• Apple previewed new software for the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro at WWDC 2026.
• The star of the show was the new AI-powered Siri chatbot, part of Apple's new Apple Intelligence features.
• The keynote marked Tim Cook's final WWDC as Apple CEO.

Apple's AI era is taking shape.

On Monday, the iPhone maker held its Worldwide Developers Conference — the annual event that offers developers, customers, and investors a road map for the company's future product vision.

This year's conference previewed software coming next to the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. The keynote also carried extra weight as Tim Cook's final time hosting WWDC as CEO.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Apple's presentation.

Everything is AI, AI, AI

If there was one phrase the company wanted people to remember from WWDC 2026, it was Apple Intelligence, its very Apple-y branding for its suite of AI features.

Apple said its new AI software, which has undergone a broad overhaul, is being threaded through every product — including its phone-based digital assistant Siri and the Vision Pro wearable.

Siri, in particular, is getting an AI glow-up (more on that below). Safari will be able to organize tabs by topic, monitor webpages for updates, and create custom extensions from a natural-language prompt. Messages, Mail, Calendar, Phone, Home, and Shortcuts are all getting new AI-powered features that will help users do tasks faster.

"We believe that truly helpful AI must be centered around you and your needs," Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, said.

Own an older iPhone? Good news…

Apple says iOS 27 is designed to make some aging devices feel more responsive.

Stacey Ford, Apple's vice president of operating systems program management, said the company is bringing an optimized CPU scheduler to older mobile devices, going all the way back to the iPhone 11. The system helps manage how the phone allocates computing power as users juggle different tasks throughout the day.

Ford said the software update's inclusion of older phones makes it "available to more users than any iOS update, ever."

Siri gets the chatbot treatment — and its own app

Siri is getting a much-needed makeover — and it's largely powered by AI.

"We know there are times when you expect more from Siri," Mike Rockwell, Apple's VP of Siri engineering, said. "Siri is now a profoundly more capable assistant that helps you find what you need and gets more done."

Siri's software will make the assistant more conversational and better able to handle multi-step requests, even in third-party apps. The new AI-enhanced Siri can answer follow-up questions, pull from personal context located on the device, understand what's on your active screen, and take actions across apps — like finding photos from a trip and adding them to a shared album.

Apple is also giving Siri AI its own app, where users can revisit past conversations across devices.

Apple leans further into altering your photos with AI

Apple wants to be an iPhone user's photographic editor. The photo app has three new tools to help.

Photos is getting an upgraded Clean Up tool, which removes distractions even in busy images; Extend, which can generate more images around the original frame; and Spatial Reframing, which lets users shift the perspective as if they had moved the camera before taking the shot.

Apple says the tools are meant to improve composition, not rewrite reality.

"At Apple, we have a deep respect for the craft of photography," Alok Deshpande, Apple's director of photo and camera software engineering, said. "Our goal for bringing AI into the Photos app is to help photographers enhance their images in ways that respect the original moment."

Sorry, Apple fans in China and the European Union — you'l have to wait

After laying out all the benefits of Siri AI, Federighi shared the catch: users in the EU and China will find their access restricted.

Apple cited the Digital Markets Act for the restriction, and said that it had spent "several months" proposing solutions that EU regulators have rejected. Users in the EU will be able to use Siri AI on their Macs, but not on their phones or watches.

"We're working hard to find a path forward that preserves our users' privacy and security," Federighi said.

After riding high for much of WWDC, Apple's stock sank following the announcement.

Parents: Your oversight powers are leveling up

Apple is expanding its protections for child accounts, introducing restrictions on how long your child can use their device and what they can see.

Parents can now instruct their child to request website access before browsing, or to request to text someone before messaging. They can also set time allowances for apps and restrict access during certain times of day, such as school hours.

For those wanting an immediate shutdown, parents now have a "pause device" button.

"For those under the age of 13, access to personal devices should be limited and expanded when a child is ready," said Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple's VP of Health. "As parents, we want our kids to develop healthy digital habits."

Hate Apple's Liquid Glass design theme? There's now a slider for that

Last year's WWDC brought a new "Liquid Glass" interface to Apple's screens. Not everyone loved it.

After rolling out the glossy design language last year, Apple said it is making tweaks to improve readability and make apps feel more structured.

While the company isn't letting users fully get rid of the fresh look, a new settings slider lets users adjust Liquid Glass from ultra clear to fully tinted.

Tim Cook reflected on his final WWDC as CEO

This is Cook's final WWDC as Apple's top boss. He'll make way for John Ternus to take over as Apple's CEO in September.

Cook ended the conference with a "personal note" about his career at the company.

"Some of the greatest highlights of my time as CEO have been events like this," he said. "I truly believe that the best is still ahead."

Cook said that his work at Apple has been the "honor of a lifetime."

After a dominant first two games on the road, the New York Knicks return home to take on the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. We've gathered everything you need to know about where to watch the NBA Finals, including worldwide live streaming info, a series schedule, and more.

If you don't want to scroll anymore, we've got you covered. You can live stream all NBA Finals games on ABC via ESPN Unlimited or a live TV service in the US, Prime Video in the UK, and the NBA League Pass in most other countries around the world. Keep reading to learn more about global streaming options, so you can make sure you're able to tune in no matter where you are.

Where to watch the NBA Finals in the US

Game 3 of the NBA Finals, along with all other games in the series, will air on ABC in the United States. The game is scheduled to tip off on Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET, but ABC's coverage will begin at 8. If you have cable or an antenna, there's a pretty good chance you'll be able to get the network, but cord-cutters will need a streaming option to access the game.

ESPN Unlimited is ABC's direct sports streaming counterpart. The service costs $30 a month and unlocks full access to all of ESPN's linear channels, along with ESPN on ABC events and exclusive streaming-only ESPN Plus content.

If you're interested in checking out a service with other channels beyond those found in the ESPN family (or you'd like an app with a free trial), one of the best live TV streaming services we've evaluated might be of interest. Our top ABC-friendly options are DirecTV and Fubo.

DirecTV's MySports package is a one-stop shop for sports fans. The plan carries around 20 popular sports channels, like ABC, and unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited. Subscriptions cost $65 a month, but new users can get $15 a month off their first two months after a five-day free trial.

Fubo's Sports + News package is another popular sports-focused option with ABC. Subscriptions cost $56 a month, but new customers can get $10 off their first month after a five-day free trial.

How to watch the NBA Finals from anywhere

It's good news for NBA fans outside the United States. Live streams of the NBA Finals are pretty accessible around the world, especially this year. Notably, Prime Video will live stream the Finals in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and several other countries. Subscription prices vary by country, but Prime Video often has a free trial for new users. Fans can also live stream the NBA Finals through the NBA League Pass in most regions outside the US and Canada. Subscription prices vary by region.

If you find yourself traveling through an area where you're unable to access your usual streaming options, you can still keep up with them with the aid of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are easy-to-use tech tools that allow people to temporarily change their virtual locations. Virtual private networks are also handy ways to upgrade cybersecurity and online privacy, even from home. The services we've recommended today require country-specific payment methods, so this option will work best for those who are simply traveling abroad right now.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs we've tested. It's fast, user-friendly (even for beginners), and has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for. Thanks to a special NordVPN deal, you can use our exclusive code INSIDER for extra savings on one and two-year plans (until June 9).

Where does Game 3 of the NBA Finals take place?

After two games in San Antonio, the Knicks vs. Spurs series heads to Madison Square Garden in New York. Game 4 will also take place at MSG. If the NBA Finals extend to Game 5, the series will head back to San Antonio. Potential Games 6 and 7 would take place in New York and San Antonio, respectively.

Which famous people are attending the NBA Finals?

The NBA Finals have been a star-studded affair so far. Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, and Tracy Morgan (all frequent fixtures at Knicks games) have been some of the most famous people spotted at the NBA Finals so far. President Donald Trump has also announced his plans to attend Game 3.

Who won the first two games of the NBA Finals?

The New York Knicks won the first two games of the NBA Finals, despite San Antonio's home-court advantage. The Knicks won Game 1 105-95, but Game 2 was much tighter. The Spurs almost clawed their way back in the fourth quarter, but the Knicks ultimately pulled off a 105-104 win.

Who is favored to win Spurs vs. Knicks?

The New York Knicks are currently the favorites to win both Game 3 and the overall NBA Finals. Ahead of Game 3 (at the time of writing), DraftKings has the Knicks as 1.5-point favorites and -130 on the moneyline, while the Spurs are the +110 underdogs.

NBA Finals schedule

• Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 2 on Friday, June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 3 on Monday, June 8 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 5 on Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 6 on Tuesday, June 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 7 on Friday, June 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET

Note: VPN use is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content may constitute a breach of the terms of use for some services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

• OpenAI announced it has filed its confidential S-1 to go public.
• The draft brings Sam Altman's company a step closer to a huge IPO and the public markets.
• OpenAI's post said the company has not yet decided on the timing of the IPO.

OpenAI has filed its confidential S-1, the first official step toward a blockbuster IPO.

The ChatGPT developer announced the filing on Monday in a short, blunt blog post. The confidential S-1 draft gives the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission time to review OpenAI's plans for an eventual public listing — though the post made it sound like that could be a ways out.

"We expect it to leak so we're just announcing it," OpenAI's post said. "We have not decided on timing yet; it may be a while because there are things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company."

It continued: "But it's a complicated set of tradeoffs and this gives us the option to go public sooner if that ends up being best."

OpenAI's confidential S-1 announcement arrives exactly a week after Anthropic's filing, part of a long-running rivalry between the two frontier AI labs. Each of the IPOs is expected to value its company at more than $1 trillion, 10 times Facebook's valuation at its landmark 2012 public listing.

OpenAI's last funding round in March valued the company at $852 billion. Anthropic's last round, raised in May, placed its valuation at $965 billion.

Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, downplayed the idea that the rivals are racing to IPO first after Anthropic's filing on June 1.

"I think there is a race to deliver the best technology and build the best business," Altman said on CNBC. "But, you know, going public is a financing event, and I don't think that's one that we're focused on the timing of. We'll do it when we think it makes sense."

Confidential S-1 documents typically arrive about 6 to 9 months before a company goes public, though the timeline varies.

An OpenAI IPO would cap off one of the most frenzied eras in tech history. Since the company released ChatGPT in 2022, trillions of dollars of investment have poured into AI-focused software and physical infrastructure. Altman is now one of America's most famous businessmen, the face of a powerful but divisive technology.

An IPO would bring liquidity to employees and raise billions of dollars in funding for OpenAI's compute buildout, but it would also entail risks. The company would have to publicly disclose its revenue, expenses, and profits for the first time and, after the listing, face the day-to-day whims of the stock market.

Further complicating OpenAI's IPO, the company is in discussions with the Trump Administration about the government taking a stake in the company.

OpenAI did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at scouncil@insider.com, or over text, Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at 415-757-8198. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Apple detailed its long-delayed overhaul to Siri at WWDC 2026.
• The tech giant's AI assistant is set to finally get AI-powered capabilities, some of which were initially teased in 2024.
• Apple announced a deal with Google in January to have Gemini power Siri's AI.

Siri's full-fledged AI moment is finally here.

On Monday, Apple unveiled its long-awaited, much-delayed overhaul of Siri as it looks to catch up in the AI race.

"Today, we are introducing an entirely new version of Siri, Siri unlocked by Apple Intelligence," said Mike Rockwell, VP of engineering, said during the company's 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference. "We call it Siri AI."

The new Siri AI will exist within Apple's software ecosystem but also as a standalone app. Siri AI will launch in beta later this year, but it will not launch in the European Union or China initially.

The underlying architecture of the new Siri is the result of Apple's partnership earlier this year with Google. The new features will launch in English with other languages to come.

Rockwell showed Siri using a variety of AI-powered capabilities, including the ability to find previously sent addresses, photos from particular locations, and more, "using your personal context." In one example, Rockwell showed how Siri could find specific photos he needed and share them with a group without ever opening the Photos app.

Siri will have a brand new voice experience "that enables Siri to sound incredible and a lot more expressive." Rockwell said users can also customize how expressive they want Siri to be. Along with voice improvements, Rockwell said Siri is also getting a dictation improvement "with a major boost in accuracy."

The Siri updates were just one part of the bevy of AI-enabled features Apple plans to roll out as part of its overhaul of Apple Intelligence, including the ability for iPhone to gather context during calls, reposition the framing of photos after they've been taken, and recognize faces with home cameras. Apple said some of the new AI features will have daily usage updates.

After encountering product development delays, Apple reached a deal in January with Google to have Gemini power Siri's artificial intelligence capabilities.

Federighi detailed the company's "deep collaboration" with Google.

"Together, we created the next generation of Apple Intelligence models," Federighi said during the WWDC livestream.

In a statement, Apple said the Siri AI launch delay in the EU was due to disputes with European regulators over how the landmark Digital Markets Act applies to Apple's AI capabilities.

For everyone else, Apple said the latest Apple Intelligence features and Siri AI in iOS 27 will be available on iPhone Pro 15 and later models, and iPhone 16 and later models. (A full list of the other devices that will be capable of using the AI features is here.)

The most advanced AI features, including Apple's most powerful on-device AI model, will only be available on the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and later models. Among the most powerful features will be Siri's new voice update and enhanced dictation abilities.

Siri troubles lead to embarrassing delays

If some of this sounds familiar, that's because much of it is.

In 2024, Apple announced a massive update to Siri, promising a more "natural" and "personal" assistant powered by Apple Intelligence. But then it ran into development issues.

By March 2025, Apple made the exceedingly rare move to announce that the Siri revamp was delayed.

That complicated Apple's marketing efforts. Apple also pulled down a September 2024 ad featuring "The Last of Us" star Bella Ramsey that featured Ramsey using Siri's AI to pull information from the calendar app to remember someone's name.

Last month, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of misleading customers about the availability of AI-enhanced features.

Tim Cook reflects on his last WWDC as CEO

This is Cook's final WWDC as CEO, marking one of his last opportunities to close the chapter on Apple's AI setbacks. Apple's hardware boss John Ternus will take the helm as CEO starting on September 1.

Before the keynote presentation closed, Cook reflected on his time leading Apple.

"On a personal note, some of the greatest highlights of my time as CEO have been events like this," Cook said.

"Sharing powerful new tools with all of you and then seeing what you create with them has been a constant reminder that imagination has no limits," he said. "Over the years, you have helped people connect, create, learn, and experience the world in extraordinary new ways."

• Apple said it will bring a major efficiency feature to older iPhones.
• Models as old as the iPhone 11 will receive an update later this year with iOS 27 to better manage CPU use.
• Apple said the changes "will make older iPhones feel even more responsive."

Apple wants older iPhones to run better.

That's why on Monday, Apple announced that one of its major efficiency improvements will be coming to iPhones as old as the iPhone 11 lineup.

When iOS 27 arrives this fall, older iPhones will have access to an advanced CPU scheduler, a system already available on newer models that helps manage a phone's workload.

Stacey Ford, Apple's vice president of OS program management, said the addition "will make older iPhones feel even more responsive."

"Even when you're doing a ton of things at once requiring a whole lot of compute, the CPU scheduler ensures the right work is executed at precisely the right time," Ford said.

As part of the news, Apple also confirmed that the forthcoming iOS 27 will be available on the iPhone 11, which was first released in September 2019.

"This continues our industry-leading support and means iOS 27 is available to more users than any iOS release ever," Ford said.

A number of Apple-focused accounts on social media celebrated the news while also lamenting that many owners of older Apple Watch models would be left out for watchOS 27, such as the Apple Watch Series 9, first sold in 2023.

Google's Pixel 4 and 4 XL, and Samsung's Galaxy S10, as noted by Android Authority, both released around the same time as the iPhone 11, received just 3 years of platform updates. With Monday's news, the iPhone 11 is set to receive seven years of major updates.

That doesn't mean older iPhones will get all the bells and whistles of the new iOS, especially the revamped Siri, which finally brings more robust AI-enabled features to Apple's virtual assistant.

Apple said that to access those improvements, customers will need an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or an iPhone 16 or later. And to take advantage of the most advanced Apple Intelligence features, including a new Siri voice experience, an iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, or later models will be required.

• Tools for Humanity, a startup co-founded by Sam Altman, is laying off employees.
• The company has struggled to show how its eye-scanning "Orb" can generate revenue.
• It's unclear how many employees would be affected by the layoffs.

Tools for Humanity, the eyeball-scanning startup co-founded by Sam Altman, is laying off employees, according to an internal email viewed by Business Insider.

The company has struggled to show how its iris-scanning "Orb" can generate revenue and win over regulators, despite a $2.5 billion valuation and millions of sign-ups. Investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Bain Capital, and Khosla Ventures have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the venture, according to PitchBook.

"As we enter the next step of our company strategy and operating priorities, we have made the hard decision to make changes to some roles and teams across the company," Tools for Humanity said in the email, which was sent to staffers Monday from the people team. The company will share details on its strategy and next steps in a town hall meeting on Tuesday, the email said.

It's unclear how many employees would be affected by the layoffs. Tools for Humanity employs more than 500 people, according to its website. The company didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tools for Humanity was founded on the idea of using iris scans to prove a person is human and not an AI bot. The startup's Orb—a shiny, volleyball-sized sphere—scans irises to generate a digital ID. People who participate can receive tokens of Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency distributed by the Cayman Island-based World Foundation.

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• Upcoming IPOs for companies like SpaceX and Anthropic have some retirees worried.
• Experts overall agree that these IPOs may have limited immediate impact on 401(k)s.
• The Nasdaq 100 and Russell 1000 are expected to include SpaceX relatively soon after going public.

Retirees may have questions about huge, soon-to-be public companies like SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI coming to their retirement accounts. But despite all the attention these initial public offerings are getting, the first lesson for most people with retirement accounts and index funds is simple: these new stocks are unlikely to make a big, immediate difference in their retirement accounts.

That's because most retirement accounts are built around mutual funds and ETFs that track broad indexes, and those indexes don't usually snap up a new company at its full market value the moment it goes public. Instead, they often rely on "free float" — the shares actually available to public investors — and weight new stocks gradually.

"IPOs don't meaningfully move retirement portfolios right away," said Rodney Comegys, chief information officer and head of global equity at Vanguard Capital Management. "Due to float-adjusted indexing, even mega IPOs will enter broad indexes at very small weights, so the near-term impact on 401(k)s is limited."

The Nasdaq 100 and Russell 1000 are expected to include these giants relatively soon after they go public. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has reportedly pushed indexes to allow SpaceX to trade within days, anticipating a strong performance. The S&P 500 is a holdout, blocking SpaceX for at least 12 months after declining to amend proposed rule changes that would have sped its entry to the benchmark index.

Some prominent financial experts have called SpaceX's targeted valuation of $1.8 trillion too high. Morningstar valued the aerospace manufacturer at $780 billion, citing revenue gaps and AI risks, while "Dean of Valuation" and NYU professor Aswath Damodaran put it at $1.3 trillion.

For holders of retirement funds that will soon allow SpaceX to begin trading, this uncertainty could mean greater risk and volatility.

Some financial advisors told Business Insider that retirees often don't know what's in their 401(k)s and are thus unlikely to reduce their tech exposure. Still, the consensus is not to worry much in the short term, especially since the number of shares available to the public will be limited at first until more stock is sold.

U.S. households aged 65 or older made up the largest age cohort with zero retirement savings, as of the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, meaning these IPOs will affect many older Americans the least.

Of course, many of these funds counter big moves in large-cap companies via diversification, holding stable assets like bonds to offset big swings in the stock market.

Mikel Van Cleve, advice director of retirement and complex planning at USAA, told Business Insider that while diversification retains the strength of index investing, portfolio exposures shift over time, which may prompt investors to adjust their risk tolerance.

"From a behavioral finance standpoint, the challenge is that many investors associate index funds with being broadly diversified and inherently conservative, without always recognizing how index composition can evolve over time," Van Cleve said. "During periods of excitement around AI and innovation, that can contribute to overconfidence and elevated return expectations, while periods of volatility can trigger fear-based reactions or reactive decision-making."

Marcus Sturdivant Sr., of The ABC Squared, a Registered Investment Advisory firm, told Business Insider that retirees may be shielded from the impact of having SpaceX in their 401(k)s because the stock won't be included in the S&P 500.

"I think if it had been included in [the index], retirees would have been screwed," he said. "But there are going to be plenty of retirees who actually want this stock in spite of the 95 to 100 times earnings, just because they know Tesla. I can definitely see retirees not particularly minding.

More specifically, he thinks those with years before retirement may not mind SpaceX exposure, but those who plan on cashing in their 401(k)s soon will likely be more worried about short-term volatility.

"If you're about to retire, you probably don't want it there, but if you've got the horizon, it's fine," he added.

Are you buying SpaceX stock? Are you an older American with thoughts about how upcoming IPOs may impact your portfolio? Reach out to this reporter at nsheidlower@businessinsider.com.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sandy Yawn, a superyacht captain who leads yacht crews on Bravo's "Below Deck Mediterranean." For the premiere of the show's eleventh season, she walked us through a day in her life at sea. The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

I started my yachting career young and worked my way up. Along the way, I worked for some extraordinary owners who taught me a lot about being a leader.

I remember once working for this one owner and hearing him on the phone in his office. He was dealing with his boat and he goes, "I don't know, take 15 minutes and educate me." And I thought, "He doesn't know! Wow, I don't have to know everything." That was a big learning for me.

As the captain and leader on board, my biggest challenge is keeping consistency with the crew. No owner or client wants to go through different crew for repeat charters. It's like "Cheers" — you always go back to where people know who you are, right? They know your preferences, how you like your tea or how you take your coffee. We have logs where we keep tabs on our repeat clients.

My superpower is that I'm good at leading crew so they come back. I don't lead with fear and I don't lead with intimidation. I lead like a puppy: If you've got a puppy and you want to teach them how to swim, you go swimming. The puppy's going to watch you on the steps. Next thing you know, they're going to crawl in that water and start swimming with you.

Here's what a typical day in my life at sea looks like.

I'm on deck at 7 a.m. and work out every day

As far as my routine on board, I'm on deck at 7 a.m. and I'm there until the last person goes to bed. I try to get a rest period in the middle. We're required to have eight hours of rest in a 24-hour period — that's maritime law — but how we choose to use our rest time is up to us.

I'm a creature of habit. I like a good coffee in the morning. I'm not a morning eater, so I usually don't eat in the morning until about 10 or 11 a.m., but I'll have fresh orange juice. When I'm home in Florida, I'll squeeze fresh orange juice every day.

I try to eat well, but filming this season of "Below Deck Mediterranean," I ate a lot of croissants. I was there a week before filming started, and man, did I put some weight on. Thankfully, we had a gym in our house.

I'm a gym person. I like going where people are. At home, we have two SoulCycle bikes and a gym. I've been working out every day because, the older you get, the harder it is to stay fit.

My routine and leadership style is influenced by my sobriety

I'm sober. I have the magic of the 12 steps, which to me is life-changing, and I go to meetings.

In the morning, I'll read a meditation, and then I hit my knees and I ask for help for the day and ask to be a good human being and not selfish. And then I start my day.

At the end of my day, I review my day, because that's part of the 12 steps, too: Have I hurt anyone? Do I owe an amends? It's the maintenance part of recovery.

I'll never forget, once, I had a phone call in my cabin with the boat's owner. It was about money, the budget — I'd gone over. I come out, and my first officer asks me a question. I bit his head off.

I looked at his face, and he went from happy to sad, and I was like, "Oh my God, I love this guy. He's such a great guy. I don't want to make him sad." So I said, "Rob, you didn't deserve that. I'm sorry."

Promptly admitting when you've made a mistake and saying you're sorry, that's the 10th step. Even on "Below Deck," even with the crew, if I say something that hurts someone's feelings or I'm not thinking, I'll apologize.

Yachting keeps me away from home, but not as much as it used to

The maritime industry has evolved since I started. Before, when we worked, people didn't see me for a long time.

I wasn't there when my mom died. I wasn't in her life for two years. I'd talk to her, but I hadn't seen her. That was terrible, and I was like, "Something has to change."

The industry has changed since then. Now, you get these rotations on these bigger boats. Some crew may get four months or five months on, five months off.

For me, in between "Below Deck," I'll run a few boats. It isn't like charters, because to run a charter, the owner wants to hire you. And I'm like, "I've got to go do this TV show, sorry!"

Filming 'Below Deck' is a whirlwind, and I arrive early to adjust. At the end, my wife visits me.

Filming "Below Deck" is a lot more intense than a typical yacht season. We are in it until it's done.

When you're chartering, you usually have more time in between charters, so you get a longer break to recharge your batteries. Here, you're back-to-back.

But listen, I've done back-to-back charters and 24-hour turnarounds in my career, too.

When I'm filming "Below Deck," my wife Leah comes out to see me at the end.

Filming is six weeks, and I'm gone for eight weeks. I go early to adjust to the time zone. I'm taking on a boat for the first time, with a whole new crew — I need at least four days to prepare.

I prefer in-person and phone conversations to emails and texts

Being on deck is about speaking clearly. We learn in maritime school how to project our voices. We have to be crisp in our communication. Our enunciation and pronunciation have to be spot-on. We practice in a classroom how to talk on a radio and ask for help.

If you're talking softly, people are not going to listen. If you're talking too harshly, they're not going to listen. But if you talk in a way that's inviting and invigorating and direct, they're going to listen because it's almost like a respect of that. So your voice is everything. Your voice is your power.

I always say to my friend who runs a charity and works a lot on email, "Pick the phone up." You've got to have conversations.

If I start seeing more than two, three, or four texts going back and forth, I pick the phone up. Otherwise, it gets escalated in your mind. You might think the tone's different.

At home and off-charter, I like traveling and seeing live music with my wife

Recently, I said to Leah, "We're not having fun. We work too much. We're working all the time." I'm like, "I want to see some live music, take some dance lessons with you. " So we'll do something.

I grew up with Southern rock and roll, but I like pop music. I like all of it. My playlist is very mixed.

I've got friends all over the place, and we'll travel to really nice places. I'm an experiences person. I want some nice clothes, of course, but I would rather spend money on experiences. So we'll go to the Monaco Boat Show. We're going to the Hamptons for a week, then we're going to go to Newport, and then we're going to finish in Boston.

Leah and I have fun together. We laugh all the time. At home, our desks face each other in our office. We collaborate, we talk, and we have a whiteboard in there with all the things I have to do.

I'm the organized one in the family, and Leah's the creative one. I'm very organized because I work on a boat. You have to know which manual to grab when you're in trouble.

Season 11 of Below Deck Mediterranean premieres at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo.

Madewell has become a favorite for shoppers looking to build a wardrobe around versatile, easy-to-wear staples. While the brand is still best known for its denim, its lineup also includes relaxed tees, button-down shirts, dresses, leather bags, and other everyday essentials that strike a balance between casual and polished.

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You can find a full list of current markdowns on Madewell's sale pages at any time.

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How to use Madewell coupon codes

Start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart. From the "Shopping Bag" page, apply a coupon by clicking the "Add a promo code" dropdown, pasting a code into the text box, and clicking "Apply." Once the coupon is added, continue to checkout to enter your shipping and billing information.

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• I took my first adults-only cruise in August 2023 with the luxury cruise line Virgin Voyages.
• The ship was full of surprises, including a tattoo parlor and a playground for grown-ups.
• The biggest surprise of my adults-only cruise was that it made me feel like a kid again.

After my first cruise in 2022, I didn't think the vacation style was for me.

My inaugural sailing aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas felt like Kid Central. From the waterslides and splash pads to the carousel and escape room, many of the ship's activities and amenities were geared toward children.

While more experienced cruisers might be able to tune them out, I found it tough to relax with kids running around screaming on the pool deck. By the end of the trip, I was ready to give up cruising altogether.

