November 4, 2025
Hug Grandma or tax her house?
Over $70T of inherited wealth over next decade will widen inequality, economists
Community erupts: tax the heirs or save grandma’s house? $70T inheritance fight goes viral
TLDR: Experts warn $70T will be inherited soon and urge the G20 to monitor inequality; the internet explodes over whether to tax inheritances or protect family homes. Expect a tug-of-war between “fix the system” and “don’t punish heirs,” with democracy and housing angst in the backdrop.
Economists say more than $70 trillion will be handed down worldwide by 2035, and a panel led by Nobel winner Joseph Stiglitz wants the G20 to set up a permanent watchdog (think a climate-style panel, but for money gaps). The report claims 83% of countries already have high inequality, the top 1% grabbed 41% of new wealth since 2000, and countries with big gaps are more likely to see democracy backslide. South Africa’s President Ramaphosa calls it a blueprint for equality. Internet reaction? Pure fireworks.
The comment section split into two loud camps: Team Tax the Inheritance vs Team Don’t Evict Grandma. One side chants for fair taxes and better public schools to stop the wealth snowball; the other fires back that in places like Europe, inheritance is literally how young people ever see a front door key. One hot take warns change only comes after “big convulsions” (yikes), another says heavy inheritance taxes force families to sell the house just to pay the bill. Cue gallows humor, “eat-the-rich” memes, and a mystery YouTube link dropped like a smoke bomb.
Bottom line: the report sounds the alarm; the comments brought popcorn and pitchforks. Equality panel? Sure. But first, the internet wants to know: who gets the house—and the tax bill.
Key Points
- •An expert report warns that over $70 trillion in inherited wealth by 2035 will widen global inequality.
- •The panel, chaired by Joseph Stiglitz and commissioned by President Cyril Ramaphosa, urges the G20 to create a permanent inequality monitoring body modeled on the IPCC.
- •The report finds 83% of countries (covering 90% of the global population) meet the World Bank’s definition of high inequality.
- •Between 2000 and 2024, the top 1% captured 41% of new wealth, while the bottom 50% received 1%.
- •Campaigners expect some G20 members, including Germany, to support the proposal before the 22 November ministerial meeting in Johannesburg.