Warning wealth inequality endangers society, United CEO Scott Kirby wants nationwide wealth tax
Kirby backs a national tax
Kirby recently told The New York Times, “We should have a national wealth tax.” He argued that a state-level approach would fail because people could relocate. Kirby lives in the Chicago area near United’s headquarters. Crain’s Chicago Business reported he was among the highest-paid public-company CEOs in 2025. United’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission valued his total compensation that year at more than $32 million.
Opposition to California proposal
The proposed wealth tax has drawn opposition from some of the state’s wealthiest residents. Google cofounder Sergey Brin has donated $102 million to a group seeking to weaken the proposal through competing initiatives that could effectively cancel it out.
Huang says he would pay
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently reiterated that he would be willing to pay potentially billions of dollars if California’s wealth tax takes effect. He has said he worries about other things.
Bloomberg estimates Huang’s net worth at $180 billion, ranking him ninth among the world’s richest people. Huang famously began his career working at Denny’s.
Key points
- Kirby says a nationwide wealth tax is needed because state taxes could prompt people to move.
- United valued Kirby’s 2025 compensation at more than $32 million.
- Sergey Brin donated $102 million to a group opposing California’s proposed wealth tax.
- Jensen Huang has said he would pay potentially billions if California’s tax takes effect.