[![The Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty logo](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2026-07/friedman-logo_white.png?itok=B7LaXBPQ)](https://www.cato.org/milton-friedman-prize-advancing-liberty) 2025 Award Recipient ## Charles Koch Lawmakers, business leaders, journalists, policy professionals, and Cato Partners gathered on May 1, 2025, to celebrate the biennial Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty, awarded to **Charles Koch** for his tireless efforts to advance human freedom. As chair of Koch Inc. and founder of the Stand Together philanthropic community, Koch has spent decades championing the principles that characterize a free and prosperous society. Speakers included Koch’s son, **Chase Koch**, executive vice president of Koch Inc.; **Peter Goettler**, president and CEO of the Cato Institute; and **Patrick Collison**, cofounder and CEO of Stripe Inc., in conversation with **Ryan Bourne**, R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics at Cato. ![Charles Koch, winner of the 2025 Milton Friedman Prize](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2026-07/2025-05-01-Milton%20Friedman%20Prize%20Dinner-DC-j--115%201.jpg?itok=qsbVW2yS) ![Peter Goettler speaks at the 2025 Friedman Prize dinner.](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2026-07/2025-05-01-Milton%20Friedman%20Prize%20Dinner-DC-h--112%201.jpg?itok=tDnVwsaJ) ![Patrick Collison, cofounder and CEO of Stripe Inc., in conversation with Ryan Bourne, R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics at Cato.](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2026-07/2025-05-01-Milton%20Friedman%20Prize%20Dinner-DC-k--13%201.jpg?itok=6QVX6You) ![Chase Koch, executive vice president of Koch Inc. speaks at the 2025 Friedman Prize dinner.](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2026-07/2025-05-01-Milton%20Friedman%20Prize%20Dinner-DC-i--13%201.jpg?itok=Ch13vath) ![2025 Friedman Prize - Phil Gramm](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2026-07/2025-05-01-Milton%20Friedman%20Prize%20Dinner-DC-e--43.png?itok=nLBcifDl) ## Watch the Video Tribute --- Next Up [![Portrait of Ed Crane](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2026-02/Ed%20Crane-extended.jpg?itok=m0ivvVEj)](https://www.cato.org/annualreport25/memoriam-ed-crane-1944-2026) Publications ### [In Memoriam: Ed Crane: 1944–2026](/annualreport25/memoriam-ed-crane-1944-2026) [![A stack of Cato books](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2021-03/cato_publications.png?itok=iK73eCkA)](https://www.cato.org/annualreport2025/cato-books) ### [Cato Books](/annualreport2025/cato-books) [![Cato HQ - 2024 Annual Report (List)](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-07/cato-hq-ar.png?itok=2njkewcR)](https://www.cato.org/annualreport25/financial-results) ### [Financial Results](/annualreport25/financial-results)