The Austrian heiress giving away her fortune
11 days ago
- #philanthropy
- #tax justice
- #wealth inequality
- Marlene Engelhorn, an Austrian heiress, is giving away her entire multi-million-dollar inheritance, criticizing the super-rich as 'disconnected idiots'.
- She leads the 'Tax Me Now' initiative, advocating for fairer taxation policies in German-speaking countries.
- Engelhorn's inheritance comes from family wealth linked to companies like BASF and Boehringer Mannheim, which she describes as 'very, very dirty, disgusting money'.
- She has tasked a citizens' assembly in Austria to decide how to distribute her fortune, which was donated to 77 organizations focused on social, climate, and anti-violence causes.
- Engelhorn acknowledges her privilege and the harm caused by the ultra-wealthy but denies 'cos-playing' as poor, emphasizing her commitment to wealth redistribution and tax justice.
- Her actions align with global movements like Switzerland's referendum on inheritance tax and the UK's 'Patriotic Millionaires' campaign, advocating for higher taxes on the rich.