<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/11/41750727/kevin-oleary-supports-elon-musks-2-trillion-plan-to-slash-government-spending-with-trumps-backing-it">Elon Musk </a>doesn't shy away from big ideas or bold predictions, but his latest warning is a wake-up call for America.&nbsp;



During a recent appearance on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qZl_5xHoBw">The Joe Rogan Experience</a>, Musk pulled no punches when discussing the U.S. economy. His verdict? The country is heading toward financial collapse if drastic action isn't taken.



"We're drowning in debt," Musk said, referring to the $36.14 trillion the U.S. owes, as reported by the Treasury Department. He explained that interest payments alone comprise 23% of all federal revenue. "If this keeps up, the entire government budget will go to paying interest. That means no money for Social Security, no Medicare, nothing. America would be toast."



Don't Miss:



<ul>
<li>The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gameflip"> for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.</a></li>



<li>Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a></li>
</ul>



Musk's warning hit a nerve and for good reason. Interest payments on the debt are already skyrocketing. In 2024, the government spent over $1 trillion on interest – a staggering figure compared to $4.92 trillion in total revenue.&nbsp;



The Congressional Budget Office predicts those payments will keep climbing, potentially outpacing Medicare and defense spending within a decade.



Musk didn't stop at identifying the problem; he proposed a solution: cutting federal spending by 30%. However, not everyone thinks that's realistic. Marc Goldwein, an expert from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, quickly critiqued Musk's suggestion.&nbsp;



"Cuts of that magnitude would be borderline impossible without touching programs like Social Security or causing severe economic pain," Goldwein said. He added that most of the federal budget is tied to mandatory spending, leaving little room for discretionary cuts.



Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elon-musk-told-the-u-n-if-they-could-show-a-plan-for-ending-world-hunger-hed-donate-6-billion-i-will-sell-tesla-stock-right-now-and-do-it">Elon Musk Told The U.N. If They Could Show A Plan For Ending World Hunger He'd Donate $6 Billion – ‘I Will Sell Tesla Stock Right Now And Do It'</a>



Ever the skeptic, Joe Rogan asked Musk how this would impact everyday Americans. Musk didn't sugarcoat it. "It means inflation will spike, jobs will disappear and systems we rely on will collapse," he said. "This isn't some far-off possibility – it's already starting to happen."



Experts are divided on Musk's approach but agree the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41720492/anthony-scaramucci-predicts-u-s-will-tackle-debt-crisis-bitcoin-value-will-triple-and-reve"> debt crisis</a> is serious. According to the Peterson Foundation, unchecked debt could lead to higher interest rates, slower economic growth and lower household incomes.&nbsp;



"This isn't just about government budgets," their recent report stated. "It's about the economic future of every American family."



Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned Congress that the U.S. could hit its debt ceiling as early as January 2025. In a letter reported by The Associated Press, Yellen urged Congress to take immediate action to protect credit and the full faith of the USA.



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<li>Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a></li>



<li>‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a></li>
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Startups

There Won't Be Money For Social Security': Elon Musk Tells Joe Rogan About Looming Bankruptcy And $1.1 Trillion Interest

High-frequency trading firm DWF Labs has released a comprehensive report detailing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/top-meme-coins">how meme coins</a> are reshaping the cryptocurrency landscape and redefining traditional market dynamics.



What Happened: The DWF Labs <a href="https://www.dwf-labs.com/research/490-how-memecoin-culture-is-changing-the-crypto-market">report</a>, published on Thursday, is titled "Reel-ing in the Money: How Meme Coin Culture is Changing the Crypto Market" and analyzes the profound influence of meme coins. 



In 2024, the market capitalization of meme coins soared by 500%, climbing from $20 billion in January to over $120 billion by December.



This rapid growth signals a departure from conventional methods of value creation, instead emphasizing community engagement and cultural resonance. 



Blockchain technology has played a pivotal role, enabling cost-effective and rapid asset creation and bypassing traditional financial intermediaries.



The report concludes that meme coins are no longer just speculative assets; they have evolved into a sophisticated market vertical. 



This trend challenges conventional financial paradigms and underscores the increasing importance of social dynamics in the digital economy



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42716074/mark-cuban-criticizes-meme-coins-as-a-hustle-and-money-gamble-like-a-game-of-musical-chairs-with-money">Mark Cuban Criticizes Meme Coins as a &#8216;Hustle&#8217; and Money Gamble: &#8216;Like a Game of Musical Chairs With Money&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: The report outlines the lifecycle of meme coins, identifying key phases such as deployment, social capital formation, decentralized trading and value creation and distribution.



It also categorizes meme coins by societal themes, illustrating their role in reflecting and shaping digital culture.



<ul>
<li>Dog Coins: Projects like Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) highlight the viability of meme-based assets, demonstrating long-term potential beyond initial hype.</li>



<li>Cat Coins and Frog Coins: These coins often draw from internet memes and social media trends, carving out their own niches.</li>



<li>New Entrants: Tokens like Dogwifhat (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">WIF</a>) highlight the market's continued enthusiasm for innovative and well-executed thematic launches.</li>



<li>Cross-Vertical Tokens: A new trend combines meme coin virality with utility, such as AI-themed meme coins, showcasing the potential for hybrid innovation.</li>
</ul>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42717267/2024s-cryptocurrency-champions-these-top-performers-surpass-bitcoin-in-a-year-of-unprecedented-gains">Bitcoin, Dogecoin Trail These 2024 Crypto Champions: Here Are The Top Performers Of The Year</a></li>
</ul>



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Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Redefine Meme Coin Phenomenon That 'Extends Beyond Mere Speculation': Report

Benzinga examined the prospects for<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas"> many investors&#8217; favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here&#8217;s a look at some of our top stories.



The Nasdaq and S&amp;P 500 ended a five-day losing streak on Friday, but the week closed with the S&amp;P down 0.48%, the Dow losing 0.60%, and the Nasdaq dropping 0.51%.



Rising Treasury yields, including a 30-year high of 4.8%, raised borrowing cost concerns and drove record December outflows from the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>), as markets carried weak momentum <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42796485/goodbye-santa-rally-tesla-falters-on-deliveries-investors-flee-bonds-ahead-of-trumps-second-term-this-week-in-the-market">into the new year.</a>



Meanwhile, the U.S. manufacturing sector showed signs of stabilization in December, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI climbing to 49.3%, its highest since April 2024, though still marking the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42790042/us-manufacturing-activity-tops-expectations-in-december-rises-to-9-month-highs">ninth consecutive month of contraction.</a>



Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week&#8217;s most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Bulls</h3>



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42751367/netflix-posts-record-debut-with-squid-game-season-2-heres-how-many-people-watched-show">Netflix Posts Record Debut With &#8216;Squid Game&#8217; Season 2: Here&#8217;s How Many People Watched Show</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/chris-katje">Chris Katje</a>, highlights Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) achieving 68 million views for &#8220;Squid Game&#8221; Season 2 in its first week, setting a company record, alongside NFL Christmas Day games driving additional subscriber engagement.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42758813/shytoshi-kusama-clears-the-air-on-shiba-inu-role-memecoin-rivalry-our-drive-was-to-overtake-dogecoin">Shytoshi Kusama Clears The Air On Shiba Inu Role, Memecoin Rivalry: &#8216;Our Drive Was To Overtake Dogecoin&#8217;</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/aniket-verma">Aniket Verma</a>, features Shytoshi Kusama clarifying that Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) was founded by Ryoshi, not him, and sharing the project's early vision to surpass Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>).



