Oscar Mayer heir Chuck Collins on how billionaires are fleecing everyone

[erronis]

https://vtdigger.org/2025/10/08/vermont-conversation-oscar-mayer-heir-chuck-collins-on-how-billionaires-are-fleecing-everyone/
by David Goodman -- The Vermont Conversation

“Pretty much everything you care about is undermined by that concentration of wealth and power: your health, your housing, the quality of your environment.”

Chuck Collins, the heir to the Oscar Mayer fortune, gave away his millions to progressive political causes when he was in his twenties. Ever since, the resident of Guilford has fought to expose how the rich make themselves richer at everyone else’s expense.

In his new book, “Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power are Ruining Our Lives and Planet,” Collins shows how the actions of the top .01% have dire consequences for everyone else. He argues that when the system is rigged to favor to rich, working people pay the price in higher taxes, fewer affordable houses and a health care system stripped of both health and care.

Collins is a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies where he co-edits Inequality.org. He writes the Oligarch Watch column for The Nation. He is the author of a number of books, including “Born on Third Base: A One Percenter Makes the Case for Tackling Inequality, Bringing Wealth Home, and Committing to the Common Good“; and with Bill Gates Sr., “Wealth and Our Commonwealth,” a case for taxing inherited fortunes.

Collins says we are living through a new Gilded Age. In the first Gilded Age, which lasted from about the end of the Civil War to 1900, “there were 400 wealthy families that by some estimates may have had 40 to 50% of all the wealth in the country,” Collins told the Vermont Conversation. But from 2020 to 2022, “the flow of billionaire wealth, not just to the 1% but the top one tenth of 1% in the billionaire class, is dizzying.” He said that the combined wealth of US billionaires went from under $3 trillion at the beginning of the pandemic to $7.8 trillion by the end.

. . .

[SheltieLover]

1. Kick

[ancianita]

2. Would that he were committed to the "common good" enough to run for a senate seat & then get chosen as VP when

either Newsom or Pritzker win the Democratic presidential primary. Because as of now he speaks from a pretty safe catbird seat.

[flashman13]

3. Not everyone has a burnig desire to gain power. He had it and walked away.

[ancianita]

4. Then people needn't listen to richies who walk away. Again, he's safely virtue signaling in his catbird seat.

[flashman13]

5. You are being rather judgemental. You seem to be condemning someone for his accidental birth.

I don't know enough about the man to have an opinion. I just said not everyone wants power.

[ancianita]

9. Nope. Just posting a non-praising opinion.

[Hekate]

7. You mean the man who gave away his inherited millions to progressive causes when he was in his twenties?

Why do you think he’s not doing enough to be considered “virtuous” ? What am I missing?

[ancianita]

10. Please enlighten me about what those progressive causes were. I'm unfamiliar.

[Hekate]

19. You first. I was just going by what was in the OP

[ancianita]

22. OK.

I've read about his writings & foundation work. Meh. Nowhere do I see his material contribution to progressive causes

And so I'm not agreeing in that just because he's public about not being a bad guy, that he's been helping. We could say the same for guys like Mark Cuban, too. So... From what I read in the OP, he hasn't really woken up the country about the .01% nearly as well as, say, Bernie, who, to my knowledge hasn't written any books. The academic elite are his audience, not the public.

I don't see him as an enemy, but progressive is as progressive does. Come to think of it, Trump doesn't see him at all. Spotlighting him just because he's a 'reformed' millionaire doesn't make sense if he hasn't changed the minds of on-the-ground Independent voters like Bernie has. imo

FACT EDIT: He's not a billionaire, just a millionaire.

[Gimpyknee]

24. Bernie Sanders is a NY Times Best Seller's list author.

His books include Guide to Political Revolution, Our Revolution, The Speech, Where We Go From Here, Outsider in the a White House, Bernie Speaks, It’s Okay to be Angry about Capitalism, and Fight Oligarchy.

