The 85-year-old California lawmaker, first elected in 1987, called her upcoming final year in Congress “a time of gratitude,” highlighting the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) as her proudest achievement. Pelosi’s tenure included leading two impeachments of Donald Trump and helping steer landmark healthcare, infrastructure, and climate legislation.

Pelosi also became a lightning rod for political controversy — often praised for her legislative power but criticized by conservatives for her wealth and stock market success. Her family’s trading activity, which reportedly generated millions in profits from companies such as Nvidia and Apple, fueled repeated calls for a congressional ban on stock trading. When asked in 2022 if lawmakers should be barred from trading, Pelosi famously replied: “We’re a free-market economy — they should be able to participate in that.”

Her retirement marks the end of an era for the Democratic Party and for American politics — one defined by sharp partisan battles, generational change, and an enduring legacy of power and controversy.

The post Nancy Pelosi, First Female House Speaker, Announces Retirement first appeared on Finblog.

The Playbook: Romance Becomes an Espionage Strategy

According to multiple counterintelligence sources:

• Women posing as investors, academics, or romantic interests initiate LinkedIn contact, then meet the target in person.
• Over time they build deep trust—sometimes marrying the target, having children—and use that access to extract trade secrets or gain strategic information.
• These operations don’t always rely on traditional spycraft: they exploit emotional vulnerability, isolation, and the culture of openness in places like Silicon Valley.

One veteran U.S. intelligence official described a case involving a Russian woman who married an American aerospace engineer while working on defence-related projects—only later did concerns surface that she worked at the centre of a long‑term intelligence operation.

Why It Works — And Why It’s Dangerous

• Tech hubs tend to have highly skilled, socially isolated individuals deeply immersed in work—ideal targets for emotional manipulation.
• The U.S. legal and cultural frameworks discourage using romantic entrapment or “honey‑trap” strategies, giving adversaries an asymmetric advantage in this domain.
• The resulting intelligence theft has a massive financial impact: U.S. intellectual property losses tied to foreign theft are estimated at up to $600 billion per year, with China as a major contributor.
• The strategy also blends into newer forms of espionage: pitch competitions, VC funding, academic collaborations—all of which may serve dual purposes of innovation and intelligence gathering.

Why Silicon Valley Feels Like the “Wild West”

The open culture of tech innovation—collaborations, startup competitions, international travel—creates vulnerabilities. China’s strategy has been described by insiders as akin to a “land rush” for U.S. technology.

Startups are frequently warned about competitions that ask them to reveal business plans, IP, or future product road‑maps to well‑connected overseas groups. Once information is shared, it may be used for competitive or intelligence advantage.

Recommendations & What To Watch

• Tech professionals should vet romantic and business relationships carefully—especially those initiated online or through “too good to be true” connections.
• Companies must institute strong counterintelligence and HR protocols, including awareness training for employees about unconventional espionage tactics.
• Policymakers need to monitor cross‑border startup investment flows, conferences and pitch events for hidden intelligence risk vectors.
• Watch for increased scrutiny from U.S. security agencies and regulatory bodies focused on tech espionage and foreign investment risks.

What looks like a romance could be a long‑term intelligence operation. In a world where tech is the new battleground, spies aren’t always wearing trench coats—they might be the charming date next weekend. As one expert put it: “It’s the Wild West out there.”

The post “Sex Warfare” Targets Silicon Valley: How Espionage is Using Romance to Steal Tech Secrets first appeared on Finblog.

A Smaller Stake in a Massive Company

The key reason? Huang owns less than 4% of Nvidia.
When he cofounded the AI chip giant in 1993, he held about 12.8% of the company. But after decades of stock issuances and employee equity programs, his stake has been heavily diluted.

If Huang had maintained that original 12.8%, it would now be worth over $500 billion, easily placing him among the top three wealthiest people on Earth.

By contrast:

• Elon Musk owns 13% of Tesla and 42% of SpaceX, giving him a fortune of $383 billion.
• Bernard Arnault controls roughly half of LVMH and is worth $164 billion.
• Warren Buffett still holds about 14% of Berkshire Hathaway despite years of donations.

