Billionaire Shopify CEO thinks poor Canadians shouldn’t be able to vote

Controversial German-Canadian billionaire Tobias “Tobi” Lütke is under fire once again for online comments suggesting that people who don’t earn an income should not be eligible to vote in elections, and that high earners should have more electoral power than middle- and low-income voters.

The Ottawa-based founder and CEO of Shopify, one of the biggest companies in the country, commented on a post shared on X calling for a “weighted voting proportional to the level of income tax you pay,” saying it is a “good system.”

It was only a two-word response, but the blowback was swift and loud.

Idk, feels like it should be front-page news that the CEO of Canada’s largest non-banking company thinks that poor people shouldn’t be allowed to vote. https://t.co/Tzh2O4H6KC pic.twitter.com/OBlSO2MME5

— Nathaniel Arfin (@ArfinNathaniel) July 26, 2026

Lütke also made comments referring to politically engaged Toronto residents as “unemployed, Unemployable, and useful idiots,” which struck a nerve.

Forbes says Shopify generated nearly $9 billion in 2024 revenue and that Lütke owns 6 per cent of the e-commerce platform, which went public in 2015. According to reports, he took home $205.5 million just in 2024 alone, making him the highest-paid CEO in Canada. His net worth is estimated at about US$10.1 billion.

Exactly what just happened in Toronto.

Retired, Unemployed, Unemployable, and useful idiots are the only people who go to these town hall sessions. https://t.co/uzALEIrFo9

— tobi lutke (@tobi) July 25, 2026

There are few things that get working people in Toronto fired up faster than a billionaire suggesting they deserve less of a say in the exact society they helped build. Backlash was almost immediate because not everyone agrees that the one with the biggest bank account should also stand on the biggest soapbox.

I’m no billionaire myself — heck, I’m not much of a thousandaire — but I do know this: history has shown, time and time again, that wealth is not a reliable measure of empathy, wisdom or solid judgment.

Among the many people struggling to stomach Lütke’s comments, one individual didn’t hold back, calling him “the biggest douche” on X.

Wow, the head of Shopify is truly the biggest douche https://t.co/3M5JDLHvrm

— Bruce (@BrucewMitchell) July 26, 2026

The nice thing about democracy is that Lütke is entitled to his opinions, even if the majority of folks find it absolutely ridiculous.

Many familiar Toronto voices joined the conversation. Former radio personality Dean Blundell didn’t mince words, either, accusing Lütke of pushing an idea that may get his 7,000 employees dismissed.

The CEO of Shopify hates Toronto. Hates Canada despite being an immigrant to Canada and thinks elites should decide for everyone else.
He’s literally on a Twitter tirade that would get all of his employees fired. https://t.co/8xRF3ctDas

— Dean Blundell🇨🇦 (@ItsDeanBlundell) July 26, 2026

X users continued a feeding frenzy of this “eat the rich” sentiment, with users unloading their frustration over the idea that wealth should buy more political influence.

Tobi has over time shown a visceral contempt for people—especially those not of his class—existing in his space
If you want to know why Canada is sucking its because people like him are too influential in running it https://t.co/iUUOhXZDjq

— Back On This App and It’s Still Hell (@wickdchiq) July 26, 2026

Lütke is no stranger to controversy. In 2017, he faced backlash over Shopify hosting an online store for the far-right U.S. outlet Breitbart News. At the time, Lütke defended the decision, saying, “Products are speech, and we are pro-free speech.”

Whether you see Lütke’s recent comments as a provocative debate about democracy or otherwise, there’s no denying that telling people that their wealth should determine if their voice matters is bound to strike a nerve.