DOJ's Dhillon Blasts United CEO Kirby Over 100% Inheritance Tax as $32.3 Million Pay Draws Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · Fox Business · Oct 21
DOJ's Dhillon Blasts United CEO Kirby Over 100% Inheritance Tax as $32.3 Million Pay Draws Scrutiny
1 articles · Updated · Fox Business · Oct 21
Summary
Harmeet K. Dhillon, the Justice Department's Civil Rights chief, mocked United after CEO Scott Kirby backed a national wealth tax and inheritance taxes "close to 100 percent," posting that United WiFi failed on her last two flights.
Kirby told The New York Times that widening wealth inequality is a societal "danger" and argued a state-level wealth tax would fail because wealthy people could simply move.
His stance quickly turned attention to his own pay: United said Kirby received about $32.3 million in fiscal 2025, roughly 334 times the airline's $96,670 median employee compensation.
The backlash widened beyond taxes because Kirby also defended charging more for preferred seats, saying better seating "costs money to deliver."
Social media critics tied the debate to United's broader customer-service and pricing complaints, with some threatening to stop flying the airline and others urging Kirby to focus on fares, punctuality and safety.