Signatories including actor Mark Ruffalo and Disney heirs Abby and Tim Disney argue that extreme wealth concentration has compromised democratic integrity, stifled innovation, and accelerated environmental decay.

This campaign, supported by organisations such as Patriotic Millionaires and Oxfam, highlights a growing chasm between the global elite and the general public. Research suggests that over 70% of millionaires in G20 nations believe extreme wealth facilitates the purchase of political influence. The letter serves as a blunt ultimatum to representatives at every level of government, insisting that the duty to tax the wealthy is a moral and democratic necessity to ensure progress for all.

The call for systemic change arrives as private fortunes reach unprecedented heights. Data from 2024 reveals that the United States alone produced over 1,000 new millionaires daily, while the global total of millionaires has surged to 52 million since the turn of the millennium.

However, this growth remains heavily skewed toward the pinnacle of the economic ladder. In the US, the top 20% of earners hold approximately 71% of the national wealth, leaving the bottom half of households with a mere 2.5% share.

Even established philanthropic efforts are facing scrutiny for their perceived inadequacy. While initiatives like The Giving Pledge have seen hundreds of billionaires commit to donating half their fortunes, figures such as Warren Buffett and Melinda French Gates have recently acknowledged that these promises often fall short of their intended impact. By advocating for mandatory taxation over discretionary charity, the “Time to Win” signatories aim to dismantle the “obscene gains” of the few to secure a more stable future for the many.