Musician Taylor Swift's billionaire status stands out among her financial peers from the business community who are often scrutinized for their extreme wealth. Swift became a self-made billionaire because of her unparalleled talent, relentless work ethic, and passionate support from millions of fans. If Swift's fortune stems from these factors, isn't it a desirable and inspiring outcome? Those who support this view would point to philosopher Robert Nozick, who argued that if someone acquires wealth through just means without violating other people's rights, they are entitled to the rewards of their labor. With her ability to write and perform songs that appeal to a broad audience, they contend, Swift is entitled to every penny she has earned. Philosophers with an opposing view, however, question whether any individual, including Swift, should be able to amass such fortunes. These philosophers tend to prioritize equality of outcomes versus equality of opportunity and consider every billionaire created a policy failure. Luck, privilege, and related factors often give certain individuals advantages over others, they argue and any system that permits vast wealth accumulation is not fair. Does Taylor Swift deserve her billion-dollar fortune?

Originally released by Open to Debate, 2024. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on June 06, 2024.