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  • David Beckham Owns London Mansion Worth Over $40m

    David Beckham Owns London Mansion Worth Over $40m

    In a recent Hello article about the 10 most expensive celebrity houses in the UK, it came as no surprise that David Beckham was in the top spot. The dashing former footballer owns a house in London that is worth over $40 million.

    In the late-1990s and early 2000s, David Beckham was simply the most famous footballer on the planet. Not the best, although pretty good, but definitely the most famous.

    David Beckham Hits Top Spot

    The $40 million house that should perhaps be called ‘Beckingham Palace,” is located in the luxurious and high-end Holland Park in West London. David and his wife Victoria purchased the mansion back in 2013 and spent a further $10 million on renovations and customizations.

    The home enjoys a very stately design features with an elegant monochrome color scheme. Although not much is known about the interior, only from a few Instagram posts from the Beckhams, the house is home to a coffee machine worth more than $3,000.

    The mansion fits in nicely with some of the Beckham’s other real estate purchases such as their $30 million Los Angeles house and their barn-conversion in the Cotswolds.

    David and Victoria Beckham Are Loaded

    His model-like chiseled looks, his football ability, and vast marketing appeal amassed David Beckham a jaw-dropping $750 million in career earnings just for kicking a pig’s bladder about a green field and looking good in a few photoshoots.

    During his football career, he played for some of the most famous football clubs in the world such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris SG, AC Milan, and LA Galaxy.

    David Beckham is also famously married to Victoria Beckham, more commonly known as former Spice Girl “Posh Spice.” Living up to her ‘posh’ moniker, it is said that Victoria’s net worth is also around the $450 million mark, which is impressive in its own rights.

    Also making the Hello list was megalomaniac music industry mogul Simon Cowell in second place. Former Take That pop star Robbie Williams came in third, while footballer Wayne Rooney and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver came in fourth and fifth respectively.

    Featured image from Shutterstock.

  • Zamira Hajiyeva Finds Out What Happens When You Overspend at Harrods

    Zamira Hajiyeva Finds Out What Happens When You Overspend at Harrods

    Most people who overspend at Harrods suffer from varying degrees of buyer’s remorse. Retail therapy may be real but so is footing the bill afterward when the adrenaline has died down and all you’re left with is an overpriced set of steak knives. What doesn’t happen often (in fact, never before) is that you get slapped with a UWO (Unexplained Wealth Order) like Zamira Hajiyeva.

    Zamira Hajiyeva Spent £16m in Harrods

    When your husband is doing time in an Azerbaijani jail for embezzlement, keeping a low profile is probably a good idea. And yet Zamira Hajiyeva didn’t believe in living modestly. If her £15 million house just near the department store in one of London’s most affluent neighborhoods wasn’t enough to alert the authorities, her insatiable spending appetite in Harrods was.

    She has now become the first person in Britain to be served with a UWO by the National Crime Agency and is facing extradition charges back to her native Azerbaijan.

    Her Lawyers Claim No Wrongdoing

    While her lawyers insist that no wrongdoing took place and that Mrs. Hajiyeva is no “fraudster,” she’ll have a fair amount of explaining to do when it comes to justifying the source of her wealth. The UWO will force her to reveal the origin of her wealth and that will probably uncover a trail of undesirable discoveries.

    The UWO was served and Mrs. Hajiyeva was arrested after UK authorities were adverted by their Azerbaijani counterparts of two counts of embezzlement charges against her and requested extradition. She is currently being held in custody and was denied bail as prosecutors claimed that she was a flight risk.

    The best justification from her legal team so far? They say that Mrs. Hajiyeva is no fraudster with no threat of leaving the country. She’s merely a bit of a “spendthrift.” Perhaps that buyer’s remorse blow is softer when you’re spending other people’s money.

    What Happens Next for Hajiyeva?

    It seems the Azerbajaini’s weakness for blowing through money will finally be her undoing, although she has an appeal hearing scheduled for Thursday this week.

    She also has children living in the UK and has been living in the British Isles for almost 10 years after surviving a brutal kidnapping in her native country. Whether the NCA will take this into account or not remains to be seen.

    Featured image from Shutterstock.

