{"id":325223,"date":"2026-05-20T22:19:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T22:19:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/325223\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T22:19:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T22:19:37","slug":"google-co-founder-throws-500k-at-anti-overpaid-ceo-tax-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/325223\/","title":{"rendered":"Google co-founder throws $500K at anti \u2018Overpaid CEO Tax\u2019 campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google co-founder Sergey Brin<\/a> \u2014 who has been leading the campaign against California\u2019s billionaire\u2019s tax<\/a> \u2014 has turned his vast fortune to San Francisco politics.<\/p>\n

Brin has already shifted himself from Silicon Valley\u2019s liberal bubble<\/a>\u00a0for a sprawling Nevada hideaway perched on the edge of Lake Tahoe, just beyond the reach of the tax.<\/p>\n

But that hasn\u2019t stopped the billionaire, who\u2019s worth a staggering $260 billion, from dropping $500,000 into a committee opposing the city\u2019s so-called \u201cOverpaid CEO Tax\u201d, while supporting a competing, more business-friendly tax measure.<\/p>\n

San Francisco businesses could see changes under Measures C and D. AP<\/p>\n

San Francisco voters are set to weigh in on Measures C and D<\/a>, two competing proposals on the June 2 ballot that would radically reshape the city\u2019s business tax system. <\/p>\n

The first, backed by business groups, would expand tax exemptions for smaller businesses in San Francisco \u2014 raising the cutoff from $5 million to $7.5 million in revenue \u2014 while accelerating scheduled tax increases on larger companies, particularly through higher executive pay tax rates starting in 2027.<\/p>\n

Measure D, the so-called Overpaid CEO Act, would broaden a tax on CEOs by basing the figure on a company\u2019s entire workforce, not just San Francisco employees. <\/p>\n

It would also significantly raise tax rates and lock them in place by requiring voter approval to reduce it.<\/p>\n

Measure D has been dubbed the Overpaid CEO Tax. Abdan Zaki \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

Labor unions and far-left progressives support Measure D, \u201cto make sure the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share,\u201d said the Chinese Progressive Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But business interests oppose the act, saying it \u201cdoubles down on the exact policies that are driving jobs out and driving vacancies up,\u201d said Steven Buss, co-director of the political advocacy group GrowSF.<\/p>\n

A May 14 analysis by San Francisco\u2019s Office of the Controller estimated that Measure D would lead to the loss of 944 jobs and $210 million worth of GDP over the next two decades. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Measure C will have only a small benefit, the office said, with a net gain of 90 jobs and $20 million GDP growth in the same time.<\/p>\n

Sergey Brin is fighting wealth tax proposals. Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize<\/p>\n

Brin\u2019s financial backing is notable and also in line with his antagonism toward wealth taxes that have spurred his political activism this year. <\/p>\n

Brin has put tens of millions of his own money<\/a> into fighting a proposed one-time billionaire tax that would affect the entire state. <\/p>\n

He has reportedly fled to Nevada<\/a> to escape the potential wealth tax that may go before California voters in November.<\/p>\n

Sergey Brin and Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto attend the 2026 Met Gala. WireImage<\/p>\n

Some of the political changes have been attributed to Sergey Brin\u2019s\u00a0\u201cMAGA girlfriend\u201d<\/a> Gerelyn \u201cGG\u201d Gilbert-Soto, but she pushed back<\/a> on claims that she dragged the Google co-founder to the political right, insisting the\u00a0billionaire tech mogul\u2019s political change of heart\u00a0<\/a>can be laid squarely at the feet of Democrats.<\/p>\n

As for why he feels so strongly about wealth taxes, Brin issued a rare statement<\/a> in April: \u201cI fled socialism with my family in 1979 and know the devastating, oppressive society it created in the Soviet Union. <\/p>\n

\u201dI don\u2019t want California<\/a> to end up in the same place.\u201d<\/p>\n

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