The world’s second wealthiest individual

Today’s topics

• Ellison Surpasses Zuckerberg to Become the World’s Second-Richest Individual

• Apple Drops $500M on American-Made Magnets

• Japan Breaks Internet Speed Record

• Introducing the First-Ever Cloned Yak

• Ritz-Carlton Unveils Superyacht for Celebs Seeking New Horizons

  and more…

Ellison Surpasses Zuckerberg to Become the World’s Second-Richest Individual

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has overtaken Mark Zuckerberg to become the world’s second-richest person, now worth $251.2 billion. Oracle’s stock has nearly tripled since ChatGPT’s debut in 2022, and surged 90% in the past three months as AI-driven growth accelerates. A fresh 5.7% boost came Tuesday after news that U.S. chipmakers like Nvidia and AMD may resume exports to China — enough to nudge Ellison, 80, past Zuck.

Nvidia Gets the Green Light to Sell AI Chips to China

In a sharp reversal, the U.S. government has given Nvidia the go-ahead to sell its AI chips to China — the very same H20 models that were banned just this April. These chips were originally engineered to comply with previous export restrictions, but now they’re officially back on the table, pending some licensing paperwork. Nvidia says it’s already filing the necessary applications, and Washington has assured the approvals are coming. The timing is interesting: this policy shift follows Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s recent meeting with Donald Trump, full of AI hype and job-creation talk. A few smiles and handshakes later, trade tensions have cooled — and Nvidia is back in business.

Apple Drops $500M on American-Made Magnets

Apple is spending $500 million on MP Materials to secure a U.S.-based supply of rare earth magnets — the tiny components that power iPhone vibrations and AirPods clicks. The move aims to reduce dependence on China, especially after past export restrictions. MP Materials, which runs the only rare earth mine in the U.S., recently landed a Pentagon deal, sending its stock soaring. Apple will prepay $200 million for magnets made from recycled materials, with production set to begin in Texas by 2027. While the investment helps Apple appear patriotic and green, most of its manufacturing still happens overseas where labor is far cheaper.

Japan Breaks Internet Speed Record

Japan has shattered the global internet speed record, reaching a staggering 125,000 gigabytes per second — about 4 million times faster than average U.S. broadband. It’s the kind of speed that makes regular Wi-Fi seem like a carrier pigeon with a flash drive. This new benchmark crushed the previous record of 50,250 GB/s, thanks to advanced optical fiber technology that transmitted data over 1,120 miles — roughly the distance from New York to Florida, minus the traffic. While the results haven’t been independently verified yet (kind of like your cousin’s latest crypto project), the speed is fast enough to download the entire Internet Archive in under four minutes.

Teens Can Now Ride in Driverless Cars — Solo

Waymo is now letting 14- to 17-year-olds summon self-driving cars on their own, starting in Phoenix. Teens can set up personal accounts, while parents stay connected through linked profiles that offer real-time tracking, ride receipts, and access to “specially trained support agents” — essentially grown-ups assigned to monitor robot taxis. Until now, solo rides were limited to adults 18 and up, but with Waymo expanding into new cities and eager to grow its user base, the age bar has dropped. It’s also a move to keep up with Uber, which rolled out teen rides last year.

SpaceX’s Bold “Starfall” Plan: Manufacturing in Orbit

SpaceX is spearheading a futuristic initiative called Starfall, aiming to use its Starship rockets to manufacture high-value goods in microgravity—ranging from pharmaceuticals and semiconductors to food—leveraging space’s unique conditions. The proposal includes launching uncrewed capsules where radiation and weightlessness can enhance product precision. Though still in early development, SpaceX anticipates operations by the decade’s end. This push responds to a broader $100 billion market prediction for space-made goods by 2035, and comes despite recent Starship launch setbacks. A new test flight is tentatively scheduled in about three weeks.  Read more

Axiom-4 Crew Returns from ISS: A Private Spaceflight Milestone

Four astronauts—Peggy Whitson from the U.S., along with crew members from India, Poland, and Hungary—returned safely to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon “Grace” after completing the historic Axiom-4 private mission to the ISS. Launched in late June, the mission marked the first time in over 40 years that crew members from India, Poland, and Hungary reached orbit. In 18 days aboard the station, they conducted more than 60 scientific experiments, and their safe Pacific Ocean splashdown signifies growing momentum in commercially led space missions. Read more

Introducing the First-Ever Cloned Yak

Chinese scientists have successfully cloned the world’s first yak, delivering the calf via C-section on July 11 in Tibet’s Damxung County. Weighing in at 74 pounds — heavier than the average yak newborn — the calf made a bold entrance into the world. Created through somatic cell cloning, essentially the scientific version of copy-paste, this breakthrough represents a major step in livestock research. Yaks are essential to life on the Tibetan plateau, serving as food sources, transport animals, and even providing fuel through their dung. The cloning marks a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology.

Democrats Push to Protect & Increase Climate Spending

Senate Democrats are proposing amendments to a $9.4 billion spending package that currently cuts international clean-energy and climate programs—rollbacks initially supported by Republicans and the White House. The debate centers on whether to preserve funding for global clean-tech investments, disaster resilience, and more, as Republicans aim to finalize the bill swiftly. Read more

Court Sides with Industry, Scales Back NEPA’s Reach

A recent Supreme Court ruling limits the scope of NEPA, ruling that federal agencies no longer have to assess long-term or distant environmental consequences of infrastructure projects. Critics say this narrows public oversight and waters down protections, while proponents argue it will speed up critical projects—potentially including renewables. Read more

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Simone Biles Take Home Top Honors at the ESPYS

At the 2025 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Best Male Athlete, while Simone Biles claimed Best Female Athlete honors after dominating the Paris Olympics with three golds and a silver. Other standout winners included Suni Lee (Best Comeback), Oscar Robertson (Arthur Ashe Award for Courage), and icons like Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan receiving the Icon Award. Read more

Ritz-Carlton Unveils Superyacht for Celebs Seeking New Horizons

The Ritz-Carlton’s newest showstopper, Luminara, just glided into the Mediterranean, decked out in mahogany, Emperador marble, and A-listers galore. On its maiden voyage: Kendall Jenner, Naomi Campbell, Tom Brady, Sting, Martha Stewart, and basically the cast of every luxury ad you’ve ever seen. This 794-foot floating palace boasts 226 butler-serviced suites with floor-to-ceiling windows and enough elegance to make Versailles look modest. Martha mixed cocktails, Janelle Monáe spun tracks, Sting sang, and a drone show reminded everyone this was technically still a boat. Expect five Michelin-curated restaurants, seven bars, a wine vault, original Warhols, and spa treatments that cost more than your monthly rent. While kids get the Ritz Kids Club, adults can browse Chanel and Hermès between ports. After pretending to be Roman for Instagram, Luminara will sail to Vietnam, Japan, and Alaska — delivering curated wilderness without ever leaving luxury.

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