{"id":77092,"date":"2025-07-15T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=77092"},"modified":"2025-07-18T12:18:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T10:18:27","slug":"from-bezos-wedding-to-sevillas-streets-a-global-demand-to-tax-the-super-rich","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/77092\/from-bezos-wedding-to-sevillas-streets-a-global-demand-to-tax-the-super-rich\/","title":{"rendered":"From Bezos&#8217; Wedding to Sevilla&#8217;s Streets: A Global Demand to Tax the Super-Rich"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>On June 23rd, just days before Billionaire Jeff Bezos\u2019s Venice wedding, Greenpeace Italy and UK grassroots group called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/everyonehateselon_\/?hl=en\">Everyone Hates Elon<\/a> dropped a 20-meter banner in Piazza San Marco: \u201c<strong>If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLPX6mhoM1D\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLPX6mhoM1D\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLPX6mhoM1D\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Everyone Hates Elon (@everyonehateselon_)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n<p>A video of the action broke the internet and quickly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLPX6mhoM1D\/?hl=en\">reached millions of views<\/a>, while being picked up by major media outlets across the globe. It helped fuel the tax justice conversation in mainstream media like never before! Ranging from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cd0vjr07570o\">BBC<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/europe\/protesters-say-bezos-star-studded-venice-wedding-highlights-growing-inequality\/articleshow\/122064589.cms\">The Times of India<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeslive.co.za\/lifestyle\/2025-06-24-venice-divided-ahead-of-billionaire-bezos-wedding-of-the-century\/\">The Times Live<\/a> in South Africa, to every corner of the world. The message echoed far beyond the canals of Venice. The banner sparked global attention, with people all over the world resonating with the message.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>The wedding cost soared from the initial reported amount of <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/05\/17\/us-news\/jeff-bezos-lauren-sanchez-wedding-to-cost-under-15m-report\/\">US$11 million<\/a> to nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2025\/jun\/28\/final-party-set-to-end-bezos-sanchez-wedding-extravaganza-in-venice\">US$50 million<\/a>. This is a ludicrous figure against the backdrop of global poverty and a planet burning while billionaires flew in on private jets to party in luxury. And it all happened in Venice, a city whose delicate existence is a stark symbol of what\u2019s at stake in a changing climate.<\/p>\n\n<p>The message tapped into a growing call for governments to tax the super-rich. It echoed a growing, global frustration: <strong>Why are billionaires partying while the planet burns<\/strong>?<br><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Movement for Fair Taxation Continues to Grow<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p>The message from Venice reached far beyond the city, it echoed all the way to Sevilla, where world leaders gathered for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (#FfD4).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>The streets of Seville came alive with energy, outrage and demand for change amidst geopolitical tensions. <strong>We marched in solidarity with the broader <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/taxthesuperrich.world\/about\/\"><strong>#TaxTheSuperRich coalition<\/strong><\/a>, alongside many other civil society organisations from across the globe, calling out a system rigged in favour of billionaires and corporate polluters, at immense cost to people and planet.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/07\/49ab2f0c-gp0su66vm.jpg\" title=\"Action at Las Setas ahead of the UN FfD4 Conference in Seville. \u00a9 Pedro Armestre \/ Greenpeace\" alt=\"Action at Las Setas ahead of the UN FfD4 Conference in Seville. \u00a9 Pedro Armestre \/ Greenpeace\" class=\"wp-image-77093\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/07\/49ab2f0c-gp0su66vm.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/07\/49ab2f0c-gp0su66vm-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/07\/49ab2f0c-gp0su66vm-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/07\/49ab2f0c-gp0su66vm-255x340.jpg 255w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Activists from Greenpeace Spain covered the iconic Setas de Sevilla monument with a massive banner, displaying the message (translated from Spanish): \u201cThey are destroying the planet. And you are paying for it.\u201d\nThe action marked the first day of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development Conference (FfD4), where Greenpeace is calling on world leaders to push for ambitious commitments to fair new global rules on tax and debt, and to hold billionaires and fossil polluters accountable for the climate change they cause.<\/figcaption><figcaption><div class=\"credit icon-left\"> \u00a9 Pedro Armestre \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p>Among the creative protests? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DLgIxfIuvzF\/?img_index=1\">A float featuring Elon Musk<\/a>, well, not the real one, but a spot-on stand-in, doing what he\u2019s become infamous for: <strong>wrecking the planet for profit<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>At the same time, real progress was being made inside the conference halls. A new coalition of countries, <strong>led by Spain, Brazil and South Africa<\/strong>, committed to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/press-release\/76435\/greenpeace-activists-cover-setas-de-sevilla-to-call-for-climate-action\/\"> advancing tax justice by taxing the super-rich and supporting the UN Tax Convention<\/a> that is currently being negotiated. <\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Sevilla was a crucial moment&#8230; A glimmer of hope is the new coalitions of countries that have pledged bold action to tax the super-rich and polluting corporations.