David H Murdock

Chairman Dole Food Company, Inc; Chairman, Castle & Cooke Inc

David H. Murdock, who rose from hardscrabble beginnings to become a billionaire investor, real estate mogul, corporate raider and philanthropist, and whose late-in-life devotion to healthy nutrition led him to announce that he planned to live to 125, died on Monday June 9 2025 at his ranch in the Southern California city of Thousand Oaks. He was 104. Murdock, who dropped out of school at 14 and was briefly a homeless veteran of World War II, made his first fortune in real estate and then acquired controlling stakes in a variety of public companies, including the Dole Food Company and the textile manufacturer Cannon Mills. High school dropout drafted into Army 1943; settled in Detroit after WWII. Bought diner with $1,800 loan; flipped quickly for small profit. Built homes in Arizona, California; survived real estate market crash. Bought slice of Dole produce outfit, Castle & Cooke real estate firm. Dole sales up 10% in past 12 months despite rising food costs. Actively pursuing health and nutrition research since his third wife passed away from cancer in 1985. Expanded his $1.5 billion North Carolina Research Campus; studying biotech, disease, biorepository. Over time, he turned Castle & Cooke into a successful real estate developer, separating it from its Dole subsidiary. In 2012, he took in hundreds of millions of dollars by selling Lanai to the Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison. He ran Dole for more than 30 years, piling up enormous profits year after year through its global reach, with world headquarters in Dublin and U.S. headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. Married five times, Mr. Murdock was especially devoted to his German-born third wife, Gabriele Murdock, whom he married in 1967. She died of ovarian cancer in 1985 at age 43. The couple had two sons, and Mr. Murdock adopted a son from his wife’s previous marriage. Less than a year after the death of his wife Gabriele to cancer in 1985, his oldest son, Eugene, 23, drowned in the pool at the family’s estate in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mr. Murdock’s second son, David II, was killed at age 36 in a car crash on the Santa Monica Freeway in 2004. Murdock is survived by his youngest son, Justin, and a granddaughter.

Relationships Interlocks Giving Data

Donors to Common Recipients

Recipients of donations from David H Murdock also received donations from these orgs and people

