Min Kao

Min H. Kao (traditional Chinese: 高民環; simplified Chinese: 高民环; pinyin: Gāo Mínhuán) is a Taiwanese-American electrical engineer, billionaire businessman, and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of Garmin, with Gary Burrell. As of February 2020, his personal wealth was estimated at $4.1 billion.

Min H. Kao
Born1949 (age 71–72)
Zhushan, Taiwan
NationalityAmerican
Alma materNational Taiwan University (BS)
University of Tennessee (MS; PhD)
OccupationCo-founder of Garmin
Known forCo-founder of the Garmin GPS company
Net worthUS$4.1 billion (February 2020)[1]
Spouse(s)Married
Children2, including Jen Kao
In this Chinese name, the family name is 高 (Kao).

Early life

Min H. Kao was born in 1949 in a small town in Taiwan called Zhushan in Nantou. He graduated from the National Taiwan University in Taiwan and earned a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1977.[1][2][3]

Career

Kao undertook research for NASA and the United States Army.[3] He was subsequently a systems analyst for Teledyne Systems, an algorithm designer for Magnavox Advanced Products, and an engineering group leader for King Radio Corporation.[3] He also worked for AlliedSignal.[1]

In 1989, with Gary Burrell, Kao co-founded Garmin, a company best known for manufacturing devices that use the Global Positioning System.[1][4]

Philanthropy

In 2005, Kao gave $17.5 million to the College of Engineering of the University of Tennessee, $12.5 million of which was designated for the construction of a new facility.[5] In May 2007, groundbreaking ceremonies were conducted for the new Min Kao Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building. The building was dedicated in March 2012.[6]

In 2014, Kao donated $1 million to the University of Kansas College of Engineering for the building of electrical and computer engineering design labs.[7] In 2015, Kao donated $1 million to the Kansas State University College of Engineering for building four labs.[8]

Personal life

Kao is married to Fan Kao.[4] They have a son, Ken Kao, who is a film producer, and a daughter, Jen Kao, who is a fashion designer.[4] They reside in Leawood, Kansas.[1] In 2011, he purchased an apartment in 15 Central Park West, Manhattan, New York City.[9] He is selling his Kansas City area residence for $5 million as he spends the majority of his time in Manhattan.[10]

References
  1. "Forbes profile: Min Kao". Forbes. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  2. Karmin, Craig (January 6, 2010). "CEO of GPS Maker Locates a New Home". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  3. "Leadership: Dr. Min Kao". Garmin. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  4. Stafford, Diane (December 20, 2012). "Garmin success starts with co-founder". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  5. Min Kao Home page at Univ of Tennessee Archived June 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "UT and Min Kao Dedicate New Engineering Building", University of Tennessee news, March 14, 2012
  7. Kingery, Dalton (2014-02-10). "Garmin co-founder Dr. Min Kao donates $1M to KU School of Engineering | News". kansan.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  8. "Garmin executive gives $1 million to Kansas State University engineering expansion | Kansas State University | News and Communications Services". K-state.edu. 2015-05-15. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  9. Karmin, Craig (January 6, 2011). "CEO of GPS Maker Locates a New Home". The Wall Street Journal.
  10. "Location Maps & Information". Ims.jocogov.org. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
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