NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Luxury Second Home Tax Proposal Gets Support From Jeff Bezos

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has voiced support for New York City’s proposed pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes, even as several leading businessmen continue to oppose the measure, according to a Business Insider report.

Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, Bezos likened the proposed levy to taxes levied on tourists through hotel stays. “Out-of-towner taxes are very popular taxes. That’s why hotel taxes exist,” Bezos said during the interview.

“There are limits. If you raise hotel taxes too much, tourists will stop coming,” he added. “So you have to be judicious, but I think the pied-à-terre tax is a good thing for New York.

The proposed pied-à-terre tax would apply to New York properties worth more than $5 million that are not used as a primary residence. The tax would primarily affect wealthy homeowners whose primary residence is outside of New York.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul first introduced the proposal, which was later supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

According to Business Insider, the tax could affect Bezos himself, as he owns several New York properties while maintaining his primary residence in Florida.

The proposal still requires legislative approval and has already drawn criticism from several influential figures, including US President Donald Trump and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who have both publicly opposed the idea.

The Ken Griffin controversy adds to the debate

The debate surrounding the proposed tax intensified after Mamdani publicly referred to billionaire Citadel Ken Griffin’s $238 million penthouse in a video posted online. Griffin bought a property in Manhattan in 2019, and Mamdani used it as an example of the type of ultra-luxury property that would fall under the proposed tax framework.

Following Mamdani’s comments, a senior Citadel executive reportedly told employees in an internal memo that the company may reconsider a planned $6 billion redevelopment project associated with one of its Midtown office buildings. The report described Mamdani’s remarks as “disgraceful,” according to a Business Insider report.

Despite his support for the proposed tax, Bezos defended Griffin during an interview with CNBC and criticized the decision to publicly single him out.

“Ken Griffin is not a bad guy. He didn’t hurt anyone. He’s not hurting New York. In fact, quite the opposite,” Bezos said.

“That piece is not right and there was no reason to,” he added, referring to the public mention of Griffin’s shed.

The proposed tax has become part of a broader political and economic debate in New York about wealth concentration, luxury real estate ownership and how the city should raise revenue without discouraging investment from billionaires.