The Realization Hit Like Lightning

Dear Reader,

So the realization hit these guys fast.

And honestly? Their response was even faster.

• Billionaires Evacuated California in Days: When California's proposed 5% wealth tax on billionaires gained momentum, ultra-wealthy residents didn't wait

• The Tipping Point Happened at Art Basel: Conversations at Miami's Art Basel and St. Barts holiday dinners turned into mass exodus

• Mobile Wealth Breaks Government Tax Models: California's losing billions in tax revenue and investment capital because lawmakers don't understand 

• Your Last Chance to Protect Your Wealth: The financial reset is coming. The January 28th meeting is the final trigger. This is your last opportunity to prepare. 

As California's proposed "billionaire tax" started gaining serious momentum late last year, some of the wealthiest people in the country didn't wait around.

They didn't wait for ballots. Didn't wait for lawmakers. Didn't wait for court challenges.

They just moved.

Seven Days From Decision to Done

Julian Johnston is a luxury real estate broker with The Corcoran Group in Miami.

He's been watching up close and personal. 

"Then a couple more flew into Miami, bought properties and closed within seven days," he said. "So then it was a tipping point."

Seven days, folks.

Think about that for a second.

The Numbers That Drove the Exodus

Johnston's currently working with three billionaires to move them from California to South Florida.

And the urgency? Driven by absolutely staggering potential losses.

"One client said, 'You know, this could be like a $5 billion tax for me,'" Johnston recalled. "So they're moving because of that."

Five billion dollars.

That's not a typo.

That's the kind of number that makes people move continents, let alone states.

It Started at Art Basel

The whole thing kicked off at Miami's high-profile Art Basel fair in early December, according to Johnston.

Then the conversations carried over into the ultra-wealthy's holiday celebrations on the island of St. Barts.

You know how that goes. The rich hang out with the rich.

"They're all dining and wining together and talking about this proposed tax," Johnston explained. "And then when the proposed tax gained speed, they understood they had to either rent or purchase something out of California to establish residency."

To reduce their net worth exposure to the proposed billionaire tax.

Smart move, actually.

The Tipping Point Effect

Here's where it gets really interesting.

"It's a melting pot and they're all friends. And that's the thing," Johnston said. "The tipping point was when four or five of them bought and three more were going into contract."

Then what happened?

"The rest of them, all their friends are here. And they talked about the office buildings as well."

See how that works? Network effects in action.

The Window Might Have Already Closed

"I think this happened very quickly, even for them," Johnston continued. "Now that it's January, into 2026, it has slowed down a little bit."

Here's the kicker.

"So if you didn't buy or rent before the end of the year, it may be too late. It may apply to you no matter what now."

The window closed. Fast.

What the Tax Actually Proposes

Let me break down what California's actually trying to do here.

The proposal hasn't qualified for the November ballot yet. But it's backed by the Service Employees International Union–United Healthcare Workers West.

It would impose a one-time 5% tax on the net worth of California residents worth more than $1 billion.

The tax would be due in 2027. Taxpayers could spread payments over five years, with additional costs.

And here's the critical part. If voters approve it, anyone who was a California resident on January 1st, 2026, would owe the tax.

That's why everyone bolted before year-end.

Who's Actually Leaving

Johnston described the billionaires he's working with, he mentioned "Palo Alto guys."

Tech founders. Venture capitalists. People who haven't spent much time in Miami before.

"There's a few other very big founders and also tech giants and also venture capitalist firms, the heads of which I've also moved here," he said.

"It was always a layover, one night, an event, but Miami's changed a lot in the last 10 years. It's culturally more interesting."

They were quite happy to move and see what happens in the next few years.

Why Miami Beats Other Tax Havens

Florida famously has no state income tax for residents who live there at least 183 days out of the year.

But other states offer that too. Texas. Tennessee. Nevada.

So why Miami specifically?

"I think you have to look at the culture amongst these VC firms and tech guys," Johnston explained. "They like to be around each other."

Network effects again.

"They're already moving here, some of them are already here or have established residency here, they're gonna spend more time and then they're going to have the multiplier effect of their friends coming in to spend time with them."

The California Comparison

"Miami has a very outdoor lifestyle similar to California," Johnston argued. "I think the climate suits them. I think there's a lot of security here."

Politically it's safe. Economically strong.

"Two of the largest capital projects in the country are in Miami right now."

So they get the lifestyle without the tax burden.

Makes sense.

The Capital Flight Nobody Saw Coming

Here's what California lawmakers apparently didn't consider.

These billionaires aren't just taking themselves. They're taking their investment capital too.

And they don't think lawmakers fully grasp how mobile wealth has become now.

"That was a discussion point amongst some of them in the lunchroom," Johnston said. "They were talking about the fact that, if enough of them move, it's actually gonna cause change."

Real change.

"It will financially change the landscape for the government's budget."

They Want Reform First

And here's the most interesting part.

"They want reform... they want reform before they move back."

So this isn't just about dodging a tax. It's about sending a message.

Fix the spending problem. Then maybe we'll come back.

This Migration Wave Is Different

Johnston's been in luxury real estate sales for 25 years.

He agrees this current migration wave feels completely different.

Different in terms of the sheer scale of wealth involved. Different in terms of the speed at which high-net-worth individuals want to divest from the West Coast.

"I think Florida has a positive net migration for the next 20 years," he said. "It's a boomtown."

The Future Belongs to Florida

"Those big companies are going to push the state to spend more money on just activities and amenities and bring so many people from around the world that had never been to Miami before."

Why?

"Because I do think it's a city of the future for America."

The Lesson California's Learning

Here's what this whole thing teaches us.

Wealth is mobile now. Instantly mobile.

You can't just tax billionaires and assume they'll stick around to pay it.

They'll leave. Fast.

Within seven days, apparently.

This Could Be Coming to Your State

Don't think this is just a California problem, by the way.

Other states are watching closely. New York, Illinois, Massachusetts—they're all facing budget shortfalls too. And politicians love wealth taxes because they sound good to voters. 

"Tax the rich" plays well in campaigns. 

But if California can't make it work without triggering mass exodus, what makes anyone think other states will fare better? 

When lawmakers in your state start floating wealth tax proposals, remember what happened here. 

Remember the seven-day timeline. Remember the billions that walked out the door before the tax even passed.

The Uncensored Irony 

California wanted to raise billions from a wealth tax.

Instead? They're losing billions in tax revenue and investment capital.

The billionaires are gone. Their companies might follow. Their investment dollars are flowing to Florida now.

All because lawmakers thought wealthy people were trapped. They're not. They never were.

And now California's finding out the hard way.

Your move, Sacramento.

Kiyosaki Uncensored