Zillow co-founder and billionaire Rich Barton is cashing in his Seattle chips for Las Vegas.
Barton, who started the real estate giant in Seattle 20 years ago, announced on X last Friday that he was officially a Las Vegas resident.
“Kids are launched, empty nest achieved, and we’re excited to start this next chapter,” the post read.
The former Zillow CEO will continue to serve as the company’s co-executive chair from his new residence.
Zillow and a representative for Barton declined to comment on the move.
His departure will undoubtedly add fuel to a heated debate over whether Washington’s upcoming “millionaires tax” — a 9.9% levy on any income over $1 million — will drive away the state’s ultrawealthy.
Several of the state’s billionaires have left in recent years, although they all cite personal reasons.
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced his departure from Seattle for Miami in March before writing a fiery Wall Street Journal op-ed criticizing Seattle and Washington’s business environment.
In 2023, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos also left for Miami after nearly 30 years in the Puget Sound region, saying he wanted to be closer to his parents and the site of Blue Origin’s operations in Cape Canaveral.