Then, I heard about Virgin Voyages, a luxury, adults-only cruise line that first set sail in 2021. I thought sailing on an upscale ship free of children might change my mind about cruising, so I booked a seven-night Mediterranean cruise in August 2023 on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship. I stayed in a cabin with a balcony. The starting rate was $5,910, though Business Insider received a media rate for the weeklong cruise.

My second cruise was far better than my first. I sailed in peaceful luxury from Spain to Italy and France, and the ship was full of surprises.

The first thing that struck me was the ship's unique and alluring aesthetic.

The ship was more stylish than I could have imagined. Multicolored lighting, iridescent panels paired with bold artwork, and modern furniture gave it a futuristic and glamorous feel. Pops of Virgin's signature bright red dotted the decks, from furniture to accent pieces.

Colorful glows, from pink and purple to blue and green, lit the decks and elevators. I felt as if I were surrounded by rainbows. Simply wandering the ship renewed my sense of childlike wonder, yet no kids were in sight.

My cabin felt more spacious than I thought it would.

I was prepared for my 225-square-foot cabin to feel at least a bit cramped, especially since I traveled with a friend. So I was surprised when multipurpose furniture and clever storage hacks left us both with enough floor space to stretch and move around.

The queen-size bed transformed into a couch during the day, an ottoman was tucked underneath the desk instead of a chair, and the nightstand was thin and light, making it easy to move out of the way when not in use. A large wall mirror facing the balcony made the space feel bigger and brighter.

The balcony had a side table, two chairs, and a big, netted hammock. Three years later, I still reminisce about how peaceful I felt curled up in that hammock in the middle of the sea.

I didn't expect to find a playground on a ship for grown-ups.

The last thing I expected to find on an adults-only cruise ship was a playground. But it wasn't just any playground — everything was jumbo-sized, from the seesaws to the swings. It was clearly built for grown-ups.

The cruise ship playground was filled with fun activities, including a human-sized chess set, a boxing ring, and gymnastics equipment. Nearby, a net suspended above an ocean view made me feel like I was on a catamaran.

If there had been children around, I wouldn't have felt comfortable taking up space on this playground. I remember feeling weird as the only adult in a round of laser tag during my first cruise. But on this kid-free ship, I felt free to enjoy these activities surrounded by only adults.

Going on the swings and playing competitive games made me feel like a kid again. Simply playing refreshed my state of mind in a way I didn't expect, and I think all adults could use it on vacation.

There was no shortage of play indoors, either.

When I wanted to beat the heat, I headed inside on deck seven, where I found a retro-style arcade and a game room full of board games, puzzles, decks of cards, and large tables to play on.

The board game selection was nostalgic — I spotted childhood favorites like Mouse Trap, Candyland, and Cranium.

I never thought I'd see a tattoo parlor on a cruise ship.

While wandering the indoor shopping strip on deck six, I was surprised when I spotted a tattoo shop called Squid Ink. Virgin Voyages says it's the first cruise line to offer tattooing on board. According to Cruise Gear, tattoo pricing starts at about $150.

I love getting tattooed, so seeing the shop excited me, but I resisted the urge to get one on this trip.

With so many high-end restaurants on board, I was surprised that none of the food cost extra.

On my first cruise on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, a lot of the food on the ship was included in the ticket price, but specialty restaurants incurred an additional price. Many cruise lines operate this way, so I was surprised to learn that none of the food on my Virgin Voyages cruise cost extra.

The all-inclusive dining was especially shocking, given the upscale restaurants offering everything from fresh pasta and Mediterranean seafood to sushi and steak. I felt like a queen as I indulged in the opportunity to forget about finances while dining.

I expected to see a lot of day drinkers on board, but the communal decks were calm during the day.

On my first cruise, I spotted many people drinking and partying throughout the day, so I expected to see even more of that on an adults-only cruise. But the communal decks were surprisingly calm when the sun was up. It was easy to relax by the pools — one had music playing, while the other was quiet.

I talked to a bartender about my differing experiences, and they said Mediterranean cruisers tended to be less interested in partying than Caribbean cruisers.

The last thing I expected from my adults-only cruise was to feel like a kid again. And that was the best surprise of all.

On a luxury ship without kids, I expected to enjoy my adults-only cruise more than my first cruise. But I didn't expect the Virgin Voyages cruise to make me feel like a child myself.

Playing for hours surrounded by rainbows and eating whatever I wanted without thinking about money allowed me to let loose in a way I hadn't in over a decade.

I would definitely cruise with Virgin Voyages again, and maybe next time, I'll get some fresh ink.

• Grocery shopping has changed dramatically over the last century.
• Supermarkets first started emerging in the 1920s, forever altering how people shop for food.
• Photos show the shift from small stores to supermarkets in the US.

For most Americans who don't use Instacart, grocery shopping today probably doesn't look all that different from their childhoods — they may mourn the discontinued Dino Pebbles cereal or be grateful for the option to self-checkout, but the fundamentals aren't all that different.

Go back over 100 years, though, and many familiar features wouldn't be found. Many US city-dwellers relied on markets, peddlers, and small shops to get most of their goods. If they did visit a grocery store, a clerk would wait on them, selecting each item from a shelf or back room.

Throughout the 1920s and '30s, food shopping started to change. Larger grocery stores started popping up around the country. At these new supermarkets, customers would pick out their own groceries, place them in their shopping cart, and haul them out to the parking lot. A decade earlier, all of that would have been unheard of.

Photos show how the US transitioned from small grocery stores to massive supermarkets.

Before grocery stores, US families went to a variety of shops to buy food.

Purchased food, as opposed to home-grown or homemade, was an increasing part of Americans' diet, especially for those who lived in cities during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Stocking up on groceries "was — and was understood to be — difficult, time-consuming, and important work," historian Tracey Deutsch wrote in "Building a Housewife's Paradise: Gender, Politics, and American Grocery Stores in the Twentieth Century."

Shoppers, often women, had to haggle over price. Availability could be inconsistent, so a seller might run out of a necessary ingredient, making meal planning difficult. Traipsing from one store to another could take up a substantial part of the day.

Differences in race, ethnicity, and language among shoppers and sellers could add difficulty or friction to these tasks as well.

Early grocery stores relied on clerks to give shoppers personal attention.

In the 1920s, grocery stores were tiny hubs of local activity. They were typically around 500 square feet, the size of some present-day apartments.

Most products were behind counters or in storerooms, and clerks would fetch the items and tell the customer the price. Shoppers had to trust that they were getting quality goods and a fair deal.

These stores usually operated on credit. Customers could put purchases on their tab and settle their accounts when their wages came in.

Shoppers might still need to buy produce and meat from separate shops or peddlers because grocery stores didn't offer them.

Chain stores started growing in the 1910s and '20s.

Unlike small, independent stores, chains could buy large quantities of goods at lower prices, passing the savings on to customers. This was especially attractive during the inflationary period that followed World War I, when potatoes cost 147% more in 1923 than they had a decade earlier.

Since smaller grocery stores often didn't list their prices, chain stores seemed to offer more transparency. Some contemporary estimates found chains selling branded items for roughly 9% and 11.5% less than independent retailers.

Opening economy stores helped A&P achieve explosive growth.

One of the first grocery chains in the US began as Gilman & Company in the 1850s and later became the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P. After the Chicago Fire in 1871, the company expanded outside of New York. Five years later, it had 100 stores.

By the 1930s, over 15,000 A&Ps were located throughout the country, making it the US' largest grocery store chain.

One reason the company was able to expand so quickly was the introduction of its cash-and-carry economy stores in 1912. Instead of customers buying items on credit, they paid right away. Free delivery wasn't offered at these stores, and they all had the same products and layouts. Most of the products were canned or shelf-stable, like flour, but small iceboxes held perishables including butter and eggs.

Economy A&Ps didn't have to keep track of customer accounts, track down late payments, or spend time traveling around the city dropping off groceries. They were more efficient to open and run, leading to substantial growth.

"Although discounting was not a new idea, the economy store was an important building block on the way to the supermarket," historian Benjamin Davison wrote in a 2016 journal article. A large number of customers wanted low prices over perks like personal attention and free delivery.

In the 1930s, some states started passing anti-chain bills over concerns they'd force mom-and-pop shops out of business. The more stores a company owned, the more they were taxed. A&P's growth model was suddenly a lot less attractive.

Kroger helped usher in the era of one-stop shopping.

In the 1920s, some independent retailers started embracing what was known as combination stores. They expanded into existing butcheries to sell meat to customers. Meanwhile, many chains relied on prepackaged food and couldn't sell fresh produce or meat.

Kroger stores were an exception. Bernard H. Kroger started the Great Western Tea Company in 1883 in Cincinnati. As the chain expanded, so did its services. In 1901, some of its stores started baking their own bread. Three years later, the company purchased a meat packer to supply in-store meat departments.

Cutting out suppliers helped Kroger have more control over pricing. He told the New York Times in 1901 that he could sell bread for 2 cents, half the price of everyone else in the city. "He buys coffee by the ship load and browns it himself," a man who had spoken with the grocery store founder told an Ohio newspaper the same year.

By 1925, the Kroger Grocery & Baking Co., as it was then known, was making over $116 million (over $2 billion today) in sales, the Wall Street Journal reported in 1926. It operated 2,858 stores and several bakeries for bread, crackers, and cakes.

Piggly Wiggly started a trend as the first self-service grocery store.

Customers who entered a Piggly Wiggly went through a turnstile into an aisle lined with packaged foods. Unable to leave through the door they entered, they wound through the aisles, browsing goods with their prices prominently displayed. Employees might be restocking shelves, but they weren't there to sell shoppers on the latest detergent or entice them with a bargain on bacon.

While that doesn't strike today's shopper as odd, to a reporter for the Boston Daily Globe in 1918, "the whole place is absolutely novel."

Clarence Saunders had designed the first self-service Piggly Wiggly two years earlier in Memphis, Tennessee. Instead of having a clerk gather everyone's items, the shoppers could pick and choose the brand of soap or type of soup they wanted themselves.

Flour, pickles, and other items were pre-weighed, so customers didn't have to guess the final price or wait for an employee to help measure the right amount. That also meant there was no meat counter with a butcher slicing ham or packing up pork chops.

Piggly Wiggly was novel but not totally unique.

California and Montana had self-service stores pre-dating Piggly Wiggly. However, Saunders gained attention for his opening-day stunts, like handing out roses to redheaded women, and for patenting some of his stores' designs, like the one-way layout that ended at the checkout station.

The unique name, which one trade magazine described as having a "Mother Goosey sound," may have helped, too. Saunders seemed to purposefully shy away from explaining its origins.

Franchising the name and design helped expand the store's reach quickly. By 1923, the US had over 1,200 Piggly Wigglys, most independently owned. That year, Saunders resigned after trying to raise the company's stock price by buying shares.

Some historians have crowned King Kullen as the first true supermarket.

In 1944, the Wall Street Journal reported that even industry experts couldn't settle on a definition for supermarkets. Most agreed the stores had several departments — including produce, meat, and dairy — and the grocery areas were self-service. The Super Market Institute put the minimum sales volume at $200,000 a year (about $3.6 million today).

For some historians, all the pieces come together in Michael Cullen's King Kullen. In 1929, he was managing a Kroger in Illinois when he wrote to the company's president, William Albers, with an idea to create "monstrous" stores where goods would move quickly because they were priced with little markup. Thanks to the volume of items, they would still make a profit, he said. He predicted he'd sell $10,000 worth of groceries a week.

By saving the public $1 to $3 on their food bills, he wrote, "I would be the 'miracle man' of the grocery business."

Albers never saw the letter, and Cullen instead opened his own store in Queens, New York, in 1930. He took out ads calling King Kullen the "world's greatest price wrecker." The warehouse's 6,000 square feet held 1,000 items. Customers quickly started lining up.

In 1936, Cullen died after complications from an appendectomy. His wife took over the company, which had opened more than a dozen stores, which together made more than $6 million a year (more than $139 million today).

Three years after King Kullen announced itself as a price wrecker, Albers left Kroger to open his own eponymous stores, the first to use the term "super market" in its name.

Ralphs is also a contender for the title.

Like A&P and Kroger, Ralphs started in the 19th century. In 1873, brothers George and Walter Ralphs started selling local produce and grains in Los Angeles. The business grew, and in 1926, it had over 40 stores. Many catered to Los Angeles' commuters instead of relying on foot traffic.

Car ownership in the US grew by over 4,000% between 1910 and 1930, especially in areas with little public transportation.

When Ralphs opened its 10,000-square-foot self-service store in West Hollywood, it was the company's largest. It had a large parking lot for the shoppers' vehicles.

Inside, the high-ceilinged, spacious store didn't seem like a typical grocery store. One columnist compared it to a "marketplace of Rome, where Phoenicians came to peddle their bright silks and bits of treasure from afar."

"Some of these early Ralph buildings are almost as modern today as when they were built 25 and 30 years ago," supermarket analyst M. M. Zimmerman wrote in 1955.

Taking advantage of its location, Ralphs prominently displayed its California produce. Its prices were higher than A&P's, but its business model proved popular enough that other LA-area grocers had created 30 similar stores by the time King Kullen opened in 1930.

Big Bear was a bit like the Costco of its day.

Many supermarket histories include New Jersey's Big Bear, which opened in 1932. Transforming a 50,000-square-foot auto plant into a cavernous, boisterous market, Robert Otis and Roy Dawson tipped their hats to King Kullen by calling their store a "price crusher."

Only 15,000 square feet were devoted to grocery items, mostly in cans and packages. To get there, shoppers first had to pass by meat, produce, and bakery counters.

A soda fountain, electronics, tools, cosmetics, drugs, and other departments made up the rest. Customers crowded around tables piled with merchandise. Some traveled 40 miles to take advantage of the store's low prices.

It took Big Bear three days to rake in $31,000, one historian estimated. It might take a small chain store months to sell as much.

People began referring to Big Bear and its many imitators as "barney stores." Some industry analysts dismissed the cheap fixtures and overwhelming layouts of these "wild animal" stores, which often featured leopards, tigers, or other beasts in their names.

Early supermarkets were large and operated by self-service.

Other commonalities included free parking, a high volume of products, a certain amount of annual sales, and a variety of departments. By combining butcheries, bakeries, produce, and packaged goods under one roof, they offered one-stop food shopping. Sometimes these were independent contractors leasing space in a building with a big commercial footprint.

These stores also differed from earlier grocers in other ways. Customers paid in cash, and the stores often didn't offer delivery services. The unofficial motto was "pile it high, and sell it cheap," one supermarket owner told Zimmerman in 1955.

"What made supermarkets novel was not their low prices or self-service cash-and-carry approach, however, but the extraordinary array of goods and services they provided under one roof: fresh produce, dairy, meats, baked goods, and canned and packaged foods were to be had, but so were a stunning variety of other items and services," Shane Hamilton wrote in "Supermarket USA: Food and Power in the Cold War Farms Race."

While some businesses, including Ralphs, incorporated attractive design into their layouts, others, like the barney stores, opted for affordability over aesthetics.

Many early supermarkets were independent. It took large chains like A&P and Kroger longer to catch on to the new business model.

Major grocery chains didn't open supermarkets right away.

A few months after Big Bear opened in New Jersey, a grocery industry analyst told The New York Times it was a novelty that would wear off.

"When that time comes, the verdict will be much the same as in Syracuse and Detroit, where 'warehouses' or supermarkets enjoyed a brief period of outstanding success and then experienced a decided drop in sales volume," he said.

A&P's president, John Hartford, also said later that his company didn't take supermarkets seriously. Then it realized King Kullen was crushing its regional shops. By 1936, Safeway, A&P, and Kroger started opening bigger stores.

Adapting to larger, high-volume stores proved successful for these chains. They closed smaller shops to focus on more lucrative supermarkets.

The Depression, an increasing number of cars, and several other factors led to supermarkets' growth.

Many customers were lured in by supermarkets' promise of low prices and a large selection. Shoppers with jobs also appreciated supermarkets' evening hours, as many chains closed at 6 p.m. Owners who had previously run smaller grocery stores saw their operating costs cut in half.

Historians cite a variety of factors, from taxes on chain stores to improved refrigeration technology to regulations on food prices, to explain why the number of supermarkets exploded in the late 1930s and '40s.

Mounds of products required new layouts and inventions.

During this era, owners started figuring out how to better manage an influx of customers at busy times. They tried out new ways of displaying merchandise to attract buyers' attention. Placed at eye-level, the products would sell themselves.

"Silent salesmanship prevailed in the subtlety of aisle displays that halted the progress of shoppers, at which point they might observe other shoppers and be influenced by their purchases," historian Lisa C. Tolbert wrote in "Beyond Piggly Wiggly: Inventing the American Self-Service Store."

Navigating these spacious supermarkets packed with goods also prompted the spread of the shopping cart in the late 1930s.

Owners wanted to attract wealthy customers.

While some businesses had bargain prices that brought in a variety of shoppers, some chains that were closing stores in low-income neighborhoods opened their new supermarkets in wealthy areas, Deutsch wrote. They worried that cheap products weren't enough to bring in the middle-class women they wanted as customers.

To distinguish themselves from barney stores, some supermarkets invested more in decor and offered perks like employees who carried groceries to shoppers' cars.

"Upscale supermarkets were welcomed into postwar suburban housing developments in and around Chicago and quickly began emphasizing the quality and convenience of goods they sold, continuing to move away from an emphasis on price," Deutsch wrote in a 1999 journal article.

Similarly, in Southern California, business owners strategically placed their supermarkets and mostly had all-white clientele.

"In part, this was because a new supermarket had the potential to transform the demographics and economic life of an area, but it was also because operators carefully built stores adjacent to the most desirable clientele," Davison wrote.

Supermarkets had a huge impact on how Americans ate.

More types of prepackaged foods, the advent of frozen food, improved freezer technology, and other changes began impacting Americans' diets as supermarkets continued to grow.

Farming methods were becoming more industrialized, and A&P and other sellers used new advances to their advantage to tap into a network of producers to find the most appealing potatoes, peaches, and peas from around the country. Customers in northern states got used to having certain fresh fruits and vegetables year-round instead of just seasonally.

While they didn't have complete control of the supply chain, stores like A&P bought produce in large quantities, and "farmers who did not comply with the firm's demands for high-volume, standardized production were sure to be left outside the marketplace," Hamilton wrote.

Supermarkets continued to expand in the 1950s.

While some contemporary analysts had predicted that supermarkets would die out after the Depression ended, there were more stores than ever in the years following World War II. Many were stocking six times as many items as the earliest supermarkets.

Most adopted the more sedate design of chains like A&P. "The older chaotic supermarkets were quickly replaced by the ordered, and overtly-feminized, space of the postwar super-market," Deutsch wrote.

Many of these chains have since melded together or completely disappeared. Yet in just a few decades, they completely changed the way many Americans shopped for groceries, and we're still feeling those influences today.

Sources: "Supermarket USA: Food and Power in the Cold War Farms Race" by Shane Hamilton; "Building a Housewife's Paradise: Gender, Politics, and American Grocery Stores in the Twentieth Century" by Tracey Deutsch; "Beyond Piggly Wiggly: Inventing the American Self-Service Store" by Lisa C. Tolbert; "Carried Away: The Invention of Modern Shopping" by Rachel Bowlby; "The American Grocery Store: The Business Evolution of an Architectural Space" by James M. Mayo; "The Super Market: A Revolution in Distribution" by M. M. Zimmerman; "From 'Wild Animal Stores' to Women's Sphere: Supermarkets and the Politics of Mass Consumption, 1930-1950" by Tracey Deutsch; "Super City: Los Angeles and the Birth of the Supermarket, 1914—1941" by Benjamin Davison; "The Rise of the Supermarket" by Tevere Macfadyen; International Directory of Company Histories; and Smithsonian Magazine.

Editor's note: This article was first published in May 2025 and most recently updated in June 2026.

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Big-screen TVs are more popular and affordable than ever. I have a 75-inch TV in my own living room, and I never want to go back to a smaller size. Movies and gaming feel more immersive, and a 75-inch screen is great for sports watch parties during events like the World Cup. But a big display doesn't guarantee a good picture on its own. The quality gap across various models is greater than you might expect. That's why I put together this guide to the best 75-inch TVs (plus a few 77-inch sets) that are actually worth the money.

My team and I reviewed popular TV models from every brand to find 75-inch options for different needs and budgets. For most people, the Samsung S90F is hard to beat. Its OLED panel delivers deep black levels and rich, punchy colors that really shine on a screen this large. But if you want something more affordable, the TCL QM6K is a great value at under $1,000. It can't match the S90F's contrast, but its QLED display still delivers impressive color, and its Google TV interface is smooth and easy to use.

I've also included 75-inch TVs that prioritize top-tier picture quality, as well as models that crank up the brightness for rooms with lots of light. My recommendations include both 75-inch QLEDs and 77-inch OLEDs, as the small size difference is simply a result of how each panel is manufactured.

Our top picks for the best 75-inch TVs

Best overall: Samsung S90F 4K OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best on a budget: TCL QM6K 4K QLED TV - See at Amazon

Best premium model: LG G5 4K OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best for high brightness: TCL QM8K 4K QLED TV - See at Amazon

Best anti-glare screen: Samsung S95F 4K OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best overall

When it comes to balancing performance and price, Samsung's S90F OLED stands out as the best 77-inch TV on the market.

The S90F utilizes a QD-OLED panel, which combines pixel-level contrast control with the rich color range of quantum dots. The result is deep, inky black levels and vibrant hues. In dark rooms, the S90F avoids the washed-out grays that plague many QLED and LED sets. Black levels rise slightly with the lights on, but not enough to be distracting.

Samsung's quantum dot tech also helps the S90F produce a brighter image than comparable LG OLEDs. During testing, our reviewer measured a peak brightness of around 1,460 nits, which is excellent for a midrange OLED and about 200 nits higher than the older S90D. That brightness makes HDR movies and shows pop, with crisp highlights and nuanced color that closely match the performance of more expensive models.

Viewing angles are another strong point: you can sit off to the side without noticeable loss of color or contrast. That's something that QLED and LED TVs can't match. Gamers will love the 120Hz refresh rate (144Hz with a PC), which ensures smooth motion with the PS5, Xbox Series X, or Switch 2. Additionally, Samsung's built-in Xbox app lets Game Pass members stream titles directly to the TV without a console.

Samsung's Tizen smart TV platform offers every major streaming app and runs smoother than it has on older models. That said, the interface's organization is a bit clumsy compared to the more intuitive designs of rivals like Google TV and Roku.

As with all Samsung TVs, the S90F doesn't support Dolby Vision, an advanced HDR format used by many streaming services. While Dolby Vision can deliver slightly more accurate HDR performance, the difference is subtle, so its absence isn't a dealbreaker. For more information, check out my HDR TV guide.

Buyers should note that Samsung also has a 2026 version of this TV, the S90H. I tested the S90H, and it offers similar performance, but costs more. The biggest difference is that the S90H has a glare-free screen coating, which reduces reflections but lowers contrast in bright rooms. With that in mind, the cheaper S90F remains my recommendation for most needs. You can learn more in my 2026 Samsung OLED TV roundup.

Read our Samsung S90F 4K TV review.

Check out our guides to all the best TVs, best smart TVs, and best Samsung TVs.

Best on a budget

The TCL QM6K is easily one of the best 75-inch TVs on a budget. This QLED display features a Mini LED backlight with local dimming and wide color capabilities. Those features are often missing on competing TVs in this class.

As a result, the QM6K offers better image quality than a lot of its rivals. When reviewing the set, I loved the TV's rich colors. It also offered solid contrast with excellent backlight control. Most budget TVs feature washed-out black levels or halos around bright objects, but the QM6K does a great job of minimizing these flaws.

The TV also gets decently bright for such an affordable display. I measured a peak of around 557 nits on a 10% HDR test pattern and around 763 nits on a 50% test pattern. That's enough to provide a good entry-level HDR picture. However, this is the dimmest TV in this guide, so it's not the best fit for rooms with a lot of light. Viewing angles are also a bit limited, as image quality degrades when you sit off-center. That said, this has improved compared to older models in the series.

Another improvement comes in the TV's gaming capabilities. The QM6K is one of the most affordable 75-inch TVs that supports a 144Hz refresh rate. This is a cool perk for PC gamers who want smoother motion during gameplay. I was also impressed by the QM6K's Google TV interface. In the past, I've run into glitches and lag on some TCL Google TVs, but the QM6K was snappy and free from any notable bugs.

Read our TCL QM6K 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to all the best budget TVs.

Best premium model

The LG G5 is one of the company's top high-end TVs, delivering the deep black levels and infinite contrast ratio that all OLEDs are known for. However, what sets this model apart from other options is its exceptionally high brightness.

During my review, the G5 hit 2,410 nits in HDR Filmmaker Mode. That's the second-highest measurement I've recorded on an OLED, and only behind the more expensive Samsung S95H. Now, it's essential to keep in mind that only certain HDR movies and TV shows are mastered to take advantage of such high brightness, but when paired with the right content, the G5 is stunning.

Specular highlights — explosions, reflections, lightning, sunsets — pop with incredible impact, and because it's still an OLED, you get pixel-level contrast without backlight issues like blooming. Some QLEDs can get even brighter, but they can't match the G5's ability to harness its brightness so precisely. Visit our QLED vs OLED comparison for more details.

The result is an outstanding image: in a dark room, black levels blend seamlessly into the background, while bright elements shine cleanly and accurately. Wide viewing angles and a 165Hz refresh rate for PC gaming round out the G5's performance perks.

Of course, the G5 isn't flawless. No TV is. The display exhibited signs of posterization (blocky rather than smooth colors) in certain HDR scenes, but firmware updates have largely resolved this issue. LG's webOS platform is smooth and well-stocked with apps, but I still find Roku OS and Google TV more intuitive. I also ran into some early voice-search hiccups that smoothed out over time.

Design-wise, the G5 looks sleek and comes with a mount that hangs nearly flush against your wall. However, it doesn't include a traditional stand, so you'll need to purchase one if you aren't wall-mounting.

A 2026 version of the G5, called the G6, is also available. I saw a side-by-side comparison between the two, and the newer TV has an improved anti-reflective filter and better processing to help reduce banding. That said, the G6 is around $1,000 more than the G5. If you're a serious enthusiast without budget constraints, the pricier G6 is worth considering, but for now, the more affordable G5 remains my pick. You can learn more in my 2026 LG OLED TV roundup.

Read our LG G5 4K TV review.

Check out our guides to the best LG TVs and best TVs for picture quality.

Best for high brightness

The QM8K is an impressive QLED that rivals top models from Sony and Samsung but costs considerably less. Most notably, it's one of the best 75-inch TVs for a high-brightness image.

Like TCL's budget-friendly QM6K, this pricier flagship model uses a QLED panel with Mini LED local dimming. However, the QM8K has a more advanced backlight with additional dimming zones, enabling it to deliver a significantly brighter image and better black levels.

Our reviewer measured a peak brightness of 3,648 nits on a 10% window, making the QM8K the brightest TV in this guide and one of the brightest TVs on the market. Of course, raw luminance on a test pattern is meaningless if the TV can't control its light well when displaying actual content. Thankfully, the QM8K can control its brightness to deliver fantastic HDR image quality. This also helps it overcome glare in rooms with ambient light.

The TV also impressed our reviewer with some of the best contrast control he's seen on a Mini LED TV. Halos around subtitles were absent, and blooming was minimal in various test scenes. OLED TVs still offer more precise contrast, but the QM8K QLED holds its own well.

The QM8K's viewing angles are also solid for a QLED. Color and contrast still degrade a bit off-center, but not to the point that the picture looks dramatically washed out. Again, OLED TVs still have an edge here, but the difference isn't as significant as it used to be.

Gaming capabilities are also excellent, with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. However, the QM8K isn't capable of 165Hz, which is a feature supported by a few competing TVs, such as the LG G5 and Hisense U8QG.

