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David Koch
Billionaire David Koch, a major donor to the Republican party, has died aged 79, according to family sources.
The former majority owner of Koch Industries was ranked by Forbes below brother Charles as the 11th richest person in the world.
The native of Wichita, Kansas, ran for president as a Libertarian in 1980, calling for the abolishment of several federal government agencies.
The brothers had a huge influence on the conservative movement.
Their push for small government and a free economy made them both famous and controversial.
They fell out with President Donald Trump over his trade tariff policy.
- ‘Blood and money’: The story of the Koch brothers
In 2018 Koch stepped down from Koch Industries – which refines crude oil, produces fertiliser, and manufactures household products – citing his declining health.
He had been a major donor to the arts, especially ballet, and donated to New York’s Lincoln Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center hospital.