The Cost of Rewarding Talent

Nvidia’s success has come with one expensive side effect: stock-based compensation.
The company reported $14 billion in unearned employee equity awards as of July, part of a long-term strategy to attract and retain top talent in the hypercompetitive AI sector.

Since going public in 1999, Nvidia’s outstanding shares have exploded from a split-adjusted 1.7 billion to more than 23 billion, a 14-fold increase.
While Nvidia has repurchased some shares to offset dilution, the sheer volume of stock grants has steadily reduced Huang’s ownership percentage.

Sales and Prearranged Trades

Huang has also sold shares over time — including a prearranged plan to sell up to 6 million shares in 2025, worth roughly $1 billion at current prices.
Even so, his net worth has soared alongside Nvidia’s historic rise, which has added trillions in market value since the AI boom began in 2023.

Jensen Huang built Nvidia into a $3.7 trillion powerhouse — the engine behind the AI revolution.
But his decision to share ownership broadly with employees, coupled with years of dilution, means that while Nvidia dominates global markets, its visionary founder ranks lower on the billionaire leaderboard.

Bottom Line: Huang’s fortune may lag behind Musk’s or Arnault’s, but his company’s influence — powering everything from AI data centers to self-driving cars — makes him one of the most consequential CEOs of the century.

The post Why Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Isn’t Among the World’s Richest—Despite Leading Most Valuable Company first appeared on Finblog.

Tesla Surge and Record Pay Package

Musk’s wealth is tied heavily to his 12% stake in Tesla, the world’s most valuable automaker. Tesla shares are up about 14% year-to-date, boosted in part by Musk’s $1 billion personal stock purchase last month — a signal of confidence as Tesla pivots from cars toward AI and robotics.

Adding fuel, Tesla’s board recently proposed a record $1 trillion pay package for Musk, the largest in corporate history. Since the announcement on September 5, Tesla shares have jumped 35.7%, as investors bet the package will cement Musk’s focus on the automaker’s ambitious growth.

SpaceX and xAI Lift Valuations

Beyond Tesla, Musk’s SpaceX continues to dominate commercial space launches and expand its Starlink satellite network. The company is reportedly valued at $400 billion. Meanwhile, Musk’s AI startup xAI is raising funds at a $200 billion valuation, more than doubling from $75 billion in July as it builds its “Colossus” supercomputer to train advanced AI models.

These soaring valuations have added tens of billions to Musk’s fortune in recent months, helping him outpace other billionaires by a wide margin.

The Half-Trillion Dollar Mark

Musk’s wealth briefly hit $500 billion on Wednesday, before settling at $499.1 billion at market close, underscoring the volatility tied to his holdings. Still, he remains far ahead of his closest rival, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, whose net worth sits at $350.7 billion.

From electric cars and clean energy to rockets and AI, Musk’s empire has positioned him at the center of nearly every major technology trend. With Tesla’s record compensation package, SpaceX’s space dominance, and xAI’s rapid rise, the world’s richest man has now become the world’s first half-trillionaire — a milestone that underscores both investor confidence and the enormous stakes riding on his vision.

The post Elon Musk Becomes First Person Worth $500 Billion first appeared on Finblog.

• The deal includes $800M in cash and stock, with a potential $200M earnout based on Rhode’s performance over the next three years.
• Despite the billion-dollar headline, Bieber herself is expected to receive about $200 million at the start — the rest depends on future results.

CEO Tarang Amin praised Rhode’s explosive growth: “In less than three years, they’ve gone from zero to $212 million in net sales with just 10 products. I didn’t think that was possible.”

Hailey Bieber will stay on as Chief Creative Officer, leading product innovation and marketing. The brand, co-founded with Michael and Lauren Ratner, was powered by Bieber’s global influence — earning the No. 1 spot in skincare earned media value in 2023.

Why This Deal Matters

• Rhode is DTC (direct-to-consumer) but will expand into Sephora in North America and the UK, broadening reach.
• E.l.f., known for affordable makeup and viral TikTok success, wants to tap into higher-income consumers with Rhode’s premium offerings (average price: ~$28).
• This acquisition follows E.l.f.’s $355M purchase of Naturium in 2023 — signaling a serious bid to dominate skincare.
• E.l.f. funded $600M of the deal through debt, despite high interest rates and China tariffs threatening margins (it sources 75% of goods from China).

