# Mark Zuckerberg Agrees to Stay in California Despite Billionaires' Tax Ballot Measure

> **Publication**: aitalky (Independent AI Journalism)
> **Canonical Citation URL**: https://aitalky.vercel.app/news/mark-zuckerberg-agrees-to-stay-in-california-despite-billionaires-tax-ballot-measure
> **Original Source**: [Wired AI](https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-agrees-to-stay-in-california-despite-billionaires-tax-ballot-measure/)
> **Author**: Paresh Dave (undefined)
> **Published Date**: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
> **Category**: CULTURE
> **Tags**: AI, Wired AI, culture

## Executive Summary
Meta's board feared that its CEO's departure could disrupt the company's AI ambitions. A new stock agreement gives him financial incentives to stay put



## Full Coverage
During a dinner with Meta board members on September 9, Zuckerberg informed them that he was considering leaving California because of the measure, known as Proposition 40, and that he planned to list his Palo Alto, California, home for sale four days later, the 109-page filing stated. The ballot proposal, which could be subject to lawsuits even if voters approve it, calls for a one-time 5 percent tax on stock and other assets held by billionaires in the state as of January 2026

Many wealthy individuals, including Zuckerberg, currently avoid significant tax payments by borrowing against their shares and taking low salaries—$1 annually in the Meta CEO's case. Zuckerberg purchased a home in Florida this past February, The Wall Street Journal reported at the time

His potential cross-country move concerned a special committee of the board, whose members included attorney Robert Kimmitt, venture capitalist Charlie Songhurst, and DoorDash CEO Tony Xu. "The special committee was mindful about the difficulties the company faced during the COVID-19 pandemic when Zuckerberg could not be physically present with the company's management team and did not want the company to face similar challenges going forward," according to Wednesday's filing

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