economy

Mark Cuban said 'only idiot' founders would stay in California under a wealth tax. We asked 3 founders if they'd leave.

Mark Cuban says startup founders will flee California if the wealth tax passes in November. Business Insider put Cuban's theory to the test.

Mark Cuban said 'only idiot' founders would stay in California under a wealth tax. We asked 3 founders if they'd leave.

TL;DR

  • Mark Cuban stated that a proposed wealth tax in California would cause startup founders to leave the state.
  • Cuban argued that founders might be billionaires on paper but lack the liquid cash to pay such a tax.
  • Three startup founders were surveyed, and their responses were mixed.
  • Some founders, like Jesse Tinsley, said they would leave California if the tax passed, preferring states like Florida.
  • Others, like Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, expressed frustration and said they would seriously consider leaving.
  • Jensen Huang and Michal Cieplinski indicated they would stay, citing the importance of Silicon Valley's startup ecosystem and AI boom.
  • California will vote on a statewide 'billionaire tax' in November.