Table of contents:Acknowledgements
Foreword: Nicholas Shaxson
Prelude 1983: Discovering the Money River
Prelude 2004: The Blue Hippo Swindle
Prelude 2020: The Theft of Angola
Introduction
Chapter 1: The High Cost of Hidden Wealth
Chapter 2: Who Are the Wealth Defenders?
Chapter 3: Tools in the Wealth Hiding Toolbox
Chapter 4: All in the Family Office
Chapter 5: The Wealth Hiding in Your Neighborhood
Chapter 6: Directly Engaging the Wealth Defense Industry
Chapter 7: Solutions to Wealth Hiding
Conclusion: A Time for Bold Action
Epilogue: Grads, Don't Work for the Billionaire Wealth Defense
Industry
Reading and Resource List
Notes
Chuck Collins is a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC, where he directs the Program on Inequality and coedits Inequality.org. His previous books include Born on Third Base and Wealth and Our Commonwealth (with Bill Gates Sr.)
"It is no great surprise anymore that we are facing the greatest
crisis in income and wealth inequality that we have seen since the
1920s. What is shocking is the sprawling system of corruption that
the ultra-rich have designed in order to hoard their unimaginable
wealth at the expense of everyone else. Chuck's book reveals not
only the inner workings of this elaborate scheme to hide more than
$20 trillion in wealth, it offers us a blueprint for reversing this
obscene inequality so we can take back our democracy and ensure
that our government works for everybody-not just the billionaire
class and wealthy campaign contributors."
Senator Bernie Sanders
"This book, a primer to the secrets of the money river, is an
essential reformers' handbook for navigating these dangerous times
now facing us - and future generations."
Nicholas Shaxson, author, The Finance Curse and Treasure
Islands
"Skillfully blends personal narrative with social
scientific research to create unique insights into a world of
privilege that is ordinarily out of sight and out of mind for the
rest of us."
Brooke Harrington, Professor of Sociology at Dartmouth College.
Author, Capital without Borders: Wealth Managers and the One
Percent
"The Wealth Hoarders reveals that a whole parallel world
exists in which the rich and powerful enjoy the freedom to avoid
not just taxes but all kinds of laws they find inconvenient.
Accepting the existence this parallel world means putting democracy
at risk."
Frederik Obermaier, author of The Panama Papers: Breaking the
Story of How the Rich and Powerful Hide Their
Money
"This vital and expertly written book reveals the epic
scale of theft occurring legally and in plain sight. Theft that
destroys public services, removes access to housing and for which
the poorest pay the highest price. The authors reveal how the
fountain of wealth gushes ever upwards, we are all paying the
price, some of us with our lives, as the wealth defence industry
siphons off trillions. Chuck Collins is tireless in his
determination to uncover the vicissitudes of the extremely wealthy.
If you aren't already angry about inequality, then read this book.
If you aren't angry enough to take action by the end of it, then
you either work in the WDI or you are one of the 0.1 per cent."
Dr. Wanda Wyporska, Executive Director, The Equality Trust,
UK
"Chuck Collins shines a light on the powerful and
pervasive "Wealth Defense Industry," showcasing what it is and how
it is entrenched in the 'ecosystems' that perpetuate the growing
and harmful inequality of our time, and that the COVID19 pandemic
has further unveiled. Collins brings his exceptional research,
insights and experience to this informative piece that not only
underscores the urgency for real systemic reform to reverse what
can be an avoidable race-to-the-bottom, but helps unpack key
leverage points for real change."
Abby Maxman, President and CEO Oxfam America
"Chuck Collins reveals how the superrich are different
than the rest of us. While government takes out taxes before we get
paid, the wealthiest avoid taxes with trusts, evade taxes with help
from tax haven governments and escape the IRS because Congress
hobbles tax law enforcement. Collins, who rejected the privilege of
his birth, explains in plain English how wealth hoarding works and
shows how we can stop this costly corruption."
David Cay Johnston, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author
of Perfectly Legal and Free Lunch
"Once again, Chuck Collins proves that building a better
world is well within our reach. There is more than enough money to
fund the societal transformation needed for equity, well-being, and
a safe climate. It's just hiding in the wrong places. With The
Wealth Hoarders, we now know where to look."
May Boeve, Executive Director, 350.org
"Collins gives us a rare insider's view of the hidden wealth
of the 0.1% and how the Wealth Defense Industry maintains
inequality. This helps explain how concentrated wealth results in
mass asset poverty and the path to building an economy that builds
wealth for all, not just the wealthy."
Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Neighborhood Reinvestment Coalition of
America
"Chuck Collins' Wealth Hoarders provides an invaluable
perspective on the Architecture of Inequality. Through personal
insights and thoughtful research he documents the extraordinary
sums of hidden money in financial secrecy jurisdictions. Most
importantly, he sets forth a realistic blueprint for essential
reforms that can inform our strategies and actions as we work
towards real economic justice and security."
Conrad Martin, Executive Director, Fund for Constitutional
Government.
"We won't be able to effectively tax billionaires if they are
hiding trillions in dynasty trusts. This useful book explains how
to shut down the hidden wealth system in order to build a fairer
tax system."
Frank Clemente, executive director, Americans for Tax
Fairness
"Join inequality expert Chuck Collins in his riveting
investigation of the secret world of the "Wealth Hoarders," who are
paid by the world's richest people to protect private wealth. For
years, I have used Collins' books to teach my students about the
hidden world of untouchable wealth, because nobody else writes so
electrically and entertainingly about global plutocracy. In this
book, Collins tracks down trillions of dollars that can be used to
replenish our "common wealth" and solve our greatest justice
crises."
Charles Derber, Professor of Sociology, Boston College, author of
Moving Beyond Fear and Glorious Causes.
"We can't have a fair tax system while millionaires and
billionaires are hiding trillions of wealth in the shadows. This
book is essential to fixing our broken tax system."
Erica Payne, cofounder and president, Patriotic Millionaires and
author of Tax the Rich
"Everyone should read The Wealth Hoarders to understand the secret
world of the super-rich. Chuck's painfully beautiful description of
the Wealth Defense Industry lifts the veil to this intricate,
maniacal ecosystem set in motion centuries ago and provides
critical truths to help us all decolonize wealth."
Edgar Villanueva, author, Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous
Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance
![]() |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
![]() |