Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Photos: Alessandro Di Ciommo/NurPhoto via Getty Images; Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates said in an interview with The Verge that "extreme" tax reform proposals, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) proposed 70% marginal rate on income earned over $10 million, are "missing the picture" and a "misfocus" that will lead the wealthy to stash their cash overseas.
What he's saying: While he favors the idea of "more progressive" marginal rates, Gates said the wealthiest Americans have a "rounding error" of actual salary, and instead generate their wealth by selling stock and other assets: "In terms of revenue collection, you wouldn’t want to just focus on the ordinary income rate, because people who are wealthy have a rounding error of ordinary income."
Go deeper: Poll: Americans favor higher taxes on the wealthy