If you're looking for a premium 75-inch QLED with excellent contrast control and brightness, the QM8K is a fantastic buy. However, shoppers should note that TCL also sells a newer version of this TV, called the QM8L. I tested the 75-inch QM8L, and it offers similar brightness while delivering a wider color range thanks to TCL's new SQD technology. The QM8L is an impressive TV, but I still give the edge to the QM8K since it costs less.

Read our TCL QM8K 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to the best TCL TVs.

Best anti-glare screen

The Samsung S95F is a stellar QD-OLED TV that excels at addressing an all-too common annoyance for many viewers: screen reflections. Most TVs use glossy panels that create mirror-like reflections, which can make daytime viewing (especially sports) frustrating in rooms with lots of windows.

The S95F tackles that head-on with a matte-like screen that dramatically reduces glare. It's not perfect, but for anyone who battles reflections in their living room, it can feel like a revelation. In my testing, the TV performed exactly as promised, with virtually no irritating reflections.

There is a tradeoff, though. That matte finish lifts black levels. In a dark environment, the S95F's black levels look pitch-perfect, but with the lights on, darker scenes take on a slightly gray, hazy appearance. Glossy screens — like those used on every other TV in this guide — maintain deeper black levels in bright rooms, but they also reflect more light. Ultimately, choosing between the S95F's matte approach and a traditional glossy panel depends on which you find more bothersome: reflections or lower contrast.

Beyond the anti-glare feature, the S95F delivers impressive performance across the board. I measured peak brightness at 2,170 nits, which is top-tier for an OLED. It also supports a 165Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth PC gaming and features a premium design that routes inputs through a separate connection box, rather than cluttering the TV's rear panel.

Samsung also sells an improved 2026 model, called the S95H. The new TV gets even brighter, features a metal frame, and adds access to Samsung's Art Store. The cheaper S95F remains the best value for most people, but the S95H's improvements make it a better choice for enthusiasts who don't mind paying extra.

Read our Samsung S95F 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to the best OLED TVs.

The best 75-inch TVs, compared

How we test 75-inch TVs

We picked the best 75-inch TVs through hands-on testing with various display models. We've been reviewing home entertainment products for over 10 years and used that expertise to inform our testing parameters and requirements.

When evaluating TVs, we typically review the 65-inch size, as it's the industry's flagship tier. However, overall performance for a specific TV model usually remains the same across sizes. For example, a 77-inch LG G5 OLED and a 65-inch G5 OLED have the same specifications. The only difference is the panel's size. As such, most test results for 65-inch TVs also apply to their 75- and 77-inch counterparts. 

However, some QLED displays with local dimming, like the TCL QM6K and QM8K, have more zones in larger screen sizes than in smaller ones. This can cause slight differences in contrast performance, but not enough to alter our overall takeaway. In rare cases, some TV models have more dramatic differences across sizes. We consider these differences when recommending displays and note them when applicable.

When we test TVs, we evaluate picture clarity, color quality, contrast performance, peak HDR brightness, gaming features, navigation speed, off-axis viewing capabilities, and overall value. To measure brightness and color, we use a meter in combination with a pattern generator and the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc. 

Test patterns are great for objective measurements, but watching real-world content is the only way to fully evaluate how a TV looks. We sample a variety of shows and movies to assess how a display performs in both dark and bright environments. Part of our evaluation involves watching the same assortment of scenes on each TV we review to compare performance. Sequences are chosen to show off HDR highlights, shadow detail, black levels, upscaling, and motion. We also vary the quality of our material to assess how a TV handles 4K, 1080p, and standard definition (SD) programs from Blu-ray discs, streaming services, and cable TV. Gaming capabilities are also tested using a PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

For more information about our testing process, check out our page detailing how we review tech products.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: I lead tech product coverage for Business Insider's Reviews team, and I've spent years testing all kinds of TVs. I studied filmmaking, too, so I'm a bit obsessive about picture quality. I want movies and shows to look the way the creators intended. My team and I use professional calibration tools, pattern generators, and benchmark discs to measure brightness and color accuracy, but numbers alone only tell part of the story. I also use every TV I review the way you would at home — streaming, watching movies, gaming, and channel surfing — to see how it really performs day to day. The picks in this guide stood out not just in lab tests but also in real-world use.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

75-inch TV FAQs

Is 75 inches a good size for a TV?

A 75-inch screen is an excellent option for filling a large space or providing an immersive experience in a smaller room. Big screen sizes fill more of your field of view, so your eyes can focus on the image and not your surroundings. This creates a viewing experience that's closer to what you'd get in a movie theater.

Many of our favorite TVs are sold in 75 or 77 inches, so you have plenty of options. Some brands are also starting to use 75 inches as the entry point for their most advanced models. For instance, the new TCL X11L SQD TV isn't available in smaller sizes.

That said, you need to consider certain logistics when buying a large TV. You'll need a stand or mount that can accommodate the width and weight of a 75-inch TV. Visit our guides to the best TV stands and best TV wall mounts, where we have several picks that can fit large displays.

Meanwhile, if you don't have the space for a 75-inch TV, check out our guides to smaller TV sizes:

• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs
• Best 43-inch TVs

Or if you want something even larger, check out our guides to the best 85-inch TVs and best 100-inch TVs.

Do we recommend 75-inch RGB LED TVs?

Not yet, but they're definitely on our radar. RGB LED is a new display type that uses separate red, green, and blue LEDs in its backlight. As a result, these TVs have the potential to produce a wider range of color than you'd get on a typical QLED, Mini LED, or OLED display.

Different brands offer variations of the tech, and many use different names to market it. For example, Samsung calls its version Micro RGB, Hisense uses RGB Mini LED, and Sony calls its tech True RGB. They're all chasing a similar goal, but performance can vary.

We'll be testing RGB LED TVs throughout 2026 to see whether any deserve a spot in this guide. So far, we've had an early look at the Samsung R95H, and its color performance is the best we've seen. But based on our initial testing, its contrast and brightness weren't quite good enough to earn a top spot.

For now, we're not recommending any 75-inch RGB LED TVs in this guide, but that will likely change once we test more models and prices come down. For more details on RGB backlighting, check out our first look at Sony's True RGB tech and our RGB LED vs. Mini LED TV comparison.

Should you buy a 2026 or 2025 75-inch TV?

In most cases, 2025 TV models still offer a better value than 2026 options. Brands such as Samsung, LG, TCL, Sony, and Hisense have all launched new TVs for 2026, but they cost more than their 2025 counterparts. Though many 2026 TVs offer improved performance, the difference is rarely dramatic enough to justify their increased cost. This will change later in the year as 2025 TVs sell out and 2026 TV prices come down, but for now, most people are better off snagging a 2025 75-inch TV while it's available at a discount.

Why are some TVs offered in 75 inches and others in 77 inches?

This comes down to how the panels are made. Traditional LED, QLED, and Mini LED TVs are commonly produced in 75-inch sizes, while OLED panels are typically manufactured in 77-inch sizes. In real-world use, though, the two-inch difference is minimal, as you're essentially getting the same big-screen experience either way.

Do brands sell 70-inch TVs?

Though increasingly uncommon, some brands do sell 70-inch TV models. Notably, Samsung, LG, Insignia, and Walmart's Onn brand all offer 70-inch options in their current lineups. However, that size is typically limited to a few entry-level options. Top TVs usually skip the 70-inch size and are instead sold in 65-inch and 75-inch/77-inch models. We generally recommend that shoppers focus on TVs available in those sizes instead.

How much should you spend on a 75-inch TV?

Depending on the performance class you choose, the best 75-inch TVs can cost between $600 and $5,000.

Budget-friendly 75-inch QLED TVs, such as the TCL QM6K, are sometimes available for as low as $700. Midrange QLED options with higher brightness typically sell for $800 to $1,400, while high-end models start at around $1,800.

If you want an OLED TV (made in 77 inches rather than 75), you'll need to pay a bit more. The cheapest 77-inch OLED TVs start at around $1,500, while premium options can cost over $4,000.

The best 75-inch and 77-inch TVs often go on sale, but the biggest discounts typically appear during shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day, as well as around major sporting events like the Super Bowl and March Madness.

For cheaper TV recommendations in smaller sizes, check out our guide to the best TVs under $500.

Do I need HDMI 2.1 for a 75-inch TV?

If you're a gamer with a PS5, Xbox Series X, or PC, we recommend ensuring that any TV you buy has HDMI 2.1 ports. HDMI 2.1 enables 4K at 120Hz and smoother motion with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). All of our picks for the best 75-inch TVs support HDMI 2.1.

Do 75-inch TVs have good sound quality?

Even the best 75-inch TVs have mediocre built-in audio performance. Some of our pricier recommendations, such as the LG G5, offer better clarity and slightly more bass than our entry-level picks, like the TCL QM6K. However, they still lack the depth and range that you'd get with a separate audio system.

Companies typically build their displays with small speaker drivers to keep costs down and maintain slim screens, resulting in poor low-frequency performance and overall fidelity. For better sound quality, we recommend purchasing a separate soundbar or surround sound system, especially one that supports Dolby Atmos.

Check out our soundbar and speaker guides to see our top recommendations:

• Best soundbars
• Best Dolby Atmos soundbars
• Best budget soundbars
• Best soundbars with subwoofers
• Best Sonos soundbars
• Best Bose soundbars
• Best surround sound systems

Should you buy a 75-inch 8K TV?

Some brands, such as Samsung, offer 75-inch 8K TV models. However, in most cases, 8K TVs aren't worth the extra money they cost. Outside of some YouTube videos, there's no 8K content available to watch. Though 8K TVs benefit from upscaling and higher pixel density, which can provide a slightly sharper image if you sit very close to your screen, this benefit is subtle.

As it stands, most people are better off buying a 75-inch 4K set with high-end features than spending a similar amount or more on an 8K model.

That said, if you're determined to make the jump to 8K, we suggest considering the Samsung QN990F. This QLED TV delivered impressive contrast and brightness in our testing. But again, if you're willing to sacrifice resolution, a good 4K TV, such as the 77-inch Samsung S90F, actually offers a better overall image for less money.

• Gabby Zappia, 37, started experiencing blood in her stool when she was pregnant.
• Her rectal bleeding was dismissed by her doctor as pregnancy-related hemorrhoids.
• When she got screened months later, she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

When Gabby Zappia started experiencing blood in her stool for the first time, her obstetrician quickly reassured her. She was six months into her third pregnancy and was told the symptom was likely caused by pregnancy-related hemorrhoids.

So, Zappia returned to her busy life. Caring for her two kids, ages 4 and 5 at the time, involved nonstop carpools, lunches, laundry, and dishes.

"I still have a little bit of a hard time slowing down," Zappia, 37, told Business Insider.

The day before her due date in June 2024, Zappia, who's based in Mission Viejo, California, saw significantly more blood in the toilet, describing it as "blood diarrhea." She immediately went to OB triage, where she said the staff seemed in disbelief, asking her if she'd taken any photos. After a vaginal exam found nothing wrong with the baby, they decided to induce labor.

After her son's birth, Zappia wanted to focus on being with him. But when the bleeding persisted, she called her primary care physician and was put on a three-month waiting list to see a gastroenterologist. In December 2024, six months after she gave birth, Zappia was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

Zappia, who had no family history of colon cancer, had expected a diagnosis like polyps or Crohn's disease. "I'm still shocked, honestly," she said. "I was just heartbroken. I thought that I was invincible before this."

A baseball-sized mass

Zappia said her GI was the first time she felt her symptom was being taken seriously. While she was in the office, he gave her a guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT), performed on a card that turns blue when stool samples contain blood. The entire card turned blue, indicating a higher amount of blood.

He scheduled her for a colonoscopy, which involved another monthlong wait. It was then, in November 2024, that Zappia learned she had a mass so big that it nearly blocked her whole colon. She was scheduled for a colon resection surgery, a procedure to remove part of her large intestine, one month later.

"The mass was the size of a baseball when she ended up taking it out, which is absolutely insane because I'm a small person, too," Zappia said.

It put in perspective how much discomfort she brushed aside in the prior months, including the extreme fatigue she chalked up to pregnancy. "The days when I felt the most sick, like I was in thick mud just trying to get my day started, were the days that I pulled myself together the most," she said.

Zappia would always put on makeup and try to be her usual bubbly self — something she wonders may have made it harder for doctors to believe her. "If I was kind of looking sick, maybe they would've been more concerned," she said.

Balancing motherhood with treatment

After her colon resection and a biopsy on her liver, where the cancer had spread, Zappia was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

After she had healed from the surgery, Zappia underwent a second surgery for her chemotherapy port, which provides a convenient access point for chemo treatments, before starting a chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimen. In between those treatments, she also underwent a liver resection and ablation surgery to remove tumors. Zappia also had a hepatic artery infusion (HAI) pump installed in her abdomen to deliver concentrated doses of chemo directly to her liver.

The mom of three young children said the hardest part of her diagnosis was being a patient while continuing to be an engaged parent.

"When you're a mom, you don't get to pause," she said. "Your kids still need you. They still want snacks. They still want you to be there for bedtime." While she said they pushed her to stay active, forcing herself to get up on days when she was recovering from chemo side effects such as bone pain and flu-like symptoms, it still made her experience extra challenging. For example, she was afraid to hold her kids out of fear of them accidentally pulling the tubing of her chemo pump out.

It was also difficult to find childcare on days she was at the hospital. Still, she had her husband.

"I am so incredibly lucky to have an amazing husband," she said, who handled nearly all of her household and childcare responsibilities throughout treatment. "We've tried to tackle this as a team and work hard to normalize life as much as possible for the kids, keep things routine, celebrate the little things, and just make sure our home still feels safe and full of joy."

Friends, family, neighbors, and people from Zappia's church also chipped in to help with carpools and meals. "It really does take a village, and we've really needed to lean on them throughout this whole experience," she said.

Bumps in treatment

After her liver resection, Zappia finished chemotherapy and rang the bell in September 2025 after having no evidence of disease. "It was an incredible milestone in my journey, but early," Zappia said.

Three months later, a PET scan found some cancer activity in her liver. After the initial shock of her new diagnosis wore off, Zappia said she realized she'd have "bumps in the road."

"It's just important to focus on what I can control," she added.

Zappia underwent a robotic liver resection at the end of 2025 to remove the affected area. But after an MRI revealed a new tumor nearby, she had the procedure again in March 2026 — marking her third liver surgery overall.

After multiple surgeries, her blood tests found no signs of disease as of April 2026.

Because colorectal cancer is now the deadliest cancer for people under 50, Zappia believes people should be on the lookout for symptoms like bloody stools, which is one of the most common signs of colon cancer.

"Sure, it might be hemorrhoids, and that would be awesome, but confirm that," Zappia said. "Don't just take the possibility that that's what it is."

Flying with a cat can be stressful, but one of the best airline-approved cat carriers can make the journey smoother. When you place your cat at your feet in the plane cabin, a thoughtfully designed soft-sided pet carrier with the right features helps keep them safe and comfortable — and helps you relax, too.

To find the best airline cat carriers, I consulted veterinarians and pet travel experts and tested 31 models myself. My top pick, the crash-tested Sleepypod Air, compresses to fit under seats as narrow as 16 inches and includes comfortable touches that make it easy to carry and maneuver. For a more affordable option, the Frisco Premium Airline Compliant Quilted Carrier Bag is sturdy and cozy enough to keep your cat comfortable throughout your trip. Just keep in mind that it lacks a padded handle wrap, and its softer structure may make it slightly less comfortable to carry.

Before flying with your cat, double-check your airline's size limits for pet carriers. Southwest Airlines allows carriers up to 18.5 inches (L) by 13.5 inches (W) by 9.5 inches (H), while the maximum dimensions for Delta, American Airlines, and United are 18 inches (L) by 11 inches (W) by 11 inches (H). Some airlines have even smaller maximum sizes.

Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.

Our top picks for the best airline-approved cat carriers

Best overall: Sleepypod Air - $200 at Chewy

Best budget: Frisco Premium Airline Compliant Quilted Carrier Bag - $42 at Chewy

Best stylish: Away The Pet Carrier - See $228 at Away

Best expandable: Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Expandable Carrier - $119 at Amazon

Best backpack: Mr. Peanut's Monterey Series Backpack Airline Compliant Pet Carrier - $119 at Amazon

Best overall

At a recent vet appointment, my two cats made their preference for the Sleepypod Air clear. My 10- and 11-pound cats climbed into the Air together, completely ignoring the second carrier I'd brought along. The soft, dark, roomy interior seemed to help them stay calm. For skittish fliers, the carrier includes a privacy screen that slides through the mesh top. While it significantly reduces your cat's access to fresh air, its ventilation is around 20%, which is still above the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 16% minimum for in-cabin live animal transport.

The Sleepypod Air is also one of a handful of pet carriers certified by the Center for Pet Safety (CPS), a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that crash-tests pet carriers to ensure their safety in automobile collisions. It earned a 4 out of 5-star rating, losing one star because it lifted slightly off the seat during testing. Even so, Lindsey Wolko, founder and CEO of CPS, says the result is a positive one and that the carrier performed exceptionally well.

Instead of traditional doors, the Sleepypod Air uses a continuous zipper that runs from end to end. With one pull of the zipper, it transforms into an open bed, converts for use as a car seat, or rolls up for convenient storage. The ends are also designed to fold in about 2.5 inches each, meeting the size requirements of most major airlines. I recommend practicing compressing the carrier before your trip.

The padded cross-body strap felt supportive, and the carrier rested comfortably against my body without collapsing inward. The built-in luggage strap kept the carrier balanced on top of my suitcase when navigating curbs and rough sidewalks.

The Sleepypod Air isn't cheap. But its versatility, comfort, and impressive safety features make it a worthwhile investment. The company offers a one-year return policy, whether or not the carrier has been used, and will replace it if it's damaged in a car accident.

Best budget

Although this carrier is a fraction of the price of our other picks, it performed well in durability testing. At home, it was also the carrier my cats chose to lounge in time and time again. In short, the cozy Frisco Premium Airline Compliant Quilted Carrier Bag is an excellent budget carrier.

Susan Nilson, a cat and dog trainer and behavior specialist, recommends leaving a carrier out at home with the doors open so your cat can get comfortable with it before a trip. I did just that, and it quickly turned into one of my cats' favorite spots to nap. Even after running the interior fleece mat through the washing machine, it retained its softness and cat appeal.

The carrier features two doors — one on top and one on the side — a feature associate home editor Kinsley Searles appreciates. "I have a wiggly, young kitty who isn't used to being in a carrier just yet, but she's always so comfortable in her Frisco carrier," she says. "I can leave a side open for her to crawl in naturally or place her inside through the top. Since it's so easy to take her in and out, her acclimation to the carrier has been seamless and stress-free."

The carrier is outfitted with two storage pockets: a Velcro-secured pocket to stash your keys and phone, and a mesh pocket for treats and travel documents. It also comes with a collapsible silicone bowl and an ID tag, so you can check two essentials off your packing list.

The adjustable shoulder strap and carry handle aren't padded, which may make them less comfortable on longer journeys. Like higher-end options, the Frisco carrier has a luggage sleeve that slides over your suitcase handle. However, it doesn't keep the carrier well-balanced over curbs and uneven sidewalks, so you'll need to keep it steady with your free hand.

Best stylish

The Reviews team is a big fan of Away's luggage line for its streamlined designs and thoughtful features. With the Away Pet Carrier, your feline companion can travel with the same sophistication and comfort. Like the Sleepypod Air, the carrier is certified by the CPS and earned a perfect 5-star crash-test rating.

My feline testers loved the soft sherpa interior mat, making this carrier a prime napping spot at home and on the go. Mesh windows on two sides and the top provide excellent ventilation while still giving your cat a sense of security. If your cat is an anxious traveler, simply roll down the privacy window for a calmer experience.

To navigate busy airports, you can slide the handy back sleeve over the handle of luggage from any brand. There's also an adjustable shoulder strap so you can wear it crossbody, and the carrier is rigid enough to keep from collapsing inward on your precious cargo. You can also carry your cat with the leather hand strap.

The carrier's nylon exterior and interior are easy to wipe clean. Even the pockets are lined with nylon, and the waterproof front pocket is waterproof includes drainage holes, ideal for storing a collapsible water bowl. The machine-washable interior liner attaches with velcro and is easy to remove, so you can toss it in the wash once you reach your destination.

Best expandable

On long travel days with time spent waiting in the airport, Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Expandable Carrier offers jet-setting cats extra space to stretch out. It includes a zippered panel on its right side that unfolds into a mesh atrium, nearly doubling the carrier's interior space. While the expandable section can't be used in flight, the feature makes it the best carrier for cross-country flights with layovers and extended stays away from home.

The spacious carrier is front, top, and side-loading with a roll-up privacy flap over the top door. Importantly, the Gold Series Expandable Carrier offers plenty of ventilation to keep a cat from overheating. Inside, it has a soft plush bolster bed and a safety tether. Outside, it's outfitted with an adjustable padded shoulder strap and a faux leather carry handle. There's also a 10-inch by 4-inch mesh pocket on the backside. All of the materials and zippers excelled in my testing.

When I used the luggage strap, the carrier remained mostly balanced on my suitcase, slipping only about an inch to one side. Carrying it on my shoulder was comfortable, and the strap was easy to adjust to the correct length.

The bed was easy to spot clean, and although it is labeled hand-wash only, it came out of the washing machine looking nearly new after air-drying.

At times, this carrier is available in limited colors. If you prefer more color options, we also tested the Mr. Peanut's Platinum Series Expandable Carrier, which costs $30 less. Both carriers held up well in testing, standing up to drops and stomps without any damage. The only drawback is that the Platinum Series doesn't have a roll-away privacy flap over the top ventilation panel. Alternatively, veterinarian Dr. Jo Myers says that if your carrier lacks privacy panels, draping a towel or blanket over the carrier can help keep a stressed cat calm.

Best backpack

If you already have your hands full, Mr. Peanut's backpack carrier might be your best bet. It's a cat carrier you can wear on your back to keep your hands free and your cat safe.

The backpack prioritizes a cat's comfort with a wider profile similar to a traditional carrier. This design eliminates the need to turn the carrier — and your cat — on its side for stowing under the seat in front of you. It does sit a bit higher on my back than my favorite cat hiking backpack (reaching mid-back or higher depending on your height), but it's a small price to pay for a cozy feline friend. The adjustable, padded shoulder strap offers a carrying alternative but isn't long enough for a crossbody fit.

According to the brand, an interior machine-washable thermal pad is designed to keep cats comfortable in any climate. While I can't confirm its effectiveness at regulating temperature, my cats certainly approved of it as a napping spot. To test its ease of cleaning, I smeared a mix of dry and wet cat food on the interior and exterior. A quick wipe-down with a damp paper towel removed most of the mess from the nylon exterior. The interior quilted design trapped some dried food bits in the crevices, but the washing machine took care of the mess. A pre-wash scrub may be necessary for some dried-on accidents.

The carrier didn't put a strain on my back during walks, thanks to its mesh padding that offers breathability and cushioning. However, it lacks a waist or chest clip for added stability on long airport treks, so I tightened the shoulder straps to hold the carrier flush against my back. The carrier comes in medium and large, but only the medium size meets most airline carry-on restrictions.

Our top picks compared

What to look for in an airline cat carrier

The best airline-approved cat carriers come in many different styles at varying price points. Our experts recommend considering the following factors when shopping to ensure you get the best value for safety, comfort, and minimizing stress for your cat.

Key features: Several factors contribute to a carrier's usefulness, comfort, and safety. Based on our own experiences traveling with cats and the advice of veterinarians, below are the key features to consider.

• Shape and design: A carrier should be large enough for a cat to comfortably lie down and turn around. Some cat carriers have built-in expandable sections that can double or even triple the size of a carrier. These are ideal for allowing your cat to stretch out between flights safely.
• Interior mat: Ideally, a floor mat will be removable and machine washable. It should securely attach to the bag's interior to prevent it from sliding around.
• Loading doors: Dr. Gwen Gadd, a veterinarian at the East Bay SPCA Theodore B. Travers Family Veterinary Clinic, says the best cat carriers have two doors. If your cat refuses to come out of their carrier, it may be easier to gently lift them from a door at the top of the carrier rather than struggling to remove them from the door in the front.
• Carrying straps and handles: A quality carrier should have a removable shoulder strap, preferably padded for comfort, and a double handle for lifting. A strap that wraps around and secures the handles helps keep them balanced and out of the way.
• Pockets: Pockets are essential for keeping your cat's gear and yours close at hand. A cat carrier should have multiple pockets, with at least one secured by a zipper, button, or hook-and-loop closure.
• Ventilation: According to IATA live animal regulations for in-cabin transport, pet carrier bags must have a minimum of 16% ventilation. Most soft-sided carriers meet or exceed this requirement with mesh panels.
• Privacy flaps: Some carriers feature a privacy flap that can be lifted or lowered depending on temperature and a cat's specific needs. While you will need to keep at least some areas open for ventilation, hiding helps cats feel safe, which is especially useful during a stressful event such as flying.
• Interior safety tether: An interior safety tether that clips to your cat's harness can help prevent sudden escapes. However, Wolko says to use it only during breaks to feed or give water to your pet. "The tether inside the carrier should not be used during active travel, as the pet can become tangled," she says.
• ID tag: The carrier should have its own ID tag to help reunite you with your pet if you're separated, though it's no substitute for outfitting your cat in one of the best cat collars with an ID tag attached or microchipping.
• Luggage strap: While not essential, a luggage strap or trolley sleeve that slides over a suitcase handle makes navigating the airport with a cat in tow much easier.
• Dimensions and in-cabin airline capability: Most major airlines, including Delta, American, and United, allow in-cabin carriers up to 18 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 11 inches high. Carriers that meet — or can slightly compress to meet — these dimensions are generally a safe bet. A few other airlines, like Southwest (18.5" L x 13.5" W x 9.5" H) and JetBlue (17" L x 12.5" W x 8.5" H), have stricter size limits.
• Ease of storage: Unless you frequently travel with your cat, a carrier that quickly folds flat for storage adds convenience.

Safety: Unlike child car seats, there are no universal safety standards or inspections for cat carriers. Some brands advertise their carriers as "crash-tested" or "safety-certified," but those claims can be misleading. "In-house crash testing may be inherently biased or skewed when it is conducted by the same company that manufactures the product," says Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, a veterinarian and veterinary medical advisor for Rover.

Some brands go the extra mile by subjecting their carriers to rigorous testing by third-party or nonprofit safety organizations. We recognize crash safety ratings from the Center for Pet Safety (CPS), a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that studies the safety of pet products. "They are one of only a few independent bodies that does crash testing under transparent, standardized, and scientific conditions, using benchmarks based on safety standards for children's car seats," Greenstein says. CPS collaborates with Subaru of America, Inc., to conduct specially designed crash tests with dummies. Among our recommended picks, the Sleepypod Air and Away Pet Carrier have been crash-test certified for auto transport by the CPS.

Currently, CPS studies do not extend to air travel and flight safety. Despite the absence of standardized air travel safety tests, crash-test certification remains the gold standard. Wolko says carriers are most susceptible to failure at seams where the mesh connects to the carrier body. She recommends inspecting carriers for any signs of loose threads, weak spots, or faulty zippers to ensure their overall safety and reliability throughout transit.

Wolko says you'll want to consider your entire journey, including driving from home to the airport and transportation to your destination. Some carriers include exterior straps for securing a car seat belt. However, Wolko says that unless the carrier has been crash-tested and third-party safety certified by an organization such as the CPS, a cat carrier should always be placed on the backseat floor behind the passenger seat instead of on the seat itself. "It minimizes the impact and provides a lot of protection," she says. "If you do get into a sudden stop, they're not going to fly all over the place."

Size: A carrier should be roomy enough for your cat to comfortably turn around and lie down while still compact enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Carrier size requirements vary by airline, so double-check your airline's specific requirements.

Fortunately, size isn't usually a limiting factor for cats. More often than not, they prefer to curl up in a small ball and hide during the trip, says Myers, adding that extra room for playing, eating, drinking, or using the litter box during the flight is typically unnecessary. However, if you anticipate a long layover and want extra legroom for your cat, an expandable carrier like Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Expandable Carrier is a good choice.

