Building Better Ca Brin
SEE BRIN
MASSIVE ONLINE ADS 2026 MIDTERM
see Californians for a More Transparent and Effective Government
SEE REFORM CA DEMAIO
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PROP 41
• Californians for a More Transparent and Effective Government campaign website:
Reform California
• Sergey Brin - Google Co-Founder
• Patrick Collison - CEO of Stripe
• John Doerr - Chairman of Kleiner Perkins
• Max Levchin - CEO of Affirm
• Stewart Resnick - President and Chairman of The
Wonderful Company
• Eric Schmidt - Former CEO of Google
• Tony Xu - CEO of DoorDash Reform California
Donors for Prop 42
As of July 28, 2026
Sergey Brin $83,000,000
Includes funding of parallel Prop 41
No others known
Committee to Build an Affordable
California. (sponsored by Cal Chamber of Commerce)
Building a Better California (Sergey Brin and Michael
Moritz)
Building Resilient Infrastructure for a
California Building Industry Non donor Funds
Biggest cash donors included Sergey Brin, L. John Doerr, III, Michael Moritz(CEO Stripe) and
Eric Schmidt (Sequoia venture capital)
Opponents of Prop 45
• People over Polluters is leading the effort https://
peopleoverpollutersca.com/about
• This measure is opposed by the CADEM,
Working Families Party, California Environmental
Justice Alliance, the California State Building and
Construction Trades Council, California Young
Democrats, California Enviro Voters and more than
250 other organizations, including housing, labor,
health, environmental justice, and conservation
groups.
• OCI Environmental Justice opposesd this measure
• See https://peopleoverpollutersca.com/endorsements for more details
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evil but
Building a Better California
Building a Better California is an advocacy group with an associated political action committee (PAC) founded with $35 million in funding from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and numerous other billionaires. The group is widely speculated to have formed to combat a proposed wealth tax on billionaires in California, although as of February 2026 Building a Better California was officially neutral on the issue. As of February 2026, the group had spent $11 million supporting two proposals designed to promote home ownership in California. ^1 ^2
At-A-Glance
Type:Non-profit, 501(c)(4), Organization
Ideological Alignment:Centrist
Issue Areas:Economic Policy, Housing Policy
Formation:
2026
Spokesperson:
Abby Lunardi
Contents
Contents Background and ActivitiesLeadership
Background and Activities
Proposed California Wealth Tax
Building a Better California was established in January 2026 as a social welfare organization with an affiliated political action committee. The group was established by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. According to the New York Times and New York Post, the group was formed to organize the political efforts of billionaire residents and former residents of California in response to a proposed one-time wealth tax of five percent on all asset value over $1 billion. Brin, a long-time California resident, moved out of the state following the proposal and terminated or moved numerous California business ventures. Prior to Building a Better California, Brin had not donated to a California political cause since 2010. Venture capitalist Peter Thiel and investor and second Trump administration adviser David Sacks have also transferred significant assets out of California. ^1 ^2
The tax, which is projected to raise $50 to $60 billion for healthcare funding, would include stock equity in asset values, potentially costing billionaires like Brin tens of billions of dollars, which could only be paid by selling off long-held assets like stocks, thereby limiting the controlling interest of their shares. According to critics, the “fine print in the bill” would also impact the assets of non-billionaires. ^1 ^2
At its launch, Building a Better California claimed to not have taken an official stance on the billionaire tax. However, Nielsen Merksamer, the firm handling Building a Better California’s legal filings, had as of January 2026 already filed five ballot-initiative proposals designed to undermine the proposed tax, including a potential prohibition on retroactive taxes. ^1 ^2
Building a Better California initially raised $35 million, with $20 million coming from Brin, who had engaged in discussions with California business leaders about “raising hundreds of millions of dollars for a California influence campaign.” The largest non-tech donor was Wonderful Company co-owner Stewart Resnick, who contributed $2 million. Other donors to Building a Better California include cryptocurrency investor Chris Larsen; venture capitalists Mike Moritz, Peter Thiel, and John Doerr; DoorDash co-founder Tony Xu; Affirm CEO Max Levchin; and Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison. ^1 ^2
Within its first month, the group spent $11 million supporting ballot initiatives. One initiative, on which the group spent $6 million, would create a $25 billion program to subsidize downpayments on new homes. Building a Better California also contributed $5 million to an initiative to alter parts of the California Environmental Quality Act to speed up home construction. ^1 ^2
