Portnoy on ‘Taylor Swift Tax’: Second Home Debate
- Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is taking aim at a proposed Rhode Island law that he's calling the "Taylor Swift tax." The measure targets luxury second homes adn...
- The proposed Rhode Island law would impose hefty annual fees on owners of luxury second homes valued at more than $1 million.
- Portnoy, a second-home owner himself in Nantucket, Mass., voiced his concerns about the potential ripple effect of the "Taylor Swift tax."
Dave Portnoy is firing back! Learn how the Barstool Sports founder is slamming Rhode Island’s proposed “Taylor Swift tax” aimed at luxury second homes. This new tax could cost the pop star $136,000 annually on her Westerly mansion, sparking debate over the tax’s impact. Portnoy, also a second-home owner, voices concern about the potential for copycat taxes in othre New England states, stirring up a heated discussion about property taxes and their effects. The article analyzes the proposed law and addresses the potential ripple effects. News Directory 3 provides an insightful look at this evolving story. Discover the implications for high-value property owners and the real estate market. Discover what’s next …
Portnoy Slams Rhode Island’s ‘Taylor Swift Tax’ on Luxury Homes
Updated June 23, 2025
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is taking aim at a proposed Rhode Island law that he’s calling the “Taylor Swift tax.” The measure targets luxury second homes adn could significantly impact property owners like the pop star.
The proposed Rhode Island law would impose hefty annual fees on owners of luxury second homes valued at more than $1 million. For someone like Swift, who owns a $17 million mansion in Westerly, the additional yearly taxes could reach $136,000 if the law is enacted.
Portnoy, a second-home owner himself in Nantucket, Mass., voiced his concerns about the potential ripple effect of the “Taylor Swift tax.”
“We don’t like that tax, Stuart,” Portnoy said during an interview. ”Now I don’t have any houses in rhode Island, but I got some pretty close to Rhode Island. So, I don’t like those states getting the ideas.”
Swift’s Rhode Island property is just one of seven homes she owns across the U.S., including residences in New York City, Beverly Hills, and Nashville.
Portnoy joked about the possibility of a similar tax being named after him in Massachusetts.”Now, I will say, if they name the tax in Massachusetts ‘the Dave Portnoy tax,’ my ego may let that slide,” he said. “That may be something where it’s like, I’ll pay a couple of hundred grand to have… ‘Oh, Dave has such big houses they named a tax after him.'”
What’s next
The Rhode Island legislature will continue to debate the proposed luxury home tax, with potential implications for high-value property owners and the state’s real estate market.