Weight restrictions: Many in-cabin cat carriers are suitable for cats weighing up to 15 or 18 pounds. If your cat is on the heavier side, double-check the weight limit for the carrier you're considering purchasing and make sure your cat has room to move around comfortably in it.

Ventilation: Most carriers are designed with enough ventilation (at least 16%) to meet the International Air Transport Association (IATA) minimum requirement. Some carriers may have less or more, so the amount of ventilation you choose depends on your and your cat's preferences.

Since Myers says most cats prefer to hide in stressful environments, carriers with privacy walls and flaps may be beneficial. Alternatively, she recommends bringing a towel or blanket that you can place over the carrier if your cat becomes stressed. "Even if you cover the carrier with a towel, it's far from airtight," she says. "Simply check on your cat occasionally, without disturbing them any more than necessary."

How we tested the best airline-approved cat carriers

This guide was reported by Shoshi Parks and Janelle Leeson, both seasoned cat product testers with a combined clowder of four cats who sniff, paw, ride in, and, if they're comfortable enough, nap in the selection of carriers up for consideration.

Parks is a certified professional dog trainer who has tested everything from litter boxes to cat toys with her two cats. Leeson is a former foster cat mom who has transported dozens of stressed-out cats and kittens and once flew cross-country with her own cat in the cabin. Her two cats regularly help evaluate the latest and best pet products for Business Insider Reviews.

With advice from veterinarians and pet safety experts, we developed our selection and testing criteria for the best airline-approved cat carriers. Since 2021, Shoshi and Janelle have tested 31 carriers, and Janelle continues to test new carriers as they're released to keep this guide current. The dozens of carriers we evaluated underwent the tests described here.

Feature comparison: We created a system for scoring each carrier based on the key features described in the What to look for section above.

Scrape test: We scraped a mesh section of each carrier 50 times with a fork to test its durability, noting any damage or discoloration.

Zip test: To test the durability of each carrier's zippers, we completely zipped and unzipped one of its loading entrances 50 times. In the process, we observed changes in the zipper's ability to run its course smoothly.

Luggage test: If a carrier included a luggage strap, we evaluated how well it remained balanced on top of a suitcase. We placed a 10-pound weight inside and attached the carrier to a suitcase handle so it rested on top of our luggage. Then we rolled it over a curb, up a ramp, and along the sidewalk and street of a city block.

Ventilation test: Wolko says ventilation is important to prevent a cat from overheating during travel. We measured the dimensions of each carrier's mesh panels and calculated the percentage of the total surface area they comprised. We favored bags with more ventilation. According to IATA live animal regulations, pet carrier bags must have a minimum of 16% ventilation.

Walk test: We took each soft-sided carrier containing a 10-pound weight on a 15-minute walk around a neighborhood. Each was carried using the shoulder strap and held at the front of the body the way a person would if they had a real cat inside. For the last block of the walk, we switched to using the hand-carry straps. The backpack carriers were taken on the same walk but were not carried by hand. With each one, we paid attention to how comfortable it was to carry, how much it bounced, and whether it collapsed inwards.

Goop test: We devised this test to determine how easy it would be to clean the carriers if a cat vomited or defecated in transit. We mashed together cat kibble, canned food, and water with a mortar and pestle to make the goop, then spread a tablespoon on an exterior wall and interior mat of each carrier. After 48 hours, we wiped the goop from the exterior using dish soap and water and cleaned the mats in the washing machine.

Drop and stomp tests: We brought the carriers to a local park, loaded each one with a 10-pound weight, and threw them off of a 10-foot play structure, looking for any damage that occurred upon landing. We then rolled the bags several times on the ground with the weight still inside, looking for damage to the stitching, mesh, or zippers. Later, at home, we placed each carrier on a rug and stomped on it a dozen times with bare feet, noting whether its frame changed shape or the bag suffered any other damage.

How to prepare a cat for flying

In the weeks before their trip, introduce your cat to their carrier or kennel in a positive way. "Make the carrier feel like a cave or a home or something that's comfortable, something that they're not just jammed into the first time they're on their way to the airport," says Murtaugh.

Place the carrier in an area of the home where your cat spends a lot of time and encourage them to explore it by placing catnip and treats inside or by playing with them in and around the space.

Murtaugh says that taking your cat on a car ride or other forms of transportation while in their carrier may also be helpful in the weeks before the flight. He recommends placing a bed or blanket that smells like home inside the carrier and using a pheromone spray or collar to help take the edge off.

If your cat has a history of experiencing debilitating stress during travel and will be flying in the cabin, you can speak to your vet about prescribing an anxiety-relieving medication. However, it's important to test the medication out before your flight. "Make sure there won't be any untoward side effects," says Murtaugh. "Your vet can help you tailor that to your cat's needs."

The IATA recommends against sedating a cat before flying in the cargo hold. It can be fatal for older, chronically sick, or highly stressed animals. Nilson says calming pheromones such as Feliway or Pet Remedy are safe alternatives.

Airline cat carrier FAQs

What do vets recommend for cat carriers?

Cats should always be transported in a secure carrier specifically designed for pets — never in a cardboard box, tote bag, or laundry basket. A well-designed carrier prevents escapes and can help your cat feel calmer while traveling. When properly secured in your vehicle, a pet carrier can also offer life-saving protection if you need to brake suddenly or are involved in a collision. Always follow the manufacturer's directions for securing the carrier in your vehicle or place it on the floor behind the front passenger seat. While only a limited number of carriers have been crash-tested, Dr. Alison Gerken, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist at San Francisco SPCA, recommends choosing CPS-certified models, such as the Sleepypod Air.

To minimize travel-related stress, look for a carrier with multiple access points, such as a front door and a top entry or removable top. This setup allows you to gently lift your cat in and out rather than pulling them through an opening or tipping the carrier. "That kind of handling can be extremely frightening and can create lasting fear around future travel or veterinary visits," Gerken says. Dr. Lisa Radosta, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, agrees that feline-friendly design features are essential for comfort. She also recommends Sleepypod carriers for their proper ventilation, soft cushioned interiors, and optional privacy panel for anxious cats.

Do cats prefer hard or soft-sided carriers?

It really comes down to the individual cat. Some feel more secure in a hard-sided carrier, while others prefer the coziness of a soft-sided one. For air travel, however, soft-sided carriers are typically the better choice. "Soft-sided carriers are lighter, cozier, and often easier to carry," Gerken says. The trade-offs are that soft carriers can sag inward on your cat and are more difficult to clean if your cat has an accident.

For trips to the vet with an anxious cat, a hard-sided carrier is the best option. These carriers are sturdy, easy to clean, and, most importantly, commonly feature a removable top. "This design lets cats stay in the bottom half during the exam, which helps them feel more secure," Gerken says. There are some drawbacks, though: Hard-sided carriers tend to be bulky, harder to carry, and are rarely crash-tested.

Because both styles have advantages, Gerken says many cats do well with a hybrid or semi-rigid carrier. That's why she recommends the Sleepypod Air, which blends the structure of a hard carrier with the comfort of a soft one. It can also unzip into a bed to allow for lower-stress handling at the vet.

How do I know if my cat carrier is airline-approved?

If you're bringing your cat into the plane cabin, you'll need a soft-sided carrier that fits within your airline's size restrictions, which vary slightly by airline. No matter which carrier you use, Wolko advises making sure your cat has enough room to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. There should be at least 2 to 3 inches of space between the top of your cat's ears and the inside roof of the carrier.

How much does it cost to fly with a cat? 

In-cabin pet fees vary by airline. United Airlines charges $150 for a one-way flight, and Delta charges $150 for domestic flights. Transporting a cat in the cargo hold on a domestic flight typically costs around $300 per trip. For international flights, you can expect to pay as much as three times that amount.

How much ventilation should a carrier have? 

For soft-sided carriers, Wolko says mesh should be on at least three sides to ensure proper airflow. If your cat is flying in cargo, airlines require kennels to have ventilation on all four sides. According to the IATA live animal regulations, both soft- and hard-sided carriers must provide at least 16% ventilation. 

Do cats need to go to the bathroom on a flight? 

Most healthy cats won't need access to a litter box during a standard flight. "Just based on the physiology of cats, they could probably go from Boston to Hawaii without needing to void," says Dr. Bob Murtaugh, a veterinarian and chair of veterinary medicine for the National Academies of Practice.

If your cat is traveling in the cargo hold, kennels can't be outfitted with a litter box — only an absorbent liner and soft bedding are permitted. "If the travel day will be more than eight hours, during a layover pet owners can arrange a comfort stop for cats to be let out of their carrier," says Elaine Mathis, pet travel specialist and project manager at Happy Tails Travel. When you let your cat out of their carrier, secure them with one of the best cat harnesses attached to a leash.

Do cats need food and water on a flight? 

For shorter in-cabin flights, most cats won't need food or water. However, if your cat is flying in cargo, Mathis says both a food and water bowl should be in the carrier, regardless of flight duration. She recommends using dishes that secure to the crate's door and are easy to refill from the outside, such as Lixit's Quick Lock Crock 10-ounce bowls.

What are the signs that my cat may be in distress in flight?

Murtaugh says there are a few clear signs of distress during air travel, often caused by fear or excessive heat. Panting, restlessness, and vocalization may signal significant anxiety or overheating. Bright red gums may indicate overheating, which requires immediate cooling.

With approval from a flight attendant, you can place the carrier on your lap so your cat can feel airflow from the overhead vent or wipe them with a wet cloth to help lower their body temperature. Before your trip, Nilson recommends lightly spraying the carrier with calming pheromones to help reduce stress. 

• President Donald Trump's H-1B visa fee is facing new legal trouble.
• A federal judge ruled on Monday that the $100,000 fee for new petitions is "unlawful."
• The fee caused uncertainty among tech workers since Trump introduced it last year.

President Donald Trump's $100,000 visa fee for H-1B applicants has hit a new legal roadblock.

A federal judge at a US District Court in Massachusetts ruled Monday that the fee violates the Constitution's Administrative Procedure Act.

Judge Leo Sorokin found that the fee is "unlawful," according to his ruling. Sorokin said the fee constitutes a tax and requires congressional approval to implement.

Trump's implementation of the $100,000 fee for new petitions using an executive order last year "exceeds the scope of the President's discretionary authority" under US immigration law, Sorokin wrote.

The fee has faced legal challenges since Trump signed the executive order in September.

The President has argued that companies have used the visa to replace US workers. Employees at tech companies are among the most common applicants for the visas.

While the battle over whether the fee is constitutional will likely continue, the order has already had an effect. The number of H-1B visa applications from Big Tech companies such as Google and Microsoft fell at the end of last year after Trump signed the executive order. Major AI companies, meanwhile, such as OpenAI and Nvidia, have filed more applications, according to federal data.

The fee was previously as much as $5,000 per visa before Trump made the change last year.

The Trump administration has also changed other parts of the immigration process. High-paid applicants now get multiple lottery entries, giving them a better chance of being selected versus those hoping to land lower-paid positions.

• After many years of living in New York City, I moved to the Connecticut coast.
• For a while, I felt I was thriving among beautiful views, fresh air, and lower living costs.
• Almost two years later, I missed New York City, warts and all, and moved back. I'm so glad I did.

The first time I set foot in Brooklyn was to look at an apartment.

I vividly remember the slow chug of the M Train over the Williamsburg Bridge — watching the Lower East Side shrink behind me, and the contour of the Kings County skyline approaching across the East River.

I was 23. I felt like I'd arrived and my future was limitless. I moved to that apartment. Shoebox would have been a generous description for my $900 a month room with Craigslist roommates.

For the next seven years, I bounced between North Brooklyn dwellings, my rent rising faster than inflation. By May 2023, I was paying $1,900 a month to live with two roommates in a basement that had a tendency to flood.

Maybe it was a third-life crisis, maybe it was the natural progression of the American millennial, but sometimes I felt like I just needed to touch grass. So I did what many people before me had done: I moved to the country.

My grandmother had died about six months prior, and her home on the Connecticut/Rhode Island border was about to sit empty for the summer.

This situation, my disdain for my job at the time, and the impending end of my lease seemed to be a cosmic sign that I was meant to go coastal.

I applied to a few seasonal restaurant jobs online and quickly secured employment. I sold my bed frame, desk, and dresser, loaded my late grandmother's Jeep with what remained, and put New York in the rearview.

I'd officially become one of those people who used to live in the city.

For a while, I felt like I was thriving in the pink cloud of the Connecticut coast

Economic benefits aside, I took to country life at first. Waking to the sounds of chirping birds instead of honking horns was refreshing.

My commute was now filled with the smell of freshly cut grass instead of literal garbage, and I was beholden to tourist traffic and streetlights instead of the L-train delays.

I no longer needed to go to a public park to look at trees, and I could enjoy the weather from a golf course or waterfront. Of course, I could've played golf or seen the sea in Brooklyn, but the courses would probably have been more crowded and the water less picturesque.

My restaurant wages were lower than what I'd made at my corporate job in New York, but I no longer spent nearly half my income on rent.

I was spending less on food, too. I always enjoyed cooking, but the ease and temptation of world-class cuisine often meant I was eating out in New York.

There weren't as many restaurants on the coast, and I frequently found myself in the kitchen, cooking local seafood and fresh vegetables from farmstands.

I even cooked fish I'd caught, which I suppose is also possible in New York (but only recently deemed safe).

After reckoning with the limits of my lifestyle, I realized I wanted to be back in New York

Although the culture shock was mostly positive for a while, there were signs that my new reality conflicted with my conditioning.

One night, I left work famished around 8 p.m. I looked up restaurants in the area and noticed most of the kitchens had either closed or would do so by the time I could drive there.

In a moment of desperation, I pulled into a Burger King, only to find that closed too. In Brooklyn, people would just now be heading to dinner — if I hurried, I might be able to catch them.

This was the first realization that I missed city life. Not long after, I found myself growing impatient with the line at a coffee shop, lamenting the price of gas, and the quality of the local bacon, egg, and cheese.

I visited New York a few times over that year. Leaving got harder each time. People on the coast often asked how "dangerous" city life was, but in reality, I often felt safer on the subway platform at midnight than I did driving on Connecticut's pitch-black backroads.

I knew my new life had become unsustainable when I took the Amtrak down to the city on a hot August weekend. I exited Penn Station to the stickiness of Midtown and was greeted with thick air and a cacophony of horns.

I acknowledged the objective unpleasantness, and yet I felt at ease.

Maybe it was part nostalgia, but if I missed the disgusting chaos of arguably one of the worst places in Manhattan, then maybe this was where I was meant to be.

Shortly after that, I started applying to jobs back in New York and scrolling various apartment sites.

This time, I feel like I've returned home for good

By November, I had two restaurant jobs lined up and met someone on Reddit renting a cheap room a few blocks from one of my old apartments. I was going home.

I've been back in Brooklyn now for about as long as I was away, a little over a year. The first few months, I worked almost every day just to cover rent, and felt a rude awakening every time I looked at my credit-card bill or bank account.

I'm down to one job now, and while the financial pains are still real, at least I know where to get a cheap meal at midnight.

Sometimes I get a yearning for grass and fresh air. At the end of each month, I certainly yearn for cheaper living quarters, but not when I take the M train.

Even now, at 32 years old with a jaded lived reality and mounting bills, when I chug over the Williamsburg Bridge, I feel 23. I see the city lights on every side of me, and I'm filled with this childlike wonder and optimism.

I feel like I'm home, where anything is possible.

• Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong talked about some of Coinbase's strategy for keeping token costs "roughly flat" on X.
• "We're working hard on routing prompts to cheaper models where appropriate," Armstrong wrote.
• The post ignited debate over token-saving strategies — and what it means for the big AI labs.

Not every AI prompt needs Opus 4.8.

As the fervor of tokenmaxxing dies down, some AI users are wondering how to get more bang for their buck and keep their monthly costs in check. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shared the crypto company's strategy: not skimping on the cheaper models.

"We're working hard on routing prompts to cheaper models where appropriate, and in some cases have been able to keep costs roughly flat, while token usage continues to grow exponentially," Armstrong wrote on X on Sunday.

While the latest models like Opus 4.8 or GPT-5.5 promise bleeding-edge benefits, they can also devour more tokens. (That's before you turn on Fast mode.) When Anthropic launchedi Opus 4.7, many users complained that they were quickly hitting rate limits.

Armstrong wrote that he anticipated "80% of workloads will be running on 99% cheaper models within 12-18 months."

The only times when users will use the latest models, Armstrong predicted, are when they need to be "IQ maxing." This includes scientific breakthroughs or agent orchestration.

"This leads me to think the limiting factor will be energy and compute, not better models," Armstrong wrote.

The Coinbase CEO's post caught the attention of some tech luminaries. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen called it "interesting." Hugging Face cofounder Julien Chaumond wrote that "model routing is growing a lot these days."

Box CEO Aaron Levie wrote that Armstrong's numbers were a "bit extreme," but that AI use would likely stratify in the coming years. "High end" work will be completed by leading models, Levie wrote, while "high volume" work will be relegated to the cheap models.

"Intelligence allocation is going to be extremely important," Harvey cofounder Winston Weinberg wrote.

The efficiency mindset is relatively new — or at least new to publicly flaunt. Not long ago, when tokenmaxxing was all the rage, tech leaders would post their high token bills or flex their usage of the latest models.

That mindset is especially popular in the startup space, where Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan advises founders to "let it rip" with tokens. Lance Yan, a YC-backed startup founder, told Business Insider in April that rationing tokens was "stupid."

The tide seems to be turning. Glean cofounder Tony Gentilcore commented that Armstrong's post was "spot on."

"Everyone technical already knows this," Gentilcore wrote. "The financial markets are the only ones extrapolating out Opus prices to infinite scale."

• The rising costs of higher education are prompting some people to reconsider four-year degrees.
• Higher educational attainment is associated with higher earnings across all 50 US states.
• Adults with some college or an associate degree earn the most in Maryland, with a median of $55,301.

The cost of higher education across the US continues to rise, and for many Americans, the decision to pursue a four-year degree is as much a financial calculation as an academic one.

Some of the benefits of a college education are intangible, such as the development of character, independence, and critical thinking that come from four years of organized instruction.

But going to college can also lead to an earnings premium. Across the US, bachelor's degree-holders earn an average of 38.6% more than adults with an associate degree or those who attended some college but did not complete a four-year degree.

That translates to an average earnings gap of about $18,539 a year across states.

Business Insider analyzed earnings data from the US Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey and ranked states by the median earnings for adults 25 and older with some college or an associate degree, to account for people who may have pursued careers in more technical trades after graduating from high school. We also identified the median earnings for high school graduates in each state.

Across all states, higher levels of education were largely associated with higher median earnings.

The ranking does not adjust for differences in cost of living across states, which often overlap with educational attainment levels and can affect how far those earnings go. States with large professional labor markets are often ranked among the highest-cost-of-living states.

Still, for people who decide to forgo a four-year education, these are the states ranked by median earnings, from lowest to highest.

50. Arkansas

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $41,732

Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,020

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $57,152

49. Mississippi

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $41,781

Median earnings for high school graduates: $35,287

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $55,481

48. New Mexico

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $42,468

Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,038

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $56,159

47. Louisiana

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,459

Median earnings for high school graduates: $35,973

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $59,917

46. West Virginia

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,674

Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,207

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $56,967

45. Oklahoma

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,787

Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,015

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,006

44. Montana

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,921

Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,322

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $56,457

43. Wyoming

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $44,339

Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,543

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $54,213

42. North Carolina

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $44,474

Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,689

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,170

41. Florida

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,172

Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,044

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,618

40. Alabama

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,321

Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,147

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $61,183

39. Kentucky

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,352

Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,137

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,854

38. Missouri

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,360

Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,568

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,091

37. Tennessee

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,492

Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,835

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,654

36. Michigan

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,580

Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,399

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $66,497

35. Idaho

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,707

Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,114

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,198

34. Kansas

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,825

Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,694

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,534

33. South Carolina

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,860

Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,043

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $63,731

32. Georgia

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,919

Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,311

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $70,582

31. Nevada

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $46,278

Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,969

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,782

30. Ohio

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $46,601

Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,810

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $67,591

29. Vermont

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $46,998

Median earnings for high school graduates: $44,859

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $61,949

28. Nebraska

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,163

Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,356

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,021

26. (tie) Texas

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,269

Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,098

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $69,494

26. (tie) Maine

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,269

Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,689

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,442

25. Oregon

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,544

Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,165

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $69,562

24. Illinois

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,598

Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,132

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $72,625

23. Arizona

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,923

Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,518

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $67,466

22. Indiana

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,929

Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,985

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $63,367

21. Iowa

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $48,062

Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,765

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,244

20. Pennsylvania

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $48,250

Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,765

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $70,261

19. Delaware

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,094

Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,495

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,673

18. New York

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,538

Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,608

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $76,760

17. Utah

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,669

Median earnings for high school graduates: $44,405

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,299

16. South Dakota

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,698

Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,822

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $58,207

15. Rhode Island

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,264

Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,251

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $69,496

14. Wisconsin

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,315

Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,333

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,697

13. Virginia

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,450

Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,012

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $75,575

12. Hawaii

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,549

Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,373

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,969

11. California

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,031

Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,535

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $80,874

10. Colorado

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,247

Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,010

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $75,637

8. (tie) North Dakota

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,644

Median earnings for high school graduates: $47,787

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,560

8. (tie) New Jersey

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,644

Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,624

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $81,107

7. Connecticut

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,686

Median earnings for high school graduates: $44,573

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $77,879

6. Minnesota

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $52,185

Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,121

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $72,538

5. Massachusetts

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $52,218

Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,742

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $81,784

4. New Hampshire

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $52,513

Median earnings for high school graduates: $47,609

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $71,669

3. Washington

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $53,857

Median earnings for high school graduates: $47,996

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $81,640

2. Alaska

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $54,950

Median earnings for high school graduates: $45,904

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $69,031

1. Maryland

Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $55,301

Median earnings for high school graduates: $45,273

Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $79,242

• Steve Eisman says he's cautious on the SpaceX IPO.
• 'The Big Short' investor took a look at the SpaceX S-1, highlighting some numbers he finds concerning.
• In his view, Elon Musk's company is too capital intensive, particularly its AI spending.

SpaceX is gearing up for its record-setting IPO, but one prominent investor says he's treading cautiously amid the hype.

Steve Eisman, one of the traders who bet against the housing market in crisis-era saga "The Big Short," told CNBC on Monday that while he isn't planning to short the space stock when it starts trading, the company's S-1 filing raises some concerns.

"I think what is probably most important in the prospectus is how capital-intensive SpaceX has become," Eisman noted. "If you go back to fiscal year 2023 and you compare revenue to capex, capex was only 42% of revenue, and in the most recent first quarter, it was 215% of revenue."

Eisman attributed the capex surge to the significant AI buildout in which SpaceX has attempted to pivot toward branding itself as an AI services and infrastructure company company as opposed to a more pure-play space tech firm. In his view, the AI endeavors are making the company too capital intensive, contributing to his pessimistic view.

He also said that he doesn't view Grok as a leading AI model, and despite SpaceX's compute partnership with leading AI startup Anthropic, he still sees the company's business as overly capital intensive.

Eisman added that he thinks the most important news story of the past week is Google's $80 billion capital raise, because it highlights just how capital intensive the entire tech sector has become, with the whole business model shifting from asset-light to asset-heavy as the data center buildout continues at breakneck pace.

"Despite the incredible sums of money that are being spent, what's being produced in terms of LLMs and agentic AI, which is great, is not really differentiable," he added. "It's very commoditized. People are switching constantly from one to the other. There are no moats, so for all the money that's being spent, what's being created, it seems to me, is a commodity."

Eisman also addressed the topic of betting against Elon Musk, responding to the argument that as a CEO, he has constantly found new ways to survive and innovate, even when faced with multiple headwinds.

While he didn't deny Musk's record of success, Eisman reiterated his concerns about the capital intensive nature of SpaceX's business, highlighting what he sees as an over reliance on costly AI in a market where uncertainty is still high.

"The entire company is being bet on AI in terms of its future, not on space and not on Starlink," Eisman said.

• Mojo Joyo and his wife, Zainab, run chai cafes in California.
• They tried setting zones of the house and days of the week to avoid business talk.
• Ultimately, they realized they needed a more integrated communication technique.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mojo and Zainab Joyo, owners of Elaichi Co. It has been edited for length and clarity.

A few years ago, I found myself missing a very specific piece of my childhood: sitting in chai cafés in Pakistan with my cousins. We'd be together, late at night, sharing stories and enjoying quality time together — and chai was at the center of it.

I wanted to recreate that feeling, especially after the social isolation of the pandemic. My wife Zainab and I talked about how to do that, and finally, in 2024, we had the courage to open Elaichi Co., a chai café in Berkeley.

At first, we were both working full-time while running the company. Zainab, especially, felt a lot of social pressure to hold onto a stable job. But when she was laid off in November 2024, we decided she would work at Elaichi full-time, while I continued with my day job.

I felt like I was living with my business partner, not my wife

Zainab was wearing many hats: marketing, events, HR, inventory, and more. When I got home, she'd fill me in on everything I needed to know about. It wasn't long before we realized that about 95% of our conversations were about the business. That wasn't what we wanted.

Finding the right tech tools helped some. We were able to get quick insight into our finances without getting into the weeds when we started using the fintech company, Mercury. Yet tools alone weren't enough.

We had only been married a few years, but Zainab wasn't getting the emotional support she needed from her husband, and I felt like I was living with my business partner, not my wife. Business kept getting in the way of our relationship, so we decided to make a shift.

We made the bedroom and dining room business free zones

Both of us found it frustrating to lie in bed at night, only to have the other person bring up a business question. We decided to designate certain areas of the house for personal talk only, not for business. The bedroom and dining room were spaces for our relationship.

It sounded great in theory, but it was inevitable that someone would bring business up when it popped into their head. If Zainab asked me a business question and I reminded her about our rule — no business talk in bed — she'd just be even more frustrated.

We abandoned this approach within a week.

Designating family days didn't work well either

Next, we tried blocking off certain days of the week for family time. Saturday night was for us as a couple, and Sundays were for extended family. This worked much better, and we were able to stick with it for about three months.

As the owners, however, we were always on call. If an employee called out or there was a big event, we needed to be there. It was hard to maintain the rhythm of family days when we were constantly being thrown off.

We stopped fighting against business talk

Everything came to a head about a year ago. We went to Puerto Vallarta for Zainab's 30th birthday. It should have been a great trip with just the two of us, but we felt disconnected throughout. We didn't like that we were still unhappy with how our relationship was going, despite trying different solutions. Neither our marriage nor our business was going to succeed unless something changed.

Once we got back, we shifted from talking about our rules to thinking about why we were using them. We realized we were trying to fit into other people's ideas of what makes a good relationship.

We really enjoy running our business together, and we realized that if we were having fun talking about Elaichi, that was OK. We don't have to force ourselves to have a business-free night out together if we're actually really excited about working on a new business project together. Fighting against that had actually been making our work-life balance harder.

I'm doing business with my life partner

This year, we've had more fluid boundaries between our marriage and our business partnership. We focus on what we want to do together, rather than on arbitrary boundaries that we thought we needed. If we want to have a date night, we do; but we also sometimes talk about business at the dinner table, because it's something we're both passionate about.

That's defused a lot of tension, and we're able to communicate with each other quickly and more honestly. We have a level of trust and understanding that we don't have with anyone else.

Today, I no longer feel like I'm living with my business partner; I feel I'm doing business with my life partner. That's a much better approach.

• I live alone, but I still love shopping in bulk at Costco and using my executive membership.
• I always buy the Kirkland Signature breakfast sandwiches and Stonefire naan dippers.
• Frozen options like the Bibigo vegetable spring rolls are perfect for a single shopper like me.

Even though I live alone and only grocery shop for myself, I still love stocking up on everything I need at Costco.

In fact, I've been a Costco executive member for years, and even split the membership with a family member to get the most bang for my buck.

