So, if you make $40 million dollars, 75% of the $39 million ($29.25 million) gets yanked by the French government?
no...
there are brackets just like in the US
http://www.french-property.com/news/tax_france/income_tax_rates_2012/Income tax rates and ThresholdsIncome Threshold Tax rateUp to €6,088 0%
Between €6,089 - €12,146 5,5%
Between €12,147 - €26,975 14%
Between €26,976 - €72,317 30%
Above €72,317 41%
Taxe Sur les Hauts Revenus (translates as "tax on high incomes"
Those with an annual income (including income from capital) of between €250,000 and €500,000 will pay an tax of 3% on income between this range, while those with an income above €500,000 will pay at the rate of 4% on any income above the threshold.
The tax is imposed on net income, after determination of the tax liability under the standard scale rates. As a result, its impact will be limited, estimated to affect only around 25,000 taxpayers and costing €400m.
France has a population of 65 MILLION... so 25000/65000000 = 0.038% of the population