Bill Ackman reacts sharply to Mark Zuckerberg’s $150M mansion purchase in Florida: ‘California is toast.’ Make this smart move now like the super rich

The eye-popping purchase by Zuckerberg — a California-based billionaire with an estimated net worth of $237 billion (2) — has fueled speculation about what’s driving the move.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman was quick to point to California’s proposed billionaire tax (3) — a ballot initiative that would impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of the state’s billionaires, if approved by voters.

On X, Ackman reposted an analysis suggesting that by relocating out of California, Zuckerberg could possibly avoid more than $10 billion in potential wealth taxes — making a nine-figure Florida mansion look like a savvy financial decision.

The appeal doesn’t stop there.

Ackman also shared CNBC anchor Brian Sullivan’s speculation that, if Meta were to shift more operations or personnel closer to its CEO in Florida, employees could effectively receive an “immediate raise,” given the state’s lack of a personal income tax — a stark contrast to California’s top marginal rates (4).

Ackman didn’t mince words about what he sees as the broader implications for the Golden State, writing: “California is toast. Self-immolation.”

And Zuckerberg isn’t the only one making moves (5).

Google co-founder Sergey Brin shifted a significant portion of his business out of California in the 10 days before Christmas: An entity linked to Brin terminated or relocated 15 California LLCs overseeing his investments (6).

That follows similar steps by fellow Google co-founder Larry Page, who has also cut ties between California and many of his assets (7). Meanwhile, Peter Thiel — the PayPal co-founder and early Facebook investor who built much of his fortune in California — announced just before the new year that he opened a new office for his investment firm in Miami (8).

‘An obligation to pay as little tax as possible’

Whether America’s ultra-rich are paying their fair share of taxes has long been debated.

The blunt reality is that most billionaires build their wealth through assets — not wages; as the value of these assets rises, their net worth grows.

However, the U.S. tax system isn’t designed to fully capture those gains. Capital gains are typically taxed at lower rates than regular income and taxes aren't owed until the assets are sold.

In fact, as NYU Stern professor Scott Galloway once put it, if you’re trying to build wealth, you have “an obligation to pay as little tax as possible.”

One asset class America’s wealthy have relied on for decades is real estate — in part because of the generous tax treatment it receives.

When you earn rental income from an investment property, you can claim deductions for a wide range of expenses, such as mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance and ongoing maintenance and repairs.

Real estate investors also benefit from depreciation — a tax deduction that recognizes the gradual wear and tear of a property over time. Investors can also use tools like refinancing and 1031 exchanges to keep their capital compounding instead of cashing out.

Today, you don’t need to be a millionaire — or even to buy a single property outright — to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100 — all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

Another option is Lightstone DIRECT, which offers accredited investors access to institutional-quality multifamily and industrial real estate — with a minimum investment of $100,000.

Founded in 1986 by David Lichtenstein, Lightstone Group is one of the largest privately held real estate investment firms in the U.S., with more than $12 billion in assets under management.

Over nearly-four decades, their team has delivered strong, risk-adjusted performance across multiple market cycles — including a 27.6% historical net IRR and a 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004.

With Lightstone DIRECT, you gain access to that proprietary deal flow.

Here’s the kicker: Lightstone invests at least 20% of its own capital in every deal — roughly four times the industry average. With skin in the game, the firm ensures its interests are directly aligned with those of its investors.