Wilbur Ross is an American investor and businessman who served as U.S. commerce secretary from 2017 to 2021. He founded WL Ross & Co., an investment firm focused on restructuring businesses.
Case
Wilbur Ross, Hilary Geary Ross and Steve Wynn challenge New York's second-home surcharge. Mamdani and Hochul defend taxing wealthy owners to fund city services. The dispute concerns fairness and constitutional limits.
Role at the time: Investor, former U.S. commerce secretary and plaintiff
Statement summary
Wilbur Ross joins Hilary Geary Ross and Wynn in challenging the tax as discriminatory against nonresidents.
“This case arises out of Defendant’s attempt to enact and enforce a discriminatory property tax that falls exclusively on nonresidents of New York City, in violation of the state and federal constitutions.”
Seeking to invalidate the surcharge expresses rejection of the tax, not merely disagreement with a description of it.
Statement dates: September 28, 2026
Statement dates: September 28, 2026
Statement dates: September 28, 2026