Whether it's comfort food, snacks, vegetables, or on-sale deals, I always find something new to try. Here are ten Costco items I always buy.

On busy mornings, I reach for a Kirkland Signature breakfast sandwich.

My freezer is always stocked with a box of Kirkland Signature breakfast sandwiches, so when a morning is particularly busy, I can still have a delicious breakfast in a flash.

These croissant sandwiches — made with applewood-smoked bacon, egg, and cheese — heat up in minutes in the microwave or air fryer.

My secret to delectable at-home coffee is the Nescafé Gold instant espresso.

I'm so happy Costco carries the Nescafé Gold instant espresso, since I haven't had luck finding it at other stores.

Every time I use it to make coffee at home, it feels like a special treat.

The 4Earth Farms rainbow carrots are delicious and last me a while.

I always leave Costco with a bag of 4Earth Farms rainbow carrots.

This 2-pound bag of hand-peeled carrots makes for a colorful side dish. Plus, the bag is enough for multiple servings.

I typically either cook them in the oven with a little butter and chopped dill, eat them plain as a healthy snack, or blend them into smoothies.

I love snacking on the Stonefire naan dippers.

Whenever I want to try something new, I always check out which items are on sale at Costco.

On my most recent visit, the Stonefire naan dippers were $2 off, so I decided to check them out — and they were great.

I especially liked pairing them with Bolani cilantro chutney for extra zest.

The Bibigo vegetable spring rolls help me avoid ordering out.

Instead of heading to a restaurant, I like to reach for the Bibigo vegetable spring rolls, which taste like takeout, but come straight from my freezer.

A bonus: the box comes with a delicious soy ginger sauce to serve on the side.

Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese is an essential in my home.

I use cheese in a lot of my everyday meals, which is why I love to stock up on Tillamook sharp cheddar whenever I'm at Costco.

This cheese has a bold flavor and is my go-to for enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches, and omelets.

I also love to snack on it with some crackers.

Skippy creamy peanut butter is a versatile must-have in my kitchen.

I always make sure to pick up a two-pack of Skippy creamy peanut butter at Costco.

Not only does this peanut butter have a good shelf life, but it's also so versatile.

I like to add it to my breakfast smoothies, use it as a dip for apples, or blend it with a chili-garlic sauce to serve with chicken breast strips.

My go-to protein source is the Kirkland Signature chicken breast chunks.

The Kirkland Signature chunked chicken breast is extra lean and stores well, making it the perfect protein to keep on hand.

This chicken, which has 13 grams of protein per serving, is my secret to delicious sandwiches and chicken salad.

It also tastes great sautéed with peas, mushrooms, and béchamel sauce, then served on toast.

I always use the entire pack of Highline organic mini bella mushrooms.

Even though the Highline organic mini bella mushrooms look like a large purchase for one person, I always end up eating them all, since I use them in so many everyday meals.

Typically, I sauté these mushrooms with olive oil, garlic, and parsley, then add them to some cooked pasta.

They're also great when sliced and thrown into salads, or baked with cream cheese and garlic on top.

Costco's wine selection is a single shopper's dream.

Luckily, wine at Costco doesn't need to be bought in cases, so I can just buy one bottle at a time.

I normally grab a bottle that's on sale, and since Costco typically discounts different wines each time I visit, I've had the chance to try a variety of options.

• Supplements are more popular than ever, but they're unregulated in the US.
• There is a time and place for supplements, but often a food-first approach is better.
• The dietitian Josie Porter takes three evidence-backed supplements.

As a registered dietitian who worked in clinical settings for a decade, Josie Porter has seen supplements go from a treatment for deficiencies to a wellness product taken in the pursuit of self-optimization.

"I've seen the stacks of supplements getting longer over time. So I can definitely see how the supplement industry is becoming more and more profitable, and more and more popular," Porter, the author of "How Not To Take Supplements," she told Business Insider.

Although supplement ads can be convincing, there is often limited evidence behind the health claims made by manufacturers, she said.

The supplement industry isn't regulated by the FDA, meaning that unless a product is third-party tested, it is hard to know if it truly contains what's on the label. It could contain more, less, or none of the nutrients you're looking for, Porter said. And lots of supplements contain a mix of ingredients, raising the risk of unknowingly taking more than you need.

Porter shared the three supplements she takes based on scientific evidence. "It's really just about sensible supplements," she said.

Vitamin D

In the darker fall and winter months, Porter, who lives in London, takes a vitamin D supplement. This is the recommendation of the UK's National Health Service, as during those months there is limited sunlight, a major source of vitamin D.

Few foods naturally contain vitamin D, but fatty fish, egg yolks, cheese, and fortified milk and cereal are among the richest sources.

Vitamin D supports the immune system and helps the body absorb calcium, which is important for bone health, among other things.

Omega-three

Porter takes omega-three capsules, but only when she hasn't eaten oily fish for a while. "I just take it as and when I need it," she said.

Omega-three fatty acids are found in oily fish such as salmon and sardines, as well as walnuts and chia seeds. They have been linked to better heart and joint health, lower inflammation, and lower blood pressure. Evidence suggests eating oily fish is superior to taking supplements when it comes to benefiting from omega-three.

Collagen

When she injured a tendon, the tough, fibrous cord of connective tissue that attaches skeletal muscles to bones, Porter took a collagen supplement. She has also experimented with collagen as skincare.

She took her collagen as a powder stirred into liquid, but it's also available as a gel in a liposomal form, tablets, and gummies.

"The best ones to go for are marine or bovine," Porter said. There are so-called vegan collagen supplements, but they contain collagen-boosting ingredients such as vitamin C rather than collagen, she said.

Collagen is a protein that we produce less of as we age, which the body produces naturally and is essential to the structure of the skin. The science is mixed, but evidence suggests that collagen supplementation can improve skin hydration and elasticity, giving a more youthful appearance.

• I'm a professional baker, and I tried 10 different desserts from Whole Foods' bakery section.
• I was really impressed by both the chain's tres leches and chocolate-eruption cakes.
• I felt the brownies and macarons were disappointing, and the berry Chantilly cake was just OK.

Whole Foods is known for its quality food and a wide selection of specialty, natural, and organic ingredients.

Its salad bar and hot buffet are great for lunch, and it also has a large bakery section with items ranging from breakfast pastries to decorated cakes.

But just how good are Whole Foods' desserts, really?

As a professional baker, recipe developer, and former bakery owner, I always prefer home-baked desserts, but I recognize that sometimes you need a quick fix or an easy pick-up-and-go treat for a special occasion.

So, I shopped for a range of treats from my nearest Whole Foods store in the Seattle area to see what's really worth buying.

The berry Chantilly cake was on display in the bakery case.

First, I tried the beloved berry Chantilly cake.

This treat has had a longtime cult following and is probably the most popular bakery item at Whole Foods. It went viral when the chain tried to change its recipe a few years ago, and has since inspired many dupes.

It had a prime spot on the bakery display when I visited my local Whole Foods.

According to its ingredients list, it consists of vanilla cake, Chantilly icing and frosting, cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, raspberry syrup and puree, and a mixture of fresh berries — including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.

I got a 6-inch round for $30.

I don't think the cake lives up to its hype.

I've tried this cake before, and after the second time, I still don't feel like it lives up to the hype.

The cake layers were pretty dry, but the smooth Chantilly cream helps make up for it. Though the ingredient list mentions raspberry syrup and puree, I couldn't seem to taste or find either.

A few berries were added to the layers, with a thin layer of cream between each. Before owning my own bakery, I was a grocery-store cake decorator, and I can certainly understand how tricky these layers would be to stack with chunks of fresh fruit.

Is it better than many other grocery-store-bakery cakes? Yes. It's also wonderful that there's real, fresh fruit in the cake. However, I was still longing for something a bit more.

Overall, the flavor is excellent, without the cake being too sweet — I just wish the actual cake layers were a bit moister.

The store had New York cheesecake in rounds and slices.

At my local Whole Foods, I saw whole New York cheesecakes in the bakery case and individual slices in the cold case.

I grabbed a slice for $5.

Every bite of this cheesecake was very rich.

To me, a good cheesecake should have a flavorful, textured crust balanced by a smooth, rich filling.

This cheesecake slice was almost there, but had a few shortcomings. The crust was soggy and reminded me of a sugar cookie. I'm a graham-cracker-crust fan, so this was a bit of a drawback for me.

The texture of the cheesecake filling was wonderfully smooth and rich, and the flavor wasn't too sweet, but it was pretty overwhelming. It had a very robust cheese flavor, and I wished for a bit more balance.

Although this cheesecake didn't win me over, I could see it pairing well with a fruit sauce or fresh berries.

I was told the chocolate-eruption cake is a crowd favorite.

A store employee told me the chocolate-eruption cake is another customer-favorite dessert (alongside the berry Chantilly cake, of course).

I had a 6-inch cake boxed up from the bakery display cake for $27.

This cake had an excellent chocolate flavor.

I'm still thinking of this chocolate cake long after tasting it, which means it was a top winner for me.

The cake itself looked stunning, with a ganache drip, piped details, and chocolate curls to spruce it up even further. The three layers of chocolate cake were wonderfully moist and tender — and pairing them with a chocolate-mousse filling made it even better.

As the name suggests, it was incredibly chocolaty but not too rich. It was well-balanced, making it easy for a chocolate lover to enjoy every bite.

I was intrigued by the tres leches cake.

Packaged and ready to grab from the cold case, the family pack of tres leches cake looked quite unassuming.

The simple-looking piece cost me $14.

This was easily my favorite dessert.

What this dessert lacks in appearance, it certainly makes up for in flavor. Talk about finding a hidden gem!

The simple cake base is soaked in cream and sweetened condensed milk and finished with a whipped topping. The texture was incredible with an excellent, balanced flavor.

Every bite contained subtle notes of coconut and caramel that were neither too sweet nor overpowering.

It's perfect on its own, but there's certainly room to dress it up at home if you plan to serve it for a special occasion. A few sliced strawberries on top could go a long way.

Sampling a chocolate-chunk cookie was a must.

There are plenty of cookie options in the Whole Foods bakery, but I chose something classic with a slightly elevated twist.

I picked up a pack of four brown-butter chocolate-chunk cookies for $7.50

These are excellent for curbing a craving.

Perfectly chewy and packed with flavor is the best way to describe these tasty cookies. I loved that they had chocolate chunks rather than chips — and there were plenty of them.

Thanks to the brown butter and vanilla extract, the flavor of this cookie was slightly richer than that of a typical chocolate-chip cookie.

Overall, it was excellent in every bite.

There were multiple flavors of macarons to choose from.

I found several flavors of Parisian macarons in the bakery display case. I chose one vanilla, one chocolate, and one salted caramel.

Each macaron was $2.

The texture of the macarons disappointed me.

I will always get macarons if they're offered at a bakery. I'm a forever fan, and I had high hopes for these offerings.

I tried three different flavors, and though each tasted decent (especially salted caramel), their textures seemed a bit off to me.

Although the interiors of the macarons were chewy, the exteriors were far too crunchy and dry, in my opinion.

I was surprised by the numerous pie flavors available at my Whole Foods.

The Whole Foods bakery had several pie flavors available, including pecan, four-berry, and apple.

To get a taste for the crust and fruit filling, I purchased a 9-inch cherry pie for $15.

This was a decent pie for the price point.

Putting together a homemade pie can feel like a lot of work, even for seasoned bakers. For $15, this feels like a decent option if you aren't up to making your own.

The not-too-sweet flavor was excellent. The crust, however, wasn't one bit flaky or buttery and seemed a bit soggy, as if it had been pulled out of the oven a few minutes too early.

Overall, I wished for a better pie crust, but it's a decent option in a pinch. I also wonder if I just got a dud.

Whole Foods had individually wrapped brownies and larger packs of them.

Brownies are a classic, and every bakery should offer a great version of this treat.

My Whole Foods had brownies in packs of four and individually wrapped ones. I chose to buy the latter and paid $2.75 each.

These fell a bit flat for me.

It's hard for me to believe that a grocery-store bakery would produce a lackluster brownie, but I think Whole Foods has.

The top of the brownie seemed surprisingly dry and crackly, yet underneath, it had a wonderful cakey-meets-fudgy balance.

Unfortunately, the dry top detracted from that. In terms of flavor, I expected a wonderfully balanced, chocolaty brownie — but I thought it was relatively bland and disappointing.

The dog-shaped shortbread cookies I found were too cute to pass up.

Among the bakery's cookie selection, I found shortbread shaped like little Scottie dogs that were partially dunked in a chocolate coating.

The four-pack of cookies cost me $5.50.

I wished these adorable cookies tasted a little better.

I hoped for an adorable cookie that also tasted fantastic, but I ended up disappointed.

These were definitely more of an impulse buy, based on the cookie's cute shape and design, but biting into one let me down.

The texture was fine, but the flavor was oddly artificial to me. I don't think they tasted balanced or buttery, and the hint of vanilla I was expecting didn't come through.

The tiramisu cake looked beautiful in the display case.

My local Whole Foods had tiramisu dessert cups, and there was also a whole tiramisu cake in the bakery display case.

I bought a pretty 6-inch tiramisu cake for $27.

This is a great dessert for a special occasion.

Making tiramisu isn't difficult, but it does require a few steps. If you want to skip them and buy it premade as a cake, this one from Whole Foods is a worthy option.

The two-layer dessert had terrific flavor thanks to the vanilla cake paired with a creamy, coffee-flavored filling. The top was dressed up nicely with even more piped cream, a dusting of cocoa powder, and chocolate curls.

I think it's a bit pricey for what it is, but a good option if you need to pick up a showstopping dessert for a special occasion.

This story was originally published on November 20, 2024, and most recently updated on June 1, 2026.

• The stock market's nine-week winning streak came to an end due to Friday's sell-off.
• Morgan Stanley CIO Michael Wilson says the pullback is a "healthy reset" for bullish gains to continue.
• Rates remain a key risk to the strategist's bullish outlook.

The S&P 500 recorded its largest drop of 2026 on Friday, while the Nasdaq capped off its worst week since the Liberation Day tariff rout. It was a bruising moment for investors, but a top strategist says the pull back actually supports a continued bull run.

Morgan Stanley CIO Michael Wilson said the sell-off represents a "healthy reset," maintaining his 8,000 year-end target for the S&P 500, implying 7.5% upside from Monday's open.

"While Friday's positioning-driven sell-off was notable, earnings and macro data remain strong and supportive of broader participation over the coming months," Wilson wrote.

The S&P 500 recorded its largest single-day decline of the year on Friday after a stronger-than-expected jobs report nixed any hopes of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates in 2026.

The chip-led decline

Friday's sell-off marked an end of the stock market's nine week winning streak.

The declines were led by chip stocks, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF seeing its largest daily losses since March 2020. The ETF is up over 80% year-to-date.

"Friday's move lower was led by Semiconductors and Memory stocks, where sharp year-to-date gains met crowded positioning across hedge funds and levered ETFs," the Morgan Stanley strategist said, noting that the firm's research found that semis represent around 25% of the global hedge fund book. Wilson explained that this positioning likely amplified the sell-off.

"From here, the path for markets will likely depend on how quickly positioning normalizes, as well as how rates, rate volatility, oil, and the US dollar trade," the strategist outlined.

The chip ETF opened Monday's trading session higher, taking back some of losses from Friday, alongside the tech-heavy Nasdaq which led major indexes higher.

Bullish 'glass half full' outlook

Morgan Stanley's CIO isn't the only investing pro on Wall Street saying Friday's sell-off isn't cause for concern.

"In spite of Friday's sharp weakness across traditionally riskier asset classes, we continue to forecast glass-half-full outcomes for diversified portfolio," Northern Trust Wealth Management CIO Eric Freedman said.

"Friday's volatility has been admittedly uncharacteristic, yet likely overdue. Before Friday's sell-off, the S&P 500 had risen 20% since March 30, increasing in a near straight-line fashion," he explained.

Both Wilson and Freedman point to earnings fueling fundamental strength that will support the bull run continuing through year end. The stronger-than-expected first quarter earnings season has raised some worries on Wall Street with some exports saying the AI bubble is an earnings bubble.

Nancy Tengler, CEO and CIO at Laffer Tengler Investments pushed back on AI bubble fears, saying, "If we're in a bubble, then it'll pop, but I'm not convinced we're there yet."

"There's still a tremendous amount of skepticism, which is a good thing for investors because markets tend to climb a wall of worry. I think what we're seeing in the short term is a flight toward what's next," she said.

Risks remain

Morgan Stanley's base case signals the S&P 500 is set for further gains, but the firm's CIO says risks to the bull market remain.

"Rates and rate volatility remain a near-term risk, contingent on inflation data as well as Fed and Treasury liquidity provisioning."

The 10-year bond yield sits at 4.51%, above the level Wilson has flagged as a bearish indicator for equities.

The Fed will announce its latest interest rate decision on June 17 at its first FOMC meeting since Kevin Warsh succeeded Jerome Powell.

The market sees a rate hike before year-end as the most likely outcome, according to CME's FedWatch tool, a stark contrast from the two to three rate cuts investors expected at the beginning of the year.

Investors will get fresh inflation data this week with a CPI release on Wednesday and PPI reports on Thursday.

• I've traveled to more than 50 countries, but there are just three I keep going back to.
• Italy feels like home to me, and it has some of the best food and views across its diverse regions.
• Iceland and Switzerland are some of the most incredible places I've ever visited.

As a travel writer and photographer, I'm incredibly lucky to have ventured to so many special corners of the world.

From hiking with goats in Austria and camping on the snow in Antarctica, to completing an eight-day solo pilgrimage trek in Japan, and going lobster fishing in Newfoundland, I've had no shortage of wild adventures.

Having been to all seven continents and more than 50 countries so far, one of the questions I'm most often asked is, "What's your favorite place that you've been?"

I find it nearly impossible to answer, because I truly believe that every destination has something to offer. There are a few places, though, that have captured my heart in such a tight hug that I've been lured back into their embrace heaps of times.

Places that fulfill me the most are a joy to photograph, have a fantastic food and beverage scene, and offer show-stopping outdoor endeavors, small towns meant for slow wandering, and opportunities to connect with the local culture, people, and nature in meaningful ways.

These are the three countries that regularly fuel my daydreams, and I can't resist going back to them again and again.

Everything feels cooler in Iceland

On day one of my first trip to Iceland, I fell head over heels, and I've returned several times since, with no plans to stop anytime soon.

I've always been a huge fan of road trips, and this country is made for them, down to the incredible gas station hot dogs (no, seriously). The otherworldly landscape, endless waterfalls, rich Viking history, and oh my goodness, the natural hot springs and swimming culture — I love it all.

Each season has something different to offer, from spotting puffins in the summer months to watching the northern lights flaunt their winter moves above.

Having explored on my own several times, I've always felt super safe and believe Iceland is a fantastic destination for solo travelers. My camera gets a serious workout in Iceland — it's exceptional for photography with endless beauty at every turn.

Although I'm not a huge city person, Iceland is also home to my favorite capital: Reykjavik. The food and culture scene is out of this world, and if you get the chance to ring in the New Year there like I did this past year, it'll blow your mind.

I can't get enough of Italy

At this point, Italy feels like a second home to me, and not just because I have family heritage ties to the country.

My very first trip there more than a decade ago sparked an obsession and a longing to visit nearly every year — I even spent a summer teaching English at a small school in Tuscany.

I've walked in the footsteps of my maternal grandfather in the small village where he was raised, and explored everywhere from the Lake District, Tuscany, Liguria (where I attended a fish festival), Puglia, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, and, most recently, Sicily.

My top place from a two-week vacation with my partner was the Aeolian Island of Salina, where we experienced a delightfully slow few days at the best hotel I've ever stayed in, Principe di Salina.

I've found that each region offers something different, plus there are numerous festivals and events throughout every season. Every nook and cranny feels like a history lesson and living museum between the tiny medieval hilltop villages, ancient ruins, arts, and culture.

Don't even get me started on the food and wine! Italy is a mecca for everything I crave.

Switzerland is such a special place

The first time I set foot on Swiss soil, I was starstruck. I was also somewhat lost, in all senses of the word. Physically, I was looking for a cog train; mentally, I was figuring out my next life chapter.

It turns out that spectacular scenery, a change of pace, and hiking with sheep can do wonders to clear your head. So, Switzerland will always hold a special place in my heart.

Although I've visited the country more than seven times since that initial trip, I'm still enamored by the crisp Swiss air, spectacular outdoor adventure opportunities, and chocolate.

I've criss-crossed the country on the incredibly efficient and scenic trains, trekked to peaks, through small villages, behind waterfalls, and valleys, and even raced down a mountain track on a Super Mario-style cart.

Although I've spent time in many of the diverse regions, Switzerland's sunny Ticino may be my favorite. This region on the edge of Lake Maggiore blends the best of Swiss and Italian food and culture, and is the perfect alternative to Lake Como, away from the crowds.

• The Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday night.
• Stars like Queen Latifah and Luke Evans were among the best-dressed attendees.
• Others, like Drew Barrymore, wore confusing outfits that missed the mark.

Broadway extended off the stage and into Radio City Music Hall over the weekend.

The 79th annual Tony Awards were held on Sunday night, with the world's biggest theater stars gathered in the audience. Pink hosted the night's festivities, and artists like Megan Thee Stallion performed.

There was also fashion galore across the event's red carpet. Some celebrity looks were stunning. Others, unfortunately, were not.

These are the best and worst outfits we saw.

Danielle Brooks sparkled in silver and diamonds.

The actor and Broadway star wore a Wiederhoeft design for the 2026 Tonys, and it fit her like a glove.

The silver gown had an off-the-shoulder top with lace detailing, a floor-length skirt, and sequins from top to bottom.

The latter matched her diamond jewelry, which included rings, statement bracelets, and earrings.

There was too much happening with Drew Barrymore's three-piece look.

Barrymore donned Balenciaga for the event.

She wore a white button-down blouse with a train tucked into oversize trousers and elbow-length gloves that bunched her long sleeves.

Together, there was too much going on with the outfit. Swapping the pants for a shorter skirt could have drastically improved the look.

Adrien Brody looked dapper in stripes.

His dark Saint Laurent suit was decorated with subtle pinstripes that matched the black-and-white design of his shirt.

The pattern was bold enough to stand out on the carpet, yet simple and chic, so his outfit overall looked effortless.

Leslie Odom Jr. had a rare fashion miss.

He arrived at the Tony Awards wearing an ensemble from the New York City brand Public School. It comprised oversize trousers, an asymmetrical suit jacket, and a red satin bomber jacket.

The outfit's base could have worked on the theater star, especially if paired with some sparkling jewelry.

Unfortunately, the vibrant streetwear-style jacket he wore over it distracted from the look.

Queen Latifah looked like royalty in a feathered cape.

Naeem Khan designed her iridescent look.

It featured a black sleeveless gown beneath a floor-length cape with beaded designs up top and green feathers from the waist down.

The look was flattering and eye-catching, especially when paired with the rosy pink makeup and crystal jewelry Queen Latifah wore.

Lea Michele looked great — but she should have saved her outfit for a different event.

Michael Kors designed her gown, featuring a white tank-top bodice and a sparkling black skirt with a short train.

The look was perfectly suited for Michele, and she looked great on the carpet. Still, the outfit was too casual for the Tonys.

It would've been nice to see her wear something more glamorous and change into this dress later in the evening.

Luke Evans made a case for white suits, and it worked.

The "Rocky Horror Show" star arrived at the Tonys in a white Balenciaga suit, a matching undershirt, and a bow tie.

The outfit was tailored to him perfectly and stood out from any other suit at the event.

• First-quarter earnings season has prompted some particularly volatile stock moves.
• FactSet analysis finds more dramatic average moves on earnings surprises in both directions.
• A strategist says there are two structural forces driving heightened volatility.

A 40% one-day gain in a stock after earnings has become commonplace in what's been a particularly volatile earnings season.

Dell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Snowflake are among major companies to see stunning rallies after strong results. On the flip side, ServiceNow saw double digits declines after earnings missed. First-quarter earnings swings have been more pronounced than they've been in the last five years, and it's more than just AI hype driving the moves.

Stocks at large saw more dramatic earnings moves in the first quarter compared to historical averages, an analysis from FactSet found

"The market rewarded positive earnings surprises reported by S&P 500 companies for Q1 more than average and also punished negative EPS surprises reported by S&P 500 companies for Q1 more than average," FactSet senior earnings analyst, John Butters wrote.

Companies that recorded earnings beats saw an average gain of 1.5% in the two days before and after the earnings release, compared to an average 1% move seen in the same period the five years prior.

Conversely, negative earnings surprises for Q1 2026 saw an average decline of 4.5% in the four trading days around earnings, a deeper loss than the average 2.9% drop during the same window in the previous five years.

Ted Mortonson, a Wall Street veteran and tech strategist at Baird, laid out the two structural market forces intensifying stock moves.

The pros are playing catch up

Institutional trading activity has been especially volatile as fund managers caught on the wrong side of the AI trade are nearly forced to chase dramatic market moves.

"The institutional community has been forced to increase their turnover pretty dramatically, and these PMs are literally pulling their hair out, " Mortonson explained.

The strategist called out the dramatic differences in the year-to-date performance within the tech sector, which has been driven by evolving investor sentiment around various segments of the tech trade.

Software saw a dramatic downturn at the start of the year as the SaaSpocolypse shook Wall Street. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, plunged early in the year, and is still down about 6% after recent gains.

On the other side of the AI trade, hardware names like chipmakers have continued to climb, adding to stellar gains seen in recent years. The iShares Semiconductor ETF is up more than 80% since the start of 2026.

The divergent moves have created winners and losers among portfolio managers who found themselves on the wrong side of these moves, Mortonson said.

Investors that were underweight or short chip or hardware names or long software have been essentially forced to capitulate, pivoting hard to make up earlier losses. Mortonson added that he had also observed this kind of investor behavior during the the dot-com cycle.

ETF impact

The rising popularity of ETFs as a way to play major market themes while remaining somewhat diversified has reshaped the structure of the market.

It could also be another reason recent moves have been so pronounced. That's because, as ETFs hold large amounts of stock in certain companies, the amount available for traders to buy and sell is smaller, which can lead to lower liquidity and more volatility.

"What I'm seeing is because of the proliferation of ETFs, what you're seeing is the addressable flow is smaller and more volatile," Mortonson told BI.

He explained ETFs essentially distort "the float," or the volume of publicly traded shares. This means some stocks are seeing more dramatic moves because a portion of shares are somewhat locked into ETFs.

Dell, one of the stocks that saw huge post-earnings gains, has roughy 50 million shares held by ETFs, according to ETF.com. That's more than 15% of the over 325 million shares publicly trading. The portion of the public float held in ETFs is even higher for HPE and ServiceNow.

This has additional market implications when considering several poular indexes and the ETFs that follow them are structured using float-adjusted weighting, like the S&P 500.

• In 2010, I went to the World Cup in South Africa and promised my 3-year-old twins I'd take them to one of their own.
• I won the ticket ballot to this year's event, but the exorbitant prices ended the whole plan.
• We made a different plan to watch football that we can afford.

In 2010, I flew to South Africa for the World Cup.

Two weeks earlier, my marriage had ended, and my twin boys were only 3. I'd wanted to go to a World Cup my entire life, and I almost didn't get on the plane, but my friends talked me into it.

Before I left, I bought matching Tim Cahill jerseys, one for me and one for each of the boys. Cahill was Australia's best player, the guy who scored the goals that made Aussies briefly care about soccer every four years. We put the jerseys on, took a photo, and I crouched down and promised the boys that when they turned 18, I'd take them to a World Cup of their own.

They were too young to understand, but I meant every word.

That photo has been my Facebook cover for 16 years

I brought it up with the boys every so often, half promise, half running joke.

They got more into soccer as they grew up, and we saw big European teams like Tottenham, Manchester United, and Real Madrid when they toured Australia. And we watched games at 4 a.m. because that's when football happens on the other side of the world.

