What makes someone pack up their life and move across the country? For Joe Rogan, the decision came fast, but the reasons were brewing long before the final goodbye. He lived in California for 25 years. That’s a lot of sunshine, traffic, and taxes. But in 2020, as the world shut down due to the pandemic, something snapped. Restaurants were shuttering, people were masked up, and the UFC color commentator looked east.
During the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) episode no. 2032, Rogan recalled, “Everything’s shut down, everything’s staying shut down.” And illustrated how the city that once pulsed with opportunity now felt strangled by its own rules. So, in 2020, he packed his bags. Where to? Texas. But five years later, Joe Rogan isn’t just reflecting on why he left—he’s pointing fingers at why so many others haven’t yet.
Joe Rogan drops a massive bombshell on why businesses can’t move out of California
On episode no. 2309 of the JRE with long-time friend and comedian, Joey Diaz, Joe Rogan claimed that there’s one key factor behind why it’s so hard for people and businesses to shift bases from California. The JRE host began by stating, “You know what it’s also, there are places that sort of rest on their laurels too much. And whenever that happens, it’s easy for another place to rise up that offers something more interesting.”
It’s a mic-drop moment. According to Rogan, the desire to flee California is widespread, but the escape plan? That’s where things get messy. He continued, “The only reason why they don’t move is coz it’s too difficult to move. If it was like every business could instantly pull up their roots and replace everything and have everything running in a week at the other place, they’d all be gone. They’d all be gone.”
So why do they stay? Rogan chalks it up to a brutal cost-benefit equation. Moving means millions lost in time, permits, logistics, and employee transitions.
According to him, “It’s too expensive to leave versus what you would save and the regulations that you wouldn’t have to go through and all the bull sh— with all the permits and all the…”
And he’s got a point. Reports by the US Census Bureau that track migration between states paint a worrying picture. California lost over 300,000 residents in both 2021 and 2022, and another 75,000 in 2023. Meanwhile, in 2023, Texas added almost half a million new people!
Joe Rogan wasn’t done just yet. He fired off with, “What California does is overregulate everything. They get as much government involved as possible, they suck as much tax money out of you as possible and then they still leave the place a mess. They still have homeless people everywhere, it’s still a f— disaster.”
That’s not just anger talking. That’s a man who once called LA home, watching it crumble from the inside out. So let’s ask the question: Why are Californians really fleeing?
Exploring the reasons why Rogan and others are choosing to leave California
While California’s economy has bounced back since the pandemic, there are two factors that seem to be driving the exodus. Taxes and the cost of living.
According to the ‘Tax Foundation’, California slaps a 13.3% top income tax on its highest earners. Texas and Florida? Zero. That’s not just a number—it’s a magnet pulling people away from the coast and into the heartland.
And then there’s the price tag on simply existing in the state. Want a home? Zillow reports that the average one costs a jaw-dropping $746,055. Now peek at Texas, a reasonable $298,127. Florida? Around $391,213.
So, what’s the final verdict? For Joe Rogan, it’s clear: California’s charm has faded under the weight of overregulation, skyrocketing taxes, and the ever-growing cost of living. While the state once represented opportunity and innovation, it’s now struggling to balance its promises with the realities of daily life.
As Rogan pointed out, the allure of tax-free states like Texas and Florida, combined with affordable living, is simply too hard to ignore. But the real question remains: Will California change its course, or will it continue to lose residents to places offering a more welcoming financial climate? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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