Althouse: Jeff Bezo's parents recently moved to Miami, and he wants to be near them, so he's leaving Seattle and moving to Miami.

November 3, 2023

Jeff Bezo's parents recently moved to Miami, and he wants to be near them, so he's leaving Seattle and moving to Miami.

That's what it says here:

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A post shared by Jeff Bezos (@jeffbezos)

63 comments:

Michael K said...: It couldn't be related to taxes. Nah....; 11/3/23, 9:29 AM
Yancey Ward said...: Who would stay in Seattle if they had the means to go live in Miami?; 11/3/23, 9:30 AM
Jamie said...: Hmmm.; 11/3/23, 9:31 AM
Abdul Abulbul Amir said...: Leaving a hellhole is completely unremarkable.; 11/3/23, 9:37 AM
Mike of Snoqualmie said...: Our good Washington Legislature implemented an "excise" tax on capitol gains, a tax otherwise known as an income tax. It applies to very large gains, but not real estate transactions. We know the Democrats will keep lowering the floor until it applies to everyone.

Jeff Bezos is getting out while the getting out is good.; 11/3/23, 9:37 AM
Aggie said...: I wonder why his parents left? I wonder what their living situation was in recent times, in the PNW? Guessing that he was a dutiful son, and will have been with their Miami destination as well. So....... I wonder why his parents left?; 11/3/23, 9:39 AM
Owen said...: The fact that Seattle is a blue city in trouble, and Miami is a red city on the rise, is, like, totally not relevant.; 11/3/23, 9:43 AM
Jupiter said...: Seattle. pronounced "Shit-Hole".; 11/3/23, 9:44 AM
tommyesq said...: Let me desperately try to convince you that this has nothing to do with the respective taxes and business climates of Florida and Washington!; 11/3/23, 9:47 AM
rehajm said...: It’s a trend…; 11/3/23, 9:48 AM
Rusty said...: So now he's gonna screw up Miami.; 11/3/23, 9:50 AM
Earnest Prole said...: America’s premier tax dodger has a really convincing reason why he now wants to live in a red state.; 11/3/23, 9:52 AM
Tina Trent said...: Liar; 11/3/23, 9:53 AM
RideSpaceMountain said...: Seattle is dying. When you've lost the hugely wealthy nerd-with-plastic-surgery-girlfriend set, you know the jig is up.; 11/3/23, 9:59 AM
rcocean said...: Liberal Billionaries are fleeing to florida and texas. Bad news for those states.; 11/3/23, 9:59 AM
The Vault Dweller said...: Even with billions family still matters most. I also wonder if he is planning something else business venture-wise in the next few years and figures Florida is a better state for that Washington.; 11/3/23, 10:03 AM
Anthony said...: Good for him. I managed to escape that place five years ago. . .; 11/3/23, 10:03 AM
mezzrow said...: I'm sure this has nothing to do with state income tax considerations for wealthy retirees (as well as everyone else).

This Floridian welcomes Jeff Bezos, Florida taxpayer. It's almost like it's a trend.; 11/3/23, 10:11 AM
Dave Begley said...: Run the numbers on the income tax savings.

Just be honest about the reason for the move.; 11/3/23, 10:12 AM
BarrySanders20 said...: I suspect his wise latina hottie may have made her preference known as well. Traipsing around in a bikini outside all day gets (c)old in the Pacific NW.; 11/3/23, 10:12 AM
Paul From Minneapolis said...: Are we sure the parents are in favor of this?
I'm not sure I would want Jeff Bezos to move to Minneapolis to be closer to me, for example.; 11/3/23, 10:12 AM
Kate said...: Florida and Texas are going to become unlivable after everyone from the West Coast and Great Lakes regions have moved there.; 11/3/23, 10:18 AM
Ron Nelson said...: Just guessing, but I don't think he will continue to pay Washington state, Seattle city income tax after he moves to Florida.; 11/3/23, 10:20 AM
David53 said...: Trying to show he’s a hands on space guy like Musk. Not.; 11/3/23, 10:23 AM
Big Mike said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/3/23, 10:27 AM
Big Mike said...: I assumed that this had something to do with income taxes, but to my surprise Google sent me to sites that claim neither has an individual income tax. But a little more research took me to tax brackets for both states. Why have tax brackets if you don’t have an income tax? Could a Floridian and a Washingtonian clarify, please? Mike of Snoqualmie?; 11/3/23, 10:28 AM
lgv said...: Sounds like he's going to liquidate some stock positions and wants to make sure he has established residency in FL. While Washington has no income tax, it does have an "excise tax" on capital gains, which was upheld by the state supreme court this year.; 11/3/23, 10:33 AM
n.n said...: Mama, papa, here's Jeffrey.; 11/3/23, 10:48 AM
R C Belaire said...: As good a reason as any.; 11/3/23, 11:05 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: Ah another West Coast refugee fleeing oppression for Florida. I'll be joining you guys in the Sunshine State soon myself.; 11/3/23, 11:06 AM
Wince said...: Obviously, he has the resources needed to easily shift the time he spends between residences in different states.

