California Governor Gavin Newsom was reportedly left feeling under the weather - and not just politically - after a shock confrontation with a tech titan who decided he'd had enough of the Golden State. At an exclusive treehouse Christmas party north of San Francisco, Google co-founder Sergey Brin is said to have bluntly told the Democrat he was packing up and leaving California, according to a bombshell Bloomberg report. The billionaire, whose fortune is estimated at a staggering $260 billion, allegedly pointed to a controversial proposal to slap a 5 percent tax on the ultra-wealthy - a move that could cost him dearly.
Newsom's Silence on the Incident
Sources claim Newsom, already 'cold and hungry' at the glitzy gathering hosted by crypto mogul Chris Larsen, was caught off guard as Brin and his girlfriend delivered the news. But the awkward exchange didn't end there. The governor reportedly spent months complaining about a 'lingering cold' he believed he picked up from the couple during the frosty encounter. Newsom declined to comment on the bizarre episode. Meanwhile, the proposed billionaire tax has triggered outrage across Silicon Valley, with deep-pocketed elites gearing up for a fierce fight.
Proposed Billionaire Tax to Fund Public Services
The measure, backed by labor union SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, aims to funnel billions into healthcare and education programs facing cuts. However, critics warn it could drive innovation - and wealthy residents - out of the state. Though the proposal has yet to secure a spot on November's ballot, Brin appears to have followed through on his warning. The tech tycoon has reportedly ditched California for a lavish lakeside mansion in Nevada - and is pouring tens of millions into efforts to kill the tax.
He has already committed at least $45 million to a campaign group called Building A Better California, with total spending this year topping $58 million. In a twist, Newsom himself is said to oppose the tax, arguing it risks damaging the state's economy for what could be a short-term budget fix. Brin is far from the first billionaire to flee California as Newsom hikes up taxes on the state's wealthiest inhabitants.
Larry Page, Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, and plenty others have packed up and left for states like Florida and Texas - where the rich can enjoy low-taxes and a cheaper cost of living overall. Some of the country's top corporations have also relocated away from California, with Tesla, Oracle, Charles Schwab, and Chevron being just a few of the companies to move operations.