Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has made headlines with his recent acquisition of nearly 600 acres of land on the Big Island, primarily concentrated in the city of Waimea. The acquisitions, totaling almost $100 million in value, were made through a series of anonymous entities, including limited liability companies (LLCs) and a nonprofit organization. While some of the purchased land, approximately 223 acres, was generously donated to an affordable housing nonprofit, the purposes behind the remaining parcels remain shrouded in mystery.
Journalist Dara Kerr from NPR managed to secure an interview with Benioff at one of his residences on the island. However, rather than providing clarity on the nature of the land acquisitions, Benioff predominantly steered the conversation towards his philanthropic initiatives. He highlighted his significant contributions to various causes, including substantial donations to the fire department, stemming from a personal experience where his beachside home narrowly escaped destruction in a fire. Benioff emphasized his philosophy of unconditional giving without expecting anything in return, citing his approximately $100 million in donations to Hawaii as examples.
When pressed about the properties held by the anonymous LLCs, Benioff’s demeanor shifted noticeably. He became visibly uncomfortable, speaking more quickly and fidgeting with a piece of paper in his hand. Instead of addressing the specifics of the land acquisitions, Benioff and his advisor on the Zoom call deflected the questions, suggesting that they could discuss the matter at a later time. This evasive response has only fueled further speculation about the true intentions behind Benioff’s significant land purchases on the Big Island.
Kerr’s account of her interaction with Benioff took a concerning turn when she realized that he possessed an unsettling amount of personal information about her, including details about her whereabouts during her visit for the interview and personal information about her family. This left Kerr feeling disconcerted and uncertain about the true motives behind Benioff’s land acquisitions.
Furthermore, Kerr and a photographer encountered resistance from one of Benioff’s employees while attempting to take photos of properties related to the story. Following the incident, Benioff contacted Kerr to inform her that his employee had perceived their actions as “snooping” and escalated the matter to NPR’s CEO. Although NPR CEO John Lansing acknowledged speaking with Benioff, he emphasized that the newsroom operates independently, and he does not intervene in editorial decisions.
Benioff’s behavior is not an isolated case among wealthy individuals, as extravagant land acquisitions for seemingly trivial purposes have become increasingly common. California Forever, a real estate project backed by Silicon Valley billionaires, serves as a prominent example, with these affluent individuals acquiring vast tracts of land in the Bay Area with plans to develop a new city.
A slew of other wealthy individuals share similar aspirations. Dryden Brown, a 27-year-old affluent individual, aims to construct a new “crypto city” funded by others’ resources. Marc Lore, a former Walmart executive and co-founder of Diapers.com, has voiced intentions to develop a “sustainable” city in Appalachia. Meanwhile, Kanye West has unveiled plans for a new city in the Middle East called DROAM, spanning over 100,000 acres.
While speculation abounds regarding the potential spectacle of DROAM, there’s an alternative proposal on the table: implementing a 90 percent tax on the wealthiest Americans and utilizing the generated funds to subsidize affordable housing. This approach could offer a more pragmatic solution than relying on the whims of the world’s richest individuals to grasp the intricacies of urban planning.
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