MIAMI (Diya TV) — Starbucks founder Howard Schultz has relocated from Seattle to Miami after more than four decades in Washington state, a move that comes at a moment of intensifying debate over a proposed new income tax targeting the state’s wealthiest residents. Schultz announced the move in a lengthy LinkedIn message reflecting on his family’s history in Seattle, describing the relocation as part of a new retirement chapter with his wife, Sheri Schultz, after years spent building Starbucks into a global brand.
Schultz wrote that he and his wife had spent the past year traveling around the world and had recently settled in South Florida, where they plan to enjoy retirement closer to their children and grandchildren on the East Coast.
Yet the timing of the announcement has drawn significant attention because it coincides with a controversial policy debate unfolding in Washington state. Lawmakers in Olympia recently advanced legislation that would impose a 9.9% tax on annual income above $1 million, a proposal supporters say is necessary to rebalance the state’s tax system and generate billions of dollars in new revenue for public programs.
Washington has long been one of the few states in the United States without a personal income tax. The proposed measure would represent a major shift in that policy, effectively creating the first broad-based income tax in the state’s modern history. Under the proposal, the tax would apply only to income exceeding $1 million per year and would take effect later in the decade if it survives legal challenges and implementation hurdles.
Supporters argue the measure would raise roughly $3.5 billion annually and help fund education, childcare, and tax relief for lower-income households. Critics warn the plan could discourage investment and drive wealthy residents to relocate to states with lower taxes, weakening Washington’s long-standing reputation as a business-friendly environment.
Schultz did not directly reference the proposed tax in his statement. Instead, he framed the move as a personal decision tied to retirement and family considerations. Nevertheless, the relocation has quickly become part of the broader political conversation about the economic consequences of taxing high earners.
Florida, where Schultz has moved, is one of several states with no personal income tax and has become an increasingly popular destination for wealthy entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate leaders in recent years. The state has seen an influx of high-net-worth individuals from states such as California and New York, particularly since the pandemic accelerated migration patterns toward lower-tax regions.
Schultz’s departure also carries symbolic weight for Seattle, where Starbucks became one of the city’s defining corporate success stories. Schultz first joined the company in the early 1980s and later purchased it, leading a dramatic expansion that helped popularize specialty coffee culture around the world. Under his leadership, Starbucks grew from a small regional chain into one of the most recognizable consumer brands globally.
Despite Schultz’s personal move, Starbucks itself remains headquartered in Seattle, and the company’s historical roots in the Pacific Northwest remain. In his message, Schultz emphasized that the Schultz Family Foundation will continue its work in Seattle even as his private family office relocates to Miami.
Still, the timing of the move has intensified a broader debate about whether new taxes on wealthy individuals could reshape Washington’s economic landscape.
