Trending Now - Google's Sergey Brin Sparks Political Tension With Newsom at Party
WHO:
NY Post - Sergey Brin, Gavin Newsom, Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto, Chris Larsen, Janelle Monáe, Tom Steyer, Steve Hilton, Brian Armstrong, Vinod Khosla, John Doerr, Eric Schmidt, Patrick Collison, Michael Moritz, Peter Thiel, David Lesperance, Suzanne Jimenez, Garry South, Izzy Gardon, Steven Maviglio.
WHAT:
Fortune - Brin has spent an additional $9 million in the last four months, bringing his total political spending to over $58 million.
Fortune - Brin contributed $20 million to the group Building a Better California, making him the single largest contributor.
Fortune - Brin gave an additional $37 million over the spring to support anti-wealth tax measures.
Fortune - Tom Steyer is emerging as a top Democratic candidate for governor after the downfall of former Representative Eric Swalwell.
Fortune - Brin has backed Republican Steve Hilton, who is currently leading in polls.
Fortune - Sergey Brin confronted Gavin Newsom about a new proposal to tax billionaires in California.
Fortune - Brin has spent more than $58 million in the last four months to influence California politics.
Fortune - Brin contributed $20 million to a group opposing the wealth tax and an additional $37 million over the spring.
Fortune - Ultrawealthy donors have injected more than $270 million into California’s political scene in this election cycle.
Fortune - Tom Steyer has spent more than $140 million in his election bid for governor.
Fortune - Brin moved to a $42 million mansion on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.
Fortune - The proposed wealth tax would levy a one-time 5% tax on billionaires.
Fortune - Brin and other billionaires helped push up the costs to gather the more than 870,000 signatures required to qualify a ballot measure.
WHERE:
Fortune - The confrontation occurred at a treehouse party north of San Francisco, California.
Fortune - Brin purchased a lakeside mansion in Nevada.
WHEN:
Fortune - Ballots for the June 2 primary election start going out next week.
Fortune - Brin left California ahead of a January 1 residency deadline for the proposed wealth tax.
WHY:
Fortune - Brin's political activism reflects a broader awakening among California’s ultrawealthy due to the proposed wealth tax and a heated governor’s race.
Fortune - Brin's political push reflects a broader awakening among California’s ultrawealthy due to the proposed billionaire tax.
Fortune - Newsom opposes the wealth tax, stating it would do serious damage to the state.
HOW:
Fortune - Brin has helped mobilize a network of fellow tech titans to influence state issues, marking a significant shift in their political engagement.
Fortune - Brin mobilized a network of fellow tech titans to influence state issues.
Fortune - Brin and other billionaires are using their wealth to support candidates and initiatives that align with their interests.
(UPDATED April 27, 2026 09:38 UTC)
Google co-founder Sergey Brin has ramped up his political spending, contributing an additional $9 million in recent months, which brings his total to over $58 million. Notably, he is the single largest contributor to the group Building a Better California, with a $20 million donation, and he also allocated $37 million to support anti-wealth tax measures this spring. As California's governor race heats up, Brin is backing Republican Steve Hilton, while Tom Steyer is emerging as a leading Democratic candidate following the downfall of Eric Swalwell, reflecting a broader awakening among the state's ultrawealthy.
--
(UPDATED April 27, 2026 04:11 UTC)
In a notable confrontation at a treehouse party north of San Francisco, Sergey Brin challenged Gavin Newsom over a proposed one-time 5% tax on billionaires in California, a move that has sparked significant political activity among the ultrawealthy. Brin has invested over $58 million in California politics recently, including a $20 million contribution to oppose the wealth tax, while more than $270 million has been funneled into the state's political scene this election cycle. As ballots for the June 2 primary election start going out next week, Brin's actions reflect a growing concern among California's elite about the potential impact of the wealth tax, prompting him to relocate to a $42 million mansion in Nevada ahead of a January 1 residency deadline.