Three very rich guys talk about Trump, taxes, and the 'vilified' 1%

Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone, former CEO of Goldman Sachs Leon Cooperman, and founder of Mesa Petroleum T. Boone Pickens all sit down with CNN's Carol Costello for a lively discussion about politics, money, and the American Dream.

[@SuperDarius01]

Three grown men with different opinions having a civilized conversation and not yelling or degrading each other. Who knew it was possible!

[@harmoneeabraham9336]

I know right? Love it!

[@fod1202]

Different opinions?! I want lower taxes. I want lower taxes. I like taxes, as long as they are lower! Yeah, what a range in opinions...

[@vernellbryant7646]

trump is warren buffet puppet. buffet got more money than trump.

[@holydragonguy7850]

E vilo trump already lowerd taxes for the rich

[@beyondspace3736]

ha ha funny

[@Jason-cg8xp]

Best interview ever from rich guys! love the honesty

[@KSU-ce2uc]

These old boys are dropping some knowledge.

[@jamesbondbillionaire2520]

No, they care about the country, and they believe that they do not have some knowledge even though they have so that they can still keep learning.

[@dawnpetty1217]

Wow rich men that actually care about our country.

[@skinnerman100]

Dawn Petty not really thats what they want u to believe at the end of the day trump has made them richer

[@carlosphillips8447]

David Flynn I guess they could create more jobs if they were poorer (right) people like you are just plain stupid

[@kimobrien.]

The capitalist class all benefit from unemployment and inflation. There is a direct relationship between wages and profits. Higher wages and lower profits shifts production from luxury goods to necessary goods. The only thing the ability to profit leads to is the ability to further exploit the working class. Capitalist hire workers for the single purpose of making bigger profits.

[@nifty1940]

@@kimobrien. Got the perfect solution for you. Drive the Capitalist out! Force them to withdraw their money and employment opportunities away from the working class, and take it to China. Shut down all the factories, and capital producing labour, and move it all offshore, hey. That'll show 'em! Yeah, stuff the lot of them. Let's make sure we close their access to both luxury and necessary goods too. Doesn't matter that they can outlast the poor working stiff.. eff 'em. We'll shove their enterprise right up their capitalist cake-holes. Let the poor- to-working class in another country benefit, without bitching. It don't matter that they'll be mighty grateful for a chance to earn a wage, that they presently don't make. Or, let all the capitalists retire to enjoy the fruits of their time, effort, investment into the future, and the investor's money they put into creating an industrial environment, for a shared dream for both classes. Now, that'll even up things for you. You'd be satisfied with that, wouldn't you? This is your socialist communist ideologue, and that of all demorat supporter's. Phew, I knew there was a solution to the creation of making America a 3rd world country. How-bout you leading the charge, hey?

[@dandavis4469]

Yes they care...about stealing from it.

[@iud9476]

The Goldman Sachs CEO knows he is not worth 10 billion dollars, that is straight inside knowledge from deals they have conducted.

[@MusaMansu]

I though tou demos said he got all of his money from Russia?

[@godlesslibertarian3381]

Llyod Blakenfield is supporting and donating to Clinton. Those midgets love one another. Google "Goldman Sachs and Hilary Clinton Vanity Fair."

[@joydbrower]

Who gives a damn if Trump is worth a trillion $$ or $100?!? He's the alpha male who leads our great country - and he was elected BY THE PEOPLE. These 3 CEOs live in a bubble and better stick to their business responsibilities. Trump has actually transcended Trump Enterprises and is now OF THIS WORLD!! Did you see how the press converged on him and covered him like a rock star?!:? And to think that Al Gore was the best we could produce to represent the USA in the past!! Gore is SO yesterday!! Move over for a REAL leader!!

[@wilfredpeake9987]

joydbrower he lost the popular vote so not really

[@abegohr2576]

joydbrower Are you listening? Langone says hes going to vote for Trump

[@charlafactor3673]

Trump is worse than we thought. Thanks for your input.

[@triad6425]

hey give me the the rest of this vid. I like this interview.

[@anachristina9543]

This is very interesting

[@jllucas39]

Thank you CNN for a halfway neutral interview!!!