  • Millionaire David Meltzer Thinks Your Energy Makes a Big Difference

    Millionaire David Meltzer Thinks Your Energy Makes a Big Difference

    David Meltzer has made his fortune more than once. By the time he was 33, he had made millions of dollars and lost it all. Falling down the economic ladder can be rough. Many people don’t have the strength to start over. For David Meltzer, adversity has taught him how important energy is for success in life.

    A big part of being positive is being thankful. In today’s world, the idea of spiritual energy seems a little “woo-woo,” but David Meltzer thinks that the energy a person has will make a big difference in their life. He gives the advice that if a person wants to get ahead in life, they should say, “thank you.”

    David Meltzer Doesn’t Stay Down for Long

    Positivity is a powerful force that can help people get through rough times. For those of you that don’t know, David Meltzer grew up in a poor family with six siblings. His single mother worked as an elementary school teacher, and there was never enough to go around.

    The rest of his brothers and sisters excelled in the world of academics. They all managed to secure scholarships at ivy league schools. David wanted to make the big bucks. He graduated from Tulane law school and found his first big opportunity on the internet.

    Back in the 1990s, the internet was still a new idea. David was offered a job selling legal research online for West Publishing. In less than a year, he had made his first million. Things just kept getting better for him, until at age 33, it all came crashing down.

    David Meltzer lost everything in a bankruptcy that even cost his mother the home he bought for her.

    With the help of his wife, he got back on track with more passion than ever before. Now he works at the sports marketing firm he co-founded with quarterback Warren Moon, called Sports 1 Marketing.

    It has grown into one of the most influential sports marketing firms in the USA and does business with most of the major sports leagues.

    Say Thank You!

    If a person is grateful, why wouldn’t they give thanks?

    David Meltzer tells audiences that one of the most powerful things a person can do for their health and happiness is begin and end their day with two simple words; thank you. It might seem silly to say thank you to yourself, but the positive energy it creates is palpable.

    Giving thanks helps people to see the good things in their life, and fade the static. Most situations can be improved if a person has a positive attitude. The opposite thing is true for negative thinkers, who can make their lives worse.

    Building a Better World

    Gratitude has probably helped David Meltzer on his second rise to wealth. Today he is once again on the top of the economic ladder. Now he prizes his ability to contribute to the overall well-being of people he comes into contact with and works hard to push the world in a positive direction.

    No matter who you are, or what you want to do, David Meltzer’s ideas can probably help you. Staying positive and being grateful will help attract people that have a similar worldview. Positive people are much better at getting things done, which is a big part of getting ahead of the pack!

    Featured image from YouTube.

  • Thought Ronaldinho Was Stinking Rich? Not According to His Bank Account

    Thought Ronaldinho Was Stinking Rich? Not According to His Bank Account

    According to sources, Brazilian soccer star and ex-Barcelona forward Ronaldinho has a net worth of 90 million. Where he keeps his money is a mystery though since Brazilian authorities found just six euros in his bank accounts upon a seizure order by a judge.

    The decision was taken to freeze Ronaldinho’s accounts over lack of payment of debts totaling some 2 million euros which the Barca star racked up with his brother over a failed construction project.

    The brothers were fined for building illegally upon a protected area (something that Brazilians are particularly adept at) however the fine has remained unpaid.

    Even mortgaging the property has proven insufficient since the high level of interest generated on their debt over four years vastly overshadows the mortgage earnings. It’s a sad and yet fairly common tale in South America where most countries have hyperinflation, rising interest rates, and political discord.

    Except, Ronaldinho is hardly your average Brazilian. And, the authorities have noticed that the ex-soccer player’s lavish lifestyle does not represent his bank balance.

    Ronaldinho Is Currently Traveling the World

    The high profile player has traveled to China and Japan in the past couple of weeks for advertising contracts and has also been spotted in Europe and Africa at conferences and product shoots.

    If that wasn’t enough to anger the Brazilian authorities further, shoemaker giant Nike has just launched a new series of sneakers in his name as a tribute to the popular player.

