A year of Elon Musk's private jet travels
This is a condensed version of Business Insider Today, a newsletter that gives you a look at the week’s top stories. Sign up here to get the full Business Insider Today in your inbox every day for the top stories in markets, tech, and business.
Welcome back to our Sunday edition, a roundup of some of our top stories of the last week. I hope you’re enjoying some well-deserved rest — or if you have a ton of unwanted gifts to return in person this weekend, good luck with those lines in stores.
A year of Elon Musk's private jet travels
The private jets of the world's wealthiest man spent a lot of time in the air in 2024. BI used jet-tracking data to chart the 335 flights Musk’s private jets have taken so far this year.
The results help show how extensively Musk has burrowed into Trumpworld and, alongside his coming advisory role to the new White House and millions of dollars in donations, provides another window into his growing political involvement.
BI interviews mom of OpenAI whistleblower
Former OpenAI employee Suchir Balaji made waves when he spoke against the startup, discussing how it might be breaking copyright laws.
In November, the young engineer was found dead. The tragedy struck a chord, stoking conspiracy theories, grief, and debate. What do we lose when AI models gain? In an exclusive interview with BI, Balaji's mother offered clues.
Recommended by LinkedIn
PR’s image problem
Blake Lively’s bombshell lawsuit against her “It Ends With Us” costar Justin Baldoni thrust crisis PR into the spotlight. Lively accused Baldoni, his publicist, and a crisis PR expert of smearing her in the press in retaliation for harassment complaints.
Details from the legal complaint offer a peek behind the curtain at the public relations industry. It’s also giving the profession a bad rap, experts told BI.
Leading luxury
Travelers are spending less on cheap Airbnbs. But high-end vacation rentals are booming, and that taste for luxury is pushing the short-term rental market to new heights.
And as demand booms, Airbnb’s competitors are entering the fray. Some of them boast personalized experiences and 24/7 customer care — for up to thousands of dollars per night.
More of this week’s top reads:
Curated by Dan DeFrancesco and edited by Lisa Ryan, Grace Lett, and Amanda Yen.
This is a shorter version of our flagship newsletter, which brings you in-depth analysis and summaries of the top stories from Wall Street to Silicon Valley.
Administrator at Rossi
1dIf you don't read real news shame on you. Maybe you use to read fake news through fake platforms
Senior Manager | Efficiency Advocate | People Leader
2dOh, do Taylor Swift next!
Modern Culinary Innovator/F&B Concept/Dogs Diet Consultant
2dLet's not idolize billionaires like Elon Musk who prioritize profits over people. We should stop glorifying employers who recklessly lay off employees for marginal gains. It's time to promote a more compassionate and sustainable business model that values human dignity and well-being alongside financial success.
It's fascinating to see how the travel habits of high-profile individuals can reflect broader trends in luxury, technology, and environmental impact. As we move towards a more sustainable future, it raises important questions about the responsibility that comes with such wealth. How can innovation and eco-consciousness coexist in the realm of private aviation? #Sustainability #Innovation
Retired from the City of Chicago effective - 12-01-2022.
2dI agree with Isabella. When he takes his position as a government official he must follow the transparency rules, rules on conflicts of interest, etc. I am going to assume innocence and that Mr. Musk paid for all of his travels this year, and it is not our business. If there is evidence that government money was used, then it should be investigated.