As we watched Argentina win in 2022 at some ungodly hour of the morning, I told the boys the next one we'd be there for in person.

When they announced the US as the 2026 host, I was very excited

Everything aligned with the US being the host for 2026. My wife is Texan, and we have family there, so we're in the US all the time anyway. The boys would be 18. It lined up so perfectly. I entered the ticket ballot and got selected. We were thrilled.

Then I went to buy the tickets and found out what "selected" meant.

It was before the schedule had been announced. There were no games or opponents listed. You commit your money to a category, 1, 2, or 3, and find out later what you've bought. That's a lot to spend on a mystery, so I let the ballot lapse and told the boys we'd wait for the draw, when we'd at least know which games were which.

The draw came out. Australia was in the same group as the US. Of every fixture in the tournament, that was the one. My adopted second country against my actual one. I wanted it more than any other game on the calendar. So, naturally, that was the one everyone else wanted too.

Then I priced the dream, and it fell apart

Tickets to that match were absurd. Host-city hotels with reviews warning you not to stay there were running past $700 a night. Add three flights from Australia, more flights to follow the tournament around the US, tickets, food, and transport.

The number stopped being a holiday and started being a deposit on a house.

I sat the boys down. I'd made them a promise, and I'd keep it if they wanted, but they needed to see what it cost first. They're not 3 anymore and can do the math. They nodded and said it seemed like way too much money. Even though they wanted to go, they knew we couldn't justify it. They took it far better than I did.

We're keeping the promise, but for a different trip

A few weeks later, I floated a different plan. Their Australian university year finishes in November. In December, we're going to South America and doing a soccer trip we can afford. We'll watch local league games in Chile and Argentina, where tickets cost a fraction of what they do at a World Cup. And we'll visit the Estadio Centenario in Uruguay, where the very first World Cup final was played in 1930, and is now home to the Museo de Futbol.

I couldn't get my sons to the newest World Cup. So I'm taking them to the oldest one instead.

The Tim Cahill jerseys don't fit them anymore. They've been taller than me for years. Mine still fits, and the photo's still up. I'll change it when we've got a better one.

• I'm a theme-park journalist who ate at Dolly Parton's Stampede, a dinner show near Dollywood.
• The menu was prix fixe, and my party of two spent a total of $160 on our multicourse meals.
• The experience felt a bit pricey, but we loved our meals and the live entertainment. 

During a visit to Dollywood, Dolly Parton's theme park in Tennessee, my group of two went to Dolly Parton's Stampede, a famous dinner show that's just a brief drive from the park.

Dolly Parton's Stampede — which also has a sister location in Branson, Missouri — was inspired by the country singer's fond childhood memories of spending time around the kitchen table with her family. Operating for decades, the experience includes a live show and a multicourse meal served in an arena.

Dolly Parton's Stampede is open for a few dinner slots almost every night. The experience starts at $59.99 per adult and $29.99 per child (if they're between the ages of 3 and 9).

Prices vary by date and time, and visitors can also pay extra for upgraded tickets that include add-ons such as a cast member meet-and-greet. Reservations can be made in advance online, over the phone, or in person at the box office.

Ultimately, my guest and I paid about $80 a person for our dinner show. Here's what it was like.

Upon arrival, we were surprised that we could visit the horses before they performed in the show.

The dinner show is located in a large building that's also home to the Horse Walk, a pre-show introduction to the animals. 

Just before check-in, we were able to visit the horses in a row of open-air stables and take photos with them. It was a memorable way to begin the dinner experience. 

Once we checked in, we waited for our table in a large saloon.

We arrived early so that we could enjoy the multi-level saloon, where guests waited to be seated for dinner. 

The Western-themed space — which has plenty of seating, a lot of games, interactive audio-animatronic characters, and a self-playing piano — made us feel like we were in an old-time frontier town. 

It was a fun space to explore, and it made the wait go by quickly.

I indulged and ordered one of the signature boot-shaped cups.

The saloon has a bar that serves a variety of beers, cocktails, and moonshine.

I couldn't resist ordering a drink in one of the dinner show's signature boot-shaped glasses to keep as a souvenir.

We then made our way inside the arena for dinner and the show.

Dinner takes place inside a 35,000-square-foot arena. Guests sit stadium-style in an oval, allowing them to have optimal views of the live show in the center.

The menu is prix fixe, and the meal includes appetizers, an entrée, and a dessert.

The themed dining experience includes a Southern-style multicourse feast. Unlimited soft drinks, coffee, and tea are factored into the price. 

The servers brought everything to our seats, making it convenient to enjoy the show while we ate.

We began our meal with the famous creamy soup.

The meal began with a bowl of the dinner show's original creamy vegetable soup and a hot, homemade biscuit that was wonderfully flaky. The savory, delicious soup was the perfect starter since it wasn't heavy. 

In an attempt to perhaps stick with a more Old West theme, the servers didn't provide spoons to guests. Instead, the soup was in a bowl with a large handle. 

The soup is also so popular that guests can order a mix of it from the gift shop. 

The live performances, from aerialists' routines to horseback riding, were a major highlight.

A live show took place in the arena throughout the meal. It combined music and storytelling, featuring live performers and more than 30 horses. 

The incredibly talented horseback riders were a highlight of the production, and comedy bits and pyrotechnics kept guests engaged. The aerialists' performance to one of Parton's songs was another high point.

The LED backdrop wall completed the immersive experience.

I was really impressed by the massive LED backdrop wall, which changed throughout the performances and depicted different scenes from the Great Plains.

When the wall was combined with physical set pieces, twinkling lights, and water features, the entire experience felt immersive.

The entrée portions were very generously sized.

Our entrée course included a whole rotisserie chicken, hickory-smoked barbecued pork loin, corn on the cob, and an herb-basted potato. (Since our visit, the menu has changed to include hickory-smoked pulled pork instead of loin and mashed potatoes instead of an herb-basted potato.)

The portion sizes were very generous. We could try every item or pick and choose which ones we desired.

Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available at Dolly Parton's Stampede. The vegetarian feast includes some items from the regular menu, plus fire-roasted veggies, quinoa, and multigrain rice.

The chicken was my favorite part of the main course.

My favorite dish in the entrée course was the whole rotisserie chicken. The meat was incredibly tender and moist, and the main highlight was the signature spice rub on the outside. 

I enjoyed the other dishes, but kept going back for more of the chicken.

The final course was an apple turnover, which was a refreshingly light dessert.

For the dessert course, we had an apple turnover. This hot, flaky treat was a unique twist on a traditional Southern apple pie. 

I appreciated having a lighter dessert, rather than cake or ice cream, after such a large meal. 

During this course, the production played a song written and recorded by Parton.

My party of two spent $160 on the experience and left completely full.

Ultimately, my group of two adults spent about $160 on our tickets and extra drinks.

I absolutely loved the meal and was particularly surprised by how delicious the entrée course was. Though the menu was prix fixe, it had a nice variety of dishes to satisfy even picky eaters. 

The show was highly entertaining, family-friendly, and unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. 

I loved the small touches that honored Parton throughout the experience, such as including her music in the performances. 

This story was originally published on January 8, 2023, and most recently updated on June 8, 2026.

All new bombshells enter the villa in the latest season of Love Island USA. We've rounded up everything you need to know about the eighth season of the hit reality series, including where to watch Love Island USA, cast members, and a look at the trailer.

The series once again lands on Peacock in the US, but the streaming options look a little bit different in Canada this year. We'll break down all the details and highlight what you need to know about streaming the show in other countries.

Where to watch Love Island USA in the US

New episodes of Love Island USA drop on Peacock in the United States, starting on June 2. For the premiere week, new episodes aired every day except Saturday. After that, new episodes will drop daily except Wednesdays (with Aftersun dropping on Saturdays). Peacock Premium subscriptions cost $11 a month, but you can upgrade to ad-free with Peacock Premium Plus for $17 a month. Peacock only hosts Seasons 4-8, and you'll need a subscription to Paramount Plus (starting at $9 a month) to watch Seasons 1-3.

Where to watch Love Island USA in Canada

Love Island USA used to drop new episodes for free on CTV, but Bell Media has phased out the app, so you'll need a Crave account to watch the latest season. Crave subscriptions start at $12 a month for a Standard with Ads plan.

Where to watch Love Island USA in the UK

ITVX is the streaming home of Love Island USA in the UK, but it usually takes several months for the latest season to land overseas. ITVX, a free streaming service that just requires account creation to use, is the home of the original Love Island series (Love Island UK), which is currently dropping its latest season.

How to watch Love Island USA from anywhere

Fans traveling away from home can still access their usual streaming options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy cybersecurity tools that let people temporarily change the virtual location on their electronic devices, so that their favorite websites and apps work just like they would back home. The paid options we've recommended require country-specific methods of payment, so this option will work best for those who are just traveling abroad at the moment.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs we've tested. It's a user-friendly option with a massive selection of servers. Plus, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Love Island USA Season 8 cast

While cast members sometimes exit and new bombshells enter the villa, a core group helped kick off the new season. We avoid spoilers here, so we'll refrain from mentioning any new arrivals or departures, but you can find a list of the 12 contestants at the time of the Season 8 premiere below.

• Aniya Harvey (Tyrone, Georgia), 23
• Beatriz Hatz (San Diego, California), 25
• Bryce Dettloff (Los Angeles, California), 29
• Gabriel Vasconcelos (Miami, Florida), 26
• KC Chandler (Fresno, California), 23
• Kenzie Annis (Kennesaw, Georgia), 24
• Melanie Moreno (Los Angeles, California), 24
• Sean Reifel (Easton, Pennsylvania), 29
• Sincere Rhea (Cape May, New Jersey), 25
• Trinity Tatum (Newport News, Virginia), 22
• Vasana Montgomery (Beaverton, OR), 25
• Zach Georgiou (Birmingham, UK), 26

What time do Love Island USA episodes premiere on Peacock?

New Love Island USA episodes drop on Peacock at 9 p.m. ET, or 6 p.m. PT. New episodes should drop at around the same time on Crave in Canada.

When is the Love Island USA finale?

Peacock hasn't announced a definitive finale date or episode count yet, but for the past three years, seasons have been 36 episodes long (with one additional reunion episode released about a month later). Season 7 premiered on June 3, 2025, and ended on July 13 (with an August 25 reunion episode drop). With Season 8 premiering on June 2, 2026, we wouldn't be surprised to see a finale date around a similar time as last year, but we'll keep this page updated with any official info.

Love Island USA Season 8 trailer

Peacock released an official "Meet the Islanders" video at the end of May, where fans got a first look at the newest contestants to enter the villa. Check out the trailer below:

Note: VPN use is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content may constitute a breach of the terms of use for some services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

• My spouse and I like living in our converted van more than any apartment or house we've shared.
• People are surprised to learn that we don't plan to return to a house in the foreseeable future.
• Other common points of confusion include how we stay clean and how we handle such a small space.

Although van life is increasingly popular — or at least increasingly visible, as the many people who ask if we "do the YouTube thing" prove — it's still not well understood.

Short-term road trips make more sense to people: Sure, you can handle just about anything for a brief period. But can you actually fit two adults and one dog in less than 70 square feet for years on end?

The answer is yes, but that's not where people's curiosity usually ends. Here are the biggest questions people have when they learn that my partner and I have lived in a van for over three years.

Do you plan on eventually moving into a house or an apartment?

"Oh! You don't have a house yet," a new acquaintance said when she asked where our home was, and I replied that it's just the van.

In truth, we used to own a house — but we sold it to afford our conversion build in 2023.

Many people find this backward. As property prices move further out of our generation's grasp, I understand the assumption that full-time van life is nothing but a stop on the way to our real American dream.

Living on the road provides time and location flexibility we didn't have in a stationary neighborhood, though — and with lower monthly expenses. We plan to keep it up for the foreseeable future.

Do you wish you had more space?

I won't pretend it's easy to fit everything we own in our van.

I literally cannot buy new clothes unless I get rid of something else. After we've stocked up on dog food, the too-full pantry might spit kibble bags on my foot whenever I open the door. Sometimes, especially when we're cooking, our kitchen "hallway" becomes a bottleneck.

That said, being forced to think critically about what we keep has both made me more thankful for the possessions we do have and more convinced we don't need more. Plus, everything is always within reach — it's nearly impossible for things to get lost.

Beyond storage struggles, we don't mind the tight proximity. After all, my spouse, dog, and I spent most of our time within laughing distance, even when we had a four-bedroom house.

How do you even stay clean?

Although we have a shower in our van, limited access to water fill-ups means we don't rinse as often as we used to before we hit the road. And, of course, the floor of our van gets muddy with two people and one dog going in and out.

We've come up with ways to still stay clean, though. We use washcloths and wipes. We only go in and out through the side door, which has a dirt-catching indoor mat — and we often set up camp with an outdoor rug on the other side.

Opening our back doors quickly airs out any cooped-up smells, and our ceiling fan helps here, too.

Although we don't have a washer or dryer in our home, it's never hard to find a laundromat every couple of weeks (even if we do struggle to clear enough surfaces to drape clothes that can't go in the dryer).

I'll admit it sometimes feels weird to brush my teeth in the kitchen sink — in our case, our only sink — but it's also great motivation to stay on top of washing dishes.

We've also started challenging the idea that "healthy" has to mean "super scrubbed." My skin is actually clearer than it was pre-van, and my hair has adjusted to less-frequent shampooing.

Ultimately, van life looks different for everyone

Of course, living on the road can take multiple forms, and my answers to these questions aren't the same as everyone else's.

Different van lifers prioritize different things: Not every van has a full bathroom, for example. (Not having one was a dealbreaker for me.)

I love our version of van life, though — fewer showers, messes of laundry spread on the dashboard, and painstaking decisions about which belongings we can fit, included.

Amazon Prime Day kicks off on June 23. The massive four-day sale will feature discounts on tons of products across tech and beyond, including TVs from every major brand. But is Prime Day actually the best time to buy a TV? Or do other sales offer lower prices?

To answer that question, I compared past Prime Day TV deals with discounts offered during other major sales. I've been writing about TVs for more than a decade and have covered every Prime Day deals event since the sale launched in 2015. I also stay on top of TV deals year-round, giving me a clear view of how Prime Day stacks up against Black Friday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Super Bowl sales.

Based on pricing trends over the last couple of years, Prime Day is definitely one of the best times to buy a TV, but it's not always the absolute best. It ultimately depends on whether you're shopping for last year's model or a brand-new option released this year. Here's a closer look at how Prime Day TV deals measure up against other deal events.

How do Prime Day TV deals compare with other sales?

Amazon Prime Day consistently offers excellent TV deals, but certain models get better discounts than others. Generally speaking, Prime Day is the best time to buy last year's TV models at all-time low prices before stock gets harder to find.

Prime Day is also one of the first opportunities to save on newly released TV models, as many receive their first big discounts during the event. However, if you're shopping for a new model and don't mind waiting, prices tend to drop even further during Labor Day and Black Friday sales.

This mostly comes down to the release timing of TVs. New models typically debut annually in spring and early summer. As such, these models are still fresh on the market when Prime Day rolls around, so brands and Amazon are more eager to clear out last year's inventory.

This trend is clear when looking at popular TVs and their price drops over time. Take the Samsung 65-inch S90D, for instance. The S90D was one of the best TVs released in 2024, and it was available during Amazon's 2024 and 2025 Prime Day sales. The TV got its first big discount during Prime Day 2024, but lower prices popped up during subsequent sales on Labor Day and Black Friday. The S90D then hit an all-time low during Prime Day 2025. You can see a full history of S90D deal pricing below.

The S90D's successor, the 2025 Samsung S90F, has followed a similar path so far, and I expect its price to drop to a new all-time low during Prime Day 2026.

The bottom line:

Ultimately, those looking for the absolute best TV values on Prime Day should focus on last year's models, but shoppers who are eager to jump on 2026 models should still find excellent price drops.

Top TV deals to watch for on Prime Day

If you're planning to buy a new TV on Prime Day, there are a few specific models I recommend keeping an eye on. These displays all excelled in our testing, delivering great performance for their tier. They're all 2025 models, so it's likely that they'll reach new all-time low prices.

Samsung S90F OLED TV

The S90F is my pick for the best Samsung TV you can buy. In fact, it delivers the best balance of price and performance of any TV my team has reviewed. It's available in sizes ranging from 42 to 83 inches, and its OLED panel offers exceptional contrast and wide viewing angles. The 65-inch model typically sells for around $1,400, but it's been as low as $1,248. Since its predecessor, the S90D, hit an all-time low of $1,198 during last year's Prime Day, I expect a similar discount for this model.

TCL QM6K QLED TV

TCL's QM6K is the best budget TV I've tested. It's affordable without sacrificing key picture-quality features, which helps it stand out from similarly priced rivals. I also love that it's available in sizes up to 98 inches. The 65-inch model tends to fluctuate between $650 and $530, which is already an excellent value. But on Prime Day, I wouldn't be surprised if it drops back down to the all-time low of $498 that we saw in November.

LG G5 OLED TV

LG's G5 is expensive, but it earns its premium price with premium performance. This is the brand's best TV for picture quality, and its combination of high brightness and pixel-level contrast is nearly unrivaled. The 65-inch size usually sells for around $2,300, but the lowest it's ever been is $1,800. High-end sets like this don't always get the biggest deals on Prime Day, but it's definitely worth keeping an eye on to see if the price drops.

Samsung LS03F Frame TV

The Samsung LS03F earned the top spot in our guide to the best frame TVs, and it's been getting great discounts this year. The 65-inch model hit a record low of $998 a few times over the last couple of months, so it's likely to be back at that price or lower on Prime Day. Though this isn't the best fit for people who prioritize image quality, the Frame's design-first approach is perfect for buyers who want a TV that can blend seamlessly into their decor.

TCL QM8K TV

TCL's QM8K costs less than similar TVs from Samsung, LG, and Sony, yet delivers picture performance that matches or exceeds them. It's incredibly bright and offers great contrast control for a QLED. It's also available in a massive 98-inch size that is an especially great value for such a big display. This is the best TCL TV overall, and the 65-inch model has been discounted to as low as $898. Given TCL's penchant for big deals, it's likely to hit a similar or lower price on Prime Day.

When is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day begins at 12:01 a.m. PDT on June 23 and will run through June 26. That means four full days packed with deals for Amazon Prime members.

I'll be keeping track of all the top TV deals that are actually worth your money, so be sure to check back for all our Prime Day deals coverage once the sale begins.

Shopping for more discounts today? Check out all of our current deals coverage, and browse Amazon's website for early Prime Day sales.

• Sasha Sechenova underwent a transformation after breaking up with her boyfriend.
• She considered it a "project" that would improve her career in social media.
• The Parisien estimated she spent $20K on the glow-up, which included surgery and weight loss.

This story is based on an interview with Sasha Sechenova, 28, a Paris-based social media and marketing consultant and the founder of a new dating app for entrepreneurs and digital nomads. It has been edited for length and clarity.

As I was wheeled into the operating theater for my rhinoplasty, I couldn't help but put my hands to my face and touch my nose.

It hadn't been an easy decision to have the cosmetic surgery. I had the same nose as my father and my brother, and I knew that changing it would mean losing a connection to my family.

Still, the feeling wasn't enough to deter me from my project of becoming more conventionally beautiful. I worked in social media, where looks were power, and my glow-up was a way to build my brand.

I broke up with my boyfriend

I started working on myself in the summer of 2023, soon after breaking up with my boyfriend of four years. I'd gained at least 20 pounds over the previous 12 months and, at 176 pounds, was overweight for my 5ft 2in height.

It was mostly to do with the stress of my relationship going wrong, and partly because of developing my own consultancy company. I worked from the moment I woke up until I went to sleep, and didn't have time to cook.

My body was muscular

I'd order three deliveries in a row and eat an entire pizza at a time. It got to the point when my stomach hurt because it was so full of food.

I worked out virtually with a trainer, so my body was muscular. However, I didn't enjoy being a size large and wanted to fit into smaller clothes.

Two girlfriends from my native Russia came to visit me in Paris, who were pretty skinny. They introduced me to the Keto diet, which helped me lose 10 pounds initially.

The weight loss made me feel healthier and more confident in both my professional and personal life. As cynical as it sounds, I realized that improving my looks would help me achieve my goals.

You see a lot of your teeth when you're recording social media videos, and the first thing I wanted to fix was my smile.

I went to Turkey for cosmetic treatments

I had a gap between my front teeth, which was something of a trademark for me, but, like a lot of influencers, I decided to get veneers.

In the Spring of 2024, I traveled to Turkey, where my family lived in Istanbul, and paid $7,700 for the treatment there. I'm very afraid of dentists, so it was the hardest part of the glow-up.

The process took three weeks. I started getting Botox back in Paris before returning to Turkey for my rhinoplasty three months later. I set aside my worries about losing my uniqueness and paid $5,500 for the operation.

It wasn't nice to be so swollen or have silicone tubes up your nose for 10 days. But it was worth the pain when I saw the results.

Next, I had hydrochloric acid injected into my lips, more Botox, and non-invasive cosmetic treatments on my face, including High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).

I was prescribed Mounjaro

I increased my exercise after treating myself to a $500-a-month membership to a luxury gym at a five-star hotel. The indulgence made it easier to go five times a week, and I made good use of the hammam.

I continued to lose weight before reaching a plateau of 149 pounds. In November 2025, I was prescribed Mounjaro, which has helped me reach 119 pounds and a size small.

It's hard to put an exact figure on how much my glow-up has cost me. The biggest expenditures were the veneers, rhinoplasty, and gym membership.

However, I reckon it must be close to $20,000 if you include maintenance costs for blonde highlights, Botox, manicures, pedicures, and skincare.

I am hardly recognizable

I've spoken about the whole process on my Instagram. People think the pictures from three years ago are fake. They've accused me of using AI, but my makeover has been 100% real.

I look better in online meetings and feel like people take me more seriously because I look more polished and professional.

It happened so fast that it's been difficult for me to adapt to my new image. I have a strange dissociation from the person I used to be. I'll look at old photographs and find it hard to believe they're of me.

• Major city mayors like Zohran Mamdani earn more than their state governors.
• Mayoral salaries vary widely, with some small towns paying more than large cities.
• San Francisco mayor, Daniel Lurie, forgoes his $383,760 salary, the highest in the nation.

It pays big to lead a city — sometimes more than it does to lead the state.

After taking office in January, Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, joined the exclusive ranks of mayors who outearn their governors' salaries.

Mayor salaries range widely across the US, from some in smaller towns earning as little as a couple of thousand dollars a year to the six-figure salaries many major city leaders earn.

Since mayors' salaries are set at the local level by city councils and local legislatures, there are no centralized reports on what mayors earn across all cities and towns.

And a larger city doesn't always mean a bigger payday for its mayor. Some high-earning enclaves with as few as 1,000 residents pay their mayors higher salaries than those in some of the nation's largest cities.

We compiled recent reports on local mayors' salaries to identify those earning more than $200,000 a year. We also identified the size of the cities they lead using the latest US Census population estimates.

Here are 20 of the highest-paid mayors in the country.

Dearborn, Michigan

Population: 105,611

Mayor: Abdullah Hammoud

Salary: $212,083 in 2026, as reported by the Detroit Free Press.

Chicago

Population: 2,731,585

Mayor: Brandon Johnson

Salary: $221,052 in 2026, as reported by Block Club Chicago, after Johnson decided to skip an annual inflation raise to his compensation.

Oakland, California

Population: 440,838

Mayor: Barbara Lee

Salary: $222,312 as of 2024, according to California state records.

Lee's predecessor — Sheng Thao, who left office in November 2024 — was mayor at the time of the reported salary.

Detroit

Population: 649,095

Mayor: Mary Sheffield

Salary: $224,573, as reported by Bridge Detroit, citing city records.

San Jose, California

Population: 989,814

Mayor: Matt Mahan

Salary: $226,479 total pay as of 2024, per California state records.

Medley, Florida

Population: 1,075

Mayor: Ana "Lily" Stefano

Salary: $230,872, as reported by the Miami New Times in 2025.

Bellingham, Washington

Population: 96,395

Mayor: Kim Lund

Salary: $237,000, as reported by Cascadia Daily News in 2025.

The mayor decided to forgo a cost-of-living raise in 2026.

Houston

Population: 2,397,315

Mayor: John Whitmire

Salary: $240,000 in 2025, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.

San Diego

Population: 1,406,106

Mayor: Todd Gloria

Salary: $244,147 as of 2024, per California state records.

Maui, Hawaii

Population: 160,592

Mayor: Richard Bissen

Salary: $245,000, as reported by the Honolulu Civil Beat in 2025.

Washington, DC

Population: 693,645

Mayor: Muriel Bowser

Salary: $250,000, according to the District of Columbia law, effective since 2023.

Boston

Population: 672,973

Mayor: Michelle Wu

Salary: $250,000 in 2026, as reported by Boston.com.

Florida City, Florida

Population: 13,576

Mayor: Otis T. Wallace

Salary: $250,328, plus a $5,600 expense account, phone, and car, as reported by the Miami New Times in 2025.

Wallace has been the city's mayor since 1984, with a salary that reflects his combined responsibilities serving as both mayor and city manager.

New York City

Population: 8,584,629

Mayor: Zohran Mamdani

Salary: $258,750, as previously reported by Business Insider.

Rosemont, Illinois

Population: 3,815

Mayor: Bradley Stephens

Salary: $260,000, as reported by the local outlet, the Daily Herald, in 2024.

Philadelphia

Population: 1,574,281

Mayor: Cherelle Parker

Salary: $269,708, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2025.

Quincy, Massachusetts

Population: 103,173

Mayor: Thomas Koch

Salary: $285,000, after a pay raise approved by the City Council in 2024, WBUR reported. The mayor proposed a lower raise to $225,000 in October 2025 after backlash from residents, WCVB reported.

Oxnard, California

Population: 199,651

Mayor: Luis A. McArthur

Salary: $323,282 as of 2024, per California state records.

McArthur's predecessor, John C. Zaragoza, was in office at the time of the reported salary. McArthur was sworn into office on December 11, 2024.

Los Angeles

Population: 3,869,089

Mayor: Karen Bass

Salary: $328,395 as of 2024, per California state records. Local reporting in 2025 put the number at $301,000.

San Francisco

Population: 826,079

Mayor: Daniel Lurie

Salary: $393,097 as of 2024, according to California state records.

However, Lurie decided to take a $1 salary from the city, as reported by local outlet KQED in 2024. At the time of the reported 2024 salary, Lurie's predecessor, London Breed, was in office.

• Our son graduated from high school at 17 and isn't planning to attend college right now.
• We wanted to give him a gift that encouraged independence in a way that fit his life.
• An unlimited flight pass has helped teach him many life skills in just a few months.

Our son graduated from high school early by finishing online and isn't planning to attend college right now.

He's been working since he was 14, and we've always focused on helping him build practical life skills early: cooking his own meals, managing his work schedule, doing his own laundry.

We struggled to find a suitable graduation gift, but months later, we landed on something that seemed ideal: an unlimited flight pass.

Since he wasn't moving away for school, we wanted to give him an opportunity to expand his perspective and build more independence in a way that fit his life. Plus, it felt like he had the opportunity to both build skills and have the most fun through the process.

It's the gift of opportunity

Years ago, my husband and I came across an unlimited flight pass from Frontier Airlines, where you pay an annual fee and then fly any route they serve for just taxes and fees. Domestic flights can run as little as $16 each way. We tucked the idea away in the back of our minds.

We caught a Black Friday deal where the pass was available for only $349 with an extended timeline offer. Our son would have use of the pass for 18 months, so we decided it was the perfect belated graduation gift.

When we gave it to him, he was ecstatic. It was like an unlimited amount of opportunities all became available to him at the same time, and he immediately had to figure out how to navigate it. That was exactly the point.