E.l.f. Earnings Beat

E.l.f. also reported strong Q4 results:

• EPS: $0.78 adj. (vs. $0.72 est.)
• Revenue: $333M (vs. $328M est.)
• Net income: $28.3M, up from $14.5M YoY
• Sales: Up 4% YoY to $332.7M

But the company is not giving 2026 guidance, citing uncertainty from Trump’s shifting China tariff policies, which could significantly impact costs.

Goldman Sachs called the Rhode acquisition “a strategic positive,” giving E.l.f. prestige skincare exposure and a new customer segment. It’s a bet that Gen Z will keep spending on skincare — even in a slowdown.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

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The post Hailey Bieber Sold Her Beauty Brand for $1 Billion, but got 200 Million first appeared on Finblog.

The majority of that stems from her ownership in Rare Beauty, the wildly popular cosmetics brand she co-founded in 2019 and launched in 2020. The company brought in $367 million in 2023 revenue, and is estimated to be worth $1.3 billion.

Gomez is believed to hold a 51% stake, making it her largest financial asset by far.

Wondermind’s Crisis Exposes Cash Flow Reality

While Gomez has a strong business record, Wondermind — the mental health startup she co-founded in 2021 — has fallen into financial disarray.

• Staff weren’t paid on March 31 or April 30
• Health benefits were terminated without notice
• Nine employees were laid off this week, with just four remaining
• CEO Mandy Teefey, Gomez’s mother, reportedly took out a loan against her home to cover debts

Although Gomez has been credited with co-founding Wondermind, multiple insiders say she was not actively involved in operations.

Other Earnings: Big, But Not Beyoncé-Level

Outside of Rare Beauty, Gomez has earned an estimated $90 million from:

• Music and tours
• Endorsement deals (e.g., $30M from Puma)
• Film/TV work, including “Only Murders in the Building” and producing “13 Reasons Why”

She also recently starred in the Oscar-nominated Emilia Pérez and continues to expand her profile in entertainment.

Still, her lower touring revenue compared to peers like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé keeps her total net worth below billionaire levels.

Real Estate & Lifestyle

• Bought a $5M Encino home in 2020
• Recently purchased a $35M Beverly Hills mansion with fiancé Benny Blanco

Despite her spending, she’s still financially disciplined compared to others in her circle.

Funding Struggles at Wondermind

Wondermind previously raised $5M at a $100M valuation in 2022, led by Serena Ventures. But more recent attempts to raise a Series B round have reportedly stalled.

Although Gomez and her mother were said to have invested up to $8M in the company by mid-2023, Forbes found no clear sign of further backing from Selena as the company neared collapse.

The Brand vs. The Celebrity

Industry analysts believe Rare Beauty’s real power comes from the brand itself, not just Gomez’s image.

“The fact that it’s not the Selena Gomez Beauty brand, but Rare Beauty — a brand that can stand alone — gives it staying power,” said Ashleigh Barker of Lincoln International.

Final Take

Selena Gomez is wildly successful, but her empire still has limits. While Rare Beauty continues to thrive, Wondermind’s collapse shows that even major stars can’t bankroll every venture — especially when private funding dries up.

Gomez may not be a billionaire (yet), but with $700M and one of the most beloved brands in beauty, she’s still on top of the celebrity business world.

The post Why Selena Gomez Isn’t A Billionaire first appeared on Finblog.

Three days after Katy Perry and an all-women crew soared 62 miles above Earth aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spacecraft, the internet still hasn’t recovered — but not in the way they expected.

Dubbed by critics as “Mission Tone-Deaf,” the space jaunt — filled with designer flight suits, choreographed moments, and promo-ready glam — was meant to inspire girls. Instead, it fueled a social media storm questioning the intent, impact, and irony of the billion-dollar spectacle.

“We’re putting the ‘ass’ in astronaut,” Perry joked before liftoff. Post-flight, she knelt and kissed the ground like a hostage release scene, sparking ridicule across platforms.