    Nike Ronaldinho shoes
    Source: SoccerCorner

    This, the judge notes should bring him a sizable income, more than enough to pay his hos debts several times over. According to UOL, the player is also scheduled to play in a friendly ‘Game of Champions,’ in Frankfurt, Germany.

    The Brazilian judge has also ordered that his passport be seized. If he can find him that is.

    Featured image from Goal.com.

  • Superyachts of Billionaires hat Show Off Their Luxurious Lifestyles

    Superyachts of Billionaires hat Show Off Their Luxurious Lifestyles

    Billionaires and the ultra-rich have their own expensive tastes and often lead a plush lifestyle that defines them and makes them stand apart. They spend more, live larger, and prefer to travel in style. And, for much of the jet-set, the luxury yacht has now become their ultimate status symbol. Check out these five superyachts of billionaires that will leave you completely awestruck.

    1. History Supreme

    This luxury superyacht is something that will blow your mind and is way beyond imagination.

    With a price tag of around £3 billion ($4.15 billion), this superyacht comes covered in 100,000kg of solid gold, platinum, and jewels from its base to the deck.

    It boasts a genuine Tyrannosaurus Rex bones statue and also features a part of dinosaur bone sourced from Arizona USA in its master bedroom.

    This 30-meter-long yacht is designed by world-renowned designer Stuart Hughes. It took him over three years to transform it from a concept to a final product.

    The owner of this superyacht is reported to be Malaysia’s richest business magnate, Robert Kuok with an estimated net worth of $12.5 billion.

    2. Eclipse

    Owned by a Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, this superyacht features all the latest security apparatus including a missile and intruder defense system, bullet-proof windows, armor-plated bedroom and bridge, and an anti-paparazzi shield.

    Worth around $1.5 billion, this is the second largest yacht in the world with a length of 533 feet. It also has a small submarine which can take guests up to a depth of 50 meters. For guests, it has 2 helipads, 24 guest cabins, 2 swimming pools, hot tubs, and disco halls.

    3. Streets of Monaco

    In the list, this is the craziest looking yacht with replicates popular landmarks like the Monte Carlo Casino, the Hotel de Paris, and La Rascasse.

    Designed by Opulent Yacht and interiors done by Filthy Rich Boaters, this luxurious boat comes with a price tag of over $1.1 billion.

    Still looking for its rightful owner, this yacht is spread over three levels and in the interiors, it boasts a barbeque facility, mini-waterfall, submarines, undersea view, and helicopters.

    4. Azzam

    The Azzam is 181 meters long and worth $600 million, and is the largest superyacht in the world, said to be one of the fastest with a speed of 35 kph. This superyacht is built by Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of UAE.

    It is said that the owner’s suite is fully bulletproof and the yacht has its own missile defense system and a submarine. According to its builders, the ship has the most complex piece of engineering and boasts two gas turbine engines and a diesel generator to make it move at much higher speed.

    5. Motor Yacht A

    Owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, this yacht is rumored to cost over $300 million. An exterior design of the yacht has a striking similarity with warships and can accommodate 14 guest and 35 crew members.

    It has its own helicopter pad, speed boats, bomb-proof windows, motion sensors and host of other security features. The entire interiors of the ship are covered with mirrored surfaces along with Baccarat crystals used for table wares and furniture.

    So, if you ever wanted to sail the high seas in style, just catch a ride with one of these billionaires–or get saving now.

    Image sources:

    Featured image from Stuart Hughes

    The Sun, 

    Flickr,

    Curbed

    Wikimedia

    Flickr

  • 5 Surprising Million-Dollar Donors to the US Midterms

    5 Surprising Million-Dollar Donors to the US Midterms

    As the US midterms battle between Republicans and Democrats has been heating up, literally billions of dollars have been plowing into both parties to fund candidate campaigns across America.

    The 2018 midterms are expected to be the most expensive in US history to date with funding estimated to top $5.2 billion. An increase of 35% on the 2014 midterm elections, according to reporting by the Guardian and statistics from the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP).

    The CRP found individual donations account for much of the funding, over 60% for both Senate and House candidates.

    Big donors to US politics, whether ethical or not, do influence elections and in turn the creation of public policy which may suit their agendas. Ian Vandewalker of the Brennan Center for Justice said:

    “Just being rich and being able to write million-dollar checks gets you influence over elected officials that’s far greater than the average person.”