[ancianita]

25. All the better. AND he still literally fills stadiums with his "Fighting Oligarchy" speeches.

[Gimpyknee]

28. I was just surprised that you didn't know that Bernie is a author too.

[ancianita]

31. I hear you. Sorry I'm just not well read re non-Democrats. I wore his campaign button when he first ran for president

but and haven't kept up with him since he lost his first presidential primary. It's been years since I read his bio summary in Wikipedia. But I still deeply admire him a) as an ally of Democrats, since his voting record with our party is higher than those of some of a few of our congressional party members, and b) because he fills stadiums against the .01%, which helps Democrats stay in the same lane as the working class it claims to represent.

[Cirsium]

54. So...

Rallies are good, books are bad?

[ancianita]

66. So no. Books are good, rallies that promote the ideas of the books are better.

[Celerity]

64. Per another post, his current net worth's around $250,000. His inheritance (that he gave away decades ago) was $500,000.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220707317#post13

[ancianita]

65. I hear you. Facts are facts.

Last edited Fri Oct 10, 2025, 12:50 AM - Edit history (3)

Where my very first post -- two sentences -- here was coming from is this:
Given the current political violence and chaos around us, I posted an aspirational opinion -- one about how he might "run for something," or do what Bernie does; after all, they both know each other. And it's not as if he hasn't done public speaking, either. That said, if it's not his thing, fine.

[NBachers]

15. When I read the words "virtue signaling" I know it's time to go read a another post somewhere else.

[Joinfortmill]

34. That does not seem to be the case with him.

His life appears to be that of a man who lived by his principles.

[ancianita]

36. Fine. I don't dispute that he lived by his principles, but question what material good he

and his principles ever did for Americans. He didn't effect action, only further talk/writing in academic/foundation bubbles.
For instance, did he name names in his books? That would have materially helped working class representatives to "follow the money?" Did he offer his books for free or at discounts so that the very people who suffer most would know why?
Principles unapplied in society become philosophy.

[Joinfortmill]

39. The question is not what more this man can do, but

what more we can do?

[ancianita]

40. That's your question. MY question is what material good did he ever do to get this kind of attention.

He's age 66. He's can do more -- as I suggested, maybe run for office where he can affect legislative policy -- if he's serious about doing good, which I don't think his history shows he is.

[Joinfortmill]

41. We can all do more. He's done quite a bit.

Not sure why you're focused on this particular senior dude, but okay I accept you're hanging on tight to your perceptions.

[ancianita]

42. That's beside the point. He's written and said "quite a bit," but absolutely no one here can link to where he's

actually done anything. No names of where his money went, no lobbying effort, nothing.

I'm focused on this senior dude because 1. the OP does; 2, most folks here think his ideas make him a good guy. And finally, I ask... 3. Why. What's to his credit that he's done nothing wrong but also done nothing good.

No public record of any net gain in helping anyone.

I'm focused on how most folks here celebrate some well intentioned rich guy who's actually done nothing material to benefit American society. What for? Why would they do that? Why not celebrate some rich guy like JB Pritzker instead?

By saying and writing stuff from a think tank position, but not doing stuff to help those suffering from the highest economic class he's been a part of.... So what. All he's really done is enhance his intellectual reputation. Big deal.

[Pacifist Patriot]

45. Maybe because he feels the best way he can contribute is through scholarship and raising awareness.

I know the ivory tower has its detractors as being out of touch and do-nothing, but the work that think tanks do helps in its own way.

How often do we hear people moan about the influence of right-wing think tanks like the Heritage Foundation? Why are they seen as influential but left-leaning think tanks aren't?

What "stuff" exactly do you want him to do? He's an academic engaged in scholarship. Let's all play to our own strengths and work together here. We need people like him the same as we need investigative journalist, politicians, lawyers, door knockers, soup kitchen volunteers, philanthropists, protestors, letter writers, etc.