The pass has restrictions. Domestically, you can only book up to two days in advance. Internationally, up to 10 days. You have to search for available tickets specific to the pass, plan around limited routes, and stay flexible. We told Nate that a great goal would be to take at least one trip a month to start getting comfortable with traveling on his own.

He's learning to navigate obstacles

It took him a few months to get going, but in February, he decided to take a trip to Orlando to visit a friend, and the flight was only $25. Once he was there for a few days, he decided to fly to Puerto Rico — because he could. In March, he went to the Dominican Republic. Because it's international, the flight to get there was about $80, and then he found an Airbnb for four nights for a bit more.

He was doing exactly what we hoped he would.

Each trip has come with its own lessons. In Puerto Rico, he discovered that not every destination has daily flights. He called me after a few days and said he couldn't find a flight back. I looked and confirmed there was nothing available. He told me not to worry, that he'd hang out a few more days and wait for one to open up. He was right. A couple of days later, he found a flight back to Miami and connected through one of our Southern California airports to get home.

How he handled the situation was everything we could hope for. He figured it out on his own and thoroughly enjoyed his time there.

The gift keeps giving

Our son is learning how to book lodging, navigate unexpected delays, use public transportation to explore new cities, and move through places that look and feel nothing like the Southern California beach town he grew up in. He's meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. He's becoming more comfortable in the world and enjoying it every step of the way, even the unexpected ones.

His passion over the last year and a half has been calisthenics training, and wherever he goes, he connects with people through it and does handstands on any flat surface, even on airport chairs.

He's 19 now and still has more than 10 months left on the pass, and the skills he's learned through travel have definitely benefited him at home, like taking more advantage of local public transportation in our own community.

We've always raised our kids to incorporate as many real-world experiences and lessons to put them in new situations to help them explore who they are and what they're capable of. This gift keeps delivering that, one trip at a time.

We gave our son an opportunity, and we are so ecstatic that he's not only taking advantage of it but also that he's just getting started.

• "Hot Smart Rich" podcaster Maggie Sellers Reum shared the best advice she got from Steven Bartlett.
• Bartlett invested in Sellers Reum and is applying his "The Diary of a CEO" blueprint to her show.
• Sellers Reum also discussed what it was like to negotiate her deal with him.

"Hot Smart Rich" podcaster Maggie Sellers Reum didn't just get a seven-figure investment from "The Diary of a CEO" star Steven Bartlett — she got a valuable piece of advice from him, too.

Sellers Reum said Bartlett helped her deal with her "very dark thoughts" of self-doubt by reminding her that her work is important to helping women feel seen and heard.

She said that Bartlett's investment through his media company, FlightStory, gave her credibility in the business world, and that his encouragement helped her take risks. That gave her the confidence to approach model and actor Molly Sims at an event and convince her to be on the show.

"I'm like, 'Molly Sims, I need you on my show. What would it take for you to please come on?' And she's like, 'You coming up to me.' And then she turned to her publicist, and she's like, 'Book time with her,'" Sellers Reum recalled. "Previous to Steven, I don't know if I would have had the confidence to interrupt her."

FlightStory has been applying Bartlett's "The Diary of a CEO" playbook to "Hot Smart Rich," helping expand Sellers Reum's visibility and guest network.

Sellers Reum remembers the day Bartlett first reached out to her. She was out and about in New York's SoHo when she saw a DM from him on her phone. The timing was ideal, as she'd found it challenging to monetize her podcast.

"It just said something like, 'We're obsessed with what you're doing. My CEO absolutely loves you. And we'd love to chat further if you're interested,'" Sellers Reum said. "And I remember just being like, 'Is this actually really happening?' And I don't play games. I just responded right back, and I was like, 'I would love to chat.'"

Sellers Reum said the deal took about four months, during which time Bartlett stayed in regular contact.

"He would be speaking onstage in Singapore, and it would be three in the morning, and he would just pop on the Zoom for five minutes to make sure that I knew that he was involved in this and wanted it to happen," she said. "It was a dream come true."

Sellers Reum said it sometimes hurts "a little bit" that it "took a male" to lend credibility to her business. On the other hand, she recognized the value of having someone view her show as more than a "fun little passion project."

One negotiation point during the deal talks was ownership and creative control. Sellers Reum said she didn't want her show to grow at the expense of the brand. Like the other creators at FlightStory, she retains decision-making authority over guests and brand partnerships, which is reflected in her new title, editor in chief. She remains the majority owner.

"I'm not the female Steven," she said. "I have my own identity, and that creative decision-making was really important for me to make sure I was going to be able to keep."

• West Monroe, a midsize advisory firm, has created AI agents that give out free consulting advice.
• The firm says AI has made early-stage consulting analysis cheap enough to give away.
• West Monroe's AI chief said technology can't replace consultants' judgment, experience, and accountability.

Consultants like to say AI won't replace them. One firm's latest move suggests that may not be completely true.

West Monroe, a midsize global advisory firm, has launched six AI agents that produce strategy-style reports for free.

The six agents are publicly available via a website called WestMonroe.ai, launched on Monday, and cover business model risk, competitive strategy, talent strategy, AI maturity, AI use case prioritization, and AI policy.

The idea is to help business leaders test ideas, investments, and strategies before moving into deeper planning and execution, while also demonstrating how much artificial intelligence is changing the consulting industry.

For example, a midsize retailer could use the platform to understand which AI use cases are most relevant to its business, and a private-equity firm could use it to assess disruption risks or opportunities across its portfolio companies.

Users enter a company name or URL and receive an outside-in view of the use cases, disruption, business differentiation, or policies that might affect them — in a 5 to 10-page report.

Bret Greenstein, West Monroe's chief AI officer and a former PwC AI partner, said the platform offers something more tailored than a generic answer from ChatGPT or another AI tool.

The agents are built with West Monroe's industry knowledge and experience working with thousands of clients, meaning that "you're going to get a much better answer than doing it generically yourself," he said.

'A democratization of insights'

Depending on the firm and scope, Greenstein said, West Monroe's agents produce the kind of early-stage strategic analysis that once would have cost clients hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

Now, he said, the marginal cost of producing that first layer of insight has fallen close to zero.

"To lock them behind some sort of list of people or fees doesn't make a lot of sense," Greenstein told Business Insider. "There's a need to bring this information to people and then allow them to take better actions."

The platform serves as "a democratization of insights," he said.

The idea for the free agents grew from West Monroe's internal experimentation with AI coding tools such as Claude Code and Codex, which made it easier for non-engineers inside the firm to build working prototypes for clients.

Consulting work is increasingly shifting toward implementation and transformation, and as the initial research phase became easier, Greenstein said that West Monroe "realized selling these things is not really the point."

"It's about helping them to see a path and then helping them go down that path," he said.

That does not mean West Monroe plans to stop doing strategy work. The free agentic service represents a "phase zero" version of consulting: a way to help companies find the right areas of focus.

Paid work, Greenstein said, starts when the analysis goes deeper and becomes more specific to a client's data, operating model, workflows, pain points, and implementation needs, before taking action.

But he's aware that offering free AI consulting might irritate some of West Monroe's competitors.

"I think it should upset people, but at the same time, they should already know this is coming."

Disruption to the industry

Across the industry, consulting firms are racing to embed generative and agentic AI into their workflows while advising clients on how to implement the technology.

The shift is challenging long-held pricing and talent models. It is also creating fears of job displacement, particularly at the junior levels of professional services, where employees have historically done much of the grunt work can now help automate.

Entry-level hiring isn't down at West Monroe, said Greenstein, and despite its new free consulting offering, the AI chief said he does not believe the technology is about to replace consultants.

"Ultimately, judgment, critical thinking, and experience are uniquely ours. Can't say forever, but for a very long time," said Greenstein, adding that relationships are the most important thing.

Clients trust consultants at the individual level, he said, and while AI may develop very strong judgment, it cannot be accountable in the same way that people are.

Every step of the consulting lifecycle can be aided by AI, and the moment demands that consultants start to identify less with the mechanics of the job and more with the outcomes they produce for clients, Greenstein said.

The future of consulting is about "rolling up your sleeves and working side by side with clients" to make them better, he said.

• Lana Mountford, 74, moved from assisted living to a two-bedroom house due to rising costs.
• Mountford manages health issues with part-time care after leaving a costly assisted living facility.
• Maintaining independence, Mountford plans to live in her Bellingham home despite health challenges.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lana Mountford, 74, who lives in Bellingham, Washington. Mountford tried an assisted living facility that cost $7,000 a month, but it was too expensive and not a good fit. She purchased a small two-bedroom house in 2024 and lives independently with a part-time caregiver who charges $35 per hour. This interview is edited for length and clarity.

I was married before I was 20 and divorced in 1986. I've been on my own pretty much since then. I don't have any children and didn't go to college. I've saved for retirement since my 20s and managed my finances, working with financial planners later in my career.

I was a civilian working for the Department of Defense, specifically with the Army, before entering the private sector, moving around Silicon Valley as an IT professional. I retired in 2003 to go back to school and earned my undergraduate degree in music.

I started having some health issues after that, including a brain tumor, which was non-malignant but had some residual effects. I traveled for a while using money I set aside in a travel fund and was on a world cruise when the pandemic hit. My health issues worsened — I was having trouble breathing, and doctors found blood clots in both lungs — and that's what got me into assisted living in 2021.

Bellingham is a haven for retirees, so there are a lot of assisted living facilities up here. I found one three blocks from where I was living and told them I was looking for comfortable housing that would allow me to be relatively independent, while acknowledging that there are things that are really hard for me to do. I knew that as time went by, my situation would deteriorate, and I felt it would've been nice to be in a place where I could go from independent living to assisted living to memory care in the same facility.

I moved to an assisted living facility

I moved into a small one-bedroom apartment for $4,300 a month. My brother and his wife moved into the house I was living in. Within three months, it had gone up to $4,650. When I first moved in, I had two assigned caretakers who didn't really do a lot. They would pop in twice a day to see how things were going. They did my laundry, but I didn't have regular housekeeping. They had cable and WiFi, and you could get meals if you wanted. If there was a problem, you could pull a cord in your room.

A few weeks after I moved in, I had to have a major surgery, and I developed kidney damage.

I knew I needed something bigger than what I had, as I love to cook, so I moved into a two-bedroom apartment for about $5,500 a month. Over time, the facility began withdrawing services from independent residences. I had to do my own laundry and had no caretakers, while housekeeping was 15 minutes a week. I had hired somebody while I was still living there to come in a few times a week to help with laundry and other tasks that were difficult for me.

The monthly rent kept going up

Then the rent quickly went up to $6,850, and I decided to leave. This was about two years ago. I knew my savings would be drained if I had to keep paying that much, when I could live in my own place with a full kitchen. A house on the same street where I lived went on the market, so I put in an offer and bought it. My caretaker helped me pack and load everything.

The house is in a senior living development. Mine is the smallest in the area. It's 1,350 square feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a one-car garage. With guidance from my financial folks, I bought the home in cash for $580,000 after a few rounds of counteroffers. All the houses here were built for older residents, so they have grab bars, and everything is on one level. I don't have to walk too far to get from one room to another.

I do have house maintenance expenses and property taxes that I factor in. I'm paying $17,000 to replace the roof. My bills are minimal because I don't drive. My gas bill runs $60 a month, and my monthly electric bill ranges from $35 in winter to $100 in summer. I use Instacart, and my HOA handles all the yard work.

That same caretaker comes three days a week for a total of six hours. I pay her about $200 weekly. I plan to increase the hours as time goes on, which I expect will be a lot less than the amount I paid for assisted living. I'm a textbook introvert, so I didn't miss the social aspect. I need quiet time, and I have lots of books, arts, and crafts.

My health is getting worse

I have COPD and asthma, as well as high blood pressure that runs in my family. I've been dealing with chronic kidney disease, and I'm probably going to have to go on dialysis. Getting around is tricky because of severe osteoarthritis, so I use a roller. I've been able to keep the same doctors, which has been relieving.

My biggest fear is falling because I am not a small person. I'm still fiercely independent, and I want to do as much as I can for myself. My caretaker will show me a different way to do some tasks that are easier on my body. Life is full of all these little puzzles, and things that I used to be able to do very easily on my own have suddenly become very tricky. If she's either not certified to do something or doesn't feel comfortable, she knows people in town.

I'm also worried about needing to get additional equipment or redo parts of the home if I end up in a wheelchair. I do tend to put things off.

There are some silver linings

I know there isn't a history of dementia in my family, so I'm not too concerned about that. I don't think I'll need overnight care for a while. I feel good knowing my brother is around. He helps with a few things, such as taking out my trash in the morning.

I've told people I'm going to die in the house. It's a very pretty, safe area, right up against protective wetlands. Death is going to be the only thing that gets me out of here.

• SpaceX has allocated a larger-than-usual 30% of its IPO shares for retail investors.
• Skeptics say the company is leaning on day-trader interest to supplement institutional demand.
• The online retail community is wary of being left holding the bag if the offering goes south.

SpaceX is the most heavily anticipated IPO in years, if not ever. It will certainly be the biggest in terms of proceeds. It's also set to immediately make SpaceX one of the most valuable companies on earth.

Based on the level of excitement surrounding the offering, you'd think everyone is clamoring to buy the stock. As part of that hype, efforts have been made — both by SpaceX itself, and brokerages selling stock — to make shares as accessible as possible for everyday investors.

First, SpaceX announced that it's earmarked 30% of shares for retail, multiple times the usual average of 5-10%. Then, last week, Fidelity lowered the minimum account-size threshold from $100,000 to $2,000. It's all very nice of them. But why the generosity?

Here's the PR-aligned explanation: Both companies want to cut retail in on a generational opportunity for wealth accumulation. Plus, Elon Musk has long been a champion of the retail-investing populace. He's doing everyone a favor and throwing a bone to the day traders who trust his vision and have supported Tesla through thick and thin.

Here's how it's instead been interpreted by the retail-investor commentariat: They're capitalizing on trader excitement and relying on it to supplement demand from institutions. The heavy allocation is essentially setting up retail to hold the bag after longer-term shareholders take profits.

I'm not doing the cynicism justice. See for yourself (courtesy of associated Reddit threads):

Top comments on a r/TradingViewSignals post:

• "They are really trying to dump this bag on retail aren't they." — cat-from-the-future
• "Jesus this is a terrible sign" — UnrealizedLosses
• "Sucker born every minute." — Inevitable_Sweet_624
• "CANT WAIT TO SHORT THIS" — notboredatwork1

Top comments on a r/BetterOffline post:

• "Long story short, there aren't a lot of institutional buyers willing to buy in at 100x [price-sales] ratio." — FrankLucasV2
• "Retail traders will be the exit liquidity they are looking for." — tylern
• "Oh, they want the DUMB money." — brexdab
• "Just like every other crash, the retail investors will be left holding the bag…. Again." — ofork

You get the idea: The retail investors who frequent investing forums are suspicious of the motives behind the decision, and they aren't enthused about buying. They're adopting the age-old mindset that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Many of these same investors abide by a bear case that argues SpaceX's lack of profitability makes it unworthy of such a high valuation.

Another less sensationalist argument that's been popping up is that the immediate outsized allocation to retail will deprive the stock of buying power further down the line. Basically, it's expected that day traders will frontload their purchases.

The large chunk of shares dedicated to retail, combined with the inherent skepticism pervading the IPO discussion, is setting up SpaceX for a volatile debut. After all, mega-cap IPOs have been anything but a slam dunk in the modern tech era.

Back in 2012, Facebook (and its bankers) overestimated demand for the company's shares. The company's stock — also hobbled by tech issues on IPO day — took months to recover, and hardly looked like the juggernaut we know today.

But First Trade isn't here to make a call on how SpaceX will perform. Betting against Elon Musk has been a painful trade for a lot of people. I'm simply pointing out a potentially destabilizing market force that many investors are currently treating as a positive.

• At the beginning of this year, I moved from a small town to a big city.
• I was eager to meet new people and make friends in my new home.
• To expand my social circle, I said 'yes' to invitations and talked to strangers.

At the beginning of the year, my family moved from Bright in country Victoria to the Gold Coast, Australia's sixth biggest city. Our new home has a population of close to 740,000, so it was a bit of a shock to the system moving from a tiny town of fewer than 3,000 people to the "big smoke."

In Bright, we had a lovely group of friends, most of whom we met through school or work. On the Gold Coast, my husband and I were lucky enough to have a handful of friends from when we lived here 15 years ago, but I was also eager to meet new people and expand our social circle.

Putting yourself out there in your 40s can be daunting, but it's so worth the effort. After just a few months, I've cultivated a lovely new circle of friends from all different walks of life. Here's how.

I ignore the 'stranger danger' warning

From an early age, we're taught to be mindful of strangers, but truth be told, I love talking to random people. One of the things that makes me feel most alive is discovering different people's stories and perspectives about the world.

Since moving to the Gold Coast, I've made a habit of striking up conversations with strangers wherever I go. Gymnastics mums, parents at the playground, book lovers at the library. Often, we end up exchanging numbers and hanging out afterward. From these brief encounters, lovely friendships are blossoming.

I say 'yes' frequently

When life is busy with work and kids, it's tempting to decline social invites and chill on the couch. But if you want to build friendships, it helps to be a 'yes' person. Since moving to the Gold Coast, I've tried to say 'yes' to catching up whenever possible.

When a new friend invited me to her high tea birthday celebration at the last minute, I blew off work and went along. I ended up meeting some lovely new people.

When another friend invited me for an early morning hike, I was so tempted to decline and sleep in instead, but I fronted up and had the best time making memories in the sunshine.

I initiate catch-ups well in advance

One thing I've had to adjust to after moving from the country to the city is the busier pace of life. In the country, you could literally give people 10 minutes' notice that you were popping over for a tea, but here, people have really busy lives.

After moving to the Gold Coast, I started initiating get-togethers well in advance, often giving people four to six weeks' notice. That way, it's on the calendar and more likely to happen.

I'm leaning into my true, authentic self

Being my true, authentic self has helped me forge deeper connections with new friends. We often put up walls with unfamiliar people, but once you break them down, you open the door to more meaningful conversations and relationships.

As an example, one of the first group get-togethers I organized with a bunch of new friends was a woo-woo women's night. Everyone made a dream board for 2026, answered conversation cards, and shared their intentional "word" for 2026.

For some of the ladies, it was outside their comfort zone, but they were brave enough to open up. afterward, several remarked how much they enjoyed the experience, and it felt like it broke the ice on our new friendship journey.

It definitely takes time and energy to build a new social circle in your 40s, but once you find your people, it's so rewarding. One of the benefits of making new friends at this age is that you know who you are, and who you want to spend your time with.

I highly recommend striking up a conversation with a stranger and seeing where it takes you. You might be pleasantly surprised, just as I was.

• Apple's annual WWDC conference kicks off on Monday with investors eager for AI updates.
• The iPhone-maker is expected to unveil a revamped AI Siri and could offer insights into monetization.
• Analysts say the event could be a catalyst to rerate the stock and reframe Apple as an AI winner.

Apple's annual conference kicks off on Monday and it could serve as the AI catalyst investors have been waiting for.

This year's Worldwide Developers Conference could change the company's AI story and fuel a rerating of the stock, Wall Street analysts said.

Notably, the event marks Tim Cook's last WWDC as CEO before he steps down and passes the baton to hardware boss John Ternus.

The conference could also be Cook's last chance to rewrite his legacy when it comes to AI. The iPhone maker is expected to showcase a new AI-driven Siri powered by Alphabet's Google Gemini and run on Nvidia chips, according to reports from The Information.

Here's what Wall Street analysts say investors should be watching for.

What it would take for Apple to be an AI winner

Goldman Sachs analysts expect Apple to announce a redefined AI Siri set for September 2026 alongside the next iPhone. If the company is able to offer insights into its plans to monetize AI could reshape the iPhone-maker's place in the AI era and solidify Cook's legacy.

Apple has been long regarded as an AI laggard, missing out on the AI-fueled gains enjoyed by other tech giants.

While WWDC 2024 was focused on AI, with the company seeing shares gain after announcing Apple Intelligence, Apple has delayed its AI plans since, fueling scrutiny from Wall Street.

"We believe Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is a clear catalyst that can help shift Apple into the 'AI Winner' bucket (perceived or otherwise)," Morgan Stanley analysts said.

"Siri/ Apple Intelligence 2.0 has the potential to become the ultimate AI resource offload and deliver a form of Agentic AI to the consumer at a lower cost than incumbents, vertically integrated across one of the largest device installed bases," they explained.

Upside potential

Historically, Apple stock generally trades higher in the week ahead of WWDC, is down the day of, and mixed the following days.

Apple stock is on track to follow this pattern, gaining in the trading week ahead of the event.

Morgan Stanley said "a polished AI platform and clear Agentic vision could push valuation to $365-385, with upside to $440."

Wedbush, which has a $400 price target for Apple stock, said that AI monetization and services could add $75 to $100 per share to Apple stock that the current price isn't factoring in.

Apple's AI capex and user base advantage

Analysts flagged that Apple's position as an AI distributor rather than an actual model provider, position the company to benefit from AI without spending billion like other Big Tech companies are.

"No company is better positioned than Apple for consumer AI - if they get it right!," Bernstein analysts said, explaining, "Consider that Apple doesn't need to spend the estimated $200bn a year in capex that peers spend, but still gets access to the best models on earth through partnerships and could still monetize AI through various ways we highlight below including via 3rd party partnerships."

Futurum Group CEO Daniel Newman made a similar point, telling Business Insider, "Apple is in a unique position because it's avoided the big capeX boom and realistically has the most pervasive surface in which AI will be consumed."

"I think getting Siri right could completely reverse history as Apple didn't have to be early. It just needs to get there on time. And given how early we are for AI they still have the chance to do that," he added.

• US Soccer CEO JT Batson aims to capitalize on the World Cup's immense attention.
• He said he's building for what comes after the World Cup, not just the event itself.
• Batson said he often looks to business for lessons that might apply to US Soccer.

When JT Batson thinks about the FIFA World Cup, he compares it to an IPO.

The head of US Soccer, the sport's governing body, recently recalled a conversation with a veteran CFO who described what it's like to take a company public: lots of work building toward a single, high-profile moment.

Yet, ultimately, Batson said, the real test is what happens afterward.

That long-term mindset is shaping how he's approaching what might be the biggest event in American soccer history.

As the US prepares to co-host the World Cup starting Thursday, Batson said he's focused on building an organization capable of capitalizing on the attention it will bring.

"This summer is a springboard," Batson said. "This summer is not the destination."

A business mindset for soccer

Batson, 43, came to US Soccer from the business world, where he co-founded and ran an advertising technology company before becoming US Soccer's CEO in late 2022.

The start of his tenure followed a tumultuous period for the federation, including a settlement earlier that year with the US women's national team over a pay-equity lawsuit.

Batson, who played the game growing up in Georgia and later worked as a ref, said he often looks to business for lessons that might apply to US Soccer. Organizational challenges often aren't unique, he said, even if their application at the nonprofit might be.

"There is someone who solved a similar problem in another environment, somewhere in the world," he said.

The trick, Batson said, is to take those best practices and "bring them to life" in a way that benefits US Soccer and the game.

"One of the things that I've really come to appreciate is that when you apply basic business principles to most any problem we have, the answer becomes quite obvious," he said.

One example of that philosophy was US Soccer's decision to take direct control over its commercial business. Since assuming responsibility for its sponsorship, media, and licensing rights in 2023, US Soccer has built an internal operation that handles those deals directly.

Under Batson, US Soccer has brought in executives from outside the sport, including COO Dan Helfrich, who spent more than two decades at Deloitte.

Batson describes soccer as "the challenger sport" in the US and the nation as "the challenger country" in global soccer. After all, despite the hype around hosting the World Cup, soccer isn't one of the Big Four leagues in the US, while it's the most popular sport in most of Europe.

"That means if we want to win, we've got to out-innovate, we've got to outwork, and we've got to out-align," he said.

Building for growth

The philosophy is showing up in tangible ways. In May, US Soccer opened a national training center south of Atlanta. The sprawling facility is home to the federation's 27 national teams, including the marquee men's and women's rosters, as well as more than a dozen youth squads.

Beyond the completion of the training center, Batson points to three straight years of profitability for US Soccer and a tripling of revenue as evidence of the federation's momentum.

He said one of his top priorities since joining US Soccer has been to build trust with those who have a stake in the beautiful game.

As he sees it, US Soccer's customers include a child learning to kick a ball, aspiring national team players, and every family in America that cares about soccer.

Batson said polling makes clear that the opportunity for soccer is larger than many people realize. A Harris Poll survey found that seven in 10 Americans are interested in soccer. Among those, a quarter are "dedicated," and 20% are "obsessed."

Beyond the World Cup

Despite growing popularity in the US, some of the challenges Batson talks about come down to scale.

One of those is helping US Soccer rely more on digital technology, software, and, increasingly, AI to reach players, coaches, and fans spread across such a large country, he said. The federation is exploring, for example, how the technology can help scouts identify promising players from game footage.

Reaching large numbers of people will remain a priority as the sports world's attention shifts to North America for what is likely to be the most expensive FIFA World Cup.

"Ninety-nine percent of the fans experiencing the World Cup were always going to do it outside the stadiums," Batson said. "How do you make sure that they really feel a part of that?"

That mindset also shapes how he thinks about what comes after the tournament.

Batson's longer-term objectives include getting more people involved in the game, setting the US up for success at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and co-hosting the women's World Cup in 2031.

"How do we use this summer? How do you use LA '28? How do you use the Women's World Cup bid for 2031 to get people to make these big bets and make these big bets together?" he said. "That's been the focus for us."

• Robot.com is building a lineup of robots with different form factors to handle various tasks.
• The company currently has more than 500 robots deployed, with a majority handling delivery.
• CEO Felipe Chavez said the startup is focused on automating repetitive and mundane tasks.

For Felipe Chavez, the future of robotics might look something like an idyllic yogurt commercial.

No, really. During Business Insider's visit to Robot.com's headquarter in San Francisco on Thursday, Chavez, who is the co-founder and CEO, took out his laptop and played a Chobani commercial.

The video had the whimsy of a Studio Ghibli movie. Light flutes played over scenes of frolicking children, while farmers, animals, and robots peacefully co-existed with the natural world. There was balance. And yogurt.

In Chavez' vision, the organic world is still prioritized, animals are "very important," and people pursue the things that they enjoy like art or cooking. Nothing is wasted on the superfluous and mundane — in part, thanks to robots.

"The mission that we have as a company is to bring automation to the physical world, to free human beings from labor that they don't want to do and that they can now actually pursue their meaningful life," he said.

It's a loftier way to frame Robot.com's bet: Machines will first take over the boring, repetitive, physical work that so often leads to high turnover.

Chavez said he came to the realization as he was making deliveries for his first startup. Before launching Kiwibot in 2017, a campus robot delivery outfit that later became Robot.com, Chavez ran a grocery-delivery company akin to Instacart in his home country of Colombia. The startup was completely bootstrapped, he said, which sometimes meant he completed some deliveries himself.

"In that company, I realized that the manual work could be very exhausting and it could be very boring," he said.

Today, Robot.com says it has more than 500 working robots deployed and has completed more than 2.5 million tasks. Most of the robots — around 400 — are still delivery robots, Chavez said, but the company has been expanding into other areas, including warehouses, food service, and advertising, where robots will act like roving billboards.

The company isn't pitching a general-purpose humanoid that can do everything. Instead, Chavez imagines an entire ecosystem of robots, in different form factors, each responsible for small, specific tasks.

He described one scenario from Robot.com's food-delivery business. As the robot-delivery business grew, restaurant workers found they had a new chore: walking outside to place the to-go containers inside the robots.

This new interaction created friction. Chavez said customers had to retrain workers or even hire extra people. In other words, automating one task exposed another one, pushing the company to start thinking about a "manipulation solution," or a robot that can grab and handle items.

Chavez said his company now analyzes labor by breaking it down into specific tasks to identify which areas can be handled by robots. Robot.com's future robotics pipeline will follow a simple rule of thumb.

