| Min H. Kao | |
| Native Name: | 高民環 |
| Birth Place: | Zhushan, Taiwan |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Co-founder and chairman, Garmin |
| Education: | National Taiwan University (BS) University of Tennessee (MS, PhD) |
| Spouse: | Married |
| Children: | 2, including Jen Kao |
Min H. Kao is a Taiwanese-American electrical engineer, billionaire businessman, and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of Garmin, with Gary Burrell, and has been its chairman.
In 2011, Kao was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for leadership in developing and commercializing compact GPS navigation devices.
Min H. Kao was born in 1949 in Zhushan, Nantou, a small town in Taiwan. He graduated from the National Taiwan University with a Degree in Electrical Engineering, and earned an Msc and a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1977.[1] [2] [3]
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]
Kao stepped down as CEO of Garmin in 2012, but remains executive chairman and a member of the board.[5]
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.[11] He spends the majority of his time in Manhattan.[12]
As of February 2020, his personal wealth was estimated at $4.1 billion.
In 2021 Kao was selected by the Carnegie Corporation as a "Great Immigrant, Great American".[13]