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42734220/bill-ackman-sends-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-stocks-soaring-trump-likes-big-deals">Bill Ackman Sends Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Stocks Soaring: &#8216;Trump Likes Big Deals&#8217;</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/erica-kollmann">Erica Kollmann</a>, discusses Bill Ackman's bullish view on Fannie Mae (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FNMA#OTC">FNMA</a>) and Freddie Mac (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FMCC#OTC">FMCC</a>) stocks, citing their potential for large gains as conservatorship could end under Donald Trump's administration, with Ackman highlighting asymmetric upside for investors.



For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42709387/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet">Benzinga&#8217;s &#8216;Stock Whisper&#8217; Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don&#8217;t Talk About Yet</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/01/42769181/natural-gas-prices-surge-as-arctic-blast-freezes-us-3-stocks-on-the-move">Natural Gas Prices Surge As Arctic Blast Freezes US: 3 Stocks On The Move</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42777529/goldman-sachs-adds-3-stocks-to-conviction-list-flags-5-market-trends-to-monitor-in-2025">Goldman Sachs Adds 3 Stocks To &#8216;Conviction List,&#8217; Flags 5 Market Trends To Monitor In 2025</a>



The Bears



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42777950/teslas-first-sales-drop-splits-wall-street-2025-will-be-the-prove-it-year">Tesla&#8217;s First Sales Drop Splits Wall Street: &#8216;2025 Will Be The Prove It Year&#8217;</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/chris-katje">Chris Katje</a>, highlights Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) facing mixed analyst reactions after missing Q4 delivery estimates, with Wedbush's Daniel Ives forecasting a 20%-30% growth rebound in 2025, while Ross Gerber criticized reliance on discounts to boost sales.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading">Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli Predicts Liquidation Doom For MicroStrategy Amid Fall Below $300, Says Bitcoin Will Hit $250K Without Michael Saylor</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/aniket-verma">Aniket Verma</a>, features Martin Shkreli's warning of potential liquidation for MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) as its stock fell below $300, predicting Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) could hit $250,000 without the influence of its co-founder Michael Saylor.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42699274/boeing-engineers-leave-struggling-planemaker-for-space-companies-report">Boeing Engineers Leave Struggling Planemaker For Space Companies: Report</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/anan-ashraf">Anan Ashraf</a>, highlights talent migration from Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) to firms like SpaceX and Blue Origin as engineer tenures drop, potentially delaying new aircraft development, though Boeing says its voluntary attrition rate remains low with competitive pay and benefits.



For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42790373/apple-iphones-lose-ground-in-china-as-subsidies-boost-huawei-domestic-rivals">Apple iPhones Lose Ground In China As Subsidies Boost Huawei, Domestic Rivals</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/42791291/jetblue-fined-2-million-for-chronic-flight-delays-delta-united-rank-among-most-on-time-airlines">JetBlue Fined $2 Million For &#8216;Chronic Flight Delays&#8217;: Delta, United Rank Among Most On-Time Airlines</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/22/10/29205954/paul-tudor-jones-correctly-predicted-the-1987-stock-market-crash-heres-what-the-billion">Paul Tudor Jones Correctly Predicted The 1987 Stock Market Crash: Here&#8217;s What The Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager Says Is Coming Next</a>



Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following<a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga"> Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga"> on Twitter</a>.



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Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Tesla, Netflix, MicroStrategy — And Shiba Inu Strives To Outpace Dogecoin In Crypto

<h1 class="wp-block-heading">New On The Block</h1>



Vera Bradley Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRA#NASDAQ">VRA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42439021/vera-bradley-reports-30-sales-drop-in-q3-amid-business-model-transition-stock-slips">sales are down</a>. 



The handbag brand&#8217;s largest shareholder, Fund 1 Investments LLC, isn&#8217;t happy about it. A Dec. 30 <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241230656224/en/Fund-1-Sends-Letter-to-Vera-Bradley%E2%80%99s-Board-of-Directors-Highlighting-the-Opportunity-for-Value-Enhancing-Strategic-Alternatives">letter</a> to the board referred to co-founder Barbara Bradley Baekgaard&#8216;s designs as &#8220;iconic&#8221; and &#8220;synonymous with innovation and disruption for decades." 



But after the compliments came the critique: Fund 1 takes issue with Vera Bradley&#8217;s questionable capital allocation, poor operational performance and a failed brand turnaround, all compounded by tough macroeconomic conditions for fashion brands. What's the solution, according to Fund 1? A "strategic alternatives process" to explore selling the company to a larger organization or taking it private.



Also for sale, as of this week:



<ul>
<li>Imagination Technologies Group Limited, a British semiconductor and software design company owned by private equity firm Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, is up for sale. Lazard is shopping it around, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-03/chipmaker-imagination-s-owners-tap-lazard-to-search-for-buyer?srnd=phx-deals">Bloomberg</a>. </li>



<li>Skin care startup Minimalist is considering a $350 million deal, TechCrunch <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/03/hindustan-unilever-minimalist-acquisition/?guccounter=1">reported</a>. On the buy side is Hindustan Unilever Ltd., which recently purchased Oziva and Wellbeing Nutrition. Hindustan Unilever's skincare offerings include Dove and Pond's. Jaipur-based Minimalist reported an 89% revenue growth to $40.8 million in fiscal year 2024.</li>
</ul>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Off The Block</h1>



SouthState Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSB#NYSE">SSB</a>) has finalized its $2 billion stock acquisition of Texas-based Independent Bank Group, potentially signaling a wave of regional bank mergers. Key drivers include regional bank stock price growth, lower interest rates improving deposit profitability, and anticipated deregulation under Trump&#8217;s administration.



Hookipa Pharma (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOK#NASDAQ">HOOK</a>) is acquiring Poolbeg Pharma in an all-stock deal. Hookipa shareholders retain rights to milestone payments from Gilead&#8217;s hepatitis B partnership and proceeds from the HB-200 program. 



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42726550/stanley-druckenmiller-loaded-up-on-regional-banks-ahead-of-trumps-election-win">Stanley Druckenmiller Loaded Up On Regional Banks Ahead Of Trump&#8217;s Win</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Bankruptcy Block</h1>



Mitch Modell, the ex-CEO of the Modell's sporting goods chain, wants to revive bankrupt retailers Party City and Big Lots. He plans to raise $1 billion and keep 33,000 jobs afloat. He also wishes to name his 20-something sons, Matthew and Maxwell, as co-presidents, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/12/30/business/former-modells-owner-wants-to-save-bankrupt-retailers-party-city-big-lots-our-goal-is-to-save-33k-jobs/">New York Post</a>.



Modell, known for the catchy "Gotta go to Mo's" jingle, had his eureka moment at none other than Mar-a-Lago, where he decided the struggling chains needed a sporting goods flair. His vision includes ditching Big Lots' bulky furniture and sprucing up Party City with sportswear and footwear — because nothing says "Happy Birthday" like a new pair of sneakers.



To keep prices low, Modell plans to tap factories in China, Mexico and India, courtesy of Source One Global. He's also enlisted other former CEOs, such as Larry Meyer (Forever 21) and Demos Parneros (Barnes &amp; Noble) to help evaluate the deal.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Notes From The Block</h1>



In 2025, the incoming Trump administration is expected to be friendlier to media conglomerates looking to conduct mergers, compared to the Biden administration. "The overwhelming mood is positive from an M&amp;A perspective," Christopher Vollmer, managing director at MediaLink, told <a href="https://variety.com/2025/biz/news/media-mergers-acquisitions-2025-deals-1236263982/">Variety</a>. "People are looking to kick off M&amp;A activity in the first quarter of 2025."



