Bloomberg’s Reining It In | A Game-Changing Aircraft | America Welcomes The Vaccinated

Plus: The Definitive Net Worth Of Donald Trump

Good morning.

Mike Bloomberg was the 2020 electoral season’s big spender—but this past year, he’s tightened the purse string. We’re also covering how one of the world's most unusual aircraft could soon take flight, and the reopening of the U.S. borders—for the fully vaccinated, that is. Finally, we calculate former President Donald Trump's definitive net worth.

In The News Today

Elon Musk polled his Twitter followers on how many Tesla shares he should sell—the answer, 10%, is equivalent to 17.049 million shares, worth $20.8 billion based on Friday’s closing price of $1,222.09 a share. Here’s how much of that would be taxed.

The U.S. reopens for international non-essential travel, ending a two-year travel ban from many countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. As the onus for Covid-credential vetting falls on the airlines, travelers should be prepared for long lines.

Top Take-Aways

In recent months, America’s billionaires have faced criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Their bank accounts, however, have never looked better—adding collectively more than $1.8 trillion since the pandemic began.

Mike Bloomberg was by far the biggest political donor ahead of the 2020 election, with more than $1 billion spent on his own failed presidential run and another $150 million towards Democrats candidates and causes—but so far in 2021, he’s spent only $1.6 million.

From airplanes and helicopters to vineyards and luxury hotels, Forbes found that the world’s billionaires have invested tens of billions of dollars in assets through holding companies based in a European tax haven less than half the size of Delaware.

Philanthropists Sanford I. “Sandy” and Joan Weill pledged a $185 million donation five years ago to UC San Francisco to build the Weill Institute for Neurosciences—the institute's researchers have already made breakthroughs in several fields.

An aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter but fly farther and more quickly like an airplane could be a game changer in civil aviation. Leonardo’s AW609 accomplishes that trick by virtue of twin rotors mounted on huge, swiveling engine pods.

Phillip Lim is known for championing sustainable luxury in unconventional ways. The fashion designer is ending the year on a green note by taking his eco-conscious mindset to categories beyond his namesake label. 

Today's Must Read

In Case You Missed It

The House passed one of the largest infrastructure packages in U.S. history Friday night after months of bipartisan negotiations and tense political infighting, shoring up $1.2 trillion in funds, including $550 billion in new investments, for the nation's bridges, airports, waterways, public transit and more—here's everything you need to know about where the massive spending will go. 

Tips You Can Trust

Career reinvention is an inside job. It’s all about how you align to your values - what you’re good at and love to do. Here’s three questions to think about what to do next.

Time management is the secret sauce of leaders looking to prioritize and protect their most valuable asset. Here are eight ways to maximize your productivity.

Recommendations
From Beyond The Newsroom