NYC Billionaires Criticize Mayor's Tax Video at Griffin's Penthouse

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew sharp criticism from two prominent billionaires this week after releasing a video announcing a proposed tax on luxury second homes, filmed directly outside the $238 million penthouse of hedge fund executive Ken Griffin.

The video, released around April 15, promotes Mamdani's plan to impose a pied-à-terre tax on properties valued above $5 million that serve as secondary residences. Mamdani highlighted Griffin's Upper East Side penthouse as an example of how wealthy individuals store value in largely vacant homes while avoiding city and state income taxes. The city comptroller estimates the tax could generate about $500 million annually from roughly 11,200 such properties.

Griffin, CEO of Citadel, described the video as "creepy and weird" during a conference on Tuesday. He expressed concerns about his safety, referencing the recent killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO blocks from his home, and said the stunt reflected a city unwelcoming to success. Griffin announced plans to expand Citadel in Miami rather than New York, drawing parallels to his 2022 relocation from Chicago due to crime and anti-business sentiment.