Jeff Bezos Gives Van Jones, Chef José Andrés $100 Million Each
Jeff Bezos calls the gift the “Courage and Civility” award. They can keep the money or give it to charity.
Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and the world’s wealthiest man, chose to give CNN’s Van Jones and chef José Andrés $100 million each:
Bezos said that Jones and Andres were free to do “what they want” with the money.
“They can give it all to their own charity,” Bezos said at a press conference after his trip to space. “Or they can share the wealth. It is up to them.”
The money, Bezos said, was tied to a “surprise” philanthropic initiative he wanted to announce called the Courage and Civility Award.
The award aims to honor those who have “demonstrated courage” and tried to be a unifier in a divisive world, Bezos added.
“We need unifiers and not vilifiers,” Bezos said. “We need people who argue hard and act hard for what they believe. But they do that always with civility and never ad hominem attacks. Unfortunately, we live in a world where this is too often not the case. But we do have role models.”
Andrés is known for his charity efforts around the world to feed people. He acknowledged the money “cannot feed the world on its own,” but it’s a starting point.
Jones and Andrés and CNN host Anderson Cooper had no idea Bezos would make the announcement.
Jeff Bezos announces he's giving Van Jones $100 million to donate to charity as Jones sees fit. Bezos calls this a "Courage and Civility" award
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) July 20, 2021
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Comments
If we could follow the money from here, we would know the real agenda–not that Jeff would have a hidden agenda…
And, what do the “principles” of equity demand here?
Jose Andres famously sued to get out of an agreement to open a restaurant in the Trump Hotel in DC (formerly known as the Old Post Office Pavilion). He loathes Trump and has no qualms in saying so.
Personally, kudos to him for all of his philanthropic work, but there’s a bit too much, “Look at me, I’m doing good!” going on with him. If he’s out feeding people there’s invariably a press release and/or the media there to witness it.
Instant qualification–Trump hater–times 2
It’s his money, and the recipients will get a fast education about being rich. They can’t spend it all and the rest is capital. Charity or investment? The latter actually does more for other people.
Jose Andres wasn’t exactly poor before this. He’s a very successful restaurateur.
Yes, well your spending rises with income until a certain point, after which your standard of living stays the same and you just invest more. Learning what to do with that pure capital is the education.
Too bad the money didn’t go to people that would use it to help others not themselves. I know several veterans groups that are begging for help.
Van Jones will help others. Contribute the Socialist/Communist Party politician’s campaigns, maybe even CPUSA.
So what exactly has Van Jones done?
Well, he’s cried on tv. There’s that.
he’s blak
Maybe Van and Jose could use the money to give bonuses to the drivers and warehouse workers slaving away and pissing in bottles for Amazon, Inc.
The article states: “Bezos said that Jones and Andres were free to do “what they want” with the money.”
If this gift is really unrestricted, Bezos would owe the IRS $80 million of gift taxes for making the gift.
($200 million X 40% gift tax rate = $80 million gift tax)
It’s not income generated from investments; its’ not income generated from business activity – it’s a pure gift. Unless they turn around and donate it to charity, they’re subject to income tax on it at the 37% marginal rate.
The recipient of the gift doesn’t pay taxes….the donor does. A gift is literally free money.
To s0meone outside America that doesn’t make sense to me.
You earn money, through capital gains, income or other means, and pay tax on the money you earned.
You then make a gift to me from those post-tax earnings and have to pay more tax? Meanwhile I don’t have to pay any?
I don’t get it.
Well, one of those two will do good with it. One out of two ain’t bad.
In any case, it’s his money and his right to do whatever he likes with it, so good for him. And for them, I suppose, since it’s their money now.
Maybe one of them could pay Oberlin’s damage award to Gibson’s bakery.
That would not be a good cause. Oberlin has plenty of money from which to pay Gibsons what it owes; the last thing it should get from anyone is help.
Neither of these men are a charity so how much will go to the government as taxes?
Do either of them have problematic vices? Will they be destroyed by this largess. Lotto winners often don’t handle the new position in the world well.
Why not just give $200 million in bonuses to all current and past Amazon employees?
Because he doesn’t feel like it. That should be sufficient reason for any conservative.
“He who pays the piper calls the tune.” You can bet these two will be blowing Bezos’ pipe a long cool minute!
For Van Jones and other prog elites, Communism pays big time.
It’s Bezos’ $ after all. He can give some away. Fund a space flight. Roll around naked in a huge pile of $100 bills.
That said, it doesn’t preclude any commentary on what he chooses to do with when he makes that choice in public.
This immediately brings to mind the old TV show “The Millionaire”.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047758/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_3
What lessons will Michael Anthony be teaching this week?
Both of them just moved solidly into Biden’s top tax bracket, didn’t they?
Idle Prediction: Bezos will soon discover that he’d have gotten more results out his $200m if he ‘d have just flushed down the toilet.
Sounds like Bezos and his ex are playing bribe the kids for love with “the kids” in this scenario being american leftist celeb props.