“How South Dakota turned America into a 1,000-year tax-free aristocracy”
The mechanics (2025)
- 23 states (led by South Dakota, Nevada, Delaware, Alaska) have abolished or massively extended the Rule Against Perpetuities.
- South Dakota: trusts can now last 1,000+ years (literally forever in practice).
- You put $100M–$10B+ into an irrevocable trust in Sioux Falls.
- Trust owns the life insurance, private equity, real estate, art, etc.
- Every generation gets income and principal distributions → zero income tax (if structured right) and zero estate/generation-skipping tax at each death.
- Result: one family can compound wealth tax-free for 40+ generations.
Who uses it
- Walmart heirs (Walton Enterprises – $250B+ in South Dakota trusts)
- Mars candy family
- Cargill-MacMillan family
- Hundreds of Forbes 400 families
- 2025 estimate: $500–$800 billion already parked in perpetual trusts (Trust & Estate magazine)
The money lost
- Current 40% estate tax + 40% GSTT completely avoided forever.
- Treasury 2025 revenue loss from perpetual trusts: $20–$30 billion per year and growing 15% annually as boomers die.
Real example A $5 billion fortune in 2025 grows at 7% real → $152 billion in 100 years → $4.6 trillion in 200 years → all tax-free if in a South Dakota dynasty trust.
Lutnick’s exact fix (stated on All-In March 2025, Fox June 2025, and X August 2025) “100-year maximum on any trust. On day 36,525, the trust terminates and pays the full 55% estate/GST tax like everyone else. One sentence. Ends the permanent American aristocracy tomorrow.”
Revenue impact
- Immediate: +$18–$22 billion per year starting ~2125 when first big trusts hit the wall
- Long-term: prevents trillions in lost revenue over centuries
- Forces families to either spend, donate, or pay tax like normal humans
What South Dakota will scream “This will kill our $500 billion trust industry!” Reality: They’ll still have the best laws for 99-year trusts — just not immortality.
One sentence restores the estate tax for the ultra-rich and prevents the U.S. from becoming a hereditary oligarchy.