Benzinga

09/27/2024

Jeff Bezos on what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

09/27/2024

Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft and current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, has declared Elon Musk-owned social media platform X as his go-to source for news.

09/27/2024

Mark Cuban Says To Get Rich, Invest 10% Of Savings In High-Risk Investments – But If It's Bitcoin, 'Throw a Hail Mary' And Pretend It's Gone

Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur, once shared his "9 Rules To Get Rich" in a Vanity Fair video posted to YouTube in 2018. 

09/26/2024

Warren Buffett accumulated 99% of his net worth after turning 50:

Age 14: $5,000
Age 21: $20,000
Age 30: $1 million
Age 35: $7 million
Age 37: $10 million
Age 43: $43 million
Age 52: $376 million
Age 53: $620 million
Age 56: $1.4 billion
Age 58: $2.3 billion
Age 59: $3.8 billion
Age 66: $17 billion
Age 72: $35.7 billion
Age 83: $58.5 billion
Age 92: $109 billion
Age 94: $143.4 billion

09/26/2024

In 2009, Graham Cochrane dove headfirst into the business world without a roadmap. His only guides were his passion for music production and an urgent need to make a living.

Fast forward to today, Cochrane is successfully managing two online ventures: a music blog and a business coaching brand.

Impressively, the businesses pull in a passive income of $160,000 per month while demanding just five hours of his week.

Cochrane’s specialty is teaching others how to initiate and expand their businesses, he said in an as-told-by feature on CNBC. Throughout his years of coaching thousands of clients, he discovered that all successful six-figure businesses share a common trait: they cater to a “hungry” audience.

Before you think about the product or service you plan to offer, Cochrane said it’s essential to recognize and understand your target audience. A “hungry” audience is one that faces a problem significant enough to justify paying for a solution.

The entrepreneur said the easiest audience to serve is the one that mirrors you. If you’ve overcome a particular problem or experienced personal growth, you could potentially assist others in doing the same.

Alternatively, if you’ve always wished for a solution to a specific problem, perhaps you could create that solution for yourself and others.

Engage in conversations about life’s shortcomings, he said, identify people’s most significant challenges. You could do this through casual street interviews, group chats with friends, or observing discussions on platforms like Reddit. Be sure to document your findings and spot any emerging patterns.

09/26/2024

X has published its initial transparency report on Wednesday since Elon Musk took over the company.

The report highlights content moderation actions taken in the first half of the year. X suspended nearly 5.3 million accounts.

Additionally, the platform removed or labeled over 10.6 million posts for rule violations, with around 5 million posts flagged for “hateful conduct.” Other categories included “violent content” (2.2 million) and “abuse and harassment” (2.6 million.)

To enforce its policies, X employs both machine learning and human review. Automated systems either take action directly or escalate content to human moderators. The company stated that posts violating its policies accounted for less than 1% of all content on the platform.

09/26/2024

The glasses will allow users to view browsers, respond to messages, and more. 🤯

09/26/2024

"Busted" – Joe Rogan openly mocks Sam Altman for flexing in a "$4 million hypercar" while claiming he's "not trying to make money."

Joe Rogan recently took a jab at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on The Joe Rogan Experience, calling him out for driving a Koenigsegg Regera. Altman, who has repeatedly stated he's not interested in wealth and took no equity in the AI company, was spotted in the rare hypercar, which originally cost $1.9 mill...

09/26/2024

What Mark Zuckerberg looks for in an employee.

09/26/2024

Mark Zuckerberg shows off ‘the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen’

09/26/2024

Ryan Reynolds Sold 2 Companies For Nearly $2 Billion In Less Than 4 Years But Has No Problem Admitting He Doesn't Have All The Answers — Loves Saying 'I Don't Know'

When you hear the name Ryan Reynolds, your first thought might be of the witty, irreverent actor who brought characters like Deadpool to life. But Reynolds is much more than an A-list celebrity; he's an entrepreneur whose business ventures have sold for a combined total of over $2 billion. 

09/25/2024

In 2012, an eBay auction offering a steak dinner for 10 at Warren Buffett’s childhood home in Omaha, Nebraska, failed to attract any bidders, despite the legendary investor’s global fame.

The auction aimed to raise funds for Girls Inc. of Omaha, a charity dedicated to empowering young women ages 5 to 18.

The dinner promised a glimpse into the early life of the Oracle of Omaha, complete with a video message from Buffett, yet not a single bid emerged. Bids started at $6,000.

Buffett, known for his frugal lifestyle and immense wealth, continues to live in a modest home he purchased in 1958 for $31,500.

