Essence owner Richelieu Dennis blames sponsorship slump as unpaid bills cloud 2026 festival funding
Essence Festival’s unpaid 2025 bills have lawmakers asking questions as owner Richelieu Dennis says a sponsorship slump squeezed last year’s budget.
North America
From NBA icon to NASCAR winner: Michael Jordan’s team wins Daytona 500
Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing captures the Daytona 500 as Tyler Reddick secures victory in NASCAR’s biggest race
Inside Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s $3.5 billion fortune: the companies they own and what each one does
A listicle breakdown of what Jay Z and Beyonce own today, what each asset does, how Forbes values them, and how the money is spread.
Michael Jordan’s $10 million gift boosts Wilmington hospital as free clinics grow
Michael Jordan’s gifts are changing care in Wilmington, funding free clinics for the uninsured and new neuroscience investment at the region’s main hospital.
Vista, led by billionaire Robert F. Smith, explores $1B-plus AlertMedia sale
Vista Equity has started exploring a possible $1 billion plus sale of AlertMedia, a Texas crisis messaging firm with big brand customers.
Kevin Hart’s Tequila Brand Hits $200 Million in Retail Sales
Gran Coramino, co-founded by Kevin Hart, has reached $200 million in retail sales, fueled by strong 2025 growth in stores.
Serena Williams fuels comeback buzz after practice session with Alycia Parks
Serena Williams is once again at the center of comeback talk after Alycia Parks revealed they recently practiced together and praised the tennis legend’s fitness.
Michael Jordan opens fourth North Carolina clinic for uninsured patients
Michael Jordan has opened a fourth health clinic in North Carolina, expanding free primary care access for uninsured residents through his partnership with Novant Health.
Bill Gates, OpenAI launch $50 million AI health rollout in Africa
Bill Gates and OpenAI are backing a 50 million rollout of AI health tools across 1,000 clinics in Africa by 2028.
Two years after buying Nigerian billionaire Ogunlesi’s GIP, BlackRock hits $14 trillion
Two years after acquiring Adebayo Ogunlesi’s GIP, BlackRock reaches $14 trillion in assets, driven by record inflows and ETF demand.
Alex Karp’s Palantir lands multimillion-dollar AI deal with South Korea’s HD Hyundai
Alex Karp’s Palantir signs a multimillion-dollar AI agreement with HD Hyundai, extending a partnership that has helped speed shipbuilding by 30 percent.
Will.i.am unveils AI-powered electric vehicle
Will.i.am unveils AI-powered TRINITY, a luxury three-wheel EV launching 500 units in 2027.
Employees allege unpaid work as Diddy serves federal sentence
Employees claim unpaid work as Sean “Diddy” Combs serves 50-month federal sentence; a third-party firm now reviews expenses.
Meet Sherrese Clarke Soares, the dealmaker who acquired T-Pain’s catalogue for $100 million
From a dealmaking childhood to Wall Street, Sherrese Clarke Soares built HarbourView to buy songs like investors buy infrastructure.
Black billionaire Robert F. Smith sees next AI growth in private software companies
Robert F. Smith sees private software companies driving the next wave of AI growth, with Vista Equity at the forefront.
Kevin Hart becomes shareholder in $32 billion Authentic Brands Group
Kevin Hart joins $32 billion Authentic Brands Group as shareholder, expanding his global media, lifestyle, and fitness ventures.