Proposed CA Transparency Act
As of 2026, Building a Better California was listed as a sponsor and “top funder” for Californians For A More Transparent And Effective Government, a ballot committee pushing for including the “Improving Transparency, Effectiveness, and Efficiency in California Government Act of 2026 (“Transparency Act”) on the California state November 2026 ballot. According to handouts promoting the Transparency Act as well as instructions on how to get petition signatures for approving the Act’s placement on the ballot, the new bill would allege to cut down on spending waste and fraud by requiring state auditors to “conduct performance and financial audits of new taxes,” would require findings “to be posted publicly,” and require any excess tax revenue to be “refunded to taxpayers.” ^3 ^4
Leadership
As of 2026, Abby Lunardi was a spokesperson for Building a Better California and the chief marketing officer of Truity, a personality and career testing service. She previously worked as the chief communications and brand officer of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and led branding and marketing efforts at Virgin America. ^1 ^5
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ONLY 2 ENTRY, NO NAME
OFFICIAL TOP FUNDERS. Valid only for February 2026 PROHIBITS NEW STATE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES AND CERTAIN RETROACTIVE STATE TAXES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. OFFICIAL TITLE AND SUMMARY (SAME AS ON PETITION) The Attorney General of California has prepared the following circulating title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure: (25-0041A1.) PROHIBITS NEW STATE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES AND CERTAIN RETROACTIVE STATE TAXES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Prohibits any new state tax that either (1) taxes the ownership or control of personal property (including retirement accounts, financial assets, investment accounts, business interests, and intellectual property), or (2) applies retroactively based on the taxpayer’s conduct, activities, or a status that occurred before the new tax’s effective date, with limited exceptions. Applies to taxes that are enacted or take effect on or after January 1, 2026, including taxes that appear on the same ballot as this measure. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Possibility that tax revenues will be lower in the future. (25-0041A1.) Petition circulation paid for by Californians to Protect Retirement and Life Savings, Sponsored by Building a Better California Committee major funding from: Building a Better California Latest Official Top Funders: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballotmeasures/initiative-and-referendum-status/official-top-funders/
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Sergey Brin backs new California political effort as threat of wealth ...
- Google co-founder Sergey Brin has contributed $20 million to a new effort aimed at tackling housing affordability in California, one of his largest and most visible political contributions.
- Los Angeles Times
- https://www.latimes.com › business › story › 2026-08-12 › googles-sergey-brin-spent-102-million-fighting-california-wealth-tax
Google's Sergey Brin spent $102 million fighting California wealth tax ...
- Aug 12, 2026Google co-founder Sergey Brin contributed $102 million into a political nonprofit bankrolling ballot measures that could block California's proposed wealth tax on billionaires.
- InfluenceWatch
- https://www.influencewatch.org › organization › building-a-better-california
Building a Better California - Influence Watch
- Building a Better California is an advocacy group with an associated political action committee (PAC) founded with $35 million in funding from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and numerous other billionaires. The group is widely speculated to have formed to combat a proposed wealth tax on billionaires in California, although as of February 2026 Building a Better ...
- Bloomberg
- https://www.bloomberg.com › news › articles › 2026-02-17 › sergey-brin-backed-pac-pushes-to-counter-california-billionaire-tax
Sergey Brin Backs New Efforts Against California Billionaire Tax ...
- Feb 17, 2026Sergey Brin and a group of fellow billionaires are bankrolling a series of competing California ballot initiatives that would nullify a proposed 5% levy on the state's wealthiest residents.
- Financial Review
- https://www.afr.com › world › north-america › sergey-brin-leads-billionaires-fight-over-california-wealth-tax-20260218-p5o3bv
Google co-founder Sergey Brin and billionaires fight California wealth ...
- Feb 18, 2026The Google co-founder and other elites have spent millions on a plan to halt the planned tax that has reportedly resulted in 200 billionaires leaving the state.
- Fortune
- https://fortune.com › 2026 › 03 › 17 › 6-billionaires-left-california-billionaire-tax-newsom-brin-page-thiel-spielberg-revenue
Only 6 billionaires left California over its proposed wealth ... - Fortune
- Mar 17, 2026Larry Page and Sergey Brin alone account for $25 billion of that lost revenue—and billionaires are now funding a campaign to kill the tax entirely.
