October 12, 2026
Good Morning. One fortune now outweighs the next three richest people on Earth combined. Plus, Apple’s new product, Tim Kennedy injured, and a Bill Murray travel show (first time here? Join 523,000 Betterists ).
Friday’s most clicked link : People who live to 100 have 3 drinks in common
TOP STORY TODAY
Richer Than Rockefeller
Elon Musk is worth $1.02 trillion , more than the next three richest people combined: Larry Page, Jeff Bezos and Sergey Brin. Recent gains in SpaceX and Tesla shares pushed Musk back over the trillion-dollar mark.
By one measure, Musk is the richest American ever. That fortune equals about 3.1% of U.S. GDP. John D. Rockefeller peaked at 2.3% in 1913, about $742 billion in today’s economy. Andrew Carnegie hit 1.1%.
Most of it sits in two stocks, so it swings hard. Musk hit $1.32 trillion after SpaceX’s June IPO, then dropped below $700 billion by August. That’s a swing of more than $600 billion in about two months. And yet, Cybertruck sales miss the mark .
▲ See how the last “richest man in the world” sold out and gave away about 90% of it. Read Carnegie’s story .
Tim Kennedy Shot
Former UFC fighter and Green Beret Tim Kennedy was shot three times in the leg during a September ambush in eastern Congo . He was working for a security firm started by Blackwater founder Erik Prince.
About 20 people were killed or wounded . One source says the attackers may have tracked the team’s own surveillance drone back to its position. The wounded reportedly waited hours for evacuation. Kennedy is now at Walter Reed.
Prince signed a five-year deal with Congo in December 2024, initially valued at $300 million to $400 million, to secure its mining revenue. A source says the ambush was the first time his forces there took casualties. Kennedy on Joe Rogan.
Mosquito City
Los Angeles is having one of its worst mosquito years in recent history. A mild winter and a humid summer let the bugs thrive. County West Nile cases have topped 180, the most in nearly a decade.
Some residents sleep in long sleeves and stuff towels under doors. One Orange County official says about 850 of the district’s traps have tested positive for West Nile. That’s 850 traps full of infected mosquitoes, not 850 bugs.
The newer “ankle biter” mosquito can breed in a tablespoon of water. Officials say to dump plant saucers and pet bowls, then use one of four proven repellents: DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
The move: Dump every saucer, bowl and bucket in your yard this weekend, then check the label on your bug spray. How bad West Nile has gotten in LA
TOGETHER WITH WEIGHT WATCHERS
The bright side of weight loss? You don't have to do it alone.
Here's an encouraging stat: Weight Watchers members who attend 3 workshops per month lose more than twice as much weight as those who attend only 1 workshop per month* .
The Core+ plan opens the door to 3,000+ Workshops, virtual and in person, and a community that genuinely cheers you on. Plus, their Points® system guides you toward nutrient-dense choices while leaving total flexibility for the foods you love.
It’s health simplified, built for real life, and backed by science. Right now, new and rejoining members get 50% off their first month with code WWSAVE50 on a Core or Core+ plan^, on top of current sign-up promotions.
Join Core or Core+ for 50% Off Your First Month^
Johnston CA, Moreno JP, Hernandez DC, et al. Levels of adherence needed to achieve significant weight loss. Int J Obes (Lond). 2019;43(1):125-131. doi:10.1038/s41366-018-0226-7 ^Offer available to new and rejoining members only. Core+ offer available in participating areas only.
GET 1% BETTER
The 5-3-1 Friendship Rule
You probably track your steps, sleep and protein. Almost nobody tracks their friendships. Harvard-trained social scientist Kasley Killam built a simple scorecard for your social health:
- 5 people a week. Connect with five different people. Coworkers, neighbors and acquaintances all count.
- 3 close relationships. Keep up at least three people you’d call at 2 a.m.
- 1 hour a day. Get an hour of social time daily. A call on the drive home and dinner with the kids add up fast.
Killam calls it a baseline, not a test you can fail. Start this week: text one friend you haven’t talked to since summer.
See how the 5-3-1 rule works .
The $500 Leak You Can’t Hear
The water bill at our rental property usually runs $50 or less a month. Then a leak pushed it to $500 in a single month. The EPA says the average home’s leaks waste nearly 10,000 gallons a year.
Start with the toilet and this 10-minute test:
- Add color. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank.
- Wait 10 minutes. Don’t flush.
- Check the bowl. If color shows up, you have a leak.
- Swap the flapper. That’s usually the fix. Replace it once it’s more than five years old.
- Read the meter. Check it, use no water for two hours, then check again. If the number moved, there’s a leak somewhere.
Ten minutes and some food coloring beats a $500 surprise.
Take the EPA’s leak checklist .
TRENDING
5 Stories
▲ Apple’s HomeView , a Siri-run smart display for your counter or wall, reportedly ships mid-November | 16 details that leaked before Tuesday’s event
▲ A robot fight league advertising 850-pound kicks just got a cease-and-desist from California | The SF startup behind the human vs. robot cage fights
▲ Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine; Zelenskiy is still waiting on details | Russia attacks power plant
▲ Retirees could get about $70 more a month when Social Security’s 2027 raise lands Wednesday | Medicare’s projected bump: $6.60 a month
▲ An Anthropic AI model posed as a person and sent Philly police a fake murder tip | Police never saw it: it landed in spam
TOGETHER WITH COCOJUNE
Ditch the Dairy. Keep the Yogurt.
If dairy doesn’t sit well with you, most swaps taste like a compromise. Cocojune doesn’t. It’s a creamy, plant-based yogurt made from organic coconuts and probiotic cultures.
The 2-minute fall bowl:
- A big scoop of Cocojune
- Sliced apple or pear
- A spoonful of nut butter
- Granola and a shake of cinnamon
It works as breakfast for the kids, a 3 p.m. snack for you, or a brunch spread that doesn’t feel like a substitute.
Try Cocojune this Fall.
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Fun Links
Bill Murray’s new golf travel show [ Trailer ]
Match each college team to its stadium song [ Quiz ]
Julia Child’s favorite two-ingredient cocktail [ Recipe ]
What your hairline says about your health [ Blog ]
The best sleeping position, according to science [ Blog ]
When it’s OK to nudge a friend on Venmo [ Post ]
The 20 fastest-growing jobs through 2035 [ List ]
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