"People only become billionaires because successive governments have organised our economic system, from taxes to property law to rights at work, to benefit the rich – often at the expense of the poor"<p>I don't see how so many people have this argument and think the answer is more government interventions in the economy. If you really think rich people are only rich because of the economy the government created, shouldn't the rational conclusion be that the government shouldn't be involved in the economy, free markets.
"A tiny percentage of people have become super rich at the expense of everyone else."<p>The economy is not a zero-sum game. If someone continue to work and invest after reaching $100 million, and goes on to billionaire status, that's better for society than if he or she stopped working and spent huge amounts each year.<p>Roger Federer's net worth is estimated to be $450 million. At age 38 he is still giving his all on the tennis court. Why should we impose a confiscatory tax rate on him and dissuade him from playing?