But people forget that Trump wasn&#8217;t exactly cordial to dealmakers the last time he was in office. The previous&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration, from 2016 to 2020, blocked and sued or threatened to block a lot of big deals. 



If you recall:



<ul>
<li>AT&amp;T (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) and Time Warner <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/17/11/10748659/at-t-resists-doj-order-to-divest-time-warners-cnn-for-merger-approval">failed to ink a deal</a>. Regulators argued that it could increase prices for consumers and disadvantage rival distributors.</li>



<li>Sinclair Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBGI#NASDAQ">SBGI</a>) and Tribune Media faced resistance due to concerns about consolidation in the broadcast industry. Sinclair <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/11/41805370/jim-cramer-hopes-m-a-to-come-back-bigly-under-trump-administration">paid a hefty fee</a> for whiffing.</li>



<li>Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) and Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), had they merged, could have affected U.S. national security, a federal <a href="https://www.investors.com/news/technology/broadcom-buyout-of-qualcomm-looking-doubtful-after-federal-probe/">probe</a> showed.</li>



<li>DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>) and FanDuel: A merger of the two largest daily fantasy sports platforms was blocked to preserve competition in the industry.</li>
</ul>



The Department of Justice also mandated divestitures in major transactions. For example:



<ul>
<li>Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>) had to divest Celgene&#8217;s Otezla treatment to resolve concerns about reduced competition in the market for psoriasis drugs.</li>



<li>Harris Corp. was required to sell parts of its military communications business to proceed with its merger with L3 Technologies, creating the company L3Harris Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>)</li>
</ul>



These interventions reflected the DOJ's focus on preventing market dominance. Should M&amp;A volume under Trump be comparable to the last four years, deal pros can&#8217;t blame anyone but themselves. 



Now Read:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42746253/bring-it-on-angry-birds-producer-namit-malhotra-ready-for-cinema-ai-era">&#8216;Bring It On&#8217;: Angry Birds Producer Namit Malhotra Is Ready For The AI Era Of Cinema</a></li>
</ul>

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Deal Dispatch: Vera Bradley Is A Mixed Bag, Modell's Ex-CEO Explores Party City

With the start of the new year, investors bid farewell to the Santa Claus Rally, as the U.S. stock market extended its weak momentum into January, logging five consecutive losing sessions, the longest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/42780825/sp-500-falls-for-5th-straight-session-tesla-tumbles-greed-index-remains-in-fear-zone">negative streak since April.</a>



Just weeks before Donald Trump's second presidential term begins, a sense of uncertainty looms large as investors await clarity on policies that could reshape the American economy and beyond.



The bond market is flashing warning signs that could ripple across the economy. Treasury yields have continued their sharp ascent, with the 30-year yield hitting 4.8%, its highest level in over a year. Rising yields are often seen as a harbinger of higher borrowing costs and potential inflationary pressures, and investors are taking notice.



Reflecting this unease, a widely tracked long-dated Treasury exchange traded fund — the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) — saw record <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42777236/investors-dump-long-dated-treasury-etf-at-record-pace-ahead-of-trumps-white-house-return">monthly outflows in December</a>, a signal of how bond investors are bracing for volatility ahead of Trump's return to the Oval Office.



Higher bond yields typically challenge the stock market, as they make debt financing more expensive for companies while reducing the relative attractiveness of equities.



At the individual company level, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) suffered its worst weekly performance since late October after reporting 2024 deliveries that were 1% lower than the previous year, marking the first year-over-year decline in the company's history. Analysts view 2025 as a pivotal year for the EV leader to address concerns over demand, competition <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42777950/teslas-first-sales-drop-splits-wall-street-2025-will-be-the-prove-it-year">and its growth trajectory.</a>



You might have missed this…



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Biden Blocks Takeover</h1>



President Joe Biden blocked the $14.9 billion takeover of United States Steel Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/X#NYSE">X</a>) by Japan&#8217;s Nippon Steel Corp, citing national security concerns. Following the decision, U.S. Steel shares plummeted on Friday, reflecting investor disappointment over the collapsed deal and the uncertainty surrounding <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42787508/biden-blocks-14-9b-us-steel-takeover-shares-plunge">the company's future.</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Squid Game Mania</h1>



Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>)&#8217;s &#8220;Squid Game&#8221; Season 2 shattered debut records, drawing over 100 million <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42751367/netflix-posts-record-debut-with-squid-game-season-2-heres-how-many-people-watched-show">global viewers within days.</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Ford Sales Surge</h1>



Automaker Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) reported a 9% increase in total U.S. sales last quarter, driven by strong demand for electric vehicles <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42791032/ford-shifts-into-high-gear-q4-total-us-sales-surge-9">and popular truck models.</a>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42790042/us-manufacturing-activity-tops-expectations-in-december-rises-to-9-month-highs">US Manufacturing Activity Tops Expectations In December, Rises To 9-Month Highs</a></li>
</ul>



This image was created using artificial intelligence.

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Asset Sales

Treasuries

Tech

ETFs

Goodbye Santa Rally, Tesla Falters On Deliveries, Investors Flee Bonds Ahead Of Trump's Second Term: This Week In The Market

The European Union&#8216;s (EU) USB-C directive has officially come into force, mandating a universal charging port for electronic devices. The directive, effective from 2025, requires mobile <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42736387/eu-usb-c-directive-kicks-in-what-it-means-for-you-your-devices-and-the-planet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phones to feature a USB-C port</a>.



Cyberhaven, a data-loss prevention startup, has confirmed a security breach involving its&nbsp;Google Chrome&nbsp;browser extension. Hackers managed to release a malicious update capable of stealing user <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712841/google-chrome-users-beware-this-holiday-season-cyber-security-firms-browser-extension-hijacked-by-attackers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">passwords and session tokens</a>.



President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump has sought a &#8220;political resolution&#8221; of the TikTok ban, urging the Supreme Court to&nbsp;postpone a&nbsp;law that threatens to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712643/trump-asks-supreme-court-to-delay-tiktok-ban-as-he-pursues-a-political-resolution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">block the social media app</a>.



Venezuela's Supreme Court has levied a $10 million fine against&nbsp;ByteDance-owned&nbsp;TikTok&nbsp;for its alleged failure to curb the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42758430/tiktok-fined-10-million-in-venezuela-as-supreme-court-blames-platform-for-failing-to-prevent-deadly-viral-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spread of&nbsp;hazardous viral challenges</a>.



Streaming &amp; Music Platforms



Explicit content has been discovered in&nbsp;Spotify Technology S.A.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>) search results, sparking user outrage over apparent moderation loopholes. A Reddit user shared a screenshot showing a pornographic video appearing in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42716915/spotify-users-discover-adult-content-hidden-in-search-results-sparking-outrage-over-moderation-loopholes" rel="noreferrer noopener">search results for British rapper&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42716915/spotify-users-discover-adult-content-hidden-in-search-results-sparking-outrage-over-moderation-loopholes" rel="noreferrer noopener">M.I.A</a>.



