Why Do Billionaires Want to Get Into Politics?
Because owning everything isn’t quite as satisfying as running everything.
They’ve already got:
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Private jets
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Private islands
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Private security
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Private space programs
But what they really want… is a say in your public life.
“Sure, I could buy the system from the outside…
But wouldn’t it be more efficient if I just became the system?”
They call it leadership.
We call it monopoly with better PR.
Because nothing says “man of the people” like a tax shelter in the Caymans and a 9-figure Super PAC.
1. Power Begets Power Wealth brings access. But for many billionaires, money alone isn’t enough — they want influence, the ability to shape the rules of society, not just play by them. Politics gives them a say in taxation, regulation, labor policy, even global diplomacy.
2. Protecting Their InterestsThey often enter politics (directly or indirectly) to defend their fortunes:
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Lower corporate or capital gains taxes
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Looser regulation
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Weaker labor unions
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Favorable contracts or subsidies
Even if they claim “public service,” there’s almost always an economic upside.
3. Ego and LegacySome billionaires genuinely believe they know best — and want history to remember them not just for money, but as visionaries or saviors:
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Think Elon Musk, who tweets like a policy czar.
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Or Michael Bloomberg, who literally ran for president.
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Or Ross Perot, who spent a fortune trying to “fix” the system.
They often see themselves as smarter than the politicians they fund — and sometimes, they’re right.
4. Ideology and Belief (Real or Manufactured)Some have actual convictions. Others adopt them as branding strategies. Either way, they often:
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Fund think tanks and media outlets
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Shape school curriculums
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Influence public opinion in ways most voters never see
