Rank #1247
James Chao & family
Net worth $3.5B
Chemicals, building products · United States
- Born
- Sep 15, 1947
- Age
- 78
- Source
- Chemicals, building products
- Residence
- Houston, Texas
- Citizenship
- United States
- Marital status
- Children
- 0
- Education
- Bachelor of Arts/Science, Massachusetts Institue of Technology
Net worth over time
Biography
- James Chao is estimated to own nearly 25% of Westlake Corporation, one of North America's largest producers of low-density polyethylene, used for food packaging and more.
- His father T.T. Chao moved the family from Taiwan to the U.S. and founded Westlake in 1986. James and brother Albert are credited with helping launch the company.
- James was chairman from 2004 to July 2024, when he became senior chairman. Albert was CEO from 2004 to July 2024, when he became executive chairman.
- Albert and sister Dorothy Chao Jenkins are also estimated to own nearly 25% of Westlake.
- Dorothy is married to Charles H. Jenkins, Jr., the former chairman of his family's supermarket chain, Publix. She retired as a director of Westlake in 2023.
- James' daughter Catherine Chao and son David Chao sit on Westlake's board alongside Albert's daughter Carolyn Chao Sabat and son John Chao.
Financial assets
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