    Of an analysis conducted of the top 20 spenders less than a week before today’s elections, here are five surprising million-dollar donors.

    1. Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos – $10.1 Million

    Jeff Bezos ForbesAs the richest person in the world, and an American, it’s perhaps no wonder that Jeff Bezos has decided to exert some influence in the world of US politics. He’s also ranked fifth in the world’s most “Powerful People 2018,” by Forbes.

    With a net worth of $134.6 billion, Bezos has donated just over $10 million to the US 2018 midterms. It’s the first time Bezos has donated such a sum in the midterms and it could well have been triggered by US President Trump’s criticisms both of Amazon and Bezos to the owner of the Washington Post.

    That said, Bezos’s donations have been largely non-partisan. Most of them have gone to a non-partisan political action committee (Pac) called the “With Honor Fund.” The fund is dedicated to supporting veterans in elections and creating a less polarized government. Bezos also donated $5,400 to his local Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell.

    Bezos’s wife, author MacKenzie Bezos has been making smaller donations to candidates and Pacs for much longer. She also founded the anti-bullying organization “Bystander Revolution,” in 2014 and is the Executive Director.

    2. Timothy Mellon – $10 Million

    Timothy Mellon is the grandson of entrepreneur and politician Andrew Mellon, born in 1855 and dying in 1937. Before politics, he built the vast Mellon family empire with investments in steel, shipbuilding, and coal. A conservative and Republican, Andrew Mellon was also an influential donor to the Republican Party. Timothy Mellon owns Pan Am Systems and is worth around $1 billion. Most of his contributions go to the Congressional Leadership Fund Pac and to Republican candidates.

    Surprisingly, for the 2018 midterms, Timothy Mellon has also donated $2,700 to 29-year-old, female, Democratic candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez, one of the youngest women in American politics, overthrew Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley to win New York’s 14th congressional district, including parts of the Bronx and Queens, in June 2018. Her win was described as one of the biggest upsets in the 2018 midterm season. Ocasio-Cortez represents the Democratic Socialists of America.

    3. Reid Hoffman – $8.1 Million

    LinkedIn co-founder Hoffman’s involvement in politics is no surprise to Silicon Valley, he’s the tech hubs most prominent donor on paper. However, when Silicon Valley was less inclined to back Democrats, he funded the Senate Democrats’ primary super PAC and Senate Majority PAC.

    Hoffman revealed his motivations to Recode:

    “First, support traditional groups while enabling them to modernize… Second, amplify new and innovative efforts to build tools and organizations.”

    Hoffman has also donated to Win the Future, a forward-thinking democratic group he founded with Zynga founder Mark Pincus, as well as some donations to Republicans.

    As well as trying to encourage Democrats to become more modern in their approaches, Hoffman has been hiring advisors to grow his political influence and influence other billionaires who don’t know where to commit cash in American politics. Hoffman is not a supporter of Trump, saying to Recode, calling him a threat to American democracy.

    4. Dustin Moskovitz – $ Unknown

    Moskovitz, the lower-profile co-founder of Facebook emerged as a major donator to Democratic candidates and liberal groups in the 2016 presidential race, according to Recode. He is worth over $10 billion himself and donated around $35 million at that point, surprising many analysts.

    Since then Moskovitz and better-known Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg have continued to support housing and criminal justice reform campaigning for the 2018 midterms. The pair does so through their organizations the Open Philanthropy Project and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

    Donations include $1 million from each organization to an Ohio ballot initiative for criminal justice reforms and $250,000 from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to an affordable housing ballot initiative in California. The organizations both support ballot measures where local voters can have a more direct influence on public policy.

    The “grass-roots” approach from Moskovitz and Zuckerberg is continuing into ballot initiatives for 2020 including working to close commercial tax loopholes in order to fund education and local services and a jail reform initiative for Los Angeles.