<\/p>\n<cite>&#8211; Fred Njehu, Global Political Lead at Greenpeace Africa<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>South Africa&#8217;s Role: From Leadership to Legacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p>It\u2019s crucial that South Africa use the G20 presidency to further advance the action on new fair global tax rules, not just for the country, but for the continent and the world. Now, as the G20 Finance Ministers meeting takes place in Durban, all eyes are on President <strong>Cyril Ramaphosa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p>South Africa has taken a bold stance in advancing tax justice. <strong>Now it must act on that promise.<\/strong> The G20 is a chance to lead by example, to push for bold tax reforms that deliver for people and the planet, not profit and pollution.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Stakes Are Too High to Ignore<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p>While billionaires like Bezos and Musk flaunt unimaginable wealth, using megayachts, private jets, and legal loopholes, millions of people are struggling with the fallout of climate collapse, economic injustice, and underfunded public services.<\/p>\n\n<p>This isn\u2019t about envy. It\u2019s about accountability, democracy, and survival.<\/p>\n\n<p>A fair tax on the super-rich could:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Invest in sustainable, affordable and efficient energy and transportation, and all those climate solutions governments say we can\u2019t afford.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support climate action and disaster recovery<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fund universal basic services such as quality healthcare, affordable housing, education, water and sanitation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide social protection for the most vulnerable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Tipping Point for the Movement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p>Across platforms and headlines, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLPX6mhoM1D\/?hl=en\"><strong>millions of people are engaging<\/strong><\/a>, sharing, and demanding change. The tax justice movement is a global force backed by the broad majority of people around the world.<\/p>\n\n<p>And with the UN Tax Convention underway and new tax initiatives being announced, this is a once-in-a-generation chance to reset the rules.<\/p>\n\n<p>Demand governments tax the super-rich! <strong>Because this isn\u2019t just about a banner or a billionaire wedding. It\u2019s about breaking a system that protects wealth, not people or the planet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t<section\n\t\t\tclass=\"boxout post-72223 \"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\tdata-ga-category=\"Take Action Boxout\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-ga-action=\"Image\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-ga-label=\"n\/a\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"cover-card-overlay\"\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/act\/tax-the-super-rich\/\" \n\t\t\t><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/06\/a68f8fac-gp0su5wjv-1024x683.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/06\/a68f8fac-gp0su5wjv-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/06\/a68f8fac-gp0su5wjv-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/06\/a68f8fac-gp0su5wjv-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/06\/a68f8fac-gp0su5wjv-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2025\/06\/a68f8fac-gp0su5wjv.jpg 1200w\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 358px, (min-width: 780px) 313px, 88px\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Banner Action in Venice, Italy. \u00a9 Greenpeace \/ Michele Lapini\" title=\"Banner Action in Venice, Italy. \u00a9 Greenpeace \/ Michele Lapini\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n            \t\t\t<div class=\"boxout-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"boxout-heading medium\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-ga-category=\"Take Action Boxout\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-ga-action=\"Title\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-ga-label=\"n\/a\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/act\/tax-the-super-rich\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTax the super-rich\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"boxout-excerpt\">Together, let&#8217;s urge governments to tax the super-rich and fund a green and fair future.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t                                    <a\n                        class=\"btn btn-primary\"\n                        data-ga-category=\"Take Action Boxout\"\n                        data-ga-action=\"Call to Action\"\n                        data-ga-label=\"n\/a\"\n                        href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/act\/tax-the-super-rich\/\"\n                        \n                    >\n                        Add your name\n                    <\/a>\n                \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\n<p><em>Amrita Ranjit is Global Digital Engagement Specialist for the Fair Share campaign at Greenpeace Africa<\/em><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This isn\u2019t about envy. It\u2019s about accountability, democracy, and survival.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":164,"featured_media":77094,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_planet4_optimize_post_is_variant":false,"_planet4_optimize_experiment_name":"","_planet4_optimize_variant_name":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"Fair Share","p4_local_project":"Tax the Super-Rich","p4_basket_name":"","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[130],"p4-page-type":[59],"class_list":["post-77092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-and-economic-systems","tag-alternative-futures","p4-page-type-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/164"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77092"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77092\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77101,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77092\/revisions\/77101"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77092"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=77092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}