[ancianita]

47. Fair enough. As you say,

We need people like him the same as we need investigative journalist, politicians, lawyers, door knockers, soup kitchen volunteers, philanthropists, protestors, letter writers, etc.

And yet he gets amplified. But not JB Pritzker -- who used his money at scale to actually run for office and have a bigger scale policy and spending impact for Illinois folks.
Same for Mike Bloomberg, not only a mayor of the Democratic City of New York City, but consistently one of the Big Donors for Democrats;
or Jim and Marilyn Simons,
or Reid Hoffman,
or Dustin Moskovitz (donors to Future Forward),
or Amy Goldman Fowler (Biden),
and yes, even George Soros and his Open Society Foundation.

So... while it's clear to me that Collins has done nothing that comes close to what these pro-Democratic billionaires have done for the party of the working class and unions, it's still important to keep in mind that 2/3 of all billionaires donate to the Republican Party.
So ... if his progressive ideas help the party, I should accept that we should take all the varied help we can get from the socioeconomic 1%.
Ideas like his take years to sink in, and almost never are the reason Democrats GOTV.
Maybe this is his year. I just seriously doubt it.

And I don't mind challenging people here for not appreciating truly active billionaires who either run for office, or contribute material good to the party, and to the People on the party's behalf.

[Pacifist Patriot]

51. Chuck Collins gets amplified?

I'd be willing to bet the average DUer is well aware of who JB Pritzker is (and appreciates what he is doing) while tons had no clue who Chuck Collins was until they saw this post.

More to the point, Chuck Collins is not a billionaire. Not by a long shot. Never has been never would be. He wouldn't even be close if he hadn't given away his inheritance in the 1980s. Average investment would put his wealth at about $8M today if he'd kept it. That's not chump change, but to position this guy as a billionaire or "gazillionaire" as someone else did is preposterous.

I'm honestly puzzled why anyone cares what he's doing with his life. He doesn't seem to be hurting anyone.

[ancianita]

52. Okay. I get your reasoning and the fact of his mere millionaire status. Mine is that

in the context of what we and most Americans face right now, what he's actually done (or given) doesn't merit all the attention here. That's it.

Thanks for your post.

[Pacifist Patriot]

55. Fair, but one post out of the gazillions on DU...

about Pritzker doesn't strike me as an over abundance of attention. Not any more so than any other left leaning author who publishes a book once in awhile.

Cheers!

[Cirsium]

60. Running for office is the test?

So much for the contributions off Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King jr., Frederick Douglass, Howard Zinn, Mother Jones, A. Philip Randolph and thousands of others who fought for justice. They never ran for office!

[ancianita]

62. Of course not. I stated a "Would that he..." That statement is aspirational opinion, not a test.

As for your historical greats name dropping, why not just post a video or two of him, if you're so convinced that he's in their league. No one in this thread has bothered, but I'm open.

[Cirsium]

68. how did you get that?

I didn't say or even suggest that "he's in their league."

[ancianita]

70. What did you mean by listing them?that they'd fail what you allege is a "test"?How did you get that I'm applying a test?

[Cirsium]

59. Attention?

He is getting no more attention on this thread than you are. Otherwise, I had never heard of him. I have heard of Jimmy Kimmel, Steven Colbert, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton and dozens of other media figures who I don't care much about. What have they ever done? Why haven't they run for office (if we are going to apply your standard)?

Where is he getting too much attention, and why is that a problem? I say it is his ideas that people are interested in, not his character or background. We are sharing ideas here. Why is that a problem?

[ancianita]

63. ...

Sure, because it's about him. I get it. I've never heard of him, either. I'd call him a variation on the old' Horatio Alger rags to riches story, and what he's learned from that, all to his credit. At any rate, I've been in a political mindset, given the current chaos, and that probably spilled over into my opinion of his story.