    5. Karla Jurvetson – $7 Million

    KarlaJurvetson is a Silicon Valley Psychiatrist and the ex-wife of venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson. She made an unusual donation in May 2018 of $5.4 million to a super Pac “Women Vote!” tied to women’s group Emily’s list. Made unusual by the fact it’s a payment in equity, in the form of shares of Chinese firm Baidu. It’s controversial as only U.S citizens can donate to U.S elections but the super Pac in question has said:

    “We cleared the donation through our lawyers.”

    Jurvetson’s previous donations have been low, around $100,000 in 2016 but reports indicate she is serious about political donations.

    Emily’s List, which runs “Women Vote!” is dedicated to the election of pro-choice female candidates. The current concerns regarding women’s rights over how both Trump and the new Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanagh may or may not have influence in future may have triggered Jurvetson to action.

    The top 20 list of 2018 midterm donators also includes more well-known and traditional contributors like George Soros and his Liberal donations of $17 million and powerful Conservative couple Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein who have donated $39 million.

    Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, also conservative donors, have contributed the most at $113 million.

    In second place are the largest Liberal and Democratic donors Thomas Steyer and Kathryn Taylor contributing over $50 million.

    With the biggest US midterm campaign spend in history, tonight will tell its effects on the elections, the US, and indeed around the world.

    Image credits:

    • Featured image from Shutterstock
    • Jeff Bezos, Forbes
    • Timothy Mellon, Pinterest
    • Reid Hoffman, Forbes
    • Dustin Moskovitz, Forbes
    • Karla Jurvetson, Flickr
  • El Chapo Trial Soon to Begin in the US as His Partner’s Wealth Soars

    El Chapo Trial Soon to Begin in the US as His Partner’s Wealth Soars

    The honcho of the world’s largest drug trafficking organization, Joaquin Guzman Loera (El Chapo) has been facing a 17-count indictment and jury selection has finally begun for the trial, while his deputy, Ismael Zambada (popularly known as El Mayo) oversees the cartel’s fortune and remains one of the most wanted fugitives in the world.

    El Mayo who was under the tutelage of Amado Carillo, one of the biggest drug lords in Mexico, rose in ranks and became the logistical coordinator of the Sinaloa Cartel, which emerged from the much older Guadalajara Cartel, formed in the 80s.

    The Sinaloa cartel thrived with the assistance of Zambada who worked as a close associate of El Chapo. Both drug lords lived in stupendous wealth amassed from the proceeds of trafficking drugs to the United States before El Chapo found himself under reins.

    Having escaped from prison on numerous occasions since his first arrest in 1993, security is tighter than ever surrounding the trial.

    His extradition to the United States has left the drug lord who once called the shots of the multi-billion dollar Sinaloa Cartel, in a world of loneliness.

    El Chapo’s court trials have been facing delays after his lawyers argued that they were not sure if their client was mentally competent to face proceedings. Amid tight security at the New York maximum prison, it seems that El Chapo’s mind is now being affected.

    El Chapo’s Misfortune, El Mayo’s Gain

    El Mayo was among the influential figures who made the Sinaloa Cartel the empire it is today. With a massive trade line in the sale and distribution of heroin, cocaine and human trafficking, the cartel has successfully concealed its ill-gotten wealth through undercover bank transfers and offshore accounts.

    The Drug Enforcement Agency traced the cartel’s investment in over 250 companies which run from Latin America to Asia.

    Zambada now occupies the Sinaloa empire as its most experienced hand. As a top commander in the cartel’s hierarchy since 2001, El Mayo had earned at least 5% of the empire’s gross revenue, which places his wealth at an estimated $3 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index.

    Despite his immense fortune, Zambada remains a fugitive. The DEA has a $5 million bounty for anyone who provides information that leads to his arrest.

    As the last founding member of the cartel, El Mayo’s leadership will also be put to the test by other allies in the cartel who plan on usurping power from his grip.

    It remains a puzzle how long he will retain his assumed leadership in the dreaded mountains of Sinaloa, where he continues to hide.

    Featured image from Rolling Stone.

  • How Mike Tyson Spectacularly Lost His $400 Million Fortune

    How Mike Tyson Spectacularly Lost His $400 Million Fortune

    When it came to knocking out chumps in rapid succession, not many could match legendary heavyweight boxer “Iron” Mike Tyson. When it came to knocking out checks, he was just as prolific. At one point in time, Mike had $300 million in the bank and is said to have earned $400 million in total. But he blew it all in spectacular fashion.

