Bono set to become Dollar Billionaire

[Arfur Teacake]

Funny how we dont care much about how much money a rock star earns?
Facebook Makes Bono Richest Rock Star In The World | CraveOnline
Indeed Madonna has recently been patronising her fans by saying they must work harder all year and save
up for her £190 concert tickets as 'she is worth it'.

-yet bankers who in the past earned the country billions, we hate -- just an observation not a whinge

[Moor Larkin]

He's Irish, so it's none of our business anyway................

Protesters call on Bono to justify tax arrangements - The Irish Times - Mon, Jun 27, 2011

[faginsgirl]

Funny how we dont care much about how much money a rock star earns?
Facebook Makes Bono Richest Rock Star In The World | CraveOnline

-yet bankers who in the past earned the country billions, we hate -- just an observation not a whinge

But you just thought you would stick up for Bankers while you were at it!

Although I agree, Bono and Madonna are definately not worth it!

[Moor Larkin]

But you just thought you would stick up for Bankers while you were at it!

The ones who paid their tax were possibly worth sticking up for. I expect that was what New labour thought at the time when they were raking in the Income Tax from the city boys..... I mean they did rake it in all those years................ didn't they?.....



Tax payers get wise of course and turn themselves into Companies and so avoid Income tax that way. That was a common avoidance method in TV and Cinema way back in the 50's and 60's and was probably a big driver for why all the TV Companies became independent producers in the 90's, rather than all working as staff for the BBC or ITV.

Tax doesn't need to be taxing.......

[narabdela]

Can we have a projectile vomiting smiley please?

[billy bentley]

I almost forgot he was a person, he seems more like a brand or corporation. There's no denying that that he has a conscience, but he gets a pretty low rating on the "Gene Vincent Index".

[Rowdon]

Funny how we dont care much about how much money a rock star earns?

-yet bankers who in the past earned the country billions, we hate -- just an observation not a whinge

Bono: It's not my money. He has no responsibility to me or my life.
Bankers: It's my money. They were entrusted with certain aspects of my life.

[Mr Sloane]

Bono: It's not my money. He has no responsibility to me or my life.
Bankers: It's my money. They were entrusted with certain aspects of my life.

Bono: Governements should spend more of taxpayers money cancelling debt and providing relief to the world.
Bono: My money is in tax havens and offshore accounts .

[Rowdon]

Quite aside from Bono's hypocrisy.
I went to see U2 once, about 5 years ago. It was spectacular. As we came out, my friend made a comment which sums U2 up: "That was SO great! How come I've never bought any of their records!?". He was serious. To paraphrase WC Fields: U2 are like elephants: wonderful to look at, but you wouldn't want them in your house.

[Edward G]

We all try to limit our exposure to tax.
Bono is no different.
He just has more scope to save

[Rowdon]

We all try to limit our exposure to tax.
Bono is no different.

I would agree if he was just a pop star doing pop star things, and passing no comment on the ills of the world.

[Edward G]

Funny thing about the role a pop star should have, allright Rowdon.
Our perception of what a pop star is (and many musician's own idea of how narrow or broad their media role can be) has broadened considerably over the years.
Marvin Gaye famously said "The purpose of an artist is to wake up the minds of mankind or womankind".
He was coming off the back of his own forceful social commentary soul like "What's goin on" and "Inner City Blues".
I like what he said and I was also a big fan of U2 and Bono a few years back.
I still love their music up to Achtung Baby but over time Bono's preaching and relentless photo opportunites with everyone from the Pope to Nelson Mandela has eroded my natural affinity for the man. The band (especially Larry Mullen Jr) were quick to disassociate themselves from the Thoughts of Chairman Bono and here in Ireland many were given a reality check when the band moved out of Ireland for much of the year as soon as the tax amnesty on artists was abolished, to avoid the resulting taxation.
I realise Bono has helped raise a huge amount for charity but I prefer the more humble and down to earth example of the late Jimmy Savile, who raised £40M + for charity while still doing porter service for years in hospitals, lived a modest lifestyle (compared to the one he could have had) and did many other charity gigs here and there.
He didn't feel the need to get up on a soapbox like some patronising preacher.

[Rowdon]

Funny thing about the role a pop star should have, allright Rowdon.

