💸 It's Raining Billionaires! Forbes 2023 List Reveals the Who's Who of the World's Richest

Author

Yannick Morin
July 10, 2023

👋Welcome, fellow knowledge-seekers!

Hop in, buckle up, and let's cruise through the fast-paced highway of news - packed with joy, thrills, surprises, and mysteries. Get ready, set, read!

On this day in 1962, something super groovy happened. Picture this: you're lounging on your avocado green shag carpet, wondering how on earth you can watch 'I Love Lucy' while your neighbors are stuck with radio broadcasts. Well, thanks to Telstar, the first privately owned satellite, which was launched into space on July 10th, live transatlantic television broadcasts became a thing. Telstar revolutionized communications and made TV an even more popular pastime than trying to figure out the optimal Jello mold for your next dinner party.

💍 Retail Worker Hits Jackpot with Million-Dollar 'Lord of the Rings' Magic Card!

Alright, gather 'round magic enthusiasts and Tolkien nerds! A "Magic: The Gathering" card (and not just any old card, mind you) has been unearthed from its hiding place in the wilds of Ontario. This isn't your run-of-the-mill, "traded-it-for-a-stick-of-gum" kind of card; it's a one-of-a-kind, making-nerd-dreams-come-true, "One Ring" card.

Scribed with gold lettering in the Black Speech of Sauron (because who doesn't enjoy cryptic, ancient evil lingo?), this elusive card is a celebration of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic series "The Lord of the Rings". Its value? Well, it's enough to turn anyone into a crazed Gollum – we're talking potential millions of dollars here!

Our humble ring-bearer, a retail worker from Toronto who's going incognito (can't have orc-like collectors hunting them down), couldn't believe their luck. In their own words: "These things don't happen to people like me." Well, dear ring-bearer, you just won the geek lottery!

Some serious offers are already rolling in, with a Spanish card reseller waving a whopping 2 million euros (that's $2.89 million Canadian dollars) at them. And a New York shop was just chilling there with a cool $1 million bounty for the One Ring. Despite the excitement, our hero is not planning to quit their day job just yet.

Before you start calling shenanigans, know that this isn't a joke – the card was verified by the bigwigs at the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). It was flown to California to be certified as a genuine piece of tabletop magic, graded as mint condition, and then flown back to Toronto. Talk about air miles!

So, hold onto your cloaks, folks. This 'One Ring' card might just disappear into the vault of a private collector, and we might not see it again for a looong, loooong time. Until then, happy gaming and may you pull your precious card soon! (Source)

💸 It's Raining Billionaires! Forbes 2023 List Reveals the Who's Who of the World's Richest

Fasten your seat belts and let's take a wild ride through the world of ten-figure fortunes! The 2023 Forbes World's Billionaires List has dropped, and boy, it’s a roller-coaster. Even the mega-rich are feeling a pinch, as falling stocks, wounded unicorns, and rising interest rates have taken a bit of sheen off their gold-plated cake.

We're talking 2,640 billionaires globally - a dip from last year's 2,668. Together, they're clutching onto a whopping $12.2 trillion, which is $500 billion less than last year's total (cue the world's smallest violin). Elon Musk, after acquiring Twitter and watching Tesla shares plummet, slipped from the throne to the runner-up spot. Better luck next year, Musk!

But hey, let's throw some champagne in the air for Bernard Arnault! The head honcho of luxury goods empire LVMH, and now the world's richest person, he's the first French citizen to snag the top spot. Vive la France!

Don't worry, Uncle Sam isn't left in the cold. The US still flaunts the most billionaires - 735 of them, with a collective worth of a staggering $4.5 trillion. In second place, we have China (including Hong Kong and Macau) flaunting 562 billionaires worth $2 trillion. And batting third, India steps up with 169 billionaires, holding $675 billion between them.

These rankings are based on stock prices and exchange rates from March 10, 2023. If you're keen on seeing this wild billionaire parade for yourself, check out the real-time billionaires rankings for up-to-date net worth. Buckle up, it's a wild ride in the world of the uber-rich!

✨ From Dreams to Reality: Paralyzed Man Walks Again Through Breakthrough Prosthetic Technology

Isn't it thrilling when science fiction morphs into scientific fact? In an awe-inspiring leap forward in prosthetic technology, a man paralyzed from the hips down has begun to walk again, even navigating stairs, all thanks to electrical nerve stimulation.