    From fleets of luxury vehicles and entourages larger than the population of Luxembourg to Siberian tigers running around the garden and harems of hookers chillin’ back in the 21-bedroom crib, there are not many things Mike didn’t sample at the peak of his prowess.

    From Humble Beginnings to the Top of the World

    Flamboyant soul music singer Rick James once said: “Cocaine is one hell of a drug.” The same could be said of money and fame. What normal person goes from having $300 million in the bank to almost $50 million in debt in just over 10-years? The answer? No normal person.

    Mike Tyson is arguably ranked in the top-15 heavyweight boxers to ever step foot into the gladiatorial arena, but he’s ranked much higher in the pound-for-pound spectacular spending stakes.

    Mike went from an impoverished upbringing in late-1970s brutal Brownsville, New York, to becoming the youngest heavyweight champion of all-time, a household name and the most feared man on Planet Earth. He did all this before his 22nd birthday. He simply didn’t have the tools or coping mechanisms to deal with such attention, fame or money.

    Spending Millions the Mike Tyson Way

    From his professional boxing debut in 1985 until shockingly losing his title to Buster Douglas in 1990, life for Mike Tyson was going well by his own standards. Then it all started to go downhill.

    Less than a year after losing his world title, Mike was accused of raping Desiree Washington and sentenced to six years’ prison time. He still denies the charges today.

    When Mike was released from prison in 1995, after serving four years, he had a reported $300 million dollars in the bank to smoothen his transition back into normal life. As normal as Tyson could have. Here is a list of Mike’s spending habits in the first 33-months after being released from prison:

    • $4.5 million on cars and motorbikes (19 vehicles he bought for friends)
    • $100,000 per month on jewelry and clothes
    • $400,000 on pigeons and a variety of big cats such as Siberian tigers
    • $125,000 per year for an animal trainer to take care of the big cats
    • $240,000 per month for walking around money that he spent in daily life flexing
    • $300,000 on lawn care and garden maintenance alone
    • $230,000 on cell phones, pagers, and phone bills

    Houses, Vehicles, and Madness

    During this time period, Mike also bought a 21-bedroom/24-bathroom mansion in Connecticut with an on-site casino and a nightclub. He also purchased estates in Maryland, Las Vegas, and Ohio, where he had gold-plated furnishings and a basketball court.

    He is said to have purchased 111 cars in his lifetime. At his peak, he owned a limited edition Bentley Continental SC that cost $500,000 and was one of only 73 ever made.

    He owned several Ferraris, Lamborghinis, a Range Rover, a Mercedes-Benz 500 and a 1995 Rolls Royce which he later totaled in an accident and left at Tops-Auto garage and told them to keep it.

    He routinely lent friends his cars and forgot where he’d put them. He would send his employees out to find the estranged automobiles he borrowed to people that he couldn’t remember. It was like bounty hunting for vehicles.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsLE9vE1kpY

    Other Notable Purchases

    In his autobiography, Mike told the story of how he once found tens of thousands of dollars he had stashed two years previous in his laundry basket. Apparently, his crew would scramble to take Mike’s clothes to the launderette after that episode.

    Perhaps the most ridiculous purchase Mike ever made was a Christmas gift for his first wife Robin Givens. He bought her a golden bathtub for $2 million. Thank god it wasn’t a golden shower!

    The spending sprees and stories are endless. Devilish promoters such as Don King also had their pound of flesh from Tyson, alongside lots of other bloodsuckers. But he is adamant that it was all his fault. And that he had a great time regardless.

    Mike Tyson filed for bankruptcy in 2007, but he will never be truly broke or homeless. Even today he’s still known the world over and never fails to pique the interest of people young and old alike in a brutal, barbaric, sometimes beautiful, yet always compelling way.

    Featured image from Celebrity Pet-Worth

  • Greek Billionaire Alki David to Launch a Cannabis Retail Shop in Scotland

    Greek Billionaire Alki David to Launch a Cannabis Retail Shop in Scotland

    Greek billionaire heir Alki David is one of the world’s most influential men. Having carved a niche for himself in manufacturing, property, and shipping, as well as bottling plants, the Nigerian-born mogul is now planning to start a retail business in cannabis.

