Here are the income tax brackets. For simplicity, I'll only include the Married Joint Filers.

Rate

10% $0 to $17,850
15% $17,850 to $72,500
25% $72,500 to $146,400
28% $146,400 to $223,050
33% $223,050 to $398,350
35% $398,350 to $450,000
39.6% $450,000 and up

Notice that people making $500,000 a year are taxed at the same rate of someone who makes 18 million a year or 5 billion a year.

Why should we tax people who make a million a year the exact same rate as someone who makes a billion a year?

I'll tell you why. Because by limiting the top rate at $450,000, it allows people who are running small to medium size businesses to be allied with the richest people in the country.

Yes, this was done this way on purpose.

He is really paying even more than he thinks.

The article estimates that he pays 60% of his income in taxes.  

Actually, he pays more since that is just state and fed INCOME tax.

He pays property tax.  He pays sales tax, in CA 10% of every purchase you make.

There are hidden taxes.  When you rent a car at the airport, there is a convenience fee of 20% if I recall.  It is really a tax paid to the government.

There are literally hundreds of other "fees" that used to be considered taxes but are now collected in a different manner, so Bill Maher doesn't even know how much he is paying.