Conservative Billionaire David Koch Dead at 79

David Koch, the billionaire (a net worth of $50.5 billion) libertarian who used his riches to contribute to right-wing movements and various charities, is dead at age 79. Koch gave upwards of $1 billion to charitable causes during his lifetime, but was more well-known for his role in politics.

Though Koch was a liberal on most social issues, he used his billions to support conservative causes that favored lowering taxes, free trade and, frankly, climate change denial. He was the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate in 1980.

David and his older brother Charles Koch helped finance the Tea Party movement that led Republicans to win control of the House in 2010 during President Barack Obama’s first term. While the Koch brothers did not support Donald Trump during his campaign to become president, they did support some of his ideas, namely looser government regulation.

Koch is survived by his brothers Charles, William and Frederick, wife Julia, and three children.