[@table_tennis_fever]

just cuz they are billionaires doesn't mean they're not senile

[@shirleywoo2958]

Geoffrey Cheng 0

[@chuku531]

$4000 a month and you don't need it? Why did you file for social security?

[@anachristina9543]

chuku531 but think about it he brings up a good point why should he even qualify.

[@chuku531]

Cristina Cabral okay I agree. However, if the government was to deny him, many will say that's unconstitutional. There should be an option not to apply or waive and place back into the system.

[@anachristina9543]

chuku531 True

[@fod1202]

The problem with the 1% receiving money from the government is not as important as the problem with the 1% not paying enough. If your group has 40% of the net worth of the country, your group should be paying exactly 40% of the taxes.

[@Sirhc2023]

chuku531 because he paid into the Social Security system.

[@zaqvoir608]

rich old men complaining that even after paying taxes they are still rich old men

[@Vape_Master69]

I like how these guys think. At the end nothing really ever changes, the stupid will suffer, and the smart will strive. However we need initiatives to get the stupid people to start improving themselves, instead of just handing them money, because they're usually in their situation because of a vicious cycle of self oppression.

[@SouthernNYCga]

There are plenty of stupid rich people who inherit their wealth. Stop believing the lie that the rich are self-made through cunning hard work because it just ain't true.

[@Beautyizme]

Daniel Murillo Give it up... what you just heard, was three uber wealthy Old Men, complaining about the system for them taking advantage of it. They don't want change, they just like complaining about the system that's set up for them. Ask anyone of these guys for a $2.00 per hour raise... you'll be without a job and told you're an ungrateful SOB!

[@Vape_Master69]

its not about being rich or poor. people need to find a meaningful existence improving themselves, they need to have ambition and seek out business ventures with friends. theirs too many people just sitting around doing nothing, complaining that they have shitty lives and all they do is smoke pot all day, i say this from first hand observations. the only reason why the rich are able to take advantage of people is because people are stupid and i cant really blame them, people fall for the most basic distractions in life, only craving overpriced mass produced goods, like babies being distracted by little trinkets. if its one thing i know its that the last thing people do is accept responsibility for their flaws. Its everyone's fault except yours, "the teacher is bad" "my boss is bad" "the system is rigged" "people are racist" "everyone is stupid" its the same cycle of self oppression carried on throughout life.

[@Adeloye1000]

I cant say I agree with you. The logical flaw has been pointed out. There are a lot of stupid rich people out there and there are a lot of stupid poor people. There are also a lot of smart rich people and a lot of smart poor people. Unfortunately, the situation tends to be that the rich people are either greedy or they are just not aware. In both cases, I regard ignorance and stupidity. By the very fact someone earns above 10 million per year goes around and says that the poor people are poor because they want to be is ignorant and therefore stupid. The situation, for a lot of poor people, is that the opportunities that are afforded to many average people are not given to them simply because of stigmatisation. A lot of the time, the work they do only helps them survive simply because working more hours in the day is impossible for them when they already have 3 jobs they juggle around. Yet, those who are not smart and rich; not willing to lift a finger except to sign a contract either to solidify a contract or to avoid some tax, think its only through work that they make money. Yes, you will get those few people who are in the position to make life better for themselves but choose not to but believe me when I say; it is simply insulting to the people when you claim that poor people place themselves in a vicious cycle. Especially when a lot of them work tirelessly to give their children the chances they never had. "Teacher is bad", "my boss is bad", "the system is rigged", "people are racist" are all real and sad realities that exist in varying degrees and should not be shrugged off as cries of the lazy when it can be witnessed by eyes and ears alone. What the advantaged can do is to help develop these areas to at least give everyone the opportunity to have the chance to do things. Give them a chance to be equal.

[@Vape_Master69]

LOL i look around and just see a bunch of people who could care less how the world works. They just strive for petty luxuries. Its true some rich people do inherit their money, which isn't intrinsically bad, but if they choose the life of the fool their life is equally as meaningless, and the wealth usually dissipates in 3 generation. think what you think i could care less.

[@justme7585]

Wow. That man is 87-years old?! He's living proof that money can buy you health!!

[@redraven699]

Love those guys!! They tell it like it is.

[@nettiewatkins6545]

Now that we are looking in hind sight, we can acknowledge that 7 1/2 million people voted third party. Add that to the 3 million difference between Trump and Hillary and you can see that Trump actually lost the election by 10 1/2 million people. To take it further, 48% of America stayed home. Therefore Hillary and trump each only got about 1/4 of the American national vote.

