In today’s issue we discuss Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie selling $100 Million in advance ticket sales, Korean automakers adopt Tesla's EV charging standard, NASA wants to build houses on the moon by 2040, Beyoncé celebrated her BeyDay at Marlon Brando’s private island, and Max Verstappen wins Formula 1 Constructors Cup and Qatar grand prix.

Business

Elon Musk 10, EV industry 0. Once again Tesla is coming out on top, with another car manufacturer falling in line and adopting their charge standards. This follows similar adoption by Ford, GM, and Rivian earlier this year. Addin to that list are reports that “Hyundai, Kia and Genesis are the latest automakers to adopt Tesla's charging” standard.

It is estimated that the EV charging industry is worth around $14.5 billion dollars as of 2021, and even more surprisingly that number is expected “to have a compound annual growth rate of 28.21 percent between 2022 and 2030.” That’s some fast charging ahead for the EV industry!

Major Korean automakers adopt Tesla's EV charging standard in win for Musk

Tech

In what looks like a full-scale model of a drop ship from Halo, a startup called Regent has developed what it describes as electric seagliders that they want to fly over the waterways of Japan. They just raised $60 million in Series A funding from some heavyweight investors including Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, and now they’ve struck a partnership with Japan Airlines to ferry customers across Japan’s waterways.

The company has 55 employees, and completed testing of a quarter-scale prototype on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay late last year to prove that its seagliders can “float, foil and fly” as expected. The company says it has orders for more than 500 seagliders representing some $8 billion in future revenue.

Regent aims to fly its electric seagliders over the waterways of Japan

Space

Are you in the market for a new home, because do I have a deal for you! Ever think about owning a home on the Moon? NASA wants to build houses on the Moon by 2040 with a company called Icon, and because this is a government program they came up with the name Project Olympus.

Icon uses 3D printers to make houses on Earth, and is now researching how to use the Moon’s regolith to make similar structures on the Moon. No reporting on what a Moon starter house will set you back, but it’s gotta be cheaper than trying to buy in NYC!

NASA Wants to Build Houses on the Moon by 2040

Entertainment

We’re running out of superlatives to describe Taylor Swift’s success these days, so we’ll just drop that her new Eras Tour concert film has broken records before it’s even come out. Advanced ticket sales have surpassed $100 million in just North America, and could more than double that worldwide by the time the movie is released on Friday, October 13 when it launches on 8,500 screens across 100 countries.

Taylor Swift: Eras Tour’ Film Surpasses $100 Million in Advance Ticket Sales

Real Estate

You know who we don’t talk about enough these days? Beyoncé! Well that’s going to have to change. This last year she’s been overshadowed in the media by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, but Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour did pretty good on its own, earning nearly $2.1 billion from her tour worldwide.

To blow off a little steam Beyoncé celebrated her “BeyDay” (because that’s a thing) at the late Marlon Brando’s private island at the The Brando luxury eco resort in French Polynesian. She was accompanied by her husband Jay-Z, their kiddos, and some close friends, and rented out 11 villas at a rate of $20K per night. She can afford it, considering her tour pulls in an estimated $6.71 million per night.

Beyoncé Celebrated Her BeyDay at Marlon Brando’s Private Island

Sports

The world has a new Formula 1 champion, and his name is Max Verstappen. For the 3rd year in a row Max won Formula 1’s Constructor’s Cup, as well as the Qatar Grand Prix over the weekend.

If you didn’t already know I’m a big Red Bull Formula 1 fanboy, but even I have gotten a little bored watching Max win all but 3 of the races this season. Still, it was great to see my team win the championship, even though they still have 6 races to go in the season.

I have no doubt winning his 3rd championship in a row will help him when it comes time to negotiate his next contract. As it stands now he makes $53.3 million per year driving for Red Bull, plus add to that his sponsorship deals with EA Sorts, Viaplay streaming service in the Netherlands, Jumbo supermarket group, and Heineken beer in Germany.

Max Verstappen crowned Formula One world champion

So much news, so little time. Until tomorrow we’re signing out.

— Chris