Netflix, Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) Squid Game&nbsp;is back in the spotlight&nbsp;with its second season, and fans are buzzing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42759975/squid-game-season-3-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-thrilling-finale-coming-in-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">about the third and final season</a>.



Smartphones



Samsung Electronics Co.&#8217;s&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) Galaxy S25 Slim, identified as model SM-S937, is reportedly not launching&nbsp;alongside the rest&nbsp;of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42717053/galaxy-s25-slim-delayed-samsungs-sleek-new-model-wont-reportedly-be-part-of-the-first-wave-in-early-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">the&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42717053/galaxy-s25-slim-delayed-samsungs-sleek-new-model-wont-reportedly-be-part-of-the-first-wave-in-early-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">S25</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42717053/galaxy-s25-slim-delayed-samsungs-sleek-new-model-wont-reportedly-be-part-of-the-first-wave-in-early-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;series in early 2025</a>.



Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has stopped selling its&nbsp;iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus,&nbsp;and third-generation iPhone SE models across <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712752/apple-halts-iphone-14-iphone-se-sales-in-eu-heres-why" rel="noreferrer noopener">most EU countries</a>.



A new leak reiterates that&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;is reportedly set to&nbsp;improve the display technology&nbsp;in its upcoming&nbsp;iPhone 17&nbsp;series. Over the weekend, Weibo-based Chinese leaker&nbsp;Digital Chat Station&nbsp;said that supply chain materials support the rumors of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42736353/iphone-17-to-get-display-upgrade-as-apple-finally-ditches-60hz-technology-new-leak-reiterates-possibility" rel="noreferrer noopener">higher refresh rate for the standard iPhone 17</a>.



Apple is offering discounts of up to 500 yuan ($68.50) on its&nbsp;iPhone 16&nbsp;models in China as it&nbsp;faces increasing competition&nbsp;from&nbsp;Huawei Technologies. Apple has launched a rare promotional event in China, set <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42759147/apple-discounts-iphone-16-prices-in-china-by-up-to-68-5-as-it-battles-huaweis-resurgence-in-the-country" rel="noreferrer noopener">to run from Jan. 4 to Jan. 7, 2025</a>.



Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42739523/apple-amazon-samsung-and-nintendo-what-tech-marvels-are-these-giants-cooking-in-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple, Amazon, Samsung, And Nintendo: What Tech Marvels Are These Giants Cooking In 2025</a>



Technology &amp; Artificial Intelligence (AI)



Amid a surge in demand for AI chip package substrates,&nbsp;Ibiden Co.,&nbsp;a significant supplier for&nbsp;Nvidia Corp.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), is evaluating the possibility of hastening its production capacity expansion. This move comes as the company aims to keep pace with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42718022/days-after-key-nvidia-supplier-warned-of-ai-spending-slowdown-another-nvda-partner-considers-accelerating-expansion-to-meet-growing-demand" rel="noreferrer noopener">the growing needs of the AI industry</a>.



Cathie Wood, CEO and CIO of&nbsp;Ark Invest&nbsp;shared her optimistic outlook for 2025, highlighting advancements in robotics, energy storage, artificial intelligence, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42758213/cathie-woods-ark-invest-predicts-explosive-growth-in-2025-innovation-is-going-to-scale-dramatically-as-the-economy-begins-to-get-rid-of-regulations-under-this-new-administration" rel="noreferrer noopener">blockchain technology, and multiomics</a>.



Encode, a nonprofit organization, has joined forces with&nbsp;Elon Musk in a legal effort to prevent&nbsp;OpenAI&nbsp;from transitioning into a for-profit entity. This move comes as Encode files a request to submit an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712824/elon-musks-legal-battle-against-openais-for-profit-transition-joined-by-non-profit-encode" rel="noreferrer noopener">amicus brief in support of Musk's injunction</a>.



Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)-backed OpenAI has revealed its plans to evolve into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). The company aims to balance shareholder and stakeholder interests <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712683/openai-lays-out-its-for-profit-transition-plans-says-it-must-evolve-to-advance-its-agi-mission" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">while maintaining its public benefit mission</a>.



Image: Shutterstock

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NVDA

SPOT

SSNLF

Consumer Tech News (Dec 30-Jan 3): Apple Stops Selling iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone SE, Trump Seeks A 'Political Resolution' Of TikTok Ban & More

In a move that has left millions of Americans perplexed, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/10/41207039/bidens-presidency-hits-hard-households-now-forking-over-2-500-more-annually-for-groceries-can-yo">Biden administration</a> quietly canceled two major student loan forgiveness plans.&nbsp;



These proposals were supposed to be lifelines for borrowers drowning in debt after years – or even decades – of repayment struggles. But now, the plans have been shelved, leaving many borrowers wondering what's next.



The U.S. Department of Education announced the withdrawal in a notice in the Federal Register, citing "operational challenges" as the reason for the sudden withdrawal. The department is shifting its focus to helping at-risk borrowers return to repayment plans.&nbsp;



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For perspective, the numbers are staggering: more than 43 million Americans owe a combined $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. These now-canceled plans, often called "Plan B," were supposed to pick up the pieces after the Supreme Court rejected Biden's original effort to forgive up to $400 billion in June 2023.&nbsp;



That initial plan could have helped 40 million borrowers, but the court&#8217;s ruling forced the administration to regroup. Plan B was designed to provide targeted relief for those facing unique hardships such as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42728529/suze-orman-warns-medicare-doesnt-cover-everything-why-you-need-2000-for-drugs-and-1676-for-hospital-costs-in-2025">medical bills</a>, child care costs or even natural disasters.&nbsp;



The decision has drawn mixed reactions. Persis Yu, deputy executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, didn't hold back her disappointment. "President Biden's proposals would have freed millions from the crushing weight of the student debt crisis and unlocked economic mobility for millions more workers and families," Yu said.



See Also: Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/1milsaved"> The percentage may shock you</a>.



Not everyone saw these plans as the solution, though. Critics of broad student loan forgiveness have long argued that it's unfair to saddle taxpayers – especially those who didn't go to college or have already paid off their loans – with the bill.&nbsp;



"The Biden Administration is not forgiving debt; they&#8217;re just transferring the responsibility to pay it back from those who willingly took on the loan," Sen. Bill Cassidy said on his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgK7hMfFj88">YouTube channel</a>.&nbsp;



While the decision to scrap Plan B was a setback for broad forgiveness efforts, the administration hasn't abandoned debt relief entirely. On the same day the administration announced the withdrawal, it approved $4.28 billion in loan forgiveness for nearly 55,000 public service workers under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.&nbsp;



Trending: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a>



PSLF wipes out loans for government and nonprofit employees who have made consistent payments for 10 years. The Teacher Loan Forgiveness program can provide up to $17,500 in relief for teachers in low-income schools as per Federal Student Aid.&nbsp;



Mark Kantrowitz, a well-known higher education expert, said the timing of the withdrawal wasn't surprising. "The Biden administration knew that the proposals for broad student loan forgiveness would have been thwarted by the Trump administration," Kantrowitz told CNBC. Trump has been a vocal critic of loan forgiveness, calling Biden's plans "vile" and "illegal."



