Warren Buffett On Kim Kardashian: I Know She Puts Her Name In The Paper

Warren Buffett is definitely not keeping up with the Kardashians.

When asked by Time Magazine if he was versed in the storied exploits of reality star Kim Kardashian, the billionaire businessman/philanthropist said, "I've seen her name, but I wouldn't be able to tell what she does but put her name in the paper."

He may want to do some research; investing in her star could actually help his latest social justice campaign.

Buffett has been leading the charge to pressure Congress to increase tax rates on America's richest citizens, insisting that it is the responsibility of those with the most to help rebuild the nation for the less affluent and working classes. His effort coincides with the efforts of California's Courage Campaign, which has publicly called on Kardashian, who made $12 million in 2010, to endorse a millionaire's tax that would put her in a higher bracket; currently, the campaign says she pays just 1% more than middle class Californians.

For his part, Buffett has been concentrating on the incomes of the richest members of Congress. Republicans in the Senate proposed an option be added on tax forms that would allow people to pay more than required, a shot at Buffett and those calling for higher rates. On Thursday, Buffett said he was calling their bluff, and would match all extra tax donations made by Republican lawmakers, including a 3-to-1 match on anything Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell donated.

Comments

[Carol Martin235]

04:00 PM on 01/15/2012

The wealthiest get tax breaks from paying their fair share. That's not right. The working class has to get robbed with what they have left to pick up the slack of the filthy rich.

[jwilson1]

11:11 AM on 01/15/2012

A proposed tax increase for the wealthiest in this country is only 4%.
I do believe that along with this tax increase for upper incomes we should mandate that waste and consolidation of government to become more efficient is the proper course of action.
Without the middle class there is no country.

[Bickidan]

05:11 AM on 01/15/2012

I love Mr. Buffett. But I don't believe the wealthiest should be taxed more or less. Everyone should be taxed the same percentage, no loopholes or gifts to anyone. Corporations are individuals? Tax them the same rate, too. Finding the appropriate percentage rate is the problem, no?

[Jon Whittaker]

05:39 AM on 01/16/2012

Getting rid of loopholes would cause the richest to be taxed more. The problem isn't necessarily that they need to be taxed at a higher rate, but that the current rate needs to be enforced. Most giant corporations end up paying negative taxes, in that they get billions back from the government after making billions in profits, all due to their (legal) manipulation of the tax code.

[Bickidan]

08:26 AM on 01/16/2012

Yes, everyone knows this about corporations paying negative or little tax. A flat tax across the board for everyone, including corporations, would solve the problem. Getting rid of loopholes would not allow anyone to be taxed more - just level the playing field. (Tax everyone after you get rid of loopholes & incentives.)

[ruolivert]

06:57 PM on 01/16/2012

Problem with a flat tax is that not everyone would be affected it by it the same way. Make it too small and its not effective at raising revenues at the rate this country has grown accustomed to. Make it too high and the poor bear the brunt of the work since, lets take an arbitrary number, 10% of someone making $25,000 a year is has a much different effect on someone's way of life then 10% of $25 million.

[Bickidan]

07:34 AM on 01/17/2012

As a "poor" person, I already pay the same sales tax on goods, same insurance premiums and copays, pay the same to do just about everything as a rich person. The problem is that I don't have a disposable income after I pay my bills. The rich can go treat all of their friends to a nice dinner on the town for what I pay in health insurance premiums. I'm not asking for the rich not to be able to use their money how they see fit, just that when it comes to taxes, they charge everyone the same rate. The rich will always have *that much more* than the poor. The poor will not feel like second class citizens who work for the rich. It allows us all to feel we pull our weight and we can't (then) blame anyone for the financial choices we make in our personal lives.

[leorangerie]

03:06 AM on 01/15/2012

Seeing Kim Kardashian and Warren Buffet is the same sentence is, somehow, depressing. Has our country gone that far off the rails?

[spkninglsh]

02:06 AM on 01/15/2012

Oh...it says 'mocks'.

[wowme]

01:31 AM on 01/15/2012

Now I know why Turkey did those things to the Armenians

[robodawa]

10:37 PM on 01/23/2012

That's a bit too cold.

[stealur]

01:05 AM on 01/15/2012

When he has earned what she has he can criticize...oh, wait.

[jaslyn]

10:28 PM on 01/14/2012

she's the poster child for how far American culture has fallen, and that uneducated, needy, and vacuous young women have made her rich. Nothing to be proud of to be sure.

[aydiosmios]

07:44 PM on 01/14/2012

Huffpost is working for Kim K.

[DandaPanda]

11:59 AM on 01/15/2012

That was sort of the implication Mr. Buffet was making..she puts her name in the papers...she pays for story placement....

[aydiosmios]

07:43 PM on 01/14/2012

.

[Xtazia]

03:53 PM on 01/14/2012

The title of this article should have been...

Why on earth would a Time's reporter ask Mr. Buffettabout Kim Kardashian???

[amaboss52]

02:49 PM on 01/14/2012

Why in heavens name is this trashy woman even famous?

[stephan67]

02:33 PM on 01/14/2012

Next time ,the reporter of Time Magazine should ask Mr. Buffet about John Holmes.

[721]

02:11 PM on 01/14/2012

Time magazine has just dropped off my list. Asking Mr. Buffett about a Kardasian is an insult and only shows the person asking the question is as dumb as Kim Kardasian.

[CAMBEL]

01:13 PM on 01/14/2012

She is so made up now that she looks like she is wearing a mask.