The lineup — Perry, Gayle King, former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe, movie producer Kerianne Flynn, activist Amanda Nguyen, and Bezos’ partner Lauren Sánchez — wore custom curve-hugging suits designed by Monse, each with flawless hair and makeup.

But what was meant to look like progress looked more like parody.
Among the sharpest burns:

• Wendy’s fast-food account responded to Perry’s landing: “Can we send her back?”
• Kesha clapped back with a grinning selfie holding a Wendy’s cup.
• Emily Ratajkowski called the whole launch “beyond parody.”
• Olivia Wilde reposted Perry’s ground kiss with the caption: “Billion dollars bought some good memes I guess.”
• Amy Schumer posted a mock astronaut video.

Even supporters like Gayle King bristled at the pushback.
“Have you been? Have you been?” she asked critics on CBS Mornings, defending the journey as a replica of Alan Shepard’s historic flight, not just a “ride.”
“There was nothing frivolous about what we did.”

Still, much of the criticism zeroed in on the disconnect between the group’s stated message — empowering women and caring for Earth — and the fact that they took a privately funded suborbital space joyride by a company often accused of environmental damage.

Saying you care about Mother Earth… and you’re going up in a spaceship funded by a company that’s destroying the planet,” Emily Ratajkowski said.

Despite the backlash, Perry insists the mission was about peace and unity: “I hope they can see the unity we modeled and replicate that.”

But unity was in short supply. Instead of a pop-powered feminist triumph, what Perry and King got was a reality check:
In 2025, you can’t glam-space your way into the history books — especially when the public’s appetite for A-list self-congratulation is somewhere lower than Earth’s orbit.

Source: Yahoo

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

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Relationship with Ashley St. Clair

Ashley St. Clair, a conservative influencer, revealed that she had a child named Romulus with Musk. Musk allegedly offered her a $15 million settlement and a $100,000 monthly stipend in exchange for her silence about their child. After she declined and went public, Musk reportedly reduced the payments to $20,000 per month. A paternity test confirmed with 99.9999% probability that Musk is the father.

Interaction with Tiffany Fong

Crypto influencer Tiffany Fong reported that Musk approached her via direct message on X, proposing they have a child together, despite never meeting in person. After she declined and shared the proposal privately, Musk allegedly unfollowed her, leading to a significant drop in her income and engagement on X.

Use of Surrogates and Other Allegations

Musk has encouraged the use of surrogates to accelerate childbearing, aiming to reach “legion-level” before an anticipated apocalypse. He has also been reported to have offered sperm donations to various women, including a Japanese official’s request for a high-profile woman. Musk’s aides, particularly Jared Birchall, have been involved in managing these personal affairs, allegedly pressuring women not to seek legal advice. ​

Musk responded indirectly to these reports on X, implying scepticism of the Journal’s credibility by posting “TMZ >> WSJ.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

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The post The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His ‘Legion’ of Babies—and Their Mothers first appeared on Finblog.

Tesla hasn’t been doing so hot recently, and Donald said he would help his new friend out by buying a car.

Sooo, what did he do? He made a grand show of it in front of the White House with Elon Musk.

It appears Donald had a sales pitch to aid with the promotion, and that pitch is going viral.

Here it is:

And a closer look:

Let’s just say people are a bit surprised there was a car show at the White House.

“The presidency has been reduced to a fucking ad read on the White House lawn my god,” one person said.

Another person said, “elect a game show host, get a game show host.”

And this person called it, “A picture for the history books.”

What a time to be alive!

Source: Yahoo.Finance

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The post Donald Trump’s Tesla Sales Script Note Is Going Viral first appeared on Finblog.

1. Elon Musk

The world’s richest man spent over $200 million to get Trump elected, and his Department Of Government Efficiency has exerted vast influence, rapidly slashing agencies like USAID and accessing the government’s payment and HR systems. He’s also become inseparable with the commander in chief—even popping up in Trump family photos at Mar-A-Lago. How long can that last? (Net worth: More than $400 billion.)

2. Susie Wiles

White House chief of staff led Trump’s 2024 campaign, and is widely credited with disciplining a chaotic operation. Still, Trump’s prior chiefs of staff have struggled to stay employed.

