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Insider Today: America’s billionaire hub

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Insider Today: America’s billionaire hub

Happy Saturday! Gen Z is redefining yet another term, and this time, it’s “lavender marriage.” A phrase once reserved for the LGBTQ+ community is now being used to describe young people who are sick of being broke and living alone.


On the agenda:

But first: Siri, play “Greased Lightnin’.”


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This week’s dispatch

On the road


BYD Yangwang U8

VCG/VCG via Getty Images



Imagine this: You’re sitting in traffic, unsure of who or what is holding you up. So you deploy your car’s drone to see what’s on the road ahead. If this sounds like a scene from a futuristic James Bond-style movie, think again.

Business Insider’s Tom Carter, a London-based business reporter, got a chance to see Chinese automaker BYD’s latest fleet of technologically advanced cars at the Paris Motor Show earlier this week.

The seven cars they showed off included the Yangwang U8, a hybrid luxury SUV that comes with a drone and, according to the company, can turn around like a tank and float on water.

It’s only available in China right now, but made its European debut at the show even as the European Union is set to impose harsh tariffs on electric vehicles from China.

European manufacturers are trying to claw back some of the market share of electric vehicles from their Chinese competitors. Aside from tariffs, another way to do that is through partnerships.

That’s what Stellantis — the parent company of Jeep, Ram, and Fiat — did when it teamed up with Leapmotor to sell EVs outside of China. “For us, the best way to compete immediately with the Chinese was to hop on their train, rather than letting it run us over,” Carlos Tavares, who spoke at a nearby automotive summit, said Tuesday.


Inside a billionaire enclave


A view out a plane window with the wing on the left and mountains and lakes on the right

Joey Hadden/Business Insider



Nestled at the base of the Teton Range, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, comprises one of the wealthiest counties in the country. With mountain views and lower taxes, the area has lured in millennial DINKs and A-listers alike.

It’s also the most economically unequal place in the US: According to the Economic Policy Institute, the top 1% of residents in the metro area earn 132 times the income of the bottom 99% of residents. BI’s Joey Hadden visited Jackson Hole to see what makes it so coveted.

Here’s what she found.

Also read:

The Book of Taylor


A photo illustration showing Taylor Swift, a dollar bill, and a second image of Swift in an open book all against a light background.

Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI



Taylor Swift is publishing “The Eras Tour Book” and releasing it exclusively through Target. She shook off traditional publishers and distributors in favor of self-publishing.

In doing so, Swift ensured she’ll get a larger share of the revenue earned from sales. It’s a tried-and-true strategy that capitalizes on her fans’ loyalty — and their wallets.

How Taylor Swift could disrupt publishing.


A new way to the airport


Uber shuttle on blue

Konrad Krajewski/Shutterstock; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI



New York City just got another transit option. On October 8, Uber launched an $18 shuttle between three Manhattan locations and LaGuardia airport. That could help ease the high costs or complicated subway transfers that previously came with getting to LGA.

Not everyone’s happy with the move, though. Some people accused the ridesharing app of rebranding traditional bus service for a markup. But plenty of others — including BI’s Priyanka Rajput, who took it for a spin — are thrilled to have a cheaper alternative.

Uber everywhere.


There’s a new longevity treatment in town


A container of blood plasma is being extracted from a centrifuge for a medical procedure

ozina/Getty Images



Plasma exchange therapy is the latest wellness trend among CEOs, aging athletes, and longevity seekers. Typically used for patients with chronic conditions, the procedure involves replacing plasma with another fluid to remove toxins.

Former NFL star Troy Aikman, who has received the treatment, likened it to “a human oil change” — but there’s limited evidence that it can actually boost longevity or benefit otherwise healthy people.

More on the $10K procedure.


What we’re watching this weekend


Cate Blanchett in "Disclaimer"

Apple TV+



  • “Woman of the Hour”: Anna Kendrick makes her directorial debut with this Netflix thriller based on the true story of a woman who crossed paths with a serial killer on “The Dating Game.”
  • “Shrinking”: The acclaimed Apple TV+ series starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford returned for its second season this week.
  • “Anatomy of Lies”: Peacock has a new documentary about Elisabeth Finch, the “Grey’s Anatomy” writer who faked cancer.

See the full list



A red shopping bag surrounded by $100 bills.

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI



Deals we love

  • Cheap skincare can still be good: Especially when it comes to these affordable skincare brands. We’re here to help you moisturize, exfoliate, and glow — without breaking the bank.
  • Testing viral TikTok cleaning tools: Those satisfying spinning scrub brush videos got to us, too. We’ve got the low-down on the best electric spin scrubbers for tackling any mess, from caked-on grease to stained grout.
  • Is Patagonia worth it?: The short answer is “yes.” The outdoor gear brand has so many iconic styles it’s hard to keep track, so we rounded up our favorites, including jackets, bags, pants, and more.

More of this week’s top reads:

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago.

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