Radical Wealth Cap Idea — What If We Created a Global Overflow Fund?

Hey Reddit,

I’ve been working on a concept that’s been keeping me up at night—in a good way. It’s about wealth, fairness, and creating a system that doesn’t punish success, but redefines what it means to win.

Here’s the core idea:

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The Overflow Fund Concept

We set a lifetime wealth cap, say $100 million. After that, any additional income goes into a global (or national) Overflow Fund.

But here’s the catch—it’s not about punishing the wealthy. You can still have: • Mansions, Teslas, private jets • Legacy businesses • Generational wealth for your family

It just means when you’ve made more than enough, your overflow helps build a better world.

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Overflow Fund Allocation (Example)

For every $1 billion collected from overflow: 1. Essential Needs – 35% • Universal healthcare • Food & nutrition programs • Housing support • Clean water infrastructure 2. Education & Skills – 20% • Free K–college education • Trade schools • Financial literacy • Teacher pay & classroom resources 3. Environmental Care – 10% • Clean energy & reforestation • Sustainable farming • Pollution control 4. Small Business & Innovation – 10% • Startup grants • Innovation hubs in low-income areas • Local business support 5. Community Projects – 10% • Youth centers • Domestic violence shelters • Arts & culture funding • Public transportation upgrades 6. Emergency Relief – 5% • Natural disaster response • Pandemic preparedness • Economic support programs 7. Global Aid – 5% • Refugee housing • Clean water for developing nations • Global education access 8. Governance & Transparency – 5% • Audits • Public dashboards • Anti-corruption watchdogs

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What Happens When a Person or Business Hits the Cap? • Individuals stop accumulating beyond $100M. That money is redirected to the Overflow Fund. It’s a permanent cap—not something that resets when you spend. • Businesses keep operating, but after paying employees and reinvesting, overflow profits are funneled into causes they choose. Example: A business that exceeds its profit cap might fund every women’s shelter in Chandler, AZ.

This ties social good directly to the success of a business, and every community wins.

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Incentives & Legacy

To keep people motivated and creative: • People still earn luxury through hard work. • Overflow doesn’t go to people just sitting around—it funds systems that give opportunity and safety. • Recognition system: • Plaques, naming rights (non-controlling) • Digital “Hall of Impact” • Public ceremonies • Legacy tokens for descendants

Imagine a school that says: “Built with Overflow Contributions by CleanTech Inc. (2034) — Thank you for building the future.”

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What This Could Look Like in 10 Years • Poverty levels drop drastically. • Healthcare and education are accessible to all. • Billionaires still exist—but they’re honored not for hoarding wealth, but for what they shared. • Communities thrive because successful businesses and individuals sponsor systems that uplift others.

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Concerns We’ve Thought About • “Won’t people stop working after $100M?” Some might—but many won’t. We already see ultra-wealthy people continue out of passion or vision. Plus, they gain immortality through legacy, not money. • “What about corruption?” The system would be decentralized, publicly tracked (think blockchain), with watchdogs, rotating leadership, and open voting. • “Is this replacing government?” Not necessarily. It could co-exist—or become an evolved community-first system.

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So Reddit—what do you think? • What are the flaws you see? • How could this work better? • Would YOU support a system like this if it existed? • If you hit the cap, what would YOU want your overflow to fund?

Curious to hear all perspectives—dreamers, skeptics, economists, idealists. Tear it apart or build it up. I just want the conversation to start.

Thanks for reading