I see what you're saying, and don't disagree with any of it (OK - I can't really understand how anybody liked U2 enough to buy an album, but that's a personal question). I only meant that yes, I may try to massage my tax returns a little in my favour, but that doesn't make me "no different" from Bono. (1) In my case, it's not hundreds of millions (2) I've never actually moved to avoid tax (although I like the fact that Spain has lower income tax than the UK - meaning that there won't be a pension for me ... hang on, I may have to look at this one a bit more closely) (3) I don't preach about people being honest and not fraudulent. (Actually I do, but see (1) and (2).)
For example, the Rolling Stones avoid taxes: they once cancelled gigs in Britain because if they'd played them, they would have been on British soil for a couple of days over the non-taxable limit, and would thus have had to pay tax. This was only a few years ago when they were all multi-multi-millionaires. My reaction was "Rather than let the fans who have already paid for the tickets down, how about this radical idea: pay the tax this year. Just this once. Whatever the rate.". But Their behaviour just makes you roll your eyes, because they don't have a political side. I'm sure Jagger's aim when he was playing at that blues club in London (name anybody?) was to get as much money and as many birds as possible with the minimum effort. Same thing with Rod Stewart. And that is very probably approximately what they still believe in. I may not share their ideals, but they aren't being hypocritical. I mean, who could possibly be let down by Keith Richards? But I think we're entitled to feel let down by Bono.
We can't all be Paul McCartney (still in the UK - apparently he paid 103% tax once), but I think Bono could make the effort, if he's going to tell everybody else to make the effort.

(This all has nothing to do with U2's music which is excellent in small doses).

[jaycad]

Funny thing about the role a pop star should have, allright Rowdon.
Our perception of what a pop star is (and many musician's own idea of how narrow or broad their media role can be) has broadened considerably over the years.
Marvin Gaye famously said "The purpose of an artist is to wake up the minds of mankind or womankind".
He was coming off the back of his own forceful social commentary soul like "What's goin on" and "Inner City Blues".
I like what he said and I was also a big fan of U2 and Bono a few years back.
I still love their music up to Achtung Baby but over time Bono's preaching and relentless photo opportunites with everyone from the Pope to Nelson Mandela has eroded my natural affinity for the man. The band (especially Larry Mullen Jr) were quick to disassociate themselves from the Thoughts of Chairman Bono and here in Ireland many were given a reality check when the band moved out of Ireland for much of the year as soon as the tax amnesty on artists was abolished, to avoid the resulting taxation.
I realise Bono has helped raise a huge amount for charity but I prefer the more humble and down to earth example of the late Jimmy Savile, who raised £40M + for charity while still doing porter service for years in hospitals, lived a modest lifestyle (compared to the one he could have had) and did many other charity gigs here and there.
He didn't feel the need to get up on a soapbox like some patronising preacher.

I Feel pretty much the same,I love all their stuff up to 'Zooropa' and have been to see them over ten times(but cannot remember exactly) but for the last 15 years Bono has got on my nerves-not just his preaching (which became ten times worse since making a parody of it with 'The Fly/MacPhisto' but also his 'embarrassing uncle at a wedding' impressions on stage.Personally,I don't care how much money he has or how much of it he gives to charity.

[Rowdon]

Personally,I don't care how much money he has or how much of it he gives to charity.

As long as he pays his taxes. Or most of them.

[jaycad]

As long as he pays his taxes. Or most of them.

I'd rather he paid mine!

[Arfur Teacake]

Perhaps I should not have mentioned Bono as he was an example. I really mean about the money he is getting and should have mentioned Facebook instead.

Facebook money where is it coming from? It does not make anything,all it amounts to is pages on a server,probably completely managed by a couple of hundred people?
These billions of dollars must ultimately be coming out of ordinary people's accounts and pension funds, and going to a few people who dont make anything or provide anything useful?

[batman]

I saw U2 during the 'Boy' tour many years ago and they were great.

These days they are crap .... and Bono is a pretentious twat.

It's amazing how much a 14hr working day and a couple of glasses of ginger beer can loosen the tongue.

[captainhaddock]

there was a movie out last year called killing bono
the story was something like another irish band who lost out on stardom to the embryonic U2 pursued a vendetta against them
at least that was the gist of it
it seems to have sank without a trace ?
a shame because the basic idea of killing bono in my book must be applauded

[billy bentley]

Never owned one of his records, never seen him live, never wanted to do either. Whatever it is he had or has, it is/was completely lost on me.