January 17, 2026, 6:04 AM ET Warren Buffett is synonymous with ambition, success, and fortune. The former Berkshire Hathaway CEO was once the world’s richest man, famously dethroning Bill Gates in 2008 with a $62 billion net worth, and held the spot for quite some time. But one of the people closest to him didn’t even know how wealthy and successful Buffett was: his own son, Peter Buffett. | Newsletter Peter, now 67, didn’t realize his own father’s status until he was in his 20s. The realization

January 16, 2026, 11:11 AM ET Jeffrey Sprecher, the founder and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, bought the near-bankrupt company from Warren Buffett. He’s now worth $1.3 billion. A small investment made at the right moment has the power to launch ordinary people to millionaire status. All it took was $1,000 and an out-there idea for Jeffrey Sprecher, the founder and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, to set his business on a path to becoming a $98 billion behemoth. “I had this idea that you

Written on June 7, 1903, Rockefeller's ninth letter ventures into psychological territory that was barely mapped in his era: the relationship between belief, self-concept, and achievement. While the previous letter emphasized persistence in the face of external obstacles, this letter addresses a mor

Wall Street landlords are the primary target of Trump's proposed ban, but investment firms of the ultra rich could get caught in the crosshairs.

Analysis of Strategic Conformity and Hidden Power The Core Principle Law 38 of The 48 Laws of Power presents a paradox that cuts to the heart of social survival: true freedom lies not in public rebellion, but in private thought coupled with outward conformity. Robert Greene's judgment is clear and u

Analysis of Visual Power and Symbolic Mastery The Central Judgment "Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power—everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then, full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence.

Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is the Best Revenge In the intricate chess game of power, few moves are as counterintuitive—yet as devastatingly effective—as the deliberate act of ignoring. Law 36 from Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power articulates a profound psychological truth: by

In Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power, Law 35—"Master the Art of Timing"—stands as one of the most nuanced and indispensable principles for anyone seeking to navigate the complex dynamics of power. The law's central judgment is deceptively simple: "Never seem to be in a hurry—hurrying betrays a la

In The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene presents Law 39 as a masterclass in emotional intelligence applied to strategic advantage. The law's central premise is deceptively simple yet profoundly powerful: while anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive for yourself, provoking these same re

Written on February 12, 1909—the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth—Rockefeller's eighth letter elevates the conversation about failure and persistence to the level of national mythology and moral imperative. By anchoring his philosophy in the life of America's most revered president, Rockefeller

Written on November 19, 1899, Rockefeller's seventh letter confronts one of life's most universal yet personally devastating experiences: failure. More specifically, it addresses the emotional and psychological aftermath when significant failure occurs—when a million dollars has been lost, when conf

With a 5% wealth tax looming, California’s billionaires are moving LLCs, buying Florida homes, and betting the measure fails.

Mamdani, who is just 34 and has vowed to govern as a 'democratic socialist,' was recently sworn in as NYC's first Muslim mayor. His election has sparked fear among some opponents.

Billionaires not only have a lot more money than most people but also have a much bigger percentage of money tied up in stocks and other assets you can’t readily spend.

This is an excerpt of Sources by Alex Heath, a newsletter about AI and the tech industry, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week.

Updated Jan 16, 2026, 2:48 PM GMT Alphabet cofounders Sergey Brin (left) and Larry Page (middle), and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Lionel Hahn/Getty Images/Elijah Nouvelage/Remo Casilli/REUTERS The world's richest people have seen their personal fortunes soar since 2016. The top 10 were together worth under $600 billion a decade ago, compared to $2.6 trillion today. Philanthropists Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have slid from first and third place to 17th and 10th. A lot has changed since 2016,

Wealth managers are betting on direct investments to capture opportunities in the Brazilian market. But there are risks along the way.

The YouTube creator says people viewing his videos have more money than he does. Jan 14, 2026 Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast. YouTube creator Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, is worth an estimated $2.6 billion on paper. In reality, though, he’s said he keeps less than $1 million for himself, and right now, he has “negative money.” Donaldson started his channel in 2012, when, at age 13, he learned it was possible to make thousands through YouTube. His videos have evolved into large-scale

Bloomberg warns that the Department of Justice probe of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is a "disaster."

Kroenke represents a growing wave of ultra-wealthy entrepreneurs investing in long-held ranches and farmland.

January 14, 2026, 12:31 PM ET Google co-founder Larry Page (L) and Sergey Brin (R). James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images California’s proposed wealth tax aims to go after billionaires’ balance sheets, but it largely sidesteps the way many ultrawealthy people actually generate spendable cash: they borrow against their assets, tax‑free, and never “realize” income in the first place. As long as that borrowing model stays intact, a one‑time levy on wealth may raise money once, but it does little to

Exclusive: The buyer behind a record $21 million Las Vegas-area penthouse is a lifelong California resident who says the state’s taxes have pushed him out: “I just felt a little bit like I wasn’t wanted.”