Insider Today: Young men’s new obsession

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This week’s dispatch

The New York Liberty’s investment paid off

New York City’s Financial District was turned into an outdoor party on Thursday as the city celebrated the Liberty’s championship win over the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA finals.

Although it’s the first time the team has won a championship in its history, it’s not the only record-making moment they’ve had this season.

In June, it was reported that the New York Liberty had the third-highest value in the league ($130 million), and brought in the most revenue last year ($18 million). The Liberty was also the league’s first team to eclipse $2 million in ticket revenue for a single game in May.

It likely doesn’t come as a surprise to the team’s billionaire co-owners Clara Wu Tsai and her husband Joseph Tsai, who bought the team in 2019 for an undisclosed amount. Wu Tsai made a series of key investments that have paid off.

“The first thing we wanted to do was to bring the team back to Barclays Center so they could have a bigger stage,” she said after the team’s win. “This is what can happen when you invest in women.”

After building out a state-of-the-art locker room, Wu Tsai focused on filling out an all-star bench. She credits getting Breanna Stewart, a two-time WNBA champion and one-time league MVP at the time, to sign on as being a turning point for her team’s roster.

Now with a championship under the team’s belt, Wu Tsai said her new challenge will be maintaining popularity for the Liberty while also keeping the games accessible.

One fan told Business Insider at the parade that next year’s season ticket prices are more than double, but she still plans to support the team. “As long as that money goes back to the players, I’m OK with that,” Brooklyn resident Gris Osses said, “because they deserve it.”

Low T? No problem.

Once taboo, tracking testosterone levels has suddenly become a point of pride for some men. Young men are increasingly turning to testosterone-replacement therapy to, in their view, optimize their bodies.

Testosterone is prescribed to treat a set of vague symptoms for men hoping to feel “better,” though it’s not exactly clear what it does or who needs it. And while low T does have genuine health impacts, it’s not common — nor is it an inevitability awaiting all men as they age.

Inside the testosterone boom.

Great, a new reason to fear AI

Seller impersonation fraud — when someone fakes the identities of property owners to sell their properties — is fairly common. New AI tech is only emboldening some scammers in their attempts at deed theft.

From Elvis Presley’s Graceland to more modest homes, fights over who really owns houses and land are playing out across the country.

How AI-powered deed fraud works.

How the other half travels

Leila Najafi has been curating trips for wealthy and elite clients for more than a decade. From family vacations to honeymoons, she’s arranged holidays for some of the world’s most discerning travelers.

As a luxury travel advisor, she’s learned a few secrets about how the rich spend their vacations. They’re not interested in tourist-dense areas, but they do want local experiences that aren’t available to the public.

Five lessons from a high-end travel agent.

Also read:

The poisoned chalice

While you might cherish that hidden gem restaurant down the street, it likely doesn’t see its “hidden gem” status as being particularly ideal. The industry is notoriously tough, so receiving a big award — think Michelin stars — is typically good news.

Except, success can sometimes come back to bite the business. Getting good is one thing. Getting big is another, and not every operation is up to the task. In fact, one researcher found that restaurants given a Michelin star were more likely to shutter.

When big wins become big problems.

What we’re watching this weekend

• “Trap”: This year’s buzzy M. Night Shyamalan thriller, starring Josh Hartnett as a dad whose concert outing with his teenage daughter takes a dark turn, is now streaming on Max.
• “Beauty in Black”: Tyler Perry’s latest Netflix project is an eight-episode series about a stripper who finds herself embroiled with the dysfunctional (and extremely rich) family behind a cosmetics empire.
• “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band”: This Hulu/Disney+ doc gives an inside look at how the legendary band headed by the 75-year-old rocker prepared for their live performances as they set out on their first tour since 2017.

See the full list.

Deals we love

• Luxury jewelry without luxury prices: Jewelry doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. By skipping the heritage brand names and unnecessary overhead, these fine jewelry brands keep prices low for shoppers.
• Swifties, it’s not too late. Time is running out to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour live. Her last US show is scheduled for November 3, after which she’ll only perform for a few more weeks in Canada. Here’s how to get tickets to her sold-out concerts.
• 20% off linens we love: Brooklinen is synonymous with luxurious textiles that elevate any room. They aren’t cheap, though, so its Friends and Family sale is a great way to save on everything from sheets to bath mats.

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.