‘Tax us’: Billionaires’ bizarre request at World Economic Forum in Davos

250 of the world’s rich listers have asked to be taxed more, with one young heiress saying she wants to escape the “swamp” of her huge wealth.

Many millionaires and billionaires are infamous for moving their wealth around to skirt taxes, but a small group has set out to do the opposite.

More than 250 of the world’s extremely wealthy have penned a letter to governments, asking to be taxed more because they’re concerned by inequality.

Protesters outside the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. Picture: Hannes P Albert/picture alliance via Getty Images

The rich listers made their plea to political elite at a meeting for the World Economic Forum — an international NGO aimed at improving public-private sector collaboration — in Davos, Switzerland this week.

“Our request is simple: we ask you to tax us, the very richest in society,” they wrote.

“This will not fundamentally alter our standard of living, nor deprive our children, nor harm our nations’ economic growth.

“But it will turn extreme and unproductive private wealth into an investment for our common democratic future.”

Brian Cox played a billionaire in Succession but wants his real-life wealth to be taxed. Picture: Robyn Beck / AFP

Valerie Rockefeller, an heir to the Rockefeller fortune, was also a signatory. Picture: Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

The millionaires and billionaires include Disney heir Abigail Disney, Brian Cox, who played fictional billionaire Logan Roy in Succession and is himself wealthy, and Valerie Rockefeller, an heir of one of the most famous fortunes in US history.

They didn’t put forward a model for super-rich taxation, but said they were “proud to pay more taxes on our extreme wealth” to reduce extreme inequality and cost of living for working people, as well as fund better education, healthcare and energy systems.

Millionaire heiress Marlene Engelhorn wants to shed her fortune to free herself from her “dynastic rich swamp”. Picture: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP

“We are the people who invest in start-ups, shape stock markets, grow businesses, and foster sustainable economic growth. We are also the people who benefit most from the status quo,” they added.

“But inequality has reached a tipping point, and its cost to our economic, societal and ecological stability risk is severe — and growing every day. In short, we need action now.”

“Our future is one of tax pride, or economic shame. That’s the choice,” the letter finished.

“We ask you to take this necessary and inevitable step before it’s too late. Make your countries proud. Tax extreme wealth.”

Abigail Disney also signed.

‘Dynastic rich swamp’: Heiress wants to shed millions

Included in the signatories was young heiress Marlene Engelhorn, who inherited millions when her grandmother died in 2022 and wants to give most of it away.

The 31-year-old has decided to pay people to come up with ideas for her to shed the bulk of her 25 million euro ($27.4 million) wealth so she can escape what she calls a “dynastic rich swamp”.

“I’ve inherited a fortune and therefore power, without having done anything for it. And the state doesn’t even want taxes on it,” Ms Engelhorn, the granddaughter of Friedrich Engelhorn, who founded the chemical giant BASF, said.

The billionaires want to be taxed more to reduce inequality. Picture: iStock.

Earlier this month, Ms Engelhorn announced 50 of her fellow Austrians will be chosen and paid to decide what to do with her fortune.

10,000 Austrians aged over 16 will be randomly selected and invited to apply, 50 of whom will be chosen.

Then, between March and June, the group will meet several times to develop solutions “in the interests of society as a whole”, according to a statement.

Ms Engelhorn said she will get a regular job after “more than 90 per cent” of her wealth has been redistributed, leaving her with about A$2.7 million.

“I’ll switch from the wealthiest one per cent of society to the less wealthy 99 per cent … I think that’s an improvement. I’m moving up into a democratic society, out of this dynastic rich swamp,” she told the German newspaper Tagesspiegel.

But if the group does not manage to suggest ideas with broad support, the hefty inheritance will be returned to the heiress.