[@ahaenssen]

Where is the rest of the vid? There is better information in these 6 minutes than in the last 10 month of the Presidential Campaign.

[@johnkirk5555]

Axel Haenssen

[@desiderata4445]

Ken Langone was right then and he is right now..

[@DJShoutSmith]

Damn, between the three of them, they can own the whole World!!!

[@Aviator1681]

I am looking for the rest of the interview. There are segments before and after this.

[@Aviator1681]

There is only a transcript. No video.

[@lenering1084]

I always wonder what those very rich people will say when they get in front of the Creator. They have so much money and still they take advantage of their poor employees

[@boomboom1ist]

Interviewer is stupidly bias.

[@magsr1151]

where is the rest of the video? can somebody please share it.

[@salvador5485]

people who have accumulated mass amounts of wealth like them should not get social security

[@brianneeley4471]

Unknown // All people should get Social Security if they had to pay into it. At least their own contributions. Their money.

[@bet8467]

Social security should be abolished, it's theft.

[@bet8467]

@Michael Patterson So? Is it ok to steal from someone because they're rich? What's a living wage?

[@bet8467]

@Michael Patterson Wages are not stagnant, the median wage has risen $4000 in the past year and a half. Inflation is at 2.4%, not several thousand.

[@bet8467]

@Michael Patterson I have absolutely no idea what you mean in the second paragraph, you're incoherent.

[@mauricejones3387]

We need them to have this conversation now.

[@JG-mt3rp]

Always enjoy watching Leon Cooperman on Bloomberg and he's even more forthright and engaging in this interview.

[@TheAlnice2g]

Now these guys made a lot of sense. Trump 2016!

[@florawoundedrock]

Trump is rich or nor, it doesn't matter. His problem is the attitude he has. He thinks he is entitled.That he can do what ever he wants and no one is going to say a word, cause he is better then everyone else. Money can't be bad or have a attitude. It's Trump that's trying to be above everyone else.

[@lisatulafono6205]

Patricia Cunningham yip simplified

[@jag8789]

@Mike Hunt don't blame the ones that need help for the ones that take advantage of our help. i work and pay taxes to help those who need it. What a creepy name you have, LOL.

[@aliveandfilming2]

REFRESHING !! whatched it trice ! gotta love mr Langone 's spirit and sincerity the smartest comments since the beginning of the election .

[@jordan-otss]

CNN we need the full extended version of this conversation!

[@chauvolybao2607]

I need a full video of this...

[@davidquinn9062]

Where is the rest of this interview .? Unbelievable words of wisdom

[@jackofalltrades5750]

where is the full episode @cnn

[@Leghore]

that is exactly correct Ken Langone, in regards to token. Thank you

[@tomkeating5178]

well said on both

[@yungheat84]

Everyone loses money whether you're rich or poor...

[@schrodingerscat3912]

especially the billionaires who earn passive income on their real estate portfolios

[@bigwolflife5792]

I am jk real estate lol

[@schrodingerscat3912]

ok mike money, please enlighten us to your grand money making enterprise. what do you do? trade? sell drugs? what?

[@bigwolflife5792]

I am jk you gotta be kidding

[@bigwolflife5792]

I am jk international logistics and commodities.

[@briankosteriva3489]

Please post the remainder of interview. I would like to hear his opinion of Sanders.

[@hawleyed2973]

I like the way these guys think...term limits! YES!!

[@Lilreeces10]

I like shopping at LOWES

[@kaus21]

Need to see this whole thing!

[@bri.a2k]

i like the middle guy

[@mercedescl]

He is the most cutthroat and ruthless of them all. A good man and a Godly man who happens to love money and earn money, regardless of moral obstacles.

[@dogestranding5047]

That Girl Who Likes Music He's a hedge fund manager too. Pretty cool.

[@Lilreeces10]

I thought you like music

[@joshuahankey]

wow best video i've seen from CNN

[@goldwingdrifter3410]

There are some billionaires that will tell you like it is, why? Because theirs billionaires and have nothing to lose. These three, along with Buffett and Cuban, are at the top of their game. I agree on 3 things these gentlemen said: 1. Cooperman believes they should pay 40% in taxes. 2. Langone says "term limits" should be placed on congress. 3. All believe that "dumbass" isn't worth $10 billion.