You're saying "why is that a problem"? as if I'm making his story a problem. Not at all. I posted one opinion about him. That's it. If people don't agree, I get it. In GD, sharing ideas about someone's success is fine.

[Cirsium]

67. It isn't "rags to riches"

It isn't a "Horatio Alger rags to riches story." He inherited the money. It is in the thread title: Oscar Mayer heir

[ancianita]

69. Collins is the great-grandson of Oscar F. Mayer, founder of Oscar Mayer meat processing. $500,000?

That's not big heir money even by 1980's standards, even if you're technically correct.

Collins was born in Madison, Wisconsin, grew up in suburban Detroit, attended the Cranbrook Schools, witnessed the 1967 Detroit riots and became concerned about inequality. He got involved in social change, went to 2 New Hampshire colleges, and was well off enough by age 26 (when his grandfather's company was then owned by General Foods), that when he got the $500,000, he could choose to give it away to foundations, so he did. After his grandfather said he was afraid Chuck was a Marxist, he moved to a commune. Later he did community organizing around housing. Sounds just like what an heir would do, right?

[Cirsium]

57. I dunno

Chuck Collins is a campaigner and storyteller who has worked for decades on environmental and economic justice campaigns. He is the Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies where he co-edits Inequality.org. He is cofounder of DivestInvest.org, a global movement to divest from fossil fuels and invest in climate solutions; and trustee of the Post-Carbon Institute and Resilience.org.

​His 2021 book, The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions (Polity), is about the wealth hiding industry. He is the author of the popular book, Born on Third Base: A One Percenter Makes the Case for Tackling Inequality, Bringing Wealth Home, and Committing to the Common Good (Chelsea Green) and, with Bill Gates Sr., Wealth and Our Commonwealth (Beacon Press), a case for taxing inherited fortunes.

He was featured in Sun Magazine and Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Collins is an expert on U.S. inequality, community resilience, and the racial wealth divide. His is the author of numerous reports and several other books, including Is Inequality in America Irreversible? with Mary Wright, of The Moral Measure of the Economy, a book about Christian ethics and economic life. He is a founding board member of the Patriotic Millionaires.

Why do you have a problem with any of that?

[ancianita]

61. I've given sufficient reasons. All for one post about wishing he were committed to doing something that

could actually effect justice . That you want to add new text for me to respond to seems a bit like piling on.

I've read your excerpt, and already noted that he's a think tank writer, so thanks for what's generally been the same information about him.

But I'm pretty much done with this discussion being more about my reasons for wishing (as in "Would that he were committed to the "common good" enough to run for something yadda yadda) that he'd act on his meritorious thoughts.

I'm convinced of his goodness --- and realize that no one must be perfect -- and still stand behind my original opinion post. He's a nice, intellectual guy and a writer for justice. Good enough.

[Cirsium]

53. What????

Virtue signaling? His catbird seat? What in the world are you talking about?

[leftstreet]

11. You see it as power. Isn't it about representation?

It's a valid question. Does the gazillionaire care enough about these issues to gain an elected seat where he can represent the people he's championing?

[ancianita]

26. thank you

[Pacifist Patriot]

46. This "gazillionaire" inherited $500,000 (about $1.5M today). Not even close to billionaire status.

https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2024/05/18/oscar-mayer-heir-chuck-collins-gave-wealth-away-cape-monday/73625332007/

As an heir to the Oscar Mayer fortune, Chuck Collins had the world at his feet. But in 1986, at age 26, Collins walked away from his family's wealth, and gave a $500,000 inheritance to four foundations that were working for peace and justice issues at the time. After average investment returns, said Collins, the money would equal to about $8 million in 2024.

[leftstreet]

48. Wouldn't prevent him from running

for elected office

That was the subject in the above post I was replying to

[Pacifist Patriot]

50. But there is something very valid that might.

Perhaps he feels he's ill-suited to the task. Perhaps he simply doesn't want to. Why in the world does anyone think it acceptable to determine what is an appropriate career or service path for someone else? Especially a total stranger! The political life is tough. We should respect someone who understands it isn't for them.