    The project began last year when he registered a new business for the sale of oil extracted from cannabis plants. David, who was inspired by the medicinal properties of cannabis, has finalized plans on opening a shop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street before the end of the first quarter of 2019.

    The psychoactive drug (medical marijuana) is being used to treat a wide range of conditions, and this is the selling point the billionaire wants to exploit.

    While airing his views on the immense advantages from the use of cannabis, the entrepreneur underscored its amazing benefits in proffering solutions to a wide range of health conditions. In an interview he said:

    “Plant medicine is revolutionary. It has improved so many lives to the point of miracles happening. It’s helped my mother, and my friend has even been cured of multiple sclerosis (MS) through regular use of strong cannabis oils. There are heaps of arthritis cases too.”

    Alki David Owns Swissx CBD Boutique

    David owns a Swissx CBD (cannabidiol) boutique and Vegan café in Los Angeles and is ready to use it to attain an operational standard for the shop he’s about to set up in Scotland.

    Alexander, his second son, is a student at the University of Edinburgh and this might be one of the motivations behind his choice of Scotland. He said:

    “Scotland is very strategically placed. We have a model that we set up in the US, and that’s what we’re going to start emulating in Edinburgh.”

    Cannabis Is Gaining Momentum

    While legal restrictions in many countries have hindered the use of cannabis, its endorsement by physicians has reduced the restrictions being placed on its usage in other countries.

    In Europe, countries like Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands allow the use of cannabis based on the recommendation of physicians.

    Some countries like the US also sanction the recommended use of cannabis. Canada went a step further last month by legalizing the recreational use of cannabis. Time will tell if Scotland will follow suit.

    Featured image from ResponseSource.

  • Elon Musk Announces Tesla’s Partial Presence in India in 2019

    Elon Musk Announces Tesla’s Partial Presence in India in 2019

    Tesla’s expansion plans include India, as well as Africa and South America. Elon Musk announced the company’s intent to build a partial presence in these regions by the end of 2019 on the 2nd of November, via Twitter.

    The entrepreneur wants to make pricing affordable, through a strategy that focuses on local production for local markets at a continental level.

    After setting a partial presence in India, Tesla plans to expand operations to India by 2020.

     

     

    Musk Divulged Supply Chain Difficulties in India

    This isn’t the first time that Elon Musk brought up the company’s plans for development in the Indian market. When Tesla launched its entry-level Model 3 back in 2017, the controversial entrepreneur justified the company’s absence from India by invoking supply chain issues.

    He wrote on Twitter in 2017:

    “I was told that 30% of parts must be locally sourced and the supply doesn’t yet exist in India to support that.”

    In the absence of a reliable supply chain and with no local factory to assemble the cars, Model 3 hasn’t yet been launched in India. This is also to avoid an eye-watering 110% duty.

    In the future, the US-based company also needs to settle a country-wide charger network for Tesla owners in India.

    At the beginning of this year, however, the entrepreneur expressed the company’s interest in the Indian market one more time. Again, he blamed local regulations for Tesla’s difficulties in launching its products in the South Asian country.

     

    India Is an Attractive Investment Destination

    India lost a good deal last year when Tesla agreed to build its first factory outside the US in Shanghai, China, despite the fact that the company had been exploring the possibilities of setting up a plant in India for months.

    The decision came as a shock for the Indian authorities, who repeatedly talked about switching to electric cars by 2030. However, the country is still open to a collaboration with Musk’s company for a local factory.

    Indian Transport Minister stated in January 2018:

    “If they are coming, if they are ready to come, we will welcome. We are ready to offer them land and all type of help.”

    Tesla can’t afford to ignore the Indian market for too long. India has the fifth largest economy in the world, which will double to $5 trillion by 2025. Even if it is a challenging market, the advantages of investing here are well worth the effort.

    India’s investment in infrastructure, together with a growing middle class, makes the country attractive to investors and a market with high potential.

    India is also home to many tech startups that are likely to become the next generation of Unicorns.

    Featured image from Tesla Motors.