[@bethbartlett5692]

DO THIS INTERVIEW AGAIN TODAY!

[@mattrkelly]

id watch those crazy old guys talk all day long.

[@midnightowlsrock]

Truth is even they want to pay their fair share of taxes and stop receiving social security, as they say that hey don’t need it.

[@lillianballard9795]

Wow,how great is this?! I said this here on utube back when I started on the tube.It only took 5yrs!or so... a latent thought form?

[@MusicTeacherGuyNorristown]

Langone is the one who actually gets it. Costello is an emptyhead.

[@michaeldautel7568]

Carl should be in Jail!

[@brandonmoreland4392]

Now this is a real debate between real power holders

[@eddiepratt3483]

We needed fresh young people in the WHITE HOUSE. Granted they might not be RICH. But we the American people need to DREAM AGAIN 🇱🇷🌈 🇱🇷

[@farzana6676]

You didn't even put an American flag. That's how anti American you are.

[@darkflamingopontificates186]

They are not bad guys, some of them want to help too :D

[@darrellshepherd4282]

Where is the rest of the interview?

[@Macsk8ing]

Ken Langone is awesome.

[@denniskaaihue7519]

3 rich wise men LISTEN and take notes.

[@alexcho6387]

Can someone post a link if they find the rest of the video?

[@radeneledbetter5697]

Love to hear this whole tape smart men

[@wurdofwizdumb1928]

Why isnt this 2 hours?

[@gloriaclayton3276]

I will never shop at home depot boycott.

[@johnmurray3888]

Some of these rich guys get confused about the big picture. A few examples. Warren Buffett says "always buy a used car" , but how can the auto industry continue if nobody buys a new car? America would start to look more like Cuba! T. Boone Pickens said: "exploring and drilling for oil is too expensive, it's much more profitable to buy out another oil company with huge, proven, reserves of oil. But if every American oil company followed Boone Picken's example, the oil industry would implode. In his later years, Boone was wrong about so many things I'm amazed he still wanted to be seen in public.

[@altagraciasantos8500]

The sarcasm is intolerable of most rich think is okay to display is nauseating. When they pretend to be like everybody else is not real. I have seen this with my eyes. Hard to explain....

[@kellyberesfordcole294]

I am a black American and as long as I have lived in America most Americans Caucasian have a entitlement issue poor or rich

[@zoilamarte684]

He's not a BILLIONAIRE!!! Told ya lmao

[@hornetobiker]

informative.

[@estherasare]

Please, I need full interview.

[@steverx4460]

Paid $675M in tax - that's enough ???? Took $5Bn home. Could've he got by with $4Bn? $3Bn? $2Bn? How much does he NEED to get by on? None of them pay anywhere near 40% tax. My guess is 5%.

[@ronaldreed7698]

He's willing to pay 40% tax rate IF it includes inheritance tax???

[@pawanjindal4286]

great

[@brokenjawtheory]

Do not , i mean DO NOT put drumpf on their level. He’s waaaay below them. Their kinda level wont make any noise when they make their move.

[@LoveAlwaysAlwaysLove]

My mom gets $707 in social security each month cuz the government takes out almost $200 to pay for Medicare. 😔

[@kinto1975]

These are the people who think American... Interchange opinions without necessarily degrading,insulting or intimidating one another...Please...tweet conversation to Trump ...

[@starbury64]

$4000 a month in Social Security? And to think of all the other seniors that barely get a few hundred dollars.

[@marinoe6633]

Where can I watch the full discussion?

[@keeborg17]

I AM & ALWAYS HAVE BEEN POOR . . TAXES SHOULD BE 1-10% FOR ALL . . . . NEVER OUT OF POCKET.

[@bsq2phat]

Why do people find it so hard to make a statement about Trump WITHOUT bringing up Clinton or Obama????

[@janospergely3805]

where he says "you don't think Hillary and bill don't take advantage of write offs for their taxes??" well. she put out her taxes a while ago.. they were examined, and did we hear anything scandalous? no.

