Elizabeth 'Liz' Koch is the daughter of American billionaire industrialist Charles Koch, co-owner of Koch Industries, and his wife Elizabeth 'Liz' Koch. Born into immense wealth, she grew up in Wichita, Kansas, alongside her brother Chase Koch, in a family renowned for its influence in conservative and libertarian politics through substantial donations. Despite her family's high-profile political involvement, Elizabeth Koch has publicly described herself as apolitical, choosing instead to explore interests in literature, science, human cognition, and creative/artistic endeavors. She maintains a private life and low public profile while being involved in family philanthropy and supporting conservative causes through the family foundation, though she personally avoids direct political involvement.

Koch pursued a liberal arts education, graduating from Wichita Collegiate School before earning a B.A. in English literature from Princeton University and later obtaining an M.F.A. Her upbringing emphasized the responsibilities and perils of wealth as instilled by her father, shaping her perspective on personal identity and fortune. In recent years, her work has centered on neuroscience and the study of self-perception, reflecting a shift toward scientific inquiry over political engagement.

As a member of one of the world's richest families, with her father's net worth estimated at around $66 billion, Koch's activities intersect with broader networks of influence through the family's business and charitable efforts.