Borrowers still hoping for relief have options. Federal resources like Studentaid.gov offer information on loan forgiveness programs and groups like The Institute of Student Loan Advisors can help borrowers explore state-specific opportunities.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/62-years-old-with-1-mil-saved">I&#8217;m 62 Years Old And Have $1.2 Million Saved. Is This Enough to Retire Stress-Free?</a></li>
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Personal Finance

Plans To Forgive $4.28 Billion In Student Loans For 54,900 Borrowers Halted – What This Means For Millions Still Drowning In Debt

Walgreens is pulling the plug on 1,200 stores over the next three years. That's no small cut. And they're not the only ones feeling the squeeze. Business Insider reported that CVS and Rite Aid are scaling back too. So, how does a business in the middle of a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ajhp/article-abstract/81/14/583/7657643">$722 billion industry</a> end up here?



Let's break it down.



Big Numbers, Bigger Problems



Pharmacies should be killing it. Seven out of 10 Americans rely on prescription meds. That's a steady stream of cash, right? Not quite. Walgreens says a quarter of their stores are losing money. CVS is slashing 3,000 jobs and closing hundreds of locations. Rite Aid? They're stuck in bankruptcy mode, shutting stores to stay afloat.



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The stores that survive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/08/40437498/pharmacy-chains-like-cvs-health-walgreens-boots-alliance-confront-shifting-consumer-habits-and-pro">aren't faring much better. </a>Shelves are half-empty. Everything is locked up. And finding someone to unlock that deodorant? Good luck with that scavenger hunt.



What's Eating Pharmacies Alive?



It's not just Walgreens and CVS. Convenience stores like 7-Eleven are shutting down, too. Blame it on what people are calling the "retail apocalypse." COVID-19 may have kick-started it, but this isn't just a pandemic problem.



Elizabeth Anderson, a health care analyst, told BI, "None of these things is a new factor. But you compound that for years and years and eventually, you get to kind of a breaking point."



That breaking point? It's here.



See Also: The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gameflip"> for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.</a>



Amazon And Friends Are Winning



Who needs a pharmacy run when Amazon can drop your ibuprofen, snacks and toilet paper on your doorstep? Often cheaper and easier.



Amazon isn't the only threat; Walmart and Target are grabbing pharmacy customers. Last year, Walmart launched <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41457803/walmart-launches-same-day-pharmacy-delivery-upping-competition-for-cvs-walgreens">same-day pharmacy delivery.</a> Even Dollar General is in the mix, snagging budget-conscious shoppers. The more annoying pharmacies make it to shop – locked shelves, anyone? – the faster people bail.



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Pandemic Boost? That's Over



The pandemic gave pharmacies a brief lifeline. Vaccines and COVID test kits drove foot traffic and revenue. But that wave has passed and the problems that were always there are now front and center.



Can Pharmacies Make A Comeback?



Walgreens and CVS are trying to adapt, but the game has changed. People want convenience. They want low prices. And they won't stick around for stores that don't deliver.



For now, the closures keep coming. If pharmacies don't evolve fast, this could just be the start.



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Why Walgreens Is Shuttering 1,200 Stores While Pharma Sales Soar To $722 Billion

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/09/41097203/bill-gates-has-spent-150-million-on-real-estate-from-a-seattle-mansion-to-275-000-acres-of-farmland">Bill Gates is one of the richest men in the world</a>, but he's not exactly clinging to the title. In fact, the Microsoft cofounder has said he wants to fall off the billionaires' list entirely – thanks to his commitment to giving away the majority of his fortune through the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.&nbsp;



Gates is famous for his philanthropy but also for his down-to-earth quirks. He <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/01/36664032/bill-gates-spent-over-30-million-on-a-book-in-the-1990s-but-he-wears-a-cheap-24-casio-watch">wears a $10 Casio watch</a>, owns a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/05/39083570/billionaire-bill-gates-has-a-mcdonalds-gold-card-that-gives-him-free-food-for-life-worldwide">McDonald's Gold Card</a> that grants him free Big Macs anywhere in the world and has no interest in flaunting his wealth with flashy cars or designer suits.



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But while he's no stranger to frugality, Gates knows when to open his wallet – whether it's for private jets, sprawling real estate or even paying fines for improperly placed manure bins at his daughter Jennifer's $8.7 million horse farm in Florida.



This manure-related mishap cost Gates $42,000 in fines but was all part of supporting Jennifer's equestrian ambitions. According to a 2014 Page Six article, when Jennifer was just 15, Gates purchased the Wellington, Florida, farm in the heart of the equestrian world. The estate featured stables for 20 horses, training facilities and easy access to the Winter Equestrian Festival.



However, even billionaires can't escape local regulations. Gates was fined $250 a day for violating a Wellington code requiring manure bins to be at least 100 feet from bodies of water. The bin was too close to a nearby pond and the necessary permits for the structure were never secured.&nbsp;



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Page Six also reported that months of warnings to move the "giant manure store" existed before the Gates' property was hit with penalties of $250 per day for two code violations.



While the fines hardly dented Gates' wallet, they highlighted the lengths he was willing to go to nurture his daughter's passion.



And those lengths were extraordinary. Gates reportedly spent $1 million on Jennifer's first rookie competition, leased four top-tier horses and even rented a lavish 8-bedroom mansion in Wellington for $600,000 to ensure she had access to the best training facilities, according to a Forbes 2012 article. When private jet charters were needed to shuttle the family back and forth between Washington and Florida, Gates didn't hesitate.



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Beyond the manure fiasco, Gates has poured significant resources into Wellington real estate, investing upward of $37 million in the equestrian hub over the years. Today, Jennifer owns her own $16 million horse farm, a gift from her parents and continues to compete at an elite level.



Gates' approach to wealth is fascinating because of its contrasts. On the one hand, he plans to leave his kids a modest $10 million inheritance each, ensuring they stay grounded. On the other hand, he's willing to spend millions to fuel their dreams. For Jennifer, that meant creating the ultimate environment to pursue her love of show jumping.



At his core, Gates balances his eccentricities – like that McDonald's Gold Card and his aversion to ostentatious spending – with deep generosity, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42622967/bill-gates-answers-why-he-doesnt-just-voluntarily-pay-more-in-taxes-people-pay-taxes-as-an-obligation-of-law-not-out-of-charity">both as a philanthropist and a dad</a>. Whether eradicating global health crises or dealing with manure-related code violations, Gates is proof that even billionaires juggle the extraordinary and the oddly mundane.



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Markets

Bill Gates Is So Frugal He Wears A $10 Watch But Spent $42,000 In Fines For Manure Bins At His Daughter's $8.7 Million Florida Horse Farm

Each trading day features hundreds of headlines and press releases on Benzinga Pro, a source for traders to see the latest news on the overall market <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">and individual tickers.</a>



Here is a look at the most-searched stocks on Benzinga Pro for 2024. Current prices and year-to-date performance are based on Dec. 31 and do not include dividends. Data for the month of November was not tracked.



1. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $134.29</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $47.32 to $152.89</li>



<li>2024 Return: +178.8%</li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/10/41150827/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-september-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-apple">September</a>/<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/11/41718416/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-october-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-apple-d">October</a>/<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42755273/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-december-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-quantum-computing-stock-rank">December </a>Ranks: 1st/2nd/3rd</li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/exclusives/24/07/39603613/exclusive-top-10-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-first-half-2024-where-do-nvidia-tesla-pala">First Half 2024 Rank</a>: 1st</li>
</ul>



2. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $403.84</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $138.80 to $488.54</li>



<li>2024 Return: +62.5%</li>



<li>September/October/December Ranks: 3rd/1st/1st</li>



<li>First Half 2024 Rank: 3rd</li>
</ul>



3. SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $586.08</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $466.44 to $609.07</li>



<li>2024 Return: +24.0%</li>



<li>September/October/December Ranks: 2nd/4th/4th</li>



<li>First Half 2024 Rank: 2nd</li>
</ul>



4. Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $30.48</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $17.25 to $122.90</li>



<li>2024 Return: +6.8%</li>



<li>September/October/December Ranks: 7th/5th/2nd</li>



<li>First Half 2024 Rank: 5th</li>
</ul>



5. Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $250.42</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $164.08 to $260.09</li>



<li>2024 Return: +34.9%</li>



<li>September/October/December Ranks: 4th/8th/Not in Top 20</li>



<li>First Half 2024 Rank: 4th</li>
</ul>



6. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $120.79</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $117.91 to $227.30</li>



<li>2024 Return: -12.8%</li>



<li>September/October/December Ranks: Not in Top 20/7th/13th</li>



<li>First Half 2024 Rank: 6th</li>
</ul>



7. Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $75.63</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $15.67 to $77.98</li>



<li>2024 Return: +356.2%</li>



<li>September/October/December Ranks: 12th/14th/6th</li>



<li>First Half 2024 Rank: 10th</li>
</ul>



8. Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $511.23</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $395.35 to $539.15</li>



<li>2024 Return: +27.0%</li>



<li>September/October/December Ranks: 6th/15th/20th</li>



<li>First Half 2024 Rank: 9th</li>
</ul>



9. Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $219.39</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $144.05 to $233.00</li>



<li>2024 Return: +46.3%</li>



<li>September/October/December Ranks: Not in Top 20/11th/Not in Top 20</li>



<li>First Half 2024 Rank: 12th</li>
</ul>



10. GameStop Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>)



<ul>
<li>Current Price: $31.34</li>



<li>52-Week Range: $9.95 to $64.83</li>



<li>2024 Return: +88.0%</li>



<li>September/October/December Ranks: Not in Top 20/Not in Top 20/Not in Top 20</li>



<li>First Half 2024 Rank: 7th</li>
</ul>



Did You Know?



Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent010325">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a>



Honorable Mentions:&nbsp;The following stocks were the 11th&nbsp;to 20th&nbsp;most-searched tickers on&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent090324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;in 2024 and their ranking in the first half of 2024.



11. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>): 11th



12. MARA Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>): 8th



13. Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DJT#NASDAQ">DJT</a>): Not in Top 20



14. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): 14th



15. SoundHound AI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOUN#NASDAQ">SOUN</a>): 13th



16. Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>): 17th



17. Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>): 18th



18. Micron Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>): Not in Top 20



19. MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>): Not in Top 20



20. Intel Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>): Not in Top 20



Why It's Important: Nvidia takes the crown as the most-searched ticker on Benzinga Pro in 2024, which comes as the stock often ranked in the top three on a monthly basis. With a gain of over 170% in 2024, Nvidia was one of the top performing S&amp;P 500 stocks. Nvidia also briefly became the most valuable company in the world multiple times in 2024.



Tesla ranked second for searches, which isn't a huge surprise given the company's loyal fan base and the stock ranking among the top three most months, including multiple months in first month.



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust, which is the largest ETF, ranked third for the year, which comes after the ETF ranked second in the first half of 2024 and was passed by Tesla to end the year. The ETF has often been a top performer on Benzinga Pro searches over the years.



Super Micro Computer ranked fourth for the year as it was one of the most widely followed stories of a soaring stock that later attracted short reports and concerns for fraud and accounting irregularities.



Apple ranked fifth, but the stock could move down the list in 2025 if trends hold. Apple was ranked outside of the top 20 in the month of December, which is rather unusual for the world's most valuable company.



Palantir rose in the second half of 2024 for Benzinga Pro searches going from 10th in the first half of the year to end the year ranked seventh. A huge gain in the company's share price likely contributed.



Another top storyline in 2024 was the return of Roaring Kitty, aka Keith Gill, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/05/38793704/who-is-roaring-kitty-why-does-his-return-to-social-media-matter-for-gamestop-stock">to social media</a>, which sent shares of GameStop soaring in several months of 2024. The stock ranked seventh for searches in the first half. While the stock has not been as popular in the later months of 2024, GameStop ended the year as the 10th most-searched ticker and shares were up 88%.



A soaring price of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) in 2024 helped lead to several crypto related stocks soar in interest in the later half of 2024 and overall on the year. Bitcoin hit new all-time highs after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41778425/bitcoins-all-time-high-a-groundbreaking-milestone-and-strong-post-election-rally-coming-ex">the 2024 election </a>and hit the $100,000 milestone in December 2024. MARA Holdings, Coinbase and MicroStrategy all ranked among the top 20 searched tickers for the year.



Trump Media &amp; Technology, which is a media company co-founded by President-elect Donald Trump, ranked 13th on the year. The stock saw a surge in price and huge interest as the 2024 election neared before shares fell and interest minimized after his win.



Overall, the 2024 year saw nine of the top 10 most-searched tickers in the first six months of 2024 remain the most-searched tickers for the year with Amazon.com moving into the top 10 and MARA moving down to 12th place.



Of the top 20 most-searched tickers for the full year, 16 were among the 20 most-searched tickers for the first half of the year.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/10/41584466/these-10-stocks-were-the-best-s-p-500-performers-in-2017-when-trump-was-president-will-history-r" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">These 10 Stocks Were The Best S&amp;P 500 Performers In 2017 When Trump Was President: Will History Repeat Itself?</a></li>
</ul>

Exclusives

AMZN

COIN

INTC

MARA

PLTR

SMCI

SOUN

EXCLUSIVE: Top 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro In 2024 — Where Do Tesla, Nvidia, GameStop, Trump Media Stocks Rank?

Karl Brauer of iSeeCars on Friday said that he does not believe Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) can achieve Elon Musk&#8217;s target of 20% to 30% sales growth in 2025 even with a lower-priced model.



What Happened: &#8220;The ramp-up time just to produce an all-new model is going to take longer&#8230; Elon likes to talk big numbers, he is famous for that but I am not sure that&#8217;s realistic,&#8221; Brauer said in an <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/01/03/musks-2025-growth-target-for-tesla-is-not-realistic-says-analyst.html">appearance</a> on CNBC. 



Tesla, however, needs an affordable model, the analyst said, while adding that the company&#8217;s latest addition to its lineup- the Cybertruck- was too expensive to create a major surge in sales.



China has an exceptional ability to manufacture low-cost EVs while being financially successful, Brauer said, while adding that even if Tesla releases a lower-cost EV, it will likely not have the same profit levels as BYD and other rival Chinese EV makers.



Why It Matters: The year 2024 marks the first year that Tesla's annual deliveries have fallen (1.1%) as compared to the previous year. In 2023, Tesla delivered 1,808,581 vehicles around the globe.



To mark a growth over last year, the company had to deliver at least 514,926 vehicles in the three months through the end of December. However, the company could not even breach the 500,000 target.



The company reported on Thursday that it delivered just&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42766117/tesla-stock-tumbles-on-q4-deliveries-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">495,570 BEVs in the three months</a>, below analyst estimates, raising doubts about the company&#8217;s future sales.



During Tesla&#8217;s third-quarter earnings in October, the company said that it is preparing to launch new vehicles, including more affordable models, starting in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39923738/tesla-reiterates-new-electric-vehicles-on-track-for-2025-but-ceo-elon-musk-refuses-to-divulge-detail" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first half of 2025.</a> The lower-cost offering is expected to revive the company&#8217;s aging car lineup and drive sales growth.



