GoKawiilAnduril's Palmer Luckey says he'll stay in California despite wealth tax ballot measure
Defense tech billionaire Palmer Luckey said at a press conference that he opposes California's proposed billionaire wealth tax but will not relocate because of it. Luckey, whose company Anduril is headquartered in Costa Mesa and valued at $61 billion, said other billionaires have pressured him to leave the state as a show of solidarity against the measure. He said his objection isn't to taxation itself but to the fact the ballot measure is sponsored by a healthcare workers' union that would direct the funds.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Luckey's public stance pushes back against a narrative of wealthy residents fleeing California over tax policy, which could influence how voters and other high-net-worth residents weigh the ballot measure. His comments also expose tension within California's billionaire class over how to respond collectively to proposed wealth taxes, suggesting the measure's passage could become a test case for whether threatened departures are followed through.
- Palmer Luckey says he will remain in California despite opposing the state's proposed billionaire wealth tax
- He revealed friction with other billionaires who pressured him to threaten leaving as a form of solidarity
- His objection centers on the tax being sponsored by a healthcare workers' union rather than opposition to taxation itself
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See Meta Quest 3 VR Headset on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techcrunch.com — Julie Bort, 2026-10-27
Published there as: “Billionaire Palmer Luckey isn’t leaving California over the wealth tax”
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