United Airlines CEO Calls for Higher Taxes on the Wealthy

The debate over higher taxes on the wealthy has gained fresh attention in the United States amid concerns about growing income and wealth inequality. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has joined the discussion, saying that people like him should pay more in taxes. In an interview with The New York Times, he called for a national wealth tax and suggested that inheritance taxes could approach 100% at certain levels. Kirby said wealth inequality had become a danger to society and stressed the need for policy measures to address it. He also argued that a wealth tax should be introduced at the national level rather than separately by individual states, as wealthy people could move to states with lower tax rates.

Kirby said higher taxes on wealthy individuals could help reduce the tax burden on people who depend primarily on wages. He also expressed support for inheritance taxes that could reach nearly 100% at certain levels, adding that he would be willing to pay them. His comments have drawn attention because of his own compensation. According to United Airlines’ 2025 proxy statement, Kirby received total compensation of approximately $32.28 million in 2025, while the company’s median employee compensation was $96,670. Federal Reserve data also shows that the wealthiest 1% of US households held 32.5% of the country’s total net worth in the second quarter of 2026, highlighting the concentration of wealth among the richest households.