[waterlesscloud]

He's still going to pay taxes on billions of dollars. Just fewer billions than if he'd waited longer.

[wtvanhest]

He can't possibly be saving more than $500M in taxes. To me it seems worth it to pay $500M in taxes and retain all the protections the United States provides. Get kidnapped? I want the US backing me.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/12/navy-seals-kill-p...

Just google "US Citizen Freed" and you will find countless examples of US Gov intervention and protection that simply cannot be bought.

He is now a much, much better kidnapping target since he is one of just a few non US citizens with over a Billion dollars who has no real protection. Do you think Singapore can protect him? His lawyer just made a huge fee and looks smart but gave up his clients relatively inexpensive protection.

I just don't get it.

[white_devil]

Right, because the Navy Seals would spring into action to rescue him if he ever got into trouble, any time, any place.

I bet this homeless guy was super-glad to be a US citizen too: http://reason.com/blog/2012/05/08/the-da-just-released-surve...

> Do you think Singapore can protect him?

They could, if they wanted to. Just like the US could if it wanted to.

But he's probably better off just buying protection by himself, or not flaunting his riches.

[sbov]

> He is now a much, much better kidnapping target since he is one of just a few non US citizens with over a Billion dollars who has no real protection.

Somewhat interesting, considering his parents fled to the US because gangs in Brazil had him on a "to-kidnap-list". If anyone were aware of the problem I'd think he would be.

[why-el]

This is a very stereotypical view of Singapore. The idea that once outside the US everyone is a "better" kidnapping target is just absurd.

[wtvanhest]

I am 100% sure he will want to travel outside of Singapore. He has a few billion dollars. He better pick ultra safe locations for vacations.

[lawnchair_larry]

I find this line of thinking disturbing. I don't think it is worth it for a single person to pay $500M for anything. If this was a real concern, you could buy one hell of a personal army for $500M.

[wtvanhest]

Obviously security is only one part of what he gets.

[dons]

Personal bodyguards for life will be a lot cheaper.

[wtvanhest]

I would rather not have to have a large group of people with me everywhere I go. To me, that is worth $500m of $4B.

He obviously has different priorities.

[geebee]

True. But do you consider those extra billions to be money he didn't earn in the United States? In this case, it does seem like the US is going after income that was properly earned in the US, it's just that with startups (and IPOs), you can cleverly renounce your citizenship in between the time the work is done and the money is realized.

I see this as different from someone going over to England, working, opening an account, making investments, and discovering that they owe (or at least have to file) with the US.