Here, l he’s making an announcement pursuant to a full change in residency that will affect his tax domicile.; 11/3/23, 11:08 AM
rcocean said...: Glad you posted about "Good ol Jeff" everyone's friend. I always love to read about billionaires and their family life and discuss what's best for them.

Normally, I worry that jeff isn't making enough money due to those greedy, lazy workers, at Amazon trying to rip him off. Or how we tax the super-rich too much. Or the failure of Liberal/left elitists to recognize his contributions to Israel, Leftwing causes, Biden, Immigrants, and people of color.

But now I can worry about his family life. Its so heart warming to hear he loves his parents. Maybe I'll send him a card. I'm sure he'll answer me.

Anyone who doesn't love Jeff is just envious and a hater.; 11/3/23, 11:12 AM
friscoda said...: Taxes and his stepfather is Cuban so Miami a natural destination for the parents; 11/3/23, 11:42 AM
Gregory said...: Closet Amazonian and proud Seattle resident here. First thing to know is that Jeff was never a natural Seattle-ite. He chose Seattle for Amazon for 2 reasons: First, proximity to tech talent (Microsoft was already a big tech employer in Seattle when he started Amazon in 1994) without enduring the cost and agonies of Silicon Valley. Second, tax reasons, but not the ones you might expect. In the early days of internet retail, sales taxes were not assessed by the state where the buyer resided, and Washington had a friendly view of sales taxes where the seller resided. This was one of the early advantages of internet retail...most transactions escaped sales tax entirely (that is no longer true).; 11/3/23, 12:12 PM
Ficta said...: It says right in the story that Blue Origin is part of the reason. I assume Amazon can trip along without his day to day oversight, but his rocket company is well behind the competition (at least it was the last time I paid attention to it). That said, I'm not sure what more of his personal presence will add; unlike Musk, I don't get the feeling he's much of a Reed Richards/Benton Quest type.; 11/3/23, 12:24 PM
matthew49 said...: I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that Jeff Bezos grew up in Houston and then Miami, graduating from Palmetto High School in Miami in 1982.; 11/3/23, 1:09 PM
Harun said...: Notice his desk is messy.; 11/3/23, 1:17 PM
Gem Quincyite said...: Just Can't get moved out from his mom's basement.; 11/3/23, 1:28 PM
Enigma said...: Blue states opened Pandora's Box in 2020 and then kept doubling down on insanity. The financial fallout is just beginning, as the millionaires and billionaires whose taxes funded social welfare programs for decades are going, going, and gone. Watch real estate values struggle as no capable/ambitious people come in to replace the wealthy. No one volunteers to be sucked dry.

This doesn't end peacefully IMO, as blue states house most of the mentally unstable and the militant people nationwide. Academic cultural fantasies will soon to skid across a hard concrete road. Correction from within. Ugly way. West coast rust belt soon?; 11/3/23, 1:56 PM
hombre said...: I am currently in a suburb of Seattle for the birth of my latest grandchild. My conclusion: this place blows. Gray, wet, power lines everywhere, incredible traffic, but beautiful "forests". We were not even affected by the lunacy of the Seattle City Council.

I live in the White Mountains of Arizona. The comparison may be unfair.; 11/3/23, 2:06 PM
DanTheMan said...: The story in the local news is that he's going to demolish the mansion he bought, and put up a new one.
Hard to fathom that kind of... whatever that is.; 11/3/23, 2:14 PM
JAORE said...: Seems like Cali has been getting serous about a wealth tax lately. AND they plan on it following you for a few years after you leave the state.

It would be a while before the wealth trigger dips into JAORE territory. But Bobo is right in the thick of it.; 11/3/23, 2:14 PM
Jim Gust said...: The tax savings alone will buy him a huge mansion in Florida.

Washington is going to have to get to work on an exit tax for residents who want to flee. If that is constitutional.; 11/3/23, 2:26 PM
David O said...: @Big Mike

I've lived in WA for more than 30 years and I can assure you we do not currently have a state income tax.

But this is not for lack of Democrat trying, and the writing is on the wall. The WA courts have signaled that they intend to ignore the WA Constitutional prohibition on a state income tax and rubber stamp one the first chance they get.

Only a matter of (short) time, and Jeff is getting out while the getting is good.; 11/3/23, 2:57 PM
bagoh20 said...: I visited there recently. Amazing story of how they carved the huge waterfront area out of the hills with water cannons over a hundred years ago. Seems impossible, but they have photos. It was a nice area to hang out, except for the guy who walked up to us mumbling, filthy dirty with his pants around his ankles. Seems impossible, but no, I have no photos.; 11/3/23, 3:02 PM
veni vidi vici said...: When the war that our current crop of blithering idiots on Team DNC-Neocon are agitating for comes, it's going to be in the Pacific because they want to fight China.

