Where have all the billionaires gone? Multiple billionaires have died this year, and what do they all have in common? They will avoid estate taxes in the United States this year, perhaps even if Congress tries to make the estate tax retroactive for 2010. The estate tax returns in 2011 with a rate that is higher than and an exemption amount that is lower than it has been in nearly a decade. George Steinbrenner's heirs have saved hundreds of millions of dollars in the untimely (or should I say timely?), death of Mr. Steinbrenner this year. Certainly other billionaires (and millionaires) will be choosing their health care proxies for end of life decisions very carefully this year.