Marlene Engelhorn is a 33-year-old member of one of Europe’s wealthiest families. She is grabbing the full attention of the nation for her radical ideas about wealth redistribution. The lastborn millionaire Traudl Engelhorn-Vechiatto inherited a huge fortune of €3.8 billion ($6.8 billion) from her grandmother, who died in September 2022. In an unprecedented move, Engelhorn has decided to donate her entire inheritance. Her attitudes towards money are changing. In part, it is because she wants to use her power to fight the racial and social inequalities that extreme wealth has perpetuated.
Engelhorn is the leader of the Tax Me Now initiative, which advocates for more rigorous taxation across German-speaking countries. She calls her inheritance “dirty, disgusting money,” recognizing the damage that the mega-wealthy elite have done to society. As her planned wealth transfer comes to an end, she looks forward to “most of it being gone” by next year. Engelhorn’s actions align with a larger movement advocating for increased taxes on the wealthy, coinciding with an impending referendum in Switzerland that seeks to impose a steep 50 percent inheritance tax on estates exceeding €50 million.
A Radical Shift in Perspective
Raised in privilege, Engelhorn had a hard time internalizing the worth of money. Her view of the world changed completely when she discovered that she was about to come into a large fortune of her own. This epiphany led her to start thinking deeply about what it means to be rich and what responsibilities come with that.
Engelhorn is a passionate proponent of an activist, democratic philanthropist’s approach. She has faith that everyday citizens can figure out the best way to spend their available resources. She stated, “Having read about citizens’ assemblies and being very intrigued by this democratic tool, I thought, ‘Well, maybe this is a process I can use.’” To get things started, she convened a Citizens’ Assembly of 50 regular Austrians. Together, they’ll determine the most effective way to distribute her inheritance so her fortune goes as far as possible to help those who need it most.
Engelhorn’s philanthropic efforts have already resulted in donations to 77 organizations, including social and climate groups and initiatives aimed at ending violence against women. While she is grateful for these contributions, she believes they are only a first step in addressing systemic injustices.
Criticism of the Ultra-Rich
Rich and unapologetic, Marlene Engelhorn refuses to pull punches on her fellow members of the wealthy elite. She acknowledges the significant harm caused by individuals like herself, stating, “The people from my class, the people from the top one richest percent, we did so much harm to so many people around the globe.” This unguarded confession is an insight into just how much she’s aware of the socio-economic divides that extreme wealth has created.
In her advocacy for higher taxes on the wealthy, Engelhorn argues that being super-rich is not special. She claims that the ultra-rich live in a bubble without any understanding or regard for the people that they are affecting negatively. “They’re disconnected idiots, and I know it because I’m one of them,” she remarked, highlighting her commitment to confronting uncomfortable truths about privilege.
Through initiatives such as Tax Me Now, Engelhorn hopes to shift the conversation about wealth and taxes in our communities. “You don’t need to pretend like there’s anything super about the super rich,” she asserts, emphasizing the need for accountability among those with substantial financial resources.
Moving Forward with Purpose
Marlene Engelhorn has embarked on an inspiring philanthropic adventure, fighting for systemic change. She is convictional about using wealth to advance a higher purpose. She continues to argue that her actions are driven by a sense of responsibility, not entitlement. “I’m doing it because I think it’s the bare minimum … and I value democracy and freedom,” she explained.
Her dedication to her philanthropy and the causes she advocates for is more than just performative, it comes from a need to see real change. Engelhorn recognizes the importance of acting in accordance with one’s values, stating, “So I would have to take respective steps to act either according to my values or prove that I’m just full of sh*t.”