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42801755/gm-overtakes-ford-ev-sales-in-q4-with-equinox-ev-sells-670-units-of-escalade-iq-priced-at-130000" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GM Overtakes Ford EV Sales In Q4 With Equinox EV, Sells 670 Units Of Escalade IQ Priced At $130,000</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Elon Musk 'Likes To Talk Big Numbers' But His Growth Target For Tesla Is Not 'Realistic,' Says Analyst

BitMEX&nbsp;co-founder&nbsp;Arthur Hayes&nbsp;has suggested that a change in US banking regulations could propel Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) to a $1 million valuation.



What Happened:&nbsp;Hayes, addressing his&nbsp;followers on the social media&nbsp;platform X, indicated&nbsp;that if US banks receive&nbsp;an exemption from the&nbsp;supplementary leverage ratio (SLR) rule, it could lead to increased market liquidity, significantly boosting Bitcoin&#8217;s value.



The SLR rule, initially adjusted during the COVID-19 pandemic, was designed to alleviate Treasury market pressures and enhance banks&#8217; credit provision capabilities.



Hayes noted that a campaign by US banks for an SLR exemption is underway, which would allow them to purchase U.S. Treasury securities with substantial leverage, potentially funding the extensive US government debt issuance.



He described this development as &#8220;another&nbsp;signpost on the road to&nbsp;BTC = $1 million.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The PR campaign by US banksters to get an SLR exemption is in full swing. This is &lt;TOP&gt; news on my bloomie this morning. This allows banks to buy USTs with infinite leverage and easily fund the insane amount of USG debt issuance. Another signpost on the road to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> = $1mm <a href="https://t.co/7cGwxqisPy">pic.twitter.com/7cGwxqisPy</a>&mdash; Arthur Hayes (@CryptoHayes) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoHayes/status/1874576206521340093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Last month, Hayes expressed his belief that Bitcoin could reach $1 million in this cycle, driven by global central banks&#8217; increased money supply.



He emphasized that governments worldwide might print unprecedented amounts of money to counter slowing global growth, contributing to Bitcoin&#8217;s potential surge.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42775550/bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-rip-higher-trader-eyes-104000-if-this-resistance-level-breaks?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP Dogecoin Rip Higher, Trader Eyes $104,000 If This Resistance Level Breaks</a>



Why It Matters: The prediction by Arthur Hayes aligns with other optimistic forecasts in the cryptocurrency space.



Fundstrat&#8217;s head of research, Tom Lee, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42719735/bitcoin-could-surge-past-250000-says-tom-lee-citing-btc-halving-cycles-and-us-government-adoption">recently suggested</a> that Bitcoin could surpass $250,000 within the next year, citing the impact of halving cycles and potential government adoption. Lee highlighted Bitcoin&#8217;s recent halving event as a pivotal factor that could drive price momentum.



Additionally,&nbsp;Ark Invest's Cathie Wood has projected that Bitcoin&#8217;s price might <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42019038/bitcoin-to-hit-up-to-1-5-million-by-2030-says-cathie-wood">reach up to $1.5 million</a> by 2030.



Wood attributes this potential surge to regulatory relief and Bitcoin&#8217;s growing distinction from other assets. She also noted increasing institutional interest in Bitcoin, which could further bolster its value.



Moreover, the incoming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41928272/cathie-woods-ark-invest-foresees-crypto-industry-boost-under-incoming-trump-administration">Trump administration</a>&nbsp;is expected to provide a positive environment for the cryptocurrency industry, potentially offering regulatory clarity and a more crypto-friendly SEC. This could create favorable conditions for Bitcoin and other digital assets to thrive.



Price Action: Bitcoin was trading at $98,154 at the time of writing, up by 1.84% in the past 24 hours.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42801940/cathie-woods-ark-invest-books-profits-on-hot-ai-stock-palantir-sells-bitcoin-etf-shares-as-btc-starts-2025-on-a-positive-note">Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Invest Books Profits On Hot AI Stock Palantir, Sells Bitcoin ETF Shares As BTC Starts 2025 On A Positive Note</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Pixabay

Bitcoin To Hit $1 Million? Arthur Hayes Says 'Another Signpost' Has Appeared Amid US Debt Concerns

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) is skyrocketing in Friday&#8217;s trading session, with its 12% price increase sparking bullish predictions from crypto analysts.



The apex meme coin outperformed its biggest rivals, leading the meme coin market as Bitcoin powered <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42793495/bitcoin-surges-above-98000-defying-thursdays-record-etf-outflows">back above $98,000.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price</td><td>24-Hour-Performance</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>$0.381</td><td>+12.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>$0.00002421</td><td>+5.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>)</td><td>$0.00002161</td><td>+5.8%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Crypto trader Javon Marks <a href="https://x.com/JavonTM1/status/1875170798610112570">noted</a> Dogecoin's impressive momentum, targeting an initial price of $0.6533—a 75% increase. 



Should DOGE surpass this level, Marks predicts the rally could extend to $1.20 or higher, representing a potential 234% gain.



Trader Tardigrade <a href="https://x.com/TATrader_Alan/status/1875142069838376991">suggests</a> DOGE has hit a local bottom, signalling potential new highs. 



Technical analyst Kevin emphasized the strength of DOGE on the DOGE/BTC chart. 



He cited technical validations, including a successful retest of the macro golden pocket, strong demand support, and sustained positioning above the 100 EMA and 200 EMA on daily candles.



Kevin urged his followers to monitor these data points closely as momentum builds for further gains.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Beautiful call on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DOGE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DOGE</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> chart. The signs were all there. We successfully back tested macro golden pocket with demand coming in and also 200 ema while never losing the 100 ema on daily candles. Naturally we were going to head higher. Now the key is to continue… <a href="https://t.co/3RPcP7XDkH">https://t.co/3RPcP7XDkH</a> <a href="https://t.co/0I1M0Cjzoa">pic.twitter.com/0I1M0Cjzoa</a>&mdash; Kevin (@Kev_Capital_TA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kev_Capital_TA/status/1875180148326068312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42789674/dogecoin-shiba-inu-redefine-meme-coin-phenomenon-that-extends-beyond-mere-speculation-report">Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Redefine Meme Coin Phenomenon That &#8216;Extends Beyond Mere Speculation&#8217;: Report</a>



Chart analyst Ali Martinez highlighted whale activity, revealing that over 1.08 billion DOGE was purchased in the past 24 hours. This spike in large transactions has sparked curiosity about potential upcoming price momentum.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Whales bought over 1.08 billion <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogecoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogecoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DOGE&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DOGE</a> in the last 24 hours! <a href="https://t.co/Ow2j6I1MDV">pic.twitter.com/Ow2j6I1MDV</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1874950800075599892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Coinglass data shows a 20.7% surge in Dogecoin open interest, reaching $2.7 billion. 



Derivatives trading volume expanded by 27.1%, reflecting heightened market activity. 



DOGE short liquidations dropped to $10 million, the lowest since Dec. 21.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42724952/2025-outlook-bitcoin-to-150000-ethereum-to-5500-dogecoin-hits-1-galaxy-research-predicts">2025 Outlook: Bitcoin To $150,000, Ethereum To $5,500, Dogecoin Hits $1, Galaxy Research Predicts</a></li>
</ul>

$PEPE

Dogecoin Explodes For 12% Gain: Why Is DOGE Going Up?

