Elon Musk rips the US system of taxing what you earn, buy, and own.
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Elon Musk once paid one of the largest tax bills in U.S. history after selling Tesla stock in 2021 (1) — eclipsed only by Berkshire Hathaway’s $26.8 billion payment in 2024 (2). But in a 2024 Pittsburgh town hall clip (3) once again making the rounds on X (4), the trillionaire argued Americans are already paying more than enough. “You get taxed on what you earn, you get taxed on what you buy, and you get taxed on what you own,” Musk said while discussing government spending and taxation. Top Picks While Musk’s comments were aimed at public policy, they also highlight an important lesson for investors: Wealthy individuals typically try to avoid creating taxable events in the first place.
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