Inside the exodus of California tech billionaires to Florida (LA Times)

[pstokely]

https://archive.ph/CCB7M

MIAMI and PALM BEACH, Fla. — Last December, a large coterie of Silicon Valley billionaires descended upon Miami to attend Art Basel, the ritzy, contemporary art fair that marks the end of the moneyed set’s yearly social calendar.
Much of the buzz surrounded the spectacle of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, among the world’s richest men, docking his 466-foot, $450-million yacht, the Dragonfly, in Biscayne Bay while he stepped ashore to view the art installations.

But the chatter pivoted quickly among a contingent of a dozen California billionaires.
Weeks earlier a new ballot measure — backed by the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West — was floated that would impose a one-time, 5% tax on the wealth of the state’s billionaires to shore up the Trump administration’s federal healthcare funding cuts.

[pwb]

1. Taxes are only a curious entry in their bank account .

They have so much.

[Traildogbob]

2. Gather them all in one criminal haven state.

The one most vulnerable to climate catastrophe In the country, and then let Mother Nature eliminate them from being a pain in her ass, intent on destroying her for cash. Let em all wallow in their own shit. Plus they have access to, and would be immune from justice, to as many young girls as they want there. Just more cess, in a cess pool.
Florida makes the hell in NC seem not so bad.
But damnit they own half the mountain here too.
For get away million dollar playhouses.

[Torchlight]

7. Billionaires should not then be subject to state taxes?

Peavewave: state taxation of billionaires does NOT work...

[pcdb]

8. They'll just surrender their passports and move to SIngapore.

Also, a wealth tax is arguably unconstitutional (not covered under the 16th amendment). We'd need to add several judges to the SC under a Democratic admin which would be a lot easier than amending the constitution.

[DBoon]

4. It's not paying the money they object to

Last edited Thu Mar 12, 2026, 04:10 PM - Edit history (1)

It's the idea that ordinary citizens can impose any restrictions on the ultra wealthy

They have open contempt for democracy and regard ordinary citizens ( "the poors" ) as disposable props.

[hatrack]

5. Fine. Now their names can be on the Cat 5 list, along with all us undeserving non-genius non-billionaires.

[hunter]

6. I pity the good people of Florida.

Nobody can ruin a pleasant neighborhood quicker than a billionaire.

In any fair and just society we would tax them out of existence.