Awards & Recognition
★2011 International Executive of the Year - Greater Houston Partnership & Kiwanis Club of Houston
★2023 Robert C. McNair Civic Leadership Award - Greater Houston Partnership (family award)
★Forbes Billionaires List ranking (tied for 624th place with $4.9 billion net worth)
★Company recognition: Houston Chronicle Company of the Year 2011
Notable Facts
→Executive Chairman of Westlake Corporation (Fortune 500 #326), stepped down as CEO in July 2024
→Co-founded Westlake Chemical in 1986 with father T.T. Chao and brother James Chao
→Member of Forbes Billionaires List with estimated $4.9 billion net worth
→Over 40 years experience in petrochemical industry
→Board member of multiple prestigious organizations including Rice University, Asia Society, Houston Grand Opera
→Served on Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Houston Branch board
→Led successful $3.8 billion acquisition of Axiall Corporation in 2016
→Member of Committee of 100 (Chinese-American leadership organization)
→Education: B.A. from Brandeis University, MBA from Columbia University