Also, China's already buried its balls in Trudeaupian Canada's ass, so expect a lot of cross-border fun when SHTF.

Seattle's not going to be a place anyone wants to be if that goes down.

It actually starts to make sense, the whole "Let's let Seattle, Portland, SF and LA decay into unlivable shitholes" policy of the past several years.; 11/3/23, 3:16 PM
veni vidi vici said...: "Seattle, you will always have a piece of my meat."; 11/3/23, 3:17 PM
gadfly said...: Per Bloomberg, Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez bought neighboring mansions in Biscayne Bay's "Billionaire Bunker" for $144 million total. His new neighbors include Carl Icahn and Tom Brady.; 11/3/23, 3:25 PM
Robert Cook said...: "Who would stay in Seattle if they had the means to go live in Miami?"

Who would go to Miami if they had the means to stay in Seattle, (or anywhere else other than Florida)?; 11/3/23, 4:23 PM
Quaestor said...: "Who would go to Miami if they had the means to stay in Seattle, (or anywhere else other than Florida)"?

Ignorant philistines just like you.; 11/3/23, 5:04 PM
Quaestor said...: Bezos invents an elaborate excuse to keep his reputation among the Nazis. His real reason for upping sticks to Florida, to enjoy his riches openly rather than from within the confines of a private fortress.; 11/3/23, 5:08 PM
Joe Smith said...: 'Who would go to Miami if they had the means to stay in Seattle, (or anywhere else other than Florida)?'

Because Seattle is a shithole city. Bums and drugs everywhere.

Even rich guys hate looking at that.

What's the point of being rich if you're trapped in your house?; 11/3/23, 5:59 PM
Rosalyn C. said...: Usually elderly parents move to be closer to their children, not the other way around. So this does seem like an arrangement where Bezos gets a politically correct excuse to move to Miami.; 11/3/23, 7:27 PM
rcocean said...: Bezos was never liked by native-born Seattlites (aka those who lived in the city before 1990). He was regarded as rich asshole from "back east" who came there to make money and not pay taxes. Gates, although not particularly liked, had roots in Seattle.

So goodbye Jeff, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Whether you like Western washington or not, or perfer it to Calf/Arz etc, simply depends on your tolerance for damp weather. Contrary to popular belief, Seattle doesn't get an abnormal amount of rain. But it is cloudy. The Sound is ice cold, so leave your bathing suit behind, and if you like sunny skies stay away.

THe blue-ist skies you've ever seen ARE in Seattle, because when you do see a clear blue sky, you're amazed at the color.; 11/3/23, 7:47 PM
Mason G said...: I'm sure it has nothing to do with wanting to keep the government from taking money from him and figuring that Florida would be less likely to try than Washington.; 11/3/23, 7:55 PM
madAsHell said...: My mother checked into Swedish Hospital, and came home with me!

Everyone agrees, too damn many do-good Democrats trying to fix problems that don’t need fixing.; 11/3/23, 9:00 PM
Yancey Ward said...: "Who would go to Miami if they had the means to stay in Seattle, (or anywhere else other than Florida)?"

Idiots, Robert, idiots.; 11/3/23, 10:58 PM
Jamie said...: Rcocean is correct - when Seattle shows a little leg, she is GORGEOUS.

Furthermore, Seattle is not humid, it's dry - with rain (at least compared to Houston).; 11/3/23, 11:46 PM
wildswan said...: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Daughter brings Californian ex-pat, son of a Tech Lord, to home of Cuban Trump supporters. I can't think of how reconciliation is reached but perhaps son of Tech Lord is a recent Jewish convert heading for a kibbutz to learn community.; 11/3/23, 11:52 PM
iowan2 said...: Bezo's is leaving because he can no longer live in the world dominated by Democrat Party Platform of terrible agenda items. Miami is just where the dart landed.

No leftist opinion writer is going to rift on Bezos's reasons for moving to DeSantis' hell hole of queer hate, in a 750 word column. Their mind reading powers only work on Republicans.; 11/4/23, 7:17 AM
iowan2 said...: Per Bloomberg, Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez bought neighboring mansions in Biscayne Bay's "Billionaire Bunker" for $144 million total. His new neighbors include Carl Icahn and Tom Brady.

Gee he could have saved a pile of cash and just bought Mar a Lago for $18 million; 11/4/23, 7:23 AM
Robert Cook said...: "'Who would go to Miami if they had the means to stay in Seattle, (or anywhere else other than Florida)?'

"Ignorant philistines just like you."

Your attempted insult doesn't even make any sense.; 11/4/23, 11:50 AM
Milo Minderbinder said...: Nothing to do with Washington state’s wealth tax that would cost him$1.5B a year to live in Seattle? Please….; 11/4/23, 1:52 PM