- New York Times
- https://www.nytimes.com › 2026 › 01 › 28 › us › politics › california-billionaires-sergey-brin-campaign.html
Sergey Brin Spends $20 Million on California Political Effort Amid ...
- Jan 28, 2026Sergey Brin donated $20 million to a new political drive aimed at solving California's housing crisis, spurring other billionaires to pitch in. Their efforts may also help ward off a wealth tax.
- CalMatters
- https://calmatters.org › politics › 2026 › 06 › california-ballot-measures-november-election
These are the ballot measures you'll vote on in November
- Jun 30, 2026Supporters: Building a Better California, primarily funded by Brin and venture capitalists John Doerr and Michael Moritz, Reform California and California Chamber of Commerce Opponents: Proponents of the billionaire tax initiative Proposition 42: Prohibit new personal property tax and retroactive taxes What it does: This measure is also aimed at undercutting the wealth tax proposal. It would ...
- NPR
- https://www.npr.org › 2026 › 08 › 11 › g-s1-138201 › california-billionaire-tax-google-sergey-brin
Google's co-founder spends $102 million to oppose billionaire tax : NPR
- Aug 11, 2026In California, tech billionaires are ramping up spending to defeat a wealth tax in the state. Google co-founder Sergey Brin has spent more than $100 million to blanket the state in ads and ...
- Yahoo Finance
- https://finance.yahoo.com › economy › policy › articles › sergey-brin-11-other-billionaires-090901603.html
Sergey Brin and 11 other billionaires and tech elite lined up against ...
- Jul 6, 2026Google cofounder Sergey Brin has poured $82 million into an effort to undercut California's proposed billionaire tax. He isn't alone in the fight.
DUCK 5 26
InfluenceWatch
https://www.influencewatch.org › organization › building-a-better-california
Building a Better California - Influence Watch
Building a Better California Building a Better California is an advocacy group with an associated political action committee (PAC) founded with $35 million in funding from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and numerous other billionaires.
buildingabetterca.org
https://www.buildingabetterca.org
We're focused on building a better California—generating and supporting forward-looking ideas to improve affordability and quality of life for all Californians, while ensuring the state remains a center of innovation, good-paying jobs, and economic opportunity for decades to come.
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Fortune
Sergey Brin makes his biggest donation ever to tackle ... - Fortune
Jan 29, 2026Building a Better California is expected to back statewide ballot measures and legislation that would boost housing construction and streamline approvals, positioning Brin as a major player in one ...
MSN
Sergey Brin-backed group tries to undercut California's ... - MSN
Building a Better California is funding competing ballot measures that could nullify the proposed wealth tax.
The Mercury News
How Bay Area billionaires are trying to stop California's wealth tax
Mar 15, 2026A group of Bay Area billionaires has poured $35 million into a campaign to block a proposed California wealth tax, backing three ballot initiatives.
Bloomberg
Tech Billionaires Plan to Bankroll California Influence Campaign
Jan 28, 2026The initiative, dubbed Building a Better California, will deploy funds to back candidates and other initiatives across the state, a person familiar said.
New York Times
Sergey Brin Spends $20 Million on California Political Effort Amid ...
Jan 28, 2026Sergey Brin donated $20 million to a new political drive aimed at solving California's housing crisis, spurring other billionaires to pitch in. Their efforts may also help ward off a wealth tax.
Governing
Billionaires Fund Ballot Campaign to Block California Wealth Tax
Mar 16, 2026The billionaires have put $35 million into a new political action committee called Building a Better California that is gathering signatures to put on the November ballot three counter-initiatives ...
SFGATE
https://www.sfgate.com › politics › article › michael-moritz-billionaire-wealth-tax-21329682.php
SF billionaire Michael Moritz joins Google's Brin in hefty political ...
Feb 3, 2026The contributions from Moritz and others had all been made in early January to Building a Better California, a recently formed political group that will fund various ballot measure campaigns for ...
The Sacramento Bee
https://www.sacbee.com › news › politics-government › election › article315548304.html
Wealth tax backers report 1.5M signatures for ballot measure ...
Apr 27, 2026Google co-founder Sergey Brin, a billionaire who reportedly moved to Nevada last year to skirt the wealth tax, has spent $57 million so far on a group called Building a Better California, the main ...
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