Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

According to a proposal by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the bottom half of U.S. earners should be exempt from paying federal income taxes, with nurses making around $75,000 a year saving $12,000 annually. Bezos argued that these individuals should not face financial strain, as they already contribute a small portion of total tax revenue.

He cited data showing that the bottom half of taxpayers, earning under $54,000, paid only 3% of federal income taxes in 2023. Bezos plans to advocate for this idea with political leaders, emphasizing that it would only amount to a small sum of money for the government. Despite his vast wealth, net worth estimated at over $280 billion, Bezos acknowledged that even doubling his tax bill would not materially affect his financial situation.

He pushed back against what he called "vilification" of the wealthy, arguing that policy debates on fair tax burden for the rich are separate from the broader issue of wasteful government spending. Bezos, who has not signed the Giving Pledge to donate most of his wealth, said he intends to give away "most of his wealth" during his lifetime, a commitment already advanced by his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, who has donated over $26 billion to various causes since 2020.