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40922368/excuse-me-you-want-to-check-my-credit-nba-legend-shaq-shares-he-felt-disrespected-when-trying-to">Shaquille O'Neal</a> is one of those rare NBA stars who transcended the game. But his success wasn't just about basketball – it was about mindset.&nbsp;



In a 2022 CBS News interview, Shaq casually dropped a gem: "I didn't spend my first NBA check until I started having children. I had so much coming in, I was like, ‘NBA money over there and I'll just live off endorsement money.'"



That's right – Shaq was banking his $120 million NBA earnings while most rookies splurge on cars and mansions. Instead, he lived off deals with brands like Reebok and Pepsi. The secret? A wealthy mentor advised: "Rich people spend half, save half. Wealthy people take half of that half and then spend the rest." Shaq listened and it paid off – big time.



Don't Miss:



<ul>
<li>Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/1milsaved"> The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>



<li>Inspired by Uber and Airbnb &#8211; Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">with $1,000 you can invest at just $0.26/share!</a></li>
</ul>



Now worth $500 million, Shaq owns franchises like Papa John's and Big Chicken. He also made early bets on tech companies like Google and Ring, turning investments into gold. Oh and did we mention he's a real estate powerhouse too?



Shaq's financial wisdom didn't stop at saving; he was all about smart investments. In an October 2024 episode of Robert Mtz's ‘Creativo' podcast, he shared, "I have 40 cars and I don't know why." This self-awareness led him to diversify his portfolio beyond flashy purchases. He invested in 150 car washes and 40 health clubs, turning everyday services into revenue streams. His approach? Invest in what people need daily.



But even Shaq had his missteps. He famously turned down an early opportunity to invest in Starbucks, thinking, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41144354/shaq-missed-a-deal-of-a-lifetime-with-starbucks-says-because-growing-up-hes-never-seen-a-black-perso">"Black people don't drink coffee."</a> Reflecting on this, he admitted, "So now, every time I go to Starbucks and see Black people drinking coffee, I'm like …" followed by a facepalm. This taught him the importance of challenging assumptions in business.



Trending: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset"> How do you compare</a>?



That said, Shaq also knows when it's time to pivot. In a 2021 episode of the Earn Your Leisure podcast, he revealed he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42468734/nba-legend-shaq-owned-17-auntie-annes-franchises-but-sold-them-after-realizing-black-people-dont-like-pretzels-that-much">sold his 17 Auntie Anne's franchises</a> because, in his words, "Black people don't like pretzels that much." His decision wasn't rooted in assumptions this time but in observation and market analysis. "I wanted to switch it up," he explained, focusing on ventures with more cultural resonance and appeal.



Beyond business, Shaq emphasizes education and hard work to his children. He tells them, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40943843/we-aint-rich-im-rich-nba-legend-shaq-says-his-daughters-and-sons-dont-get-equal-treatment-my-boy">"We ain't rich; I'm rich."</a> He requires his kids to earn two degrees before considering any financial support, instilling the value of self-reliance.



Shaq's story isn't just about making money; it's about keeping it – and making it work for you. His advice might sound simple, but it's life-changing if you stick to it. Save first, spend second and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">invest like a legend</a> when opportunity knocks.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>



<li>Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
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NBA Legend Shaq Says He Didn't Even Start Spending His NBA Checks Until He Had Kids – 'I Had So Much Coming In'

Warren Buffett is one of the richest men in the world, yet his down-to-earth lifestyle is almost as famous as his fortune. He still grabs <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42025535/warren-buffett-has-a-mcgold-card-granting-him-a-lifetime-of-free-food-thats-why-the-buffett-family-has-christmas-dinner-at-mcdonalds">McDonald's for breakfast</a>, lives in the same modest Omaha home he bought in the 1950s and, despite his billions, has never been one to spoil his kids.&nbsp;



Instead, he raised Howard, Susan and Peter with a clear philosophy: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/10/41198368/warren-buffetts-son-who-famously-cashed-in-his-90-000-inheritance-at-19-spends-millions-in-buffe">they wouldn't inherit the bulk of his wealth</a>, but they would learn to earn, save and appreciate the value of hard work.



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One of the best examples of this? Howard Buffett's teenage dream of owning a Corvette. As a Forbes article from 1998 (A Son's Advice to His Father) recounted, Warren's unconventional parenting made a lasting impression, not just because of the car.



Howard, Warren's middle child, sat down for the interview in New York over Cokes and sandwiches, where he opened up about the unique challenges of growing up with a billionaire father. When he was 18 in 1973, he wanted one thing more than anything else: a brand-new Corvette. But Warren wasn't about to just write a check. Instead, he offered a deal.



Warren agreed to put $5,000 toward the car, but the money would count as Howard's birthday and Christmas presents for three years and his graduation gift. And Howard still had to come up with the remaining $2,500 himself. It was a classic Warren Buffett move – teaching his son that even a dream car came with a price.



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Howard took the deal and got his Corvette, but the lessons didn't stop there. Not long after, someone backed into the car. A bystander shrugged it off, saying, "No big deal! <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/03/37855579/warren-buffetts-daughter-says-they-lived-like-everybody-else-she-didnt-know-her-dad-was-rich-unt">That's the Buffett kid – </a>there's lots more where that came from." But Howard knew differently. He had to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40881429/warren-buffetts-daughter-asked-him-for-a-41-000-loan-to-remodel-her-kitchen-but-the-billionaire-">pay for the repairs</a> out of his pocket.



Finding his path outside his father's shadow wasn't easy. Like his siblings, Howard bounced between colleges before eventually dropping out. He spent time at Augustana College, Chapman College and the University of California at Irvine but never finished a degree. His journey eventually led him to politics, inspired by his grandfather, Howard Homan Buffett, a Republican congressman whom Warren greatly admired.



In 1988, Howard decided to run for commissioner of the Douglas County Board in Omaha. Before throwing his hat in the ring, he asked his dad whether losing an election would harm his reputation. Warren's response was encouraging and straightforward: "Not at all. People will respect you if you are willing to participate and put yourself on the line."



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However, Warren wasn't about to bankroll the campaign. In true Buffett fashion, he offered to match only 10% of the funds Howard could raise himself. "It was a good solution," Howard said, acknowledging that it pushed him to work harder.



The campaign wasn't without its challenges. At one community meeting in a lower-income neighborhood, Howard worried he'd be dismissed as just another rich kid from West Omaha. He turned to Warren for advice. "Just go down there, shake hands and be friendly," his dad told him. "They're all going to think you're going to be a jerk, so as long as you're not a jerk, you win."



As the interview ended, Howard reflected on his father's influence and their family dynamic. "Our family is close. No one is jockeying for position," he said, adding that Warren's advice and listening ear had been instrumental over the years. But Howard couldn't resist a parting quip about his dad's famously tight grip on money: "Now we'd love to have him loosen up a little!"



For Howard, the Corvette may have been the first deal he struck with his dad, but it certainly wasn't the last – and it left him with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">more than just a nice car</a>.



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<li>The number of ‘401(k)' Millionaires is up 43% from last year —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/401k-millionaires"> Here are three ways to join the club.</a></li>
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Warren Buffett's Son Wanted A Corvette As A Teen – The Billionaire Gave Him $5,000 Towards It But Said No Other Gifts For 3 Years

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