[@ohgeezus_]

You're a sheep if you support Hillary

[@Beautyizme]

G-Ezuz Coming from what?.......Oh yes... a trump supporter. Bawhahaha bawhahaha bawhahaha bawhahaha!!!

[@stevecrazy9491]

baaaaaaaa, baaaaaaaa then, your ignorant if you support Trump. You honestly think this man cares about the poor, SS, or anything.

[@Ricken2022]

WELL maybe just maybe they the Clintons had to pay tax...which would not surprise me with there huge income..

[@ohgeezus_]

William Dixon When did I say I was a Trump Supporter? See you guys just assume things all the damn time. Hillary doesn't care about you even more she gets payed millions by "donations" to the Clinton foundation. You guys are really that much of a sheep if you think this is Trump vs Clinton... Stop watching CNN all the damn time assholes #GaryJohnson2016

[@anthonykearney7320]

Dropping jewels here!

[@oldreprobate2748]

The Oligarths are the enemy within.

[@TremayneDouglas]

even the rich have problems..

[@zachcaccamo7525]

Not even 1%, they are like the .0001%. The bottom of the top 1% of America is probably 1-5 million dollars in net Worth. So you’re talking about executives, management, or successful business owners on a smaller scale. These guys are the ones that can change the bottom of the top 1% entire life in a single decision they make over breakfast.

[@grabnrungranny6003]

Trump paid no taxes. How does that set with y'all?

[@repeal1628]

HEY Langone I want that 4k. How about it?

[@Xrawkr]

And nary a word about their own thefts, and amoral proclivities.Why am I not surprised..?

[@rogersalyer1195]

When one or more of those folks have their heads on a pike, they will thenl know the full wrath of "We the People".

[@lillianballard9795]

How much did you get back.? I agree about them paying,without deductions, 55%.It sure would help out. Contribute to SOCIAL Security,please the 55%. It needs it after everybody taking money from the Elderly. Shame on Obama.

[@shaunpayne7089]

You guys are that clever

[@georgesingh826]

Age is experience,age is deciplin

[@LironBerisha]

It is very intersting to see how the 2016 election was more of a "are you pro or against hillary" than a real choice between two candidates

[@soptamer]

These people are light years away from the rest of humanity. A complete and a total disconnect!

[@LabRat10101]

The old greys.

[@charlesharmon8478]

Gotta love T. Boone. Man is 90 years old, but looks and sounds clear as a bell. On the other hand we have Nutsy Nancy Pelosi.

[@petercruz1993]

0:38 all that money, and he bought that wig?

[@willfrank961]

Pretty sure its a comb-over. You can see all the hair originating from the right. But yeah, not a good look...

[@Ricken2022]

yes a comb over....

[@davidrothschild2440]

What are the richest family in the world. and we owe all of them.

[@martinevan4237]

Is there a Full Interview.

[@johnmontoya3964]

Get these ole boys the fuck out, their LIES AND MORE LIES. The left side continues with their sedition and TREASON FOR them all.. freeze their money investigate their old asses

[@RaySmith79]

crack is a hell of a drug.

[@IconicProps]

Warren said 40% with no write offs or loop holes. What these guys hide behind is that their effective rate is 40% after the 5 million mark, but 30% until then etc (Not sure the number, im not in 7 figures). The point is, in cases with billionaires once they have gamed the system, most effective tax rates show to be around 12% (Romney) etc. And a flat tax, on everyone, wouldn't bring the average tax rate down to 15%, it would take everyone up to around 38%, which means for most people that want 'lower taxes' by making 'everyone pay the same rate'. You are asking for a tax hike. Which is counter to the lower taxes argument the trumpets seem to toot.

[@ramster-brb]

At least with a flat tax, there is no chance of any candidate promising a pie in the sky free college. Anything they promise, everybody will pay.

[@keithporter3798]

Iconic Props o

[@garrybarry4286]

2 of these guys are proof that shit floats.

[@thertis580]

Everything in this world is tricky. Here we have three accomplished men talking down to earth stuff. Members of CFR? Belong to those wealthy groups that are well known for shoehorning each up the ladder? And how about all the engineered recessions and wars where they get richer but workers starve or get killed; for doing a decent days work and raising a family?

[@martinwhalley3286]

Really I am the average Joe Voter and there is nothing i couldnt stand absolutely until trump gained control of our government.