This juxtaposition of simplicity amid financial success has always been a point of fascination, highlighting Buffett’s principle of living simply.

However, the allure of Buffett’s history and the chance to dine in his childhood residence did not translate into interest for the charity auction, a surprising outcome given Buffett’s iconic status.

Buffett’s parents moved into the house at 4224 Barker Ave. shortly after their wedding in 1925. Buffett was born in 1930.

He lived there for several years until his family moved to a larger dwelling.

This piece of Buffett’s history, significant as it may be, underscores a nuanced truth: The value of Buffett’s presence outweighs the historical curiosity of his early environment.

In contrast, Buffett’s charity lunches have become legendary, drawing bids of millions of dollars for the opportunity to share a meal and gain insights from one of the world's most successful investors.

In 2011, the year before the dinner was auctioned off in his former home, the lunch bid reached over $2 million.

The proceeds from these auctions benefit GLIDE, a San Francisco-based charity aiding homeless people and those in poverty.

The record $19 million bid in 2022 exemplifies the high regard in which Buffett is held and the significant philanthropic impact these lunches have achieved.

The lack of interest in the steak dinner auction at Buffett’s childhood home speaks to the unique appeal of direct interaction with the billionaire.

While tens of thousands flock to Omaha annually for the Berkshire Hathaway general meeting, eager for even a fleeting connection to Buffett, the prospect of dining in his childhood home without his presence lacked the same draw.

It highlights the complex interplay between celebrity influence, philanthropic engagement and the real estate linked to notable personalities, demonstrating that the essence of Buffett’s appeal lies in the living legend himself rather than the spaces he once inhabited.

09/25/2024

A young Elon Musk shares his thoughts on the future of the internet in 1998.

09/25/2024

Popular tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, has responded to the criticism surrounding his newly launched wallpaper app, Panels.

The app was launched as part of his iPhone 16 review earlier this week, something that usually attracts a lot of attention.

“Part of building in public is getting mass feedback immediately, which is pretty dope. Almost exactly like publishing a YouTube video,” MKBHD said on X, formerly Twitter. “As far as pricing, I hear you! It’s our own personal challenge to work to deliver that kind of value for the premium version.”

He also promised to reduce the frequency of ads for the free version.

The Panels app is designed to provide access to a curated selection of high-resolution wallpapers from digital artists.

The Panels Plus subscription, priced at $49.99 per year or $11.99 per month, allows users to download all wallpapers in high resolution. A more limited selection of wallpapers is available for free, but only in standard definition and after viewing two ads.

Many users took to social media and criticized the numerous ads, inadequate security that enabled users to download wallpapers, and an exorbitant initial price.

09/25/2024

What it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, as per Elon Musk.

09/25/2024

Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov agreed to provide user IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities in response to valid legal requests.

Following his arrest in France last month, Durov, who previously resisted government demands for user data, changed Telegram’s terms of service to prevent criminals from exploiting the app.

Amid legal troubles, Telegram has announced new measures to combat misuse of the platform. Durov revealed the company began using artificial intelligence and human moderation to filter problematic content from search results.

“We’ve already started this process internally,” he stated, adding that more details will be shared soon.

09/25/2024

Flight Attendant Hasn't Paid Rent For 10 Years, Enjoys 'Generous Benefit Package' And Tax-Free Salary

A flight attendant working for Emirates airline has been enjoying life in the skies and hasn’t paid rent for ten years. Here’s a look at her lifestyle.

09/24/2024

Mark Zuckerberg: "I was human" 🤨

09/24/2024

Jacklyn Bezos’s path to success was anything but easy. Becoming a pregnant teenager in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the 1960s was challenging and met with judgment. Initially, school administrators told her she couldn't complete her high school education. Undeterred, she pushed back against the odds, and eventually, the school allowed her to return with strict conditions.

These conditions were harsh and dehumanizing, including strict time constraints, limited social interaction and exclusion from graduation ceremonies. But despite this, Jacklyn Bezos persevered, complied and graduated high school.

After divorcing her son's biological father, Ted Jorgensen, when her baby was 17 months old, Jacklyn Bezos sought work as a secretary despite being a less-than-stellar typist. She landed a job that paid $190 per month, allowing her to move into her own apartment with her son. But she couldn't afford a phone to stay connected with her parents so her father set her up with a walkie-talkie to communicate daily.

Eager to continue her education, Jacklyn Bezos enrolled in night school and creatively managed to bring Jeff to class. She showed up with two duffel bags filled with textbooks and baby essentials.