"If you can do it with two fingers, very likely we will be able to do it," the CEO said.

The startup's vision is relatively modest compared to the humanoid-robot hype captivating the rest of Silicon Valley.

Companies like Figure AI and Tesla are building bipedal robots with five fingers, which means they'll first have to solve the herculean problem of full dexterity and manipulation. If they can do that and solve manufacturing challenges, the companies say the robots will work in warehouses, factories, homes, and other physical environments.

Elon Musk has said this will lead to an "infinite money glitch" in which people will no longer have to work and can rely on a universal income.

While Chavez said he doesn't doubt that humanoids will one day proliferate the world, Robot.com's version of the near future is grounded less in personal home servants and more in the less glamorous parts of service work, like sorting, moving, and handing items off.

Chavez said his 20 or so customers at present are also thinking less about replacing their workers and more about improving workforce satisfaction and reducing turnover.

"The people that are working right now are going to feel better," he said. "They're going to maybe not do that repetitive tasks and focus on customer-centric experience and not resign after seven months."

Companies like Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics have similarly pitched an optimistic outcome for robotics — one where humans are upskilled, not replaced.

Still, those very companies have to contend with a massive labor force that relies on so-called simple jobs. Estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed there were about 3.8 million fast-food and counter workers, 3 million "laborers and freight, stock, and material movers," and 2.8 million stockers and order fillers in 2024.

Chavez said humans will still be essential in a robotic future. Humans, after all, maintain and guide Waymo robotaxis at remote centers or train humanoids through teleoperation, he said.

The CEO invoked the solarpunk movement — the antithesis of the dystopian cyberpunk vision in which humans live on the margins of a world overrun by robots.

In an ad for Robot.com, humans peacefully co-exist with their robot counterparts. They could be delivered a cup of coffee along their daily commute. They could even wave hello, as Robot.com imbues their machines with some personality.

Maybe they'll be served a yogurt ad along the way.

• For Love & Money is a column from Business Insider answering your relationship and money questions.
• This week, a reader who moved to a new country feels they aren't achieving their financial dreams.
• Our columnist reminds them of all they've achieved and suggests creating a concrete plan for the future.

Dear For Love & Money,

I'm 25 years old and live in the Netherlands. I spent 15 years trying to leave my home country for a better future and move to Europe. I thought I would be better off here, have a higher standard of living, and be able to go on holiday.

I worked and saved up whatever I could to make my dream come true. I made it to Europe 1½ years ago, and I'm working in tech sales, an industry that pays well even in a junior position; I make 67,000 Euros a year, but after rent, food, and bills, there's not much left.

I see people my age going on holidays, wasting money on drinks, skiing in the winter, and partying in Ibiza during the summer. I feel worthless, like all of the effort I put in to be here means nothing. I still can't afford a holiday or to travel anywhere. It feels like I moved forward three steps, only for the world to take 10 steps backward.

I want to be young, to meet women my age, and to be able to go on dates. I want to spend money on things, and not be scared to wear the one piece of clothing I bought because I can't afford to buy it again if it gets ruined. What can I do?

Sincerely,

Disappointed Dreamer

Dear Disappointed,

In 2002, my brother-in-law emigrated from Bulgaria to the United States at 21 years old. He had no money and a college degree that most American businesses didn't recognize. Compared to his American peers who had just graduated from college and were spending their first corporate paychecks on vacations and at bars, his life was distinctly unglamorous.

While his frugal lifestyle reflected my brother-in-law's lack of funds, though, it also reflected his goals. He used his grit and brains to start over in a new country, and twenty-odd years later, he's now the most successful person I know. In 2022, he went on a bucket-list hunting trip on a Canadian island, visited his father in Bulgaria, took his kids to Disney World, and whisked my sister away for a romantic tour of Italy and Spain.

I share his story with you to illustrate something that's easy to forget when life feels exhausting and your dreams are taking longer than you hoped to achieve: The best indicator of how far you'll go isn't where you've landed — it's how far you've already come. You moved to a new country — something many people never accomplish — and are working in a position with plenty of room for career advancement.

So, please, do me a favor: Look at your accomplishments and congratulate yourself. You're a rockstar with remarkable inner strength and intelligence, and while I know you're tired, you're going places.

Besides, your own history is a much stronger data point for where you "should be" than the social media accounts of your peers. You mentioned seeing other people your age "wasting money on drinks." Your use of the word "wasting" tells me you aren't much of a drinker. Apparently, they are, and therefore see drinking as a worthy financial trade-off.

This is why you cannot fall into a comparison trap with your peers. You're different people on your own journeys. Instead, spend that energy analyzing your own financial priorities and aligning them with your spending habits. This is one of the best ways to turn your abstract fantasies into concrete goals and make choices based on those goals.

Get extremely specific about what matters most to you financially and build your budget around those priorities. If travel matters more to you than clothes, eating out, or nightlife, create a separate sinking fund for holidays and automatically transfer money into it every payday, even if it's only €100 at a time.

Do the same for other goals that matter to you, whether that's dating, buying new clothes, or taking time off work. Saving becomes much easier when your money has a clear purpose attached to it.

You can also look for ways to reach your goals in a more budget-friendly way. Get roommates to share your rent, if you can. Buy your clothes at thrift stores. Stay at hostels when you travel, and track airfare and train fare to ensure you're booking at the lowest prices.

I'd also encourage you to take an honest look at your current spending and identify the expenses that aren't actually improving your life. A lot of people bleed money through food delivery, subscriptions, expensive grocery stores, or constant small convenience purchases — without realizing how quickly they add up.

I know it can be hard to cut those small expenses when it seems like everyone else can afford both food delivery and a month in Greece, but remember that things may not be how they look with your peers. They may have family money or a credit card balance that would make your head spin. How they spend their money has nothing to do with you. What has everything to do with you, though, is how you continue to build upon the hard work you've put in to get where you are, to reach the life you want for yourself.

I know it's hard, and I understand we all have moments of weariness, but don't give up on your dreams now. You are doing an incredible job. If you take anything I am telling you to heart, please let it be this: Your story is inspiring. You've come so far so quickly, and I can't wait to see how high you climb.

Rooting for you,

For Love & Money

An earlier version of this article was originally published in February 2023.

Looking for advice on how your savings, debt, or another financial challenge is affecting your relationships? Write to For Love & Money using this Google form.

• Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, podcast host, and author.
• She said that many mislabel overwhelm as burnout, leading to incorrect solutions.
• Overwhelm is temporary and may improve with breaks, unlike burnout, which requires deeper solutions.

For more than two decades, people have walked into my therapy office and told me they were burned out. Most of them weren't actually burned out.

Corporate wellness programs and social media carousels that gloss over the topic are leading to incorrect self-diagnoses. People are using "I'm burned out" the way they used to say "I'm tired."

Once you've concluded you have burnout, you'll look for evidence to confirm it. Every time you feel bored in a meeting or overwhelmed by a full schedule, you'll chalk it up to more evidence that you're burned out.

I understand the temptation. Calling it burnout makes the feeling feel legitimate. But if you mislabel overwhelm as burnout, you'll reach for solutions that don't fit the problem.

Burnout, as the World Health Organization defines it, is chronic workplace stress that has gone unmanaged for so long it produces three things: exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced effectiveness at work. Overwhelm is a temporary issue that can be addressed by tackling the problem at hand. If you insist you're burned out, you might think the only solution is quitting your job — and miss out on taking the action that would actually give you relief.

Here are five signs you're overwhelmed, not burned out.

1. You still care.

If you're frustrated about the obstacles that stand in your way and prevent you from turning in your best work, you're overwhelmed. If you've genuinely stopped caring about the outcome, that's closer to burnout.

If you aren't sure which end of the spectrum you're on, imagine yourself turning in some incredible work this week. Would that still mean something to you? If so, you're temporarily overwhelmed, not permanently burned out.

2. A great weekend gives you relief.

If you come back to work on a Monday feeling even the slightest bit restored, you're just overwhelmed. Two days off isn't meant to fix everything, but a break from the grind should move the needle.

If, however, an amazing weeklong vacation leaves you feeling as frazzled as when you left, you might be burned out.

One caveat: Look at how you're spending your days off. If you're sprinting from one activity to the next and don't take time to rest, you won't be able to judge how your time off affects you.

3. You want to do the work, but there's too much to do.

When you're overwhelmed, you're more likely to think, I have too much to do and not enough time to do it. Cutting down on your to-do list, asking for help, or checking things off the list should help you feel better.

When you're burned out, however, you're more likely to think, I can't make myself get my tasks done and I don't care. Burnout involves a lack of meaning that zaps your effort. It also prevents you from experiencing a sense of accomplishment when you get something done.

4. You can see the finish line.

When you're overwhelmed, you can still see the light at the end of the tunnel. You know once your deadline passes or Friday afternoon arrives, you'll feel better.

When you're burned out, you won't be able to see the other side. You won't imagine anything that brings relief. Instead, you'll think about how finishing one thing means starting the next, and the ability to keep going feels unsustainable.

5. The physical toll is evident.

When you're overwhelmed, your shoulders might get tight, your stomach might churn, and you might struggle to sleep because you're thinking about all the things you need to do.

If your body is yelling at you, that's actually a good sign. It means your system is still responding to the stress. It wants you to take action. And a little yoga, some gentle stretching, and regular exercise can help you feel better.

If you're burned out, you're more likely to feel flat or numb, both physically and emotionally. My therapy clients who are genuinely burned out will say things like, "I don't feel stressed anymore. I feel nothing."

What to do when you've named it correctly

If you're overwhelmed, you don't need a new job or a six-month sabbatical. You need a strategy to tackle the problem. Name exactly what you're feeling instead of calling it all "stress." Use the 10-minute rule to tackle a task you've been avoiding — commit to 10 minutes to build some momentum that will help you keep going. Or gamify the grind, so you can get more tasks done faster. These are three examples of strategies I address in my new book that can give you fast relief when you're feeling overwhelmed.

If you're burned out, you'll need a more serious intervention — like extended time off, therapy, or a major shift in your role. If you aren't sure if you're burned out, talk to a mental health professional if you can.

Burnout responds to the right care, but you have to name it correctly first.

• Walmart is folding AI into nearly every aspect of its business.
• The retailer is pushing to make AI capabilities available to all of its employees and customers.
• I visited the company to see how Walmart's AI is supporting new levels of speed and personalization.

Walmart is big, but it wants to be bigger.

The retail giant employs more than 2 million people. It serves hundreds of millions of customers each week across thousands of stores in the US and around the world. And it's not sitting still.

Walmart is now working to speed up its business with a major assist from AI in just about every aspect of its operation.

I got to see this firsthand during its annual shareholders meeting at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, where executives and frontline workers shared how the technology is transforming retail.

AI is for everyone

For starters, Walmart is using its scale to its advantage by equipping people at all levels of the company with the tools to wrangle AI.

"We want to democratize the access to learning and democratize the access to making a difference, so that people can learn and grow," CEO John Furner told reporters last week.

The most talked-about example was the new Code Puppy agent that Walmart Global Tech distinguished engineer Mike Pfaffenberger built and shared with the organization.

Walmart already has a dizzying number of agents and a handful of super-agents tailored for particular use cases, but Code Puppy was notable for its ability to help people across the organization vibecode their own solutions — from salaried software engineers to hourly forklift drivers.

Unlike companies that may centralize AI development within traditionally tech-focused departments, Walmart's approach accelerates the pace at which new ideas can arise from the front lines and spread throughout the global enterprise.

"It doesn't matter where the idea came from. It could be in Bangalore. It could be in Greater Toronto. It could be Mexico City. It could be in Wichita, Kansas. Wherever the best idea is, we should take that and scale it," Furner said. "We just simply surface what's already been built, and then we see the adoption rates go much faster."

Some workers want better guardrails

Walmart's embrace of AI is not without controversy, however.

A shareholder proposal backed by United for Respect, a coalition of retail workers, criticized the impact of AI and automation on frontline employees.

Ava Williams, an overnight stocker in Washington, presented the proposal during the Walmart shareholders meeting. She said the new AI-powered workflows push workers like her to cut corners as they race against unrealistic expectations.

"We are not asking Walmart to stop using technology. We are asking for technology that works for us, not against us," she said.

Shareholders rejected the measure, and the company said it has multiple channels for employees to share their ideas and concerns.

The company also officially launched a credentialing program it built with OpenAI that is available to every employee, fulfilling a commitment it announced back in September.

The training program is intended to help employees build practical confidence with AI. They learn to integrate the tools into the problems they face in the real world.

The company highlighted one such case: A logistics manager who completed a Google AI certification and used those skills to develop an agent that helps Walmart identify routes that would get drivers home faster with fewer empty trucks.

Even the new delivery partnership with in-store Subway restaurants now comes with a hefty serving of AI.

Walmart order pickers already follow an AI-generated route through the store to fill the basket, and Walmart's head of digital fulfillment, Greg Cathey, said AI now also finds the right moment in that route to queue Subway workers to make the order.

"That is the AI that's timing everything to make sure the sandwich is going to be hot if it's hot — always fresh," Cathey said.

Deeper insights about what customers really want

Over at Walmart's warehouse club, Sam's Club Director of Consumer Insights Sue Jervis said she can now gain new details from the chain's fast-growing member feedback community thanks to the power of multimodal AI analysis.

She expressed a visceral disgust for five-star surveys and said the conversations and video clips she gets from participants give her a much more precise understanding of what really matters to them.

Thanks to AI, Jervis can tap into the 150,000-member group and extract not just what they're saying, but how they're saying it — the emotional register behind their feedback about the club's products and services.

Walmart is also learning more about customers who use the company's new Sparky chatbot, which acts as a kind of personal shopping assistant.

"We're learning a ton just from how they're interacting with Sparky relative to ways that maybe historically they have interacted with us," Chief Growth Officer Seth Dallaire told reporters.

The value of that interaction is significant enough that the company is not rushing to serve ads in the chat, focusing instead on ensuring customers are getting what they want from the experience.

"We see long natural language query strings that look very different than someone typing in 'men's shoes,'" he said. "That is in itself is a really interesting piece of information for us."

Betting big on smaller things

It's telling that on Friday, Furner handed the President's Innovation Award to Pfaffenberger and his colleague, John Choi, for their work on Code Puppy.

"A vibe-coding tool that turns associates into engineers," Chief Technology Officer Suresh Kumar said. "They built a tool that supports the entire company."

Or, as Pfaffenberger asks in his documentation for the project, "Would you rather plow a field with one ox or 1,024 puppies? If you pick the ox, better slam that back button in your browser."

Walmart, big as it is, is betting on the puppies.

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• SpaceX's IPO this week aims to raise $75 billion, valuing the company at $1.75 trillion.
• That will make it the largest IPO in history.
• Investing pros mostly told Business Insider they'd be wary of buying the stock on day one.

The official numbers are out for SpaceX's IPO: Elon Musk's rocket and satellite company is aiming to raise $75 billion when it comes to market later this week, putting its valuation at $1.75 trillion.

It'll be the largest IPO ever, and it's certainly in the running for the most-hyped listing of all time.

But that type of anticipation is a double-edged sword. Soaring investor excitement can turn into volatility to chase the hype and cash in early gains. There's also the question of a historic valuation for a company that is not profitable.

So, for anyone wondering whether to buy the stock when it starts trading or hold off, we've rounded up the thoughts of eight investing pros to help you decide.

Here's what they had to say.

Dhruv Maniktala, CIO at True North Advisors & Western Alternative Strategies

Would you buy: No

Maniktala's firm has had exposure to SpaceX through private market vehicles since 2019, "at much lower valuations," he said.

The stock price could shoot up because of "retail interest," making it a great investment, but he said it's not for his firm.

"At this point, we are sellers rather than buyers," Maniktala said. "To justify its valuation, SpaceX will need to grow revenue by 30x in 4 years and still trade at 25 times free cash flow, assuming that the stock does not go up at all from IPO."

Stephanie Link, chief investment strategist at Hightower Advisors

Would you buy: Yes

Link said she would buy the stock without hesitation on the first day of trading, with one big caveat: buy a small 2% allocation and forget it.

The "frenzy" surrounding the stock may lead to short-term volatility, she said, and the company is "impossible to value" in traditional terms, requiring investors to "be creative" with valuations based on their own estimates of the firm's total addressable market, or the maximum total revenue it'd be able to generate.

It shouldn't be your whole portfolio, but Link would recommend getting some "skin in the game" in case Musk's vision of satellite data centers and global connectivity comes to pass.

"I don't think you want to be against the next huge theme," Link said.

Andy VandenBerg, founder of VDB Wealth

Would you buy: No

Vandenberg said he'd hold off for now, noting that tech stocks typically get crushed in the first 12 months after their IPOs, citing data from Truist.

"If you look at the last 30 major tech IPOs, 57% traded up over the first week. However, the max drawdown in the first year averaged 55%," he said. "So, if you're really bullish on the company and its long-term prospects, I advise clients that there will likely be a more attractive opportunity to invest in the business."

Robert R. Johnson, professor of finance at Creighton University

Would you buy: No

Johnson said he "wouldn't touch" the SpaceX IPO, and recommended the same for most investors. That's because the company's valuation assumes all of its growth projections play out perfectly.

While the stock could jump thanks to demand from major indexes adding SpaceX as a constituent—some of which are doing so quicker than usual—or due to excitement around the track record of Elon Musk's companies, Johnson said it's still too risky an investment.

"Fans of Elon Musk have driven Tesla valuations beyond what the fundamentals would otherwise suggest, and SpaceX may experience the same effect," he said. "Having said that, I would suggest steering clear of this IPO."

Joel Shulman, Founder/CIO of ERShares and professor at Babson College

Would you buy: Yes

Shulman's ETF, XOVR, which he said was the first ETF to put private shares on the public market, already owns shares of SpaceX. But he doesn't think all the gains have already been made.

"It is 100% going to open at a premium," he said.

In his view, Elon Musk may be the greatest entrepreneur of all time, describing his vision of data centers in space, with lower cooling costs and cheap solar power, as "game over," and a culmination of the business's three main engines: rockets, Starlink, and xAI.

But market dynamics will also help, he said. Sure, the S&P 500 isn't fast-tracking the stock, but the Nasdaq and Russell indexes buying it up should more than make up for it. IPO orders are already oversubscribed, meaning strong demand, he said, and he theorized that last Friday's poor stock market performance may have something to do with investors gearing up to buy next week.

"I wouldn't be surprised if some fund managers today are freeing up cash to buy SpaceX next week," he said.

Brian Mulberry, Chief Market Strategist at Zacks Investment Management

Would you buy: No

Mulberry said that good-old-fashioned fundamentals will stop him from buying SpaceX on day one. SpaceX, like many tech IPOs, is "pre-profit" and Mulberry said his firm usually "looks for a strong road to profitability before we take positions."

"We will take a little time to see where actual revenues are coming in and then make a decision based on that," Mulberry said.

Jeff Judge, Managing Partner at Chesapeake Financial Planners

Would you buy: No

In addition to SpaceX's valuation, Judge noted that 30% of the IPO shares will be allocated to retail investors.

"I think it is either a money grab to get as many inflows in or there isn't as much appetite for it at the institutional level as they had expected," Judge said. "Neither is a strong buy signal."

Commentators have expressed hesitation around the retail component recently, noting that bigger participation from the day-trader crowd could increase volatility.

On Thursday, Fidelity announced that it would lower the account minimum for users on its platform to buy the stock at the IPO price.

Keith Fitz-Gerald, founder of Fitz-Gerald Must Have Portfolio ETF

Would you buy: No

Fitz-Gerald said that retail traders will "almost certainly rue the day" they bought into big IPOs like SpaceX.

Retail investors are "not prepared for the possibility of a highly quantitative, institutionally-driven sharkfest," he said. They may not have the stomach for a 20-40% drop in the short-term, even if there's long-term wealth to be made.

"A widely anticipated stock like SpaceX is going to be like throwing chum in the water for high-speed traders and quantitatively driven shops who will use every trick in the book — derivatives, overlays, technical trading, and so on to gain an edge over the average retail investor," he said. "Time frames will compress and volatility — which is their lifeblood — will increase."

Mike Serio, CIO of Trilogy Financial

Would you buy: No

Serio turned to previous mega-IPOs to explain why he wouldn't buy the stock, explaining that Meta didn't start outperforming the S&P 500 until more than 10 years after IPO.

Top tech IPOs have been "liquidity events which free up capital for private shareholders" instead of "once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunities," Serio said. Meta IPO purchases likely "paid for a good deal of tuition and retirement expenses," he said, but it didn't happen overnight.

"In my humble opinion, if one is interested in these IPOs, they eventually will get a second and third bite of the apple," Serio said.

David Wagner, Head of Equities and Portfolio Manager at Aptus Capital Advisors

Would you buy: No

Wagner said his firm was surprised to hear that the S&P 500 wasn't fast-tracking the stock for the index. The resulting lack of passive index money could make many decide to wait before investing, he said.

"This may cause some managers to pause their IPO purchases to let the dust settle now that they have some time to watch the overall volatility of the security," Wagner said.

• More than 350 employees are starting as interns at Citadel and Citadel Securities.
• The companies accepted a record low 0.36% of applicants, out of more than 115,900 applications.
• BI got an exclusive look at the class and the firms' "insatiable appetite" for young talent.

Ken Griffin's companies are making their biggest bet yet on entry-level talent, as Citadel interns kick off their program with an offsite in Palm Beach on Monday.

They're among the more than 350 interns at the company and its sister firm, market maker Citadel Securities, and comprise the biggest global class to date. The companies, known for recruiting the sharpest quants and traders, accepted a miniscule 0.36% of applicants out of more than 115,900 applications, up 6.4% from last year's record.

"The reason our class is larger than ever is precisely because the business has seen how valuable campus talent can be," Iris Wang, who oversees campus recruitment at Citadel, said, adding that the firms aren't "headcount-restrained."

Despite widespread anxiety about what AI will do to entry-level hiring, Citadel's commitment to young talent isn't entirely surprising, as the top hedge funds have been scrambling to hire enough people to invest their massive sums. Some of the biggest hedge funds are beefing up their talent pipelines to rival that of the big banks, whose intern programs are something of Wall Street folklore.

Other hedge funds are also investing in their talent pipelines: in 2027, Millennium is starting an investing internship, and Balyasny is launching a nine-month Catalyst training program for recent graduates.

Wang and Fabian Figi, who leads recruiting at Citadel Securities, said roles in quantitative finance are especially attractive to young people because they incorporate cutting-edge technology and AI, and might seem like a wise long-term bet in a rapidly evolving workforce. Some AI labs have been trying to poach the most impressive quants from hedge funds and trading firms, at times offering multimillion-dollar pay packages.

Citadel and Citadel Securities interns, some of whom have PhDs, won't be starved for summer cash: their base salary is $4,300 to $5,800 per week, depending on their role and experience. Interns also get a signing bonus and can choose to live in corporate housing or receive a $15,000 housing stipend.

How to select top candidates

Interns across Wall Street are entering an industry transformed by AI, as new tools automate much of the work once synonymous with junior roles and firms incorporate the technology into training. Griffin, once a prominent AI skeptic, said last month that the technology has become "profoundly more powerful," and can now complete work in hours that would have taken people with PhDs in finance weeks, even months.

Citadel assessed applicants on their AI fluency during the recruitment process, along with their good judgment. Many of the strongest applicants knew how to leverage new tools and help AI code effectively, but the "A-plus" candidates were differentiated by their judgment and adaptability, Wang said. Figi said that though soft skills are especially important, a traditional STEM degree still holds weight, even if the traditional STEM skills aren't as crucial.

"We like people who pursue STEM degrees not just because of their technical expertise, but because it's hard," he said. "These are people who want to challenge themselves, and it requires a certain level of raw intellectual horsepower that will push them forward no matter how tools evolve."

This year's interns, he said, will have more time to think about higher-order, complex problems, which will likely make the role "more interesting."

Return offers and evaluation

While the intern role itself is changing, Citadel and Citadel Securities are still evaluating interns in much the same way: impact.

Interns work on team projects with real business implications and have access to the same suite of AI tools as full-time employees, Wang and Figi said. They have one-on-one conversations with their managers each week and ongoing communication with team members.

At the end of the summer, interns present their projects to business leaders, and Griffin and Citadel Securities CEO Peng Zhao review return offers. Figi said that while it's hard to predict how the summer will shake out, he expects a majority of interns to get a return offer, as they have in past years. The companies don't have specific quotas for returns, and instead evaluate whether each intern could be "wildly successful" individually, he said.

And the track record is pretty good: campus hires are around twice as likely to one day be considered high performers, based on annual performance reviews.

"We're going to continue to have an almost insatiable appetite for exceptional talent, and we'll continue trying to identify as much of it as we can because we believe it's a critical competitive advantage," Figi said. "Once we identify that talent, we'll move incredibly fast to secure it."

Interning on Wall Street this summer or have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at atecotzky@insider.com or Signal at alicetecotzky.05. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Kelsey Hightower has three tips for new graduates entering an uncertain job market.
• Hightower said that young people still have more control over their careers than they may think.
• He said the era of AI is a good time for job seekers to focus on their human qualities.

As graduation season collides with diminishing entry-level roles and slower hiring, the former distinguished engineer at Google has notes for fresh grads.

Kelsey Hightower, who retired from Google in 2023, told Business Insider that the current job market is vastly different from the one he entered decades ago, but young people still have more control over their careers than they may think.

"AI is definitely a very convenient reason to look at what you're currently doing," said Hightower of AI's effect on the workplace, adding that the industry is undergoing a "recalibration."

"The fact is that for the last 20 to 30 years, we've taken millions of super bright people who would've been good at anything, and we pushed them all into tech," he said.

Here are three pieces of advice Hightower has for new graduates and early-career workers, especially those looking to break into the tech industry.

Treat extracurriculars like a job requirement

Hightower said that the new "harsh reality" is that grades and diplomas are no longer enough to stand out.

"All your work has been at school, you do projects for school, maybe you get a GPA, maybe you get a diploma from that, but no one knows if you're going to provide anything special or if you're just another person graduating," Hightower said.

"You're going to have to show your work in public," he said. "I think now going into the workforce, you're going to have to put together a strong set of extracurricular activities."

Hightower said prospective graduates should think about workforce preparation the same way they once approached college admissions.

"That means open source projects, real-world things that you've actually built — not just internships, but things that people can really point to to say, oh, this was a meaningful contribution, whether it's to a company or society," he said.

Invest in real-world relationships

Referrals remain one of the most important pathways into coveted tech jobs, Hightower said, but many younger workers came of age during the pandemic and have built far more online connections than in-person ones.

"The network really matters," Hightower said. "I think being in the physical world next to other people that are doing this work or going through the same challenges as you — it's very different than trying to do that online."

He said he remembers attending programming-language meetups and technology gatherings when he was younger, but sees fewer people investing in face-to-face professional relationships today.

"They're on Reddit, they're on social media, they're on LinkedIn," he said. "I see them posting all the time, but I don't really see a lot of them building those real-world connections."

Don't become a 'senior engineer and a junior human'

Hightower said that new graduates shouldn't lose hope in the face of AI and should focus on their human qualities.

"I think a student really has to start thinking about what we traditionally call soft skills," he said. "Like understanding people, being creative, artistic, having a big vision, having experienced the world, and all those creative elements that typically don't get measured in the interview process."

"Those are the only things that AI can't do well," he added. "It has no experience. It has no empathy for the human condition."

He said that many workplaces have created what he calls "a senior engineer and a junior human," where around 20% of workers are expected to be more robotic and are "reduced down" to what a computer could do.

"I can promise you a lot of people are not performing to the best of their ability, and in many cases, it's not their fault," he said. "They've driven the motivation out of you to the point where you're almost just doing what a robot would do: open this ticket, assign this task, write this code, check it in, rinse and repeat."

"Start making that list today. What can I bring to the table that this AI model cannot?"