Chuck Collins

Oligarch Watch columnist Chuck Collins is author of the new book, Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power Are Ruining Our Lives and Planet (The New Press). He directs the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he coedits Inequality.org. His previous books include The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions, Born on Third Base, and, with Bill Gates Sr., Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes.

Dog being cared for by veterinarians

The Billionaire Oligarchs Are Coming for Your Pets The Billionaire Oligarchs Are Coming for Your Pets

And they want to make bigger profits.

Oct 29, 2025 / Chuck Collins

Jim Grech, president and chief executive officer of Peabody Energy Corp, speaks during the 2023 CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Texas, on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

Meet the “Coal-igarch” Jim Grech, CEO of Peabody Energy Meet the “Coal-igarch” Jim Grech, CEO of Peabody Energy

Fossil fuel oligarchs are getting their payback for helping electing Trump.

Sep 4, 2025 / Chuck Collins

Caritas Christi CEO Ralph de la Torre at Norwood Hospital.

Ralph de la Torre: The Making of a Healthcare Oligarch Ralph de la Torre: The Making of a Healthcare Oligarch

And the price the rest of us pay—in money and in blood.

Jul 14, 2025 / Chuck Collins

A Gulfstream G650ER jet prepares to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on November 7, 2023.

These Activists Are Right: The World Doesn’t Need Any More Private Jets These Activists Are Right: The World Doesn’t Need Any More Private Jets

Local activists in Massachusetts have taken on the private jet lobby—and they might just win.

Mar 26, 2025 / Chuck Collins

Pandora Papers logo

The Pandora Papers Reveal How the Superrich Shaft the Rest of Us The Pandora Papers Reveal How the Superrich Shaft the Rest of Us

A just-released “Panama Papers on steroids” shows how the US has become a major tax haven and destination for illicit wealth.

Oct 5, 2021 / Chuck Collins

U$A

How Tax Haven States Enable Billionaires to Hide Trillions How Tax Haven States Enable Billionaires to Hide Trillions

The US has now become the global center for money hiding and illicit wealth storage.

Apr 1, 2021 / Chuck Collins

The Perils of Billionaire Philanthropy

The Perils of Billionaire Philanthropy The Perils of Billionaire Philanthropy

The ultra-rich are using philanthropic vehicles to shield their wealth—it’s time Congress acted.

Sep 11, 2019 / Chuck Collins

Fred and Donald Trump

The Wealth-Defense Industry The Wealth-Defense Industry

Lessons from the Trumps’ tax-avoidance racket.

Oct 9, 2018 / Chuck Collins

California Tuition Protest

A Serious Push for Free College in California A Serious Push for Free College in California

A ballot initiative campaign to restore tuition-free college in California is gaining momentum for the November election, a model other states could follow.

Feb 6, 2018 / Chuck Collins

Trump-Republican-Tax-Bill-rtr-img

How to Make Lawmakers Rue the Day They Voted for This Scam of a Tax Bill How to Make Lawmakers Rue the Day They Voted for This Scam of a Tax Bill

We can use this bill as a catalyst for the next wave of tax-fairness and economic-justice organizing.

Dec 19, 2017 / Sarah Anderson and Chuck Collins

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