Our hero of the hour is Gert-Jan Oskam, who lost the use of his legs following a devastating motorbike accident. Prior to this breakthrough, he'd regained some mobility using a precursor technology. But now, the game has truly changed. "The stimulation before was controlling me, and now I'm controlling the stimulation," Oskam shared with NBC, reflecting on his newfound independence.

So, what's the secret? Well, it's all in the brain... and a backpack. When Oskam imagines moving his legs, an implant in his brain picks up the signal and sends it to a computer nestled in a backpack he wears. This clever computer then works out the amount of current needed, which is transmitted to a new pacemaker in his abdomen, and then on to the old implant in his spinal cord. The result? His legs move in a way that's more under his control, thanks to the coordination of a helmet with antennae.

And the miracle doesn't stop there. Not only can Oskam now walk approximately 200 meters daily and stand unassisted for 2-3 minutes, but he's also regained the power to lift himself from a chair and walk with the aid of a crutch, even when the device is turned off! In fact, he recently handled some painting all by himself when no one was around to assist.

The future is looking bright, with scientists excited to extend this "digital bridge" technology to patients with paralyzed arms and hands, and even stroke victims. So, here's to the incredible spirit of scientific discovery, turning the impossible into the possible and opening a world of possibilities for those who need it most. (Source)

📸 Feast Your Eyes on Today's Stunning Snapshot Series: The Ever-Gorgeous Jennifer Lopez!

We all know Jennifer Lopez, the superstar who slays on stage, mesmerizes on the big screen, and dazzles us with her down-to-earth charm. But here are a few nuggets you might not know about JLo:

  • Girl's got moves, and we're not just talking about her epic dance-offs. Did you know she started her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson?

  • She’s got an alter ego named Lola. Because when you're as multi-talented as JLo, why not?

  • Jenny from the Block was the first woman to have a No. 1 album and movie in the same week. Talk about a boss move!

  • She's a savvy businesswoman, with a fragrance line that's raked in over $2 billion. Yes, billion with a B!

Alright, Enough Chit-Chat! Let's Dive Back into What We Came Here For: Those Sizzling JLo Pics!

🤔 Is He in or Out? Viral Reddit Optical Illusion Sparks Heated Debate!

Get ready to have your mind twisted in knots! A confounding optical illusion on Reddit has the internet scratching its collective head and heatedly debating one surprisingly simple question: Is a man sitting inside or outside a house?

Sounds simple, right? You'd think so, until you actually take a look at the optical illusion. The brain-bending picture features a man seated on a table and chair, a dog at his side, and a house in the background. The catch? It's not quite clear whether the man is sitting inside the house or outside.

So, want to join the debate? Have a look at the picture and decide for yourself. Is the man sitting inside the house or outside? Just remember - sometimes, the simplest questions can lead to the most mind-bending answers!

✨Quote of the day

Hey there, ace detective! I've got a little challenge for you today. Do you think you can sleuth out the source of this quote?

"My mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.'"

Psst! The answer you're seeking is hiding at the bottom of the newsletter, so scroll down but not to fast 👇

🔍Guess the Movie Challenge!

Get your movie detective hats on because it's time for a game of "Can you guess the movie?"

Get ready to unleash your inner Sherlock and show off your movie sleuthing skills!

Hint: Featuring Jennifer Connelly, 1994

Want to know what else is going down in this Wild World of ours?

  • Ouch! Hackers Took a Cool $30,016,239,576.24 from Blockchain - and They Didn't Even Say Please! Oh, and They Pulled This Off 1103 Times. Yikes! (Source)

  • Sarah Silverman is taking legal action against OpenAI and Meta, alleging that their AI training has violated copyright laws. (Source)

  • In a shocking incident, Larry Nassar, the former U.S. Gymnastics doctor, was reportedly stabbed multiple times while serving his sentence in prison. (Source)

Answer to the quote challenge: Forrest Gump from Forrest Gump (1994).

🌟 Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey of knowledge and discovery! 💌✨

As we come to the end of this edition of our newsletter, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your support, engagement, and curiosity. It's been an absolute joy to share captivating stories, mind-bending facts, and thought-provoking discussions with you.

Remember, learning is a lifelong adventure, and we hope that our newsletter has sparked your curiosity, expanded your horizons, and inspired you to continue seeking knowledge in all its forms.

Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night.

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