Dennis Albaugh
Dennis Ray Albaugh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1949 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder and chairman of Albaugh LLC; extensive collection of Chevrolet convertibles |
Dennis Ray Albaugh (born 1949) is an American entrepreneur and the founder and chairman of Albaugh LLC, a firm specializing in pesticides and fertilizers. He is also renowned for his extensive collection of Chevrolet convertibles, which ranks among the largest in the United States.
Early life
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Albaugh is the son of Dean Floyd Albaugh and Lorna Lee Albaugh. His family initially farmed near Rockwell City and Somers before moving to rural areas around Elkhart and Ankeny. He is the second child among four siblings. Albaugh pursued his education at Des Moines Area Community College.
Career
Albaugh launched his professional journey in 1979 by marketing fertilizer and seeds. After the patent on glyphosate—the main component of Roundup herbicide—expired in 2001, he introduced a generic alternative and acquired a manufacturing facility in Argentina to produce it competitively. This strategic expansion facilitated Albaugh LLC’s growth into international markets. By 2008, Forbes valued his net worth at approximately $3.5 billion.
Car collector
Located in Ankeny, Albaugh LLC shares its premises with Albaugh’s collection of nearly 150 classic automobiles, primarily Chevrolet convertibles. The collection commenced in 1998 with the acquisition of a 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible and eventually expanded to include the complete Tri-Five series (1955–1957) alongside models dating from 1912 through 1975. Stored within a 28,000-square-foot garage, this assemblage is regarded as one of the premier collections of convertible Chevrolets in the nation. Albaugh often undertakes mechanical maintenance on some of the vehicles himself when feasible.
Personal life
Albaugh is married to Susan, and together they have two daughters. The family lives in Ankeny, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa. In August 2018, he sold his 10,000-square-foot home in Ankeny for $2.32 million and constructed a somewhat smaller residence measuring 8,773 square feet nearby.
Additionally, he owns Talons Golf, a private 19-hole golf course located in Ankeny.