The Numbers: Shocking Billionaire Wealth Gains During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Oxfam)

We speak to Oxfam’s Max Lawson, co-author of ‘The Inequality Virus’. He discusses how Coronavirus has accelerated skyrocketing wealth inequality around the world, the astronomical wealth billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk have made during the Coronavirus pandemic in contrast to hundreds of millions falling into poverty, a stark COVID-19 vaccine inequality between wealthier nations and poorer nations, solutions to alleviate this wealth inequality and much more!

We contacted Pfizer about the allegation made in this show and they said: “During the pandemic, instead of using a traditional cost-effectiveness approach, we are pricing in a way that can help governments ensure that there is little to no out-of-pocket costs for their populations. Broad access is important – speed, safety and availability are driving us. Our pricing strategy is based on volume, advance commitments, equity and affordability principles.

It is important to note that our COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing costs have been entirely self-funded, and we have already invested billions of dollars (and are prepared to continue bearing the costs of all development and manufacturing scape-up costs) in an effort to find a solution to this pandemic.”

We contacted Jeff Bezos about the allegations and the UK PR Head at Amazon told us: “Since the start of last year, Amazon has created nearly half a million jobs with starting pay that’s twice the U.S. federal minimum, industry-leading benefits that start on the first day of work, and excellent opportunities for career growth, all while working in a safe, modern work environment. Our total spend on special bonuses and pay incentives for hourly employees was over $2.5 billion in 2020.”