[2] He graduated from Robert College in Istanbul, attended Millfield School in England, studied at Georgetown University before graduating from Columbia College in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in Ancient Greek.

[3][4] Koç began his business career working at Kofisa Trading Company in Geneva, Switzerland.

[5] He is also chairman of Tüpraş, the largest oil refiner and industrial company in the country.

"[16] He also maintains an interest in Ottoman art, and has a large Iznik pottery collection.

[18] He is reported to have the finest private collection of objects and books about Ottoman history in the world.