It was during her night school classes that she met her future husband, Mike Bezos, a Cuban refugee whom Jeff fondly refers to as his father. But Mike's job required the family to move, putting Jacklyn's dream of college graduation on hold for years.

Despite the setbacks, Jacklyn never gave up on her educational aspirations. When she sent her children off to college, she felt a longing to join them. After facing delays and challenges, she returned to college with relentless determination. More than two decades after completing high school, Jacklyn finally achieved her goal and graduated from college.

Reflecting on her graduation at the commencement ceremony, she said, "When I graduated from the class of St. Elizabeth at the age of 40 I had never been more proud of myself. I felt 10 feet tall, and that is a gain of 5 feet. So that's a pretty big gain from graduation. When I was finally given the opportunity to walk across the stage to get my diploma, the loudest cheers came from my family."

Besides raising a centibillionaire, Jacklyn and Mike Bezos played a crucial financial role in Jeff's journey to success. In 1995, Jeff approached his parents with a bold proposition to fund his new website, Amazon.com. They lent him $245,573, a significant gamble considering the internet was still in its early stages. Little did they know that this investment would turn out to be one of the most profitable decisions in history.

Today, that initial $245,573 has ballooned to nearly $958 billion. Jeff's parents took a leap of faith, and it paid off in a monumental way, establishing them as one of the wealthiest families in the world.

Assuming they kept their holdings over the years, Bloomberg estimates Jackie and Mike's net worth at around $30 billion today, which is a 12,000,000% increase.

09/24/2024

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on the 5 levels of AI. 🤯

09/24/2024

On Monday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made some significant trades. Notably, the firm bought shares of PayPal Holdings and Pinterest, while selling its stake in ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF.

- The PayPal Trade
Ark Invest’s Fintech Innovation ETF added 57,824 shares of PayPal, valued at approximately $4.5 million based on the closing price of $77.67.

- The Pinterest Trade
Ark Invest’s Next Generation Internet ETF purchased 115,211 shares of Pinterest, amounting to approximately $3.51 million based on the closing price of $30.46.

- The Bitcoin ETF Trade
ARKW sold 44,609 shares of ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, valued at approximately $2.82 million based on the closing price of $63.25. This sale occurred on the same day that Bitcoin hit a new high of $63,500, causing a significant surge in pre-market activity for several Bitcoin ETFs.

09/24/2024

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak on why he built his first computer.

09/24/2024

09/23/2024

Jensen Huang never finished Nvidia's business plan.

09/23/2024

Warren Buffett, the esteemed billionaire investor and head of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., once made a strategic acquisition that underscores the value of entrepreneurial spirit and shrewd business acumen.

In 1983, Buffett purchased 90% of Nebraska Furniture Mart (NFM), a company started with a $500 investment, for approximately $60 million.

The founder of NFM, Rose “Mrs. B” Blumkin, demonstrated extraordinary capability in growing her business from humble beginnings to a national leader in the home furnishings industry.

Blumkin's journey from a small village near Minsk, Belarus, to the pinnacle of American retail is both inspiring and instructive.

Arriving in the United States without money, formal education or the ability to speak English, she showcased determination and business savvy. “Never went to school a day in her life,” Buffett said during a 2019 interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box."

By 1937, at the age of 43, Blumkin founded NFM in the basement of her husband’s shop in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, turning a $500 investment into the largest home furnishings store in the country.

Buffett, who has a keen eye for exceptional businesses, described Blumkin's competitive edge with admiration, stating she would “run rings around” top business school graduates and Fortune 500 CEOs if given the same resources, according to a New York Times article announcing her death at 104 years old.

His decision to acquire NFM was based not on traditional business due diligence but on his confidence in Blumkin's leadership and the company’s solid business model. The deal was sealed with a handshake and a simple 1¼-page contract.

Even after the acquisition, Blumkin continued to influence the retail industry, working at NFM until she was 103 years old.

Her decision to open a rival store after a brief retirement at 95 demonstrates her drive and commitment to her customers.

Buffett noted the need for a noncompete agreement to prevent her from venturing into new business pursuits, highlighting the deep respect and admiration he held for her.

NFM is a testament to Blumkin's legacy generating approximately $1.6 billion in sales and more than $80 million in after-tax profits, according to estimates in “The Deals of Warren Buffett Volume 2: The Making of a Billionaire" in 2019.

Buffett has repeatedly pointed to Blumkin's story as a source of inspiration for aspiring business managers and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the power of determination, integrity and customer focus.