Publication - April 14, 2011
One year ago, not many knew the name Koch Industries, a
publicity-averse private company run by two brothers, David
and Charles Koch. The Koch brothers each have an estimated
net personal wealth of more than $21 billion and are
now tied for the fifth richest man in America, ranking among
the top 20 richest people in the world.1 A year ago, even
reporters at major outlets responded “who?” in conversation
about the Koch brothers or Koch Industries. Fortunately, the
shroud of secrecy is being lifted.
Greenpeace released the report Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine in March, 2010 garnering international media attention. In August, The New Yorker magazine published a ten thousand-word investigation, Covert Operations: The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama. David Koch tried to undermine the New Yorker story by placing a rare interview in New York magazine intended to offer a flattering portrait but instead adding fuel to the fire. Now, a growing awareness of these oil billionaires’ destructive agenda has led to increased scrutiny and resistance from people and organizations all over the United States.
Koch Industries Still Fueling Climate Denial