Jeff Bezos Backs New York Pied-à-Terre Tax While Defending Ken Griffin

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said he supports a proposed tax on luxury second homes in New York City. Bezos made the comments in a Wednesday interview with CNBC. He compared the pied-à-terre tax to hotel taxes that target out-of-town visitors. "Taxes on out-of-towners are very popular taxes.

That's why there are hotel taxes," Bezos said. The tax would apply to New York City properties valued at more than $5 million that are not occupied as a primary residence. Owners whose main home is outside the city would pay the levy.

Background on the Proposal New York Gov.

Kathy Hochul originally proposed the tax. Mayor Zohran Mamdani later backed the measure. The tax requires legislative approval before it can take effect. It has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump and other business leaders, including hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.

Bezos also defended Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, whose $238 million penthouse Mamdani highlighted as an example of a property that would be taxed. "Ken Griffin isn't a villain. He hasn't hurt anybody. He's not hurting New York. In fact, quite the opposite," Bezos said.

Griffin's deputy at Citadel said in a memo to staff that the company might reconsider a $6 billion redevelopment project for one of its midtown offices after Mamdani's comments. Bezos said singling out Griffin was unnecessary. "That piece of it isn't right, and there was no reason to do that," he added.