If he ever decides to run for office, I'll take a closer look at his suitability. In the meantime, I'll personally refrain from second guessing a stranger's career choices.

[Gimpyknee]

27. Chosen as a VP?

My two favorite quotes about the office of the Vice Presidency:

John Nance Garner - it “isn’t worth a bucket of warm piss.”

Thomas R. Marshall - There were once two brothers. One ran away to the sea, the other was elected Vice President, and neither were ever heard from again.

[ancianita]

30. There are good reasons. If he wants potential power to rein in the .01%, he's got to get some experience somewhere.

The Senate will train him on governance; the Senate is often what presidential candidates look for, as did Obama and Biden. Both knew the Senate, and so did their VP's, such that they could use their "old friends across the aisle" to get some bipartisan support for bill passage. In both cases that's what happened in spite of the rethugs' Koch caucus.

The opposition, knowing his past , wouldn't want him to replace the next Dem president, which (if he isn't bought while in office) contributes to securing the new president (along with all the other security measures, of course).

Be cynical all you want -- even sound as if you laugh at the constitution and its writers --- but if/when trump doesn't last, this current VP will only be another oligarch backed tool.

For an oligarch like Pritzker and this guy to head the executive branch would mean that at least they would not be tools, and would from the start, separate the oligarchic sheep from the goats, and get the party clear on who their wealthy enemies are.

[Joinfortmill]

35. He does it in his own way, in his work and his writing

The scenario you posit seems to be based only on your own idea of what he should do. I'm sure you would find it intrusive if someone posited on how you should live your life. And you would be justified to feel that way. Let's save our angst for the actual bad guys.

[Pacifist Patriot]

49. I'm honestly not understanding this at all.

Entering the political arena is NOT for everyone, nor should anyone be strong-armed into it. I'm really baffled why someone feels they can make this call on behalf of someone else. I respect the hell out of someone who admits the political arena is not for them.

[Joinfortmill]

58. Me too.

[DFW]

6. I don't follow the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" philosophy as rigidly as some.

Be born into a lot of money, you're evil. Give it away to causes you believe in (that aren't mine), you're still evil.

I'm still pro-choice.

[groundloop]

8. It's too bad more people don't understand this - you don't get to be a billionaire by paying your employees well.....

Or giving them good healthcare, or ample vacation, or parental leave ........

[Warpy]

12. Oh, hell, like we all don't already know that

but as of now it has gone so far that I honestly don't see any way ou except resetting the whole disaster via a major crash.

Sadly, it looks like that's just what is approaching. The Shiller ratio is now 40. Just before the 1929 crash, it was 34. Before the 2000 NASDAQ bust, it was 44. It was just above 40 when the bottom fell out in 2008.

One of the things that happens during a major bust is that loans get called in, a lot o loans get called in. We're going to see some of those multi mega super duper billionaire fortunes chopped down to a manageable size, meaning their ability to buy the government will be curtailed for a while. That's when reforms can happen, like a major tax clawback to redistribute the wealth curve into a more rational shape than it is now.

Hell, we might even be able to get Universal Basic Income for workers displaced by IT and robotics. Just make sure the fuckers index it instead of tying it to a fixed dollar amount. The latter is how they killed off most of the stuff that benefited working people, including the minimum wage.

[BidenRocks]

13. From Chandler Foundation

In the 40 years since his youthful giveaway spree — he’s now 60 — Collins has pursued his crusading agenda with relentless zeal. Today, he leads a cerebral life consisting largely of research, reading, and reflection. He oversees a team of eight at the institute, participates on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations, such as the Patriotic Millionaires, and widely speaks publicly. His current net worth is approximately
US$ 250,000. He has stayed put during the pandemic — previously he traveled about 10 days a month to meet with advocacy groups — but his mind is ever on the move.
https://www.chandlerfoundation.org/

His inheritance in 1990 was $500,000. 1.4 M today.