Donor	Common Recipients
Ken Kies	Lamar Alexander, Richard Burr, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Trent Lott, John McCain, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, Bob Packwood, Guy Adrian Vander Jagt, Donald Trump, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Matthew K Fong, ORRINPAC, Wayne Parker Jr, George H W Bush, Bill Thomas, John W. Warner III, Thom Tillis, McCarthy Victory Fund 2014, Trump Victory
John C Whitehead	Spencer Abraham, Lamar Alexander, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Chuck Grassley, Trent Lott, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Bob Packwood, Michael Huffington, Pete Wilson, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Matthew K Fong, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Dick Zimmer, NRSC - Nonfederal, Campaign America Inc, Tom Campbell, George H W Bush, Bill Weld, William Emerson Brock III, John F Seymour, John W. Warner III, Richard L Thornburgh, Rudy Boschwitz
Bryce L Harlow	Spencer Abraham, Lamar Alexander, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Trent Lott, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Bob Packwood, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, NRSC - Nonfederal, ORRINPAC, Tom Campbell, Frank Murkowski, Wayne Parker Jr, George H W Bush, William Emerson Brock III, National Republican Congressional Cmte
Harold Simmons	Spencer Abraham, Sam Brownback, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, Orrin Hatch, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Michael Huffington, Lynn Morley Martin, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Dick Zimmer, NRSC - Nonfederal, Frank Murkowski, Richard J Monteith, John F Seymour, John W. Warner III, Richard L Thornburgh, Rudy Boschwitz
Frank Baxter	Spencer Abraham, Lamar Alexander, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Ken Calvert, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, David Timothy Dreier, Orrin Hatch, Dan Lungren, John McCain, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, John Thune, Jim Talent, Bob Dole, Michael Huffington, Pete Wilson, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Matthew K Fong, California Republican Party/V8, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, NRSC - Nonfederal, Campaign America Inc, Tom Campbell, George H W Bush, Bill Weld, John F Seymour, McCarthy Victory Fund 2014
John W Childs	Spencer Abraham, Lamar Alexander, Richard Burr, Ken Calvert, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, John McCain, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Sue Myrick, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Donald Trump, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, California Republican Party/V8, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, NRSC - Nonfederal, Campaign America Inc, Bill Weld, Thom Tillis, National Republican Congressional Cmte, Trump Victory
Richard DeVos	Spencer Abraham, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Orrin Hatch, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Sue Myrick, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Guy Adrian Vander Jagt, Donald Trump, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, NRSC - Nonfederal, ORRINPAC, Campaign America Inc, Tom Campbell, North Carolina Republican Executive Committee, George H W Bush, Rudy Boschwitz, Thom Tillis, National Republican Congressional Cmte, 1989 Republican Senate/House Dinner Cmte, Trump Victory
Woody Johnson	Spencer Abraham, Lamar Alexander, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Chuck Grassley, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Bob Dole, Pete Wilson, Donald Trump, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, California Republican Party/V8, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Dick Zimmer, NRSC - Nonfederal, Campaign America Inc, North Carolina Republican Executive Committee, Road to 51 Committee, George H W Bush, Bill Weld, William Emerson Brock III, John W. Warner III, Trump Victory
Richard H Kimberly	Spencer Abraham, Lamar Alexander, Richard Burr, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Trent Lott, John McCain, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Don Nickles, Bob Dole, Bob Packwood, Lynn Morley Martin, Patricia Fukuda Saiki, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Dick Zimmer, NRSC - Nonfederal, Tom Campbell, George H W Bush, William Emerson Brock III, Rudy Boschwitz, Thom Tillis
Bernie Marcus	Lamar Alexander, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Don Young, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Dick Zimmer, Campaign America Inc, Tom Campbell, Bill Weld, Richard L Thornburgh, Rudy Boschwitz, National Republican Congressional Cmte, Trump Victory
Paul L Baker	Spencer Abraham, Lamar Alexander, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Daniel Inouye, Trent Lott, John McCain, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Frank Murkowski, John W. Warner III, Rudy Boschwitz, McCarthy Victory Fund 2014
Lewis M Eisenberg	Spencer Abraham, Lamar Alexander, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Trent Lott, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Pete Wilson, Donald Trump, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, California Republican Party/V8, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Dick Zimmer, Campaign America Inc, George H W Bush, Bill Weld, Rudy Boschwitz, National Republican Congressional Cmte, 1989 Republican Senate/House Dinner Cmte, Trump Victory
James E Smith	Lamar Alexander, Richard Burr, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, Elton W Gallegly, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Dan Lungren, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Bob Packwood, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, NRSC - Nonfederal, Campaign America Inc, Senate Victory Fund PAC, the, George H W Bush, John W. Warner III
Robert Mazer	Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Daniel Inouye, Trent Lott, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Bob Packwood, Lynn Morley Martin, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, NRSC - Nonfederal, Senate Victory Fund PAC, the, Frank Murkowski, William Emerson Brock III, Richard L Thornburgh, Rudy Boschwitz
H Wayne Huizenga	Lamar Alexander, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John McCain, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Arlen Specter, Don Young, Jim Talent, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Pete Wilson, Lynn Morley Martin, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, California Republican Party/V8, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Dick Zimmer, Campaign America Inc, George H W Bush, Bill Weld, Rudy Boschwitz, National Republican Congressional Cmte, 1989 Republican Senate/House Dinner Cmte, McCarthy Victory Fund 2014
Warren L Batts	Spencer Abraham, Lamar Alexander, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Orrin Hatch, John McCain, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, John Thune, Jim Talent, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Bob Packwood, Lynn Morley Martin, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, Matthew K Fong, California Republican Party/V8, Dick Zimmer, NRSC - Nonfederal, Frank Murkowski, George H W Bush, Bill Weld, John F Seymour, Rudy Boschwitz, Thom Tillis, National Republican Congressional Cmte
Leslie Rose	Spencer Abraham, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Pete Domenici, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Trent Lott, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Arlen Specter, Jim Talent, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Dick Zimmer, George H W Bush, Bill Weld, William Emerson Brock III, Tom McClintock, Rudy Boschwitz, Thom Tillis
Richard R Rogers	Lamar Alexander, Richard Burr, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Orrin Hatch, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, John Thune, Jim Talent, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Donald Trump, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, California Republican Party/V8, Dick Zimmer, ORRINPAC, Campaign America Inc, John F Seymour, Bill Thomas, Rudy Boschwitz, Richard Hudson, Thom Tillis, National Republican Congressional Cmte, Trump Victory
Edward C Levy Jr	Spencer Abraham, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Daniel Inouye, Trent Lott, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Ben Nelson, Pat Roberts, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Don Young, Jim Talent, Don Nickles, Phil Gramm, Bob Dole, Guy Adrian Vander Jagt, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, Senate Victory Fund PAC, the, Frank Murkowski, John W. Warner III, Rudy Boschwitz
Lawrence N Field	Spencer Abraham, Sam Brownback, Ken Calvert, Eric Cantor, Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole, Elton W Gallegly, Dan Lungren, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Arlen Specter, John Thune, Jim Talent, Pete Wilson, Rick Lazio, George W Bush, Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rudy Giuliani, National Republican Congressional Committee, Matthew K Fong, California Republican Party/V8, Dick Zimmer, Campaign America Inc, Richard J Monteith, Bill Weld, Rosario Marin, Tom McClintock, John W. Warner III, Rudy Boschwitz

Types	Person, Business Person
Aliases	David Howard Murdock, Sr., David Murdock

David H Murdock

Chairman Dole Food Company, Inc; Chairman, Castle & Cooke Inc

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