Silicon Valley's elite are dividing into two camps ahead of a proposed “billionaire tax,” with Alphabet Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google co-founder Larry Page fleeing the state just as Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang doubles down on his commitment to California.The Midnight ExitPage, currently ranked as the world's second-richest person, completed the migration of his family office and key assets out of California before the critical Jan. 1, 2026, deadline.According to filings reviewed ...

The proposal has sparked outrage from other ultrawealthy residents, who warned of an exodus from the state. ...

Core Viewpoint - The proposed California billionaire tax is prompting ultra-wealthy residents to leave the state, potentially exacerbating the budget deficit rather than alleviating it [1][3][4]. Group 1: Wealth Exit - Individuals with a combined net worth of approximately $500 billion have decided to permanently leave California due to the proposed billionaire tax, which is characterized as an asset seizure-style levy [2][4]. - The immediate exit of these high-net-worth individuals is seen as a preemptive measure to avoid the tax, which could ultimately lead to lower revenue collection for the state [3][4]. Group 2: Budget Implications - The departure of wealthy residents is expected to worsen California's budget deficit, placing additional financial burdens on ordinary taxpayers [3][4]. - Lawmakers may be forced to resort to increased borrowing or broader tax hikes to compensate for the loss of revenue from high-net-worth individuals [3]. Group 3: Tax Criticism - The billionaire tax is criticized for targeting unrealized and illiquid wealth, particularly affecting startup founders who may have significant equity but modest salaries [5]. - An example highlighted involves a founder with $1.2 billion in paper equity earning a $150,000 salary, who could face substantial cash obligations under the proposed tax, risking insolvency if the company's value declines [6].

The CEO of hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management, billionaire Bill Ackman, publicly rescinded his support for Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) over the weekend, accusing the congressman of “losing his way” for defending a controversial new California wealth tax proposal.Accusation Of Flip-FlopIn a post on X, Ackman highlighted what he sees as a policy contradiction by the congressman. He shared a 2024 CNBC clip in which Khanna argued against a “blanket tax on unrealized gains,” explaining why he believed i ...

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called for immediate billionaire taxation on Saturday after criticizing Elon Musk‘s shareholder-approved $1 trillion compensation package at Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) , comparing it to the combined salaries of millions of American workers.Pay Package ComparisonSanders stated on X that Musk’s 10-year compensation exceeds the combined pay of every elementary school teacher, cashier, restaurant cook, farmworker, and bartender in America. The senator concluded his post with “Insanity. ...

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Core Viewpoint - The discussion around billionaire taxes centers on the potential impact of taxing the ultra-wealthy at the same effective rate as average citizens, with various interpretations of what "tax rate" means [1][2]. Tax Rate Definitions - The term "tax rate" can be interpreted in three main ways, each leading to different revenue outcomes [3]. - The first interpretation focuses on effective federal income tax rates, where average U.S. filers pay approximately 14% to 15% of their income in federal taxes, representing a conservative estimate [3]. - The second interpretation considers the total tax burden, which includes federal, state, payroll, local, property, and sales taxes, with typical households paying around 27% of their income in combined taxes [4]. - The third interpretation treats the tax as a wealth tax, where billionaires would pay the same percentage of their total wealth annually as average individuals pay of their income [4]. Revenue Scenarios - ChatGPT analyzed three scenarios to estimate potential revenue from taxing billionaires [5]. Scenario 1: Matching Federal Income Tax Rates - If billionaires paid the same effective federal income tax rate as average Americans (around 14% to 15%), it could generate tens of billions annually, but this approach has limitations due to much of billionaire wealth growth being from unrealized capital gains [6][7]. Scenario 2: Matching Total Tax Burden - This scenario would require billionaires to pay about 27% of their economic income in combined taxes, similar to typical households, potentially raising hundreds of billions annually and significantly reducing income inequality [8]. - Implementing this would necessitate major changes in capital income taxation, including closing avoidance strategies and possibly introducing new tax mechanisms [8].