3. Stephen Miller

The deputy chief of staff has become a fierce advocate and public face of Trump’s deportation plans—and he was likely behind Trump’s surge of immigration executive orders within hours of taking office. His hardline views on immigration could cause clashes with allies like Musk.

 4. Steve Witkoff | 1

Trump’s Middle East envoy is getting a lot of credit for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire—and he’s touting Trump’s controversial plan for the U.S. to “take over” Gaza. The real estate investor and Trump friend also took center stage on Inauguration Day. (Net worth: At least $1 billion.)

 5. Peter Thiel | 1

The billionaire v.c. was Trump’s biggest Silicon Valley backer in 2016, but more importantly, many of Trump’s allies have deep ties to Thiel or are his acolytes. JD Vance is a Thiel protégé, and Thiel is close with other Trump associates like Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. His relationship with David Sacks—from mentor to co-author to co-founder of PayPal—goes back decades. Thiel isn’t taking a formal Trump administration job, and he and Trump reportedly had a falling out over donations in 2023. But his influence over this White House—through all his connections—should be massive. (Net worth: $15.4 billion.)

 6. Tom Homan | NEW

The White House “border czar” is helping to lead Trump and Miller’s sweeping mass deportation program, and he’s a high-profile defender of the administration’s more contentious policies, like the plan to house deportees at Guantanamo Bay.

7. Howard Lutnick

Cantor Fitzgerald CEO and a longtime Trump friend, Lutnick was nominated Commerce Secretary, and he’s a regular presence at Mar-A-Lago and at Trump events. He wanted Treasury, but Trump reportedly grew tired of his campaigning. (Net worth: Over $1.5 billion.)

8. Donald Trump Jr.

Deemed his father’s “loyalty scanner,” he’s the only Trump child regularly in the mix. He describes his role as ensuring “bad actors are not getting into the administration,” and championed JD Vance for V.P. He’s not taking a formal role, instead joining prediction site Kalshi and a MAGA-leaning v.c. firm. (Net worth: $50 million).

9. JD Vance

An attack dog during the campaign, the vice president has lobbied senators to confirm Trump’s Cabinet picks and reportedly weighed in on key hires. Widely seen as Trump’s possible MAGA successor. (Net worth: Around $10 million.)

 10. Marco Rubio | 2

Trump’s secretary of state is a leading Trump Yes Man in early foreign policy moves: USAID’s shuttering, the proposed Gaza takeover, a plan to send deportees to El Salvador and even a longshot push to buy Greenland. He’s an Iran and China hawk, though he’s vowed to back “whatever the president’s policies are.” (Net worth: Over $1 million.)

 11. Russell Vought | 1

Trump picked him to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a low-profile role that grew even more powerful with Trump’s unprecedented attempt to pause many federal grants (which the courts have put on hold). If confirmed by the Senate, Vought will be the top enforcer of that sweeping rule—and could be in charge of deciding who gets an exemption.

 12. Pete Hegseth | 1

In one of Trump’s first big victories, his defense secretary—a former Fox News host—was confirmed by the Senate despite a bitter fight over a sexual assault allegation (which he denies) and controversial views.

 13. Scott Bessent | 9

The hedge fund exec was easily confirmed as Treasury secretary, but Musk has gained access to the agency’s payment system with little pushback, making Bessent’s power unclear. Trump’s sweeping 10% tariffs on China could also clash with Bessent, who’s called for more gradual tariffs. He won the job after Musk criticized him as a “business-as-usual choice,” but has Wall Street’s approval.

 14. Linda McMahon | 1

Trump’s Education secretary nominee, she co-chaired Trump’s transition, and her pro-wrestling DNA (she co-founded the company that became WWE with husband Vince) pairs well with Trump. She runs the MAGA-inspired America First Policy Institute think tank. (Vince McMahon’s net worth: About $3.2 billion.)

15. Jared Kushner

Trump’s son-in-law told Forbes he may advise Trump informally, but so far, his influence is not apparent—though some see his hand in Trump’s dream of turning Gaza into the “riviera of the Middle East” (Kushner controversially suggested something like that last year). He advised Lutnick and may assist more with Middle East diplomacy. (Net worth: Just under $1 billion.)

