Former CEO of Woke Starbucks Flees Blue State to Retire in Florida
Howard Schultz, the former CEO of far-left Starbucks, and his wife are fleeing woke Washington state for Florida for their “retirement phase” following the state’s advancement of a new “millionaire tax.”
The announcement came after Seattle-based Starbucks said it would open a new corporate office in Nashville.
Both announcements come as Washington state has been working to pass what has been dubbed the “millionaires tax,” which would impose a 9.9% income tax on households earning more than $1 million annually.
The Washington State House of Representatives passed the controversial bill in a 51-46 vote. The bill must now be confirmed by the State Senate before Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson can sign it into law.
The bill (primarily SB 6346 in the Senate, companion HB 2724 in the House) places a 9.9% tax on Washington taxable income (based on federal adjusted gross income with adjustments) above $1 million per household.
Washington State Rep. Natasha Hill (D-3) claimed during the debate that Washington’s wealthy would not flee the state if passed, but the Schultzes apparently did not get the memo.
Rep. Natasha Hill says WA wealthy won’t leave due to income tax. Says they’d pay more elsewhere. House debate on final passage continues 24 hrs after bill came to the floor pic.twitter.com/mc89T0FoOx
— Carleen Johnson (@CarleenJohn1970) March 11, 2026
Schultz shared the announcement on LinkedIn:
“Forty-four years ago, Sheri and I made the cross-country trip from NYC to Seattle in our 1979 Audi along with Jonas our Golden Retriever. We were starting a new life. Sheri would be the breadwinner in the family, taking on a career in design. And I started a new job on September 7, 1982, at a place called Starbucks. Back then, the Pike Place Starbucks only sold whole bean coffee. Today, it’s the most visited Starbucks in the world. The history of the company is bound up in the very foundation, walls and floorboards of our first store in the city’s historic market.”
“The spirit of continuing forward has long underpinned our approach to life—in business, in philanthropy and most importantly, as a family. For those of you who know us well, we have entered the “retirement” phase of our lives. (A term we are both just getting used to.) Last year we traveled to dozens of places around the world—places we were too busy to see when building Starbucks and raising kids. And we have moved to Miami for our next adventure together. We are enjoying the sunshine of South Florida and its allure to our kids on the East Coast as they raise families of their own.”
“Like many other Seattle-based companies, Starbucks today stands on the shoulders of the many Pacific Northwesterners who built the company. They helped shape the culture, the benefits and the brand, contributing to the civic, community and public life of the city and state. It is our hope that Washington will remain a place for business and entrepreneurship to thrive, creating essential opportunity for those in Seattle and the surrounding areas.”
“Over the years, as Sheri and I grew our family and built Starbucks globally, we were witness to the astonishing development of Seattle. We focused on doing our part to help those at risk and facing hard times in our city. In 1990, Sheri started the Schultz Family Foundation, launching critical work to help others in our community and beyond—work that has grown in scale and impact with each passing year. We have entrusted the leadership of the Foundation to our dear friend Vivek Varma with a mandate to accelerate our philanthropic investments to drive meaningful change. While our private family office will move to Miami, our Foundation will continue operations in Seattle.”
“We will be forever grateful for the memories made in Seattle and the relationships built along the way. To the family, friends and partners who made Seattle our home for so many years, thank you.”
“Onward. Sheri and Howard Schultz.”
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