It’s no secret that billionaires have a lot of influence in America. After all, they can use their wallets to change politics & make decisions that benefit them—and them only. Here are ten billionaires who have done just that! Even in a country as vast as ours, it’s clear that the minority with a lot of money has a lot of power over the few who don’t have so much. Sadly, a lot of them don’t have our best interests at heart and critics argue they’re willing to hurt the country for their own gain.
Featured Image Credit: imagepressagency /Depositphotos.com.
Charles and David Koch
The Koch brothers have become infamous for their environmental track record. They own one of the biggest private companies that works in oil & chemicals and have been accused of hurting the planet. Pollution & resisting climate change efforts are some of the major concerns folks have with these two.
Sheldon Adelson
Sheldon Adelson is a casino king who wasn’t shy about putting his money into politics. His donations supported causes & candidates that would benefit his business empire, leading to questions over how much influence one person has in changing the direction of our democracy. What’s the balance between free speech and fair play?
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Jeff Bezos
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has faced a lot of criticism—especially with how his workers are treated. Despite Amazon’s success, numerous reports have emerged about tough working conditions and awful pay. Plus, Amazon’s ability to dodge taxes doesn’t sit well with lots of people who argue that the corporate giant should pay its fair share. This has led to many debates about corporate responsibility & economic inequality.
Mark Zuckerberg
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has been under fire for how his platform handles privacy & misinformation. After all, the Cambridge Analytica scandal made many people question how much personal data we’re unknowingly handing over. Social media has a lot of power in shaping public opinion—for better or worse.
Eli Broad
Eli Broad used his money to influence the education sector, pushing for charter schools and certain reforms. While some have argued his efforts are philanthropic, others believe it shows a move toward privatizing education. They argue that education should be accessible to everyone. For these people, how much money you make shouldn’t influence the quality of education your children receive.
Martin Shkreli
Martin Shkreli became infamous for hiking the price of the lifesaving drug Daraprim by over 5,000% overnight. But it’s not just the audacity of the act being controversial. People began questioning how drugs are priced and who gets to make those decisions. In fact, they also argued whether the pharmaceutical industry had their best interests at heart.
Rupert Murdoch
Through his ownership of Fox News & other outlets, some have argued that Rupert Murdoch has promoted divisive content—and misinformation. They claim that the press has a responsibility to tell the truth, which is why they question the impact Murdoch’s media has on society. After all, it’s a lot harder for people to know what to believe when the lines between news and opinion blur.
The Sackler Family
The Sackler family owns Purdue Pharma & they played an important part in the opioid crisis through the aggressive marketing of OxyContin. According to critics, the Sackler family’s actions have led to a nationwide addiction & public health crisis. The epidemic has destroyed communities & torn families apart while also showing how shady the pharmaceutical industry’s practices can be.
Peter Thiel
Despite being a big name in the tech world, Peter Thiel’s decisions over data & privacy have led to several debates. He has supported companies that specialize in data collection and surveillance technologies. Where do we draw the line between security and privacy? With billionaires like Thiel, the question becomes more muddled.
Jamie Dimon
As the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon represents the financial elite. Essentially, some have accused him of causing the 2008 financial crisis, along with contributing to economic inequality. This has made many people wary of the power that financial institutions hold and the need for accountability in banking. To them, Dimon represents everything wrong with billionaires.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Read More:
