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Elon Musk would cost a billionaire tax dearly
Photo: POOL / REUTERS
The United States is a country with great economic differences.
Fewer and fewer people believe in the American Dream. According to surveys, a majority of voters now support the introduction of wealth taxes for the super-rich.
The Democrats of US President Joe Biden currently want to enforce a so-called "billionaire tax" on profits from securities - even if these are not realized through a sale.
One who would be badly affected by this is Elon Musk.
The head of Tesla, whose market value has soared in recent years, has already sharply criticized the plans.
Most recently, following a Twitter vote, he announced that he wanted to sell ten percent of his shares in the US automaker Tesla in order to be able to pay taxes.
He has already sold papers worth more than five billion dollars.
"Should I sell more shares, Bernie?"
The fact that Bernie Sanders, who is considered a socialist by US standards, has now again appealed to the rich to take responsibility was apparently too much for Musk.
The electric car pioneer turned to the democratic politician on Twitter in drastic words: "I keep forgetting that you are still alive."
Sanders, who as a senator promotes taxation of the rich, had previously demanded: "We have to demand that the extremely rich pay their fair share." In relation to this, Musk added: "Should I sell more shares, Bernie?" Selling stocks is for Musk According to his own statements, the only way to pay his taxes - since he does not get any salary or bonus payments.
The proposed tax would affect a total of about 700 taxpayers in the United States who have assets of more than $ 1 billion or who have $ 100 million in annual income for three consecutive years.
According to Forbes magazine, Musk is the richest person in the world, and his personal stake in Tesla was recently worth well over $ 200 billion.
The previous system, according to which price gains are only taxed when the profit is realized, is one reason why US corporations like to buy back their own shares - and thus support the price - instead of paying out the money as dividends.
Critics complain that wealthy citizens who do not depend on regular dividends can use it to build a fortune without paying taxes.
By just waiting.
apr