A multimillionaire took one look at her inheritance and knew without a doubt that the money her grandma had left her was something she did not want to keep. So she came up with an unheard of plan that involved 50 strangers – and promised daycare. Marlene Engelhorn, a 31-year-old Austrian pharmaceuticals heiress, who has spent her adult life attempting to  address wealth inequality.

So after Inheriting a staggering $27.4 million from her grandmother, Traudl Engelhorn-Vechiatto, a pharmaceutical heiress, Marlene decided to take matters into her own hands. But this isn’t about hoarding the wealth; it’s about redistributing it. “I have inherited a fortune, and therefore power, without having done anything for it,” she said. “And the state doesn’t even want taxes on it. Marlene said she doesn’t care about the status quo. Instead, feeling the weight of her privilege, Marlene said she is determined to make a change.

If politicians don’t do their job and redistribute, then I have to redistribute my wealth myself,” she said.

To kickstart her mission, Marlene founded the “Good Council for Redistribution.” This initiative isn’t just talk; it’s action. She invited 10,000 Austrian citizens over the age of 16 to participate in this endeavor. From this pool, 50 individuals will be chosen, representing a diverse cross-section of society.

Marlene Engelhorn at the Republica festival in Berlin in 2023. Photo by Monika Skolimowska/picture alliance via Getty Image

These chosen few will gather in Salzburg, Austria, over several months, collaborating with academics and civil-society organizations. Their mission? To brainstorm solutions for wealth redistribution. Marlene isn’t just throwing money at the problem; she’s investing in dialogue, in democracy. But Marlene isn’t stopping there.

She’s putting her money where her mouth is. Each participant will be paid $1,300 for each weekend of discussions that they attend. Travel expenses, childcare, and interpreters will all be covered, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute. Marlene’s commitment to change isn’t new. She’s been advocating for higher taxes on the wealthy for years. In fact, she co-founded “Tax Me Now,” a collective of affluent individuals pushing for fairer tax policies.

In Austria, the richest one percent hoards up to 50 percent of the net wealth,” Marlene pointed out. 

As the project kicks off, Marlene remains steadfast in wanting others to determine where the money should be used. “I have no veto rights,” she said. She’s entrusting her wealth to the wisdom of the chosen 50, believing in the power of collective action. The group will comprise people from “all age groups, federal states, social classes and backgrounds.”

Engelhorn speaks at a rally. Photo by Getty

They will be asked to “contribute their ideas to jointly develop solutions in the interests of society as a whole,” Marlene said. It’s easy: “I am putting my assets at the disposal of these 50 people and placing my trust in them.” Marlene said she’s not waiting for others to act -instead she’s leading by example. And her message is short but to the point: “Social justice is in everyone’s best interest.”

All of these changes, she said, won’t be easy. But it just takes a simple option. “Millionaires should not get to decide whether or not they contribute in a just way to the societies they live in. Social justice is in everyone’s best interest. Wealth taxes are the least we can do to take responsibility. Tax us.”

And she doesn’t plan on letting up the pressure on politicians.  “If politicians don’t do their job and redistribute, then I have to redistribute my wealth myself,” she said. And after watching Marlene discuss her plans below, you might just feel the same, too.

Sources: Business Insider | NY Post