[erronis]

14. Thank you for this background information.

[BigmanPigman]

16. Man, I just ranted in my kitchen over this very subject.

It started with me trying to file my taxes since in April H&R Block fucked me up while trying to do my taxes at home. I was told it was free and they charged me $144 in April. Now, to complete the taxes they want MORE $$$$$!!!!!. I filed an extension since my computer crashed in the middle of doing my taxes in April and I finally saved up enough to have the computer fixed. NOW, H&R Block wants more $$$$$$ to complete them!!!!!

I am livid!!!!!!! I have names, phone numbers and tons of hand written documentation to take to their office in person tomorrow. This is BS and FRAUD and it started me on a 30 minute rant about why this country sucks and why everyone hates the USA!!! MONEY CONTROLS EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE!!! I am almost at poverty level in CA and I pay more in taxes than billionaires do!!! AND my tax dollars go to bail out Red States year after year after year.

I have had it!!!

[Sneederbunk]

17. He knows who the big weenies are.

[GenThePerservering]

18. The billionaires are the real deep state. nt

[werdna]

20. Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Meyer -

- WINNER,
that is what I'd truly love to be,
For if I were an Oscar Mayer WINNER,
Everyone would be in love with me!



I rate this article 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 Five Dogs!

[milestogo]

32. I did a short project at the Oscar Mayer plant here in Madison.

The IT room was close to the processing, and even the computers smelled like hot dogs.

[Xavier Breath]

37. Computers that smelled like hot dogs?

I gotta be honest, I'm not hating that idea.

[milestogo]

38. All the office space smelled like hot dogs.

The building has been empty since they left a few years ago. I can just imagine a new client visiting the space and wondering what that smell is.

[progressoid]

43. That's better than where the hot dogs come from.

My home town smells like a hog sewage lagoon.

I actually like sausage and bacon, but the effects CAFOs are having is horrific.

[Champp]

21. maga is suckered into thinking this shit is good for them

[malaise]

23. K & R for

the truth

[OldBaldy1701E]

29. "Pretty much everything you care about is undermined by that concentration of wealth and power..."

Oh look...

The very thing I have been saying for the past four decades.

I expect him to get as completely eviscerated as I get when I bring it up.

Any moment now...

...



...

[Joinfortmill]

33. Interesting. Thank you.

[gfarber]

44. Chuck Collins

A rich kid with wealth in his grip,
Said, “This cash feels like someone else’s tip.”
So he gave it away,
Chose a new kind of pay—
Fighting greed on a justice-bound trip.

He wrote of the billionaires’ might,
How they hoard while the rest lose the fight.
With their wealth skyward bound,
They still squeeze every pound—
Till the poor can’t afford basic rights.

When the system is rigged for the few,
The folks at the bottom turn blue.
With no homes they can buy,
And health bills sky-high—
Collins asks, “Is this really what's due?”

At the Policy Studies he dwells,
Where he rings inequality's bells.
With a Nation-based column,
His tone’s rarely solemn—
It’s a war cry, not comforting spells.

“Born on Third” was his personal tale,
Of a fortune he chose to curtail.
It’s a pitch for the good,
Redistributing should—
Help the commons, not yachts that set sail.

Said Chuck, “This new age feels the same,
As when Carnegies played the old game.
But today’s upper crust
Makes a trillion a gust—
While we’re taxed just for staying in frame.”

As the world faced a grave, viral threat,
Billionaires doubled their net.
From three trillion to eight—
Call it looting, not fate—
While frontline folk drown in debt.

Collins shouts, “This can’t be our norm!
Let’s rewrite the rules and reform.
Tax wealth at the top,
Make the giveaways stop—
Or we all face a much colder storm.”

[Pacifist Patriot]

56. Brilliant!