 16. Dana White | 2

The UFC kingpin got a prime seat at Trump’s inauguration, and he’ll serve on Meta’s board, likely making him Trump’s envoy to the social media giant. White and Trump’s decades-long friendship stretches back to when Trump hosted UFC fights at his Atlantic City casino.

 17. Marc Andreessen | 1

A v.c. giant worth $1.9 billion, he has described himself as an “unpaid volunteer” for DOGE and said he spent about half his time post-Election Day at or near Mar-A-Lago, often helping to screen job candidates. He’s also become a major media surrogate for Trump, talking to various big news outlets about why so many Silicon Valley Democrats switched sides.

 18. Pam Bondi | 1

Picked for attorney general hours after Matt Gaetz dropped out. A big-time Trump ally and former Florida attorney general, Bondi represented Trump in his first impeachment, signaling he wants a loyalist to helm the Justice Department.

 19. Kash Patel | 1

Trump FBI director pick is known for his fierce loyalty. The Jan. 1 New Orleans attack has led some allies to push for his speedy confirmation. He’s facing very little Senate GOP resistance despite hardline views, like promoting 2020 election conspiracies and promising to punish Trump’s supposed enemies, including those “in the media.”

20. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The controversial nominee for Health and Human Services secretary is a vaccine skeptic whose views alarm a lot of experts. He’s also had to apologize for comparing Trump fans to Nazis. Still, he appears likely to make it through the Senate. (Net worth: about $15 million.)

 21. David Sacks | 2

The Silicon Valley v.c. and friend of Musk’s will serve as Trump’s “AI and crypto czar,” after fundraising for Trump in San Francisco, boosting the president-elect on his influential “All In” podcast and spending election night at Mar-A-Lago.

 22. Boris Epshteyn | 1

A longtime adviser, his stock surely fell after Trump’s attorneys launched an investigation for allegedly seeking payments from jobseekers, like Bessent, which Epshteyn denies. But Trump shared an article praising his “loyalty”—suggesting he’s still in the president-elect’s good graces. (He and Musk are reported rivals.)

Exiled?

Vivek Ramaswamy

The entrepreneur, once a key Trump surrogate, is leaving DOGE after he clashed with Trump allies on H-1B visas and reportedly had “worn out his welcome” in the inner circle—and lost favor with Musk, who reportedly helped push him out. He’s expected to run for governor of Ohio next.

Others to Watch:

Tulsi Gabbard: Trump chose the Democrat-turned-Trump backer for director of national intelligence, and she reportedly sat in on transition meetings. But she’s controversial for her comments on Russia and Syria.

Charlie Kirk: The bombastic podcaster and Turning Point USA founder played a role in Trump’s get-out-the-vote efforts, and he reportedly helped screen Trump administration job candidates for loyalty. He’s known for his ties to Donald Trump Jr.

Jeffrey Yass: The GOP megadonor—worth $49.6 billion—could be a key figure in the fight over TikTok, as his trading firm owns a stake in parent company ByteDance. Trump is now opposed to banning TikTok on national security grounds, a reversal from 2020.

Harold Hamm: The oil tycoon—worth $18.5 billion—reportedly raised money for Trump, and was often spotted at Mar-A-Lago. He’s pushed to undo Biden-era electric car credits.

Steve Schwarzman: The Blackstone co-founder—worth some $53.7 billion—backed Trump despite earlier reservations, and reportedly advised Lutnick on the transition.

Kevin Warsh: Trump is reportedly mulling the former Federal Reserve board member for Fed chair after Jerome Powell’s term ends in 2026—though he wasn’t picked for Treasury secretary.

Timothy Mellon: This banking heir gave some $150 million to help elect Trump, more than anyone else. It’s not clear what role the reclusive former railroad exec could play. (His family is worth $14.1 billion.)

Miriam Adelson: The widow of Sheldon Adelson—worth $31.4 billion—is among Trump’s biggest donors, getting a good spot at Trump’s inauguration.

Tucker Carlson: The former Fox News host has linked himself to Trump, speaking at his Madison Square Garden rally and hosting a show from Mar-A-Lago on election night.

The post Trumpiverse: Ranking Trump’s Inner Circle first appeared on Finblog.