Google’s AI reorganization underscores that Sergey Brin remains at the center of California’s innovation economy
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A few morally bankrupt billionaires, led by Billionaire Tech-bro Sergey Brin, have spent tens of millions of dollars trying to convince voters that billionaires are fleeing California to avoid a small, one-time tax that would keep hospitals open and healthcare costs down.
As it turns out, the facts tell a different story.
The latest example comes from Google, where a major artificial intelligence leadership reorganization places co-founder Sergey Brin back at the center of the company’s AI strategy in Mountain View, California.
According to the Financial Times, Brin is working directly alongside Google’s AI leadership from the company’s Mountainview, California headquarters as Alphabet accelerates its next generation of AI products.
Here’s market intelligence firm NAI500’s recap: “The Financial Times reported that he (Sergey Brin) has re-emerged as the most influential voice in Google’s AI strategy, and that Kavukcuoglu now works from a desk next to Brin at Mountain View headquarters. In a company as sprawling as Alphabet, that kind of proximity matters.”
Brin has previously claimed that he “moved” to Lake Tahoe to avoid paying a one-time tax that would keep hospitals open and healthcare costs down for California families. Today’s news reinforces a simple reality: many of the world’s wealthiest people continue to live, work, and build their companies in California because there is no better place to innovate.
Fast facts
- California attracted a record-breaking $335 billion in venture capital investments in 2026 – AFTER the Billionaire Tax was announced.
- The non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that the billionaire tax would RAISE TENS OF BILLIONS of dollars, while any reductions in income tax collection would be less than $1 billion per year.
- Buying more mansions around the world does not exempt billionaires from the Billionaire Tax.
- The January 1, 2026 residency date has long since passed. Billionaires did not flee, and there is no incentive for billionaires to leave now.
Sergey Brin continues to play a leading role in Google’s future from the company’s Mountain View headquarters. Google remains headquartered in California, where it employs tens of thousands of workers and continues to make major investments in artificial intelligence.
Beyond Brin, California remains home to the largest concentration of billionaires in the nation. California continues to attract more venture capital investment than any other state and remains the global center of technology and innovation.
While opponents spend millions promoting exaggerated stories about billionaires leaving California, the evidence continues to show that the state’s wealthiest residents overwhelmingly remain deeply connected to California through their homes, businesses, investments, employees, and daily work.
Public support
Voters consistently support the California Billionaire Tax by large, double-digit margins. A new poll of likely 2026 California voters found that the billionaire tax holds a strong double-digit, 19-point lead statewide.
Support rises dramatically among constituencies that form the backbone of the Democratic Party, with 80% of Democrats, 70% of union members, 63% of teachers, 63% of healthcare workers. Additionally, 56% of independent and no-party-preference voters support Prop 40.
The number of major supporters for the billionaire tax has far outpaced the groups opposing it, despite repeated attempts by the media to falsely label the measure “controversial” despite it holding a strong double-digit lead in most polls.
Hundreds of elected officials, labor unions, and community-based organizations have endorsed Prop 40, including the California State Democratic Party (CADEM), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Ro Khanna, the California Labor Federation, Teamsters California, California Nurses Association, AFSCME California, SEIU-UHW, Committee of Interns and Residents / SEIU, UNITE HERE Local 11, UNITE HERE Local 30, AFT Local 1521, Disability Voices United, Our Revolution California, Oxfam America, Color of Change, and many more.
Prop 40 qualified for the ballot after supporters submitted more than 1.6 million signatures from Californians across the state — nearly twice the number required to qualify — making it one of the strongest citizen-led ballot qualification efforts in California history.
About Prop 40, the California Billionaire Tax Act
Trump’s “Big, Ugly Bill” slashed funding for healthcare in California to pay for more billionaire tax breaks. These cuts eliminate healthcare coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians and double health insurance premiums for millions more. Prop 40, the California Billionaire Tax Act, will make billionaires finally pay their fair share in taxes to keep local hospitals and ERs open and healthcare affordable for millions of Californians.
Vote YES on Prop 40 to save lives, tax billionaires.
| Paid for Paid for by Yes on 40 – Billionaire Tax Now – No on 41 & 42, Sponsored by Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West. Committee’s Top Funder Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West |
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