United Nations representative. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. was a previous owner of the unit. In February 2022 Julia reportedly began quietly shopping the unit around at a minimum asking price of $60 million. There are only 30 units in the entire building at 740 Park Avenue. It has been referred to as "the richest building in the world."
In August 2018, Julia and David paid $40.25 million for a 15,000 square foot townhouse in New York City. In July 2023 it was confirmed that Julia had sold this unit for $40.25 million.
In 2021 Julia paid $70 million for an oceanfront estate in Southampton.
In 2022 Julia bought two Upper East Side apartments from the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for a combined $101 million.
