Min H. Kao (Chinese: 高民環; pinyin: Gāo Mínhuán) is a Taiwanese-American electrical engineer, billionaire businessman, and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of Garmin, with Gary Burrell, and its chairman.
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 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.[6] 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.[7]
In 2014, Kao donated $1 million to the University of Kansas College of Engineering for the building of electrical and computer engineering design labs.[8] In 2015, Kao donated $1 million to the Kansas State University College of Engineering for building four labs.[9]
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.[10] He spends the majority of his time in Manhattan.[11]
As of February 2020, his personal wealth was estimated at $4.1 billion.
