저자: 미상 · 외국인
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뉴욕시장 Zohran Mamdani가 Ken Griffin 펜트하우스 앞에서 고가 2주택 과세를 홍보한 영상이 논쟁을 일으킴. Jeff Bezos가 CNBC에서 시장의 Griffin 공격을 비판하고 뉴욕 교육·주거 정책을 비판. Griffin은 Citadel을 마이애미로 확장하며 뉴욕 60억 달러 Park Avenue 프로젝트 재검토를 언급. 자산 가격 방향에 대한 예측 발언은 없음.
다듬은 글
Good afternoon, New York City. [cheering] How we doing? A major political and billionaire showdown is exploding in New York City after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos publicly blasted Mayor Zohran Mamdani over a viral luxury tax video targeting hedge fund titan Ken Griffin. The controversy erupted after Mamdani filmed a social media clip outside Griffin's ultra-luxury Manhattan penthouse while promoting a proposed tax on high-end second homes.
Bezos, during a CNBC interview, accused the mayor of unfairly portraying Griffin as some kind of public enemy. The Amazon founder made it clear he had no issue debating taxes, but strongly objected to what he called the unnecessary public targeting of one of America's biggest financial figures. The now viral video was originally posted by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani back on April 15th as part of his aggressive campaign push aimed at taxing wealthy property owners.
In the clip, Mamdani stood outside Ken Griffin's record-setting Midtown penthouse and celebrated his proposed pied-à-terre tax targeting homes worth more than $5 million that are not occupied full-time. The Democratic Socialist mayor directly called out Griffin by name while presenting the billionaire's property as a symbol of extreme wealth inside New York City.
Supporters praised the message online, but critics immediately accused Mamdani of publicly shaming business leaders for political attention. Jeff Bezos did not hold back during his CNBC sit-down. The billionaire businessman defended Citadel founder Ken Griffin, insisting he is not a villain and has not harmed New York City in any way.
Bezos argued Griffin has actually contributed positively to the city's economy through investment, development, and business activity. The Amazon founder stressed there is a difference between discussing tax policy and personally targeting wealthy individuals in viral political content. Bezos warned that debates over economic inequality should not turn into public finger-pointing campaigns aimed at demonizing successful entrepreneurs and investors.
Ken Griffin himself had already fired back at Mayor Mamdani earlier this year after the video exploded online. During his own CNBC appearance, the Citadel CEO reportedly called the mayor's stunt creepy and accused City Hall of creating a hostile environment for businesses and investors. Griffin later hinted that the controversy was one reason Citadel has increasingly expanded operations in Florida instead of New York.
The billionaire hedge fund boss also reportedly threatened to reconsider a massive $6 billion Park Avenue development project tied to Citadel's future plans, sparking fears that political tensions could push even more major corporations out of the city. But Bezos' criticism did not stop with the viral video controversy.
The Amazon founder also attacked Mayor Mamdani's broader economic policies, especially his approach to education and housing. Bezos' argued New York City already spends dramatically more money per student than cities like Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles, while still struggling with mediocre academic performance and declining enrollment numbers.
He claimed the city's affordability crisis is largely being worsened by excessive government intervention and over-regulation. According to Bezos, soaring rent prices and housing shortages are not market failures, but policy failures created by years of government mismanagement. The growing feud is now becoming part of a much bigger national battle between progressive politicians and America's billionaire class.
Mayor Zohar Mamdani has built much of his political brand around taxing wealthy elites and challenging corporate power inside New York City. But critics argue his aggressive anti-billionaire rhetoric risks damaging the city's reputation as a global business hub. Supporters of the mayor say wealthy executives have enjoyed years of tax breaks and rising profits, while ordinary New Yorkers continue struggling with housing costs and inflation.
The clash is quickly turning into a symbolic fight over who truly controls the future of America's biggest cities. Meanwhile, business leaders and Wall Street insiders are increasingly sounding alarm bells over the possibility of companies moving investment and operations away from New York. Florida has already become a magnet for wealthy investors and financial firms, thanks to its lower taxes and business-friendly policies.
Ken Griffin famously relocated Citadel's headquarters to Miami in recent years, a move that shocked Wall Street and fueled concerns about New York losing its financial dominance. Bezos' public intervention has now added even more fuel to the debate, with many viewing the billionaire's comments as a warning sign about growing tensions between City Hall and corporate America.
As the backlash grows, Mayor Eric Adams appears determined to continue pushing his tax the rich agenda despite fierce opposition from some of the world's most powerful billionaires. Neither City Hall nor Eric Adams immediately responded to the latest criticism from Jeff Bezos, but the political fallout is already intensifying online and across business circles.
With Ken Griffin threatening to rethink billion-dollar projects and Bezos openly attacking the mayor's tactics, this billionaire versus City Hall war is rapidly becoming one of the most explosive political and economic battles unfolding in New York right now. And the consequences could reshape the city's future for years to come.
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