A new book by economists Eric Zwick and Owen Zidar reveals that America's wealth is concentrated not just among billionaires but among roughly three million "Main Street millionaires"—private business owners in mundane industries like car dealerships, dentistry, and food service who average $25 million in wealth. These entrepreneurs have collectively accumulated more income than traditional corporations and wield significant political power to shape tax policy and regulations in their favor, yet remain largely absent from public discourse about inequality.
A new study by economists Zidar and Zwick reveals that America's "everywhere millionaires"—business owners of car dealerships, restaurants, and other Main Street enterprises—collectively represent wealth comparable to or exceeding billionaires, yet remain largely invisible to public discourse. Nearly five million households worth at least $5 million constitute what the researchers call a new American wealth class, hidden in plain sight through ordinary businesses.
Amazon's value to society far exceeds Jeff Bezos's $275 billion fortune through time savings for consumers and businesses. The article argues that by reducing shopping time, lowering transaction costs, and improving access to goods, Amazon created roughly $13.8 trillion in total social value, saving customers an average of four minutes per day. Bezos's wealth represents only a small fraction of the value Amazon generated through voluntary transactions.
Naomi Klein's new book 'End Times Fascism', co-written with Astra Taylor, argues that extreme wealth concentration creates a psychological derangement in the ultra-rich, turning them into supremacists willing an apocalypse to establish a post-democratic world. Klein illustrates this through examples including billionaires' plans for a privatized Gaza and a privatized United Nations, alongside authoritarian movements globally.
An interactive visualization tool scales Elon Musk's $922.7 billion net worth to help viewers comprehend extreme wealth inequality. Users scroll through pixel-by-pixel representations of his fortune alongside other reference amounts, illustrating the vast distance between billions and everyday costs.