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When I got renters insurance, I guessed how much I needed.
After a major flood, I realized I was underinsured.
I also learned the value of documenting everything, having an emergency fund, and taking time to recover.
Last summer, I found an amazing condo in the perfect location for rent. Shortly after moving in, I felt settled, but that feeling wouldn't last long.
Right before Christmas, the temperatures in Atlanta hit single digits. Everyone was worried about their pipes bursting. While I was away visiting family for the holidays, I discovered that my condo had flooded.
The worst part about the flood was that it wasn't from my pipes; it started from the neighbor two floors up and eventually ended in my condo (on the first floor). The damage was extensive. An inch of water covered my entire place. My relaxing holiday was cut short, and the following months were nothing like I'd ever experienced.
I've had my share of car accidents and auto insurance claims, but this was my first time having a major loss and filing a renters insurance claim. Here are the most valuable lessons I learned.
1. Make sure you have enough coverage
When it was time to get renters insurance, I did what most people do when valuing my personal property: make a wild guess and hope for the best. I had never reviewed my belongings in detail to see if my coverage limit was sufficient, even after inheriting antique furniture and purchasing high-quality items.
After filing my claim with the insurance company, I had to make a list of everything that needed to be replaced, including the approximate value of each item. Seeing the amounts add up made me realize that I was significantly underinsured. I lost about half of my possessions, valued at nearly my full coverage amount. I would have been on the hook for thousands more if I had experienced a total loss.
After my claim was finalized and I started replacing items, I increased my personal property coverage to a more appropriate amount. The combination of a claim on my record and higher personal property coverage costs me more in premiums, but it's worth it to me now.
2. An emergency fund is a must
An insurance claim takes time. It could be months before you receive your full settlement, and as a result, you will have to pay some expenses out of pocket and submit receipts for reimbursement. In my case, I stayed in a hotel for the first two weeks. My insurance covered my relocation expenses. At the hotel, I had to pay for eating out and doing laundry since I had no direct access to a kitchen, washer, or dryer.
I realized I'd be in temporary housing for a while, and since I work from home, I opted to end my stay in an Airbnb. It was cheaper long-term than a hotel — which meant my living expense benefit lasted longer.
The relocation company only allowed direct billing for hotels, so I had to pay for the Airbnb upfront. I paid thousands out of pocket before getting reimbursed. Thankfully, I had an emergency fund that I started years ago for these unforeseen scenarios.
3. Document, document
To process my claim, I had to submit documentation of everything damaged or destroyed. The more details, especially for valuable items, the faster your claim is processed. I was fortunate to have access to my damaged items. I started by recording a video of the damage and all my belongings. I talked throughout the video, opening drawers, closets, and cabinets. I also took photos of high-cost items to provide evidence of their value. I used the recording to make an itemized list of what needed to be replaced.
When making your list, make sure to include a detailed description of the item, date acquired, and purchase price (with copies of receipts if you have them). If you have a video and photos to accompany the list, it's helpful to include the room or location of each item. In addition, be sure to keep receipts from any expenses you incur along the way so you can submit them for reimbursement.
4. Your payments come in stages
With renters and homeowners insurance policies, you can insure your personal property for replacement cost value or actual cash value (replacement cost value minus depreciation). Since I had replacement cost coverage, I assumed that I would receive a single check for the total value of items lost. My insurance initially paid only a portion of the claim and held back an amount known as recoverable depreciation. Once I could show that I used the money to buy new items, I received a second payment for the balance. This is to prevent insurance fraud.
You don't have to replace every item you lost. You can receive the total claim as long as you show that you used a significant portion of the insurance payment to purchase new items. If you have to relocate temporarily and receive reimbursements for additional living expenses, those payments might also come over time as you incur the costs and submit receipts.
5. Give yourself grace and time to adjust
Moving is already a stressful and emotional experience, but moving with no notice and losing a significant portion of your belongings is traumatic. At times, getting things in order felt like a full-time job. Plus, some unexpected events delayed the process. My insurance adjuster got COVID-19 and was out of work for a while. The person I hired to move items into storage got in a car accident, so I postponed the moving date. Months later, I'm still dealing with being displaced, putting things in storage, replacing belongings, finding a new place to live, and unpacking.
I learned to prioritize self-care and give myself grace as I caught up with work and restored my personal life. I'm forever grateful for friends and family who stepped in to help and clients who remain patient as I work to get caught up.
No one wants to think of the unthinkable, but the reality is that unexpected events take place. We must be prepared to protect our belongings and, frankly, our sanity. Getting through a disaster takes a lot of patience and time. Align yourself with resources upfront so you can get back on your feet and resume normalcy in due time.
This article was originally published in June 2023.
David Valdez, 35, moved to Detroit from San Francisco and opened Alba, a coffee shop.
Courtesy of David Valdez
David Valdez, 35, moved to Detroit from San Francisco in 2018.
Since then, he's bought a home and opened a coffee shop.
Valdez said those milestones were possible due to Detroit's lower cost of living.
Moving to Detroit helped David Valdez achieve his lifelong dream.
Valdez, 35, moved from San Francisco in 2018, where he worked as a barista and bartender.
"Moving here has been really good to me," Valdez said. "I've been able to do things here that were just dreams or impossible if I stayed in the Bay."
Valdez moved to Detroit for better job opportunities and to be with his partner, Juna Durrant, who is from Michigan. In San Francisco, Valdez said he worked two jobs and lived with roommates just to get by. However, in Detroit, he has been able to buy a home and open his own coffee shop. What's more, he and Durrant have a six-year-old son and are expecting another baby in November.
Before the pandemic, many Americans like Valdez had been ditching expensive coastal hubs in favor of smaller cities that offer more affordable living costs. That trend ballooned when COVID-19 hit and is still seeing momentum: In 2022, 817,669 people left California, according to the most recently available Census data. In 2018, that number was 691,145.
Additionally, 1,852 people moved into Detroit between July 2022 and July 2023, bringing the city's population to 633,218, according to the US Census Bureau. That was the first year-over-year increase in the city's population since 1957.
Moving a dream to Detroit
Valdez said he loved San Francisco but found it unsustainable to work long-term in the city's leisure and hospitality industry.
He often worked around the clock to earn as much as possible.
"I was done with my barista job in the morning, I had a couple of hours to myself, and then I would go to my next job at a bar or a restaurant," Valdez said. "I couldn't do that for another five years."
While working at a restaurant in San Francisco, Valdez met Durrant, who was a fellow employee. When Durrant moved to Michigan in 2017, Valdez frequently visited her.
"Every time I would go to Detroit, I just kind of fell more and more in love with it," Valdez said.
Valdez had wanted to leave the Bay Area but originally dreamed of going to Mexico City, where he was born, to launch a business that exports Mexican coffee to the US.
But after visiting Durrant and relocating to Detroit, he saw an opportunity to try his dream elsewhere.
He said there was a noticeable lack of coffee shops, and he sensed that the community needed independent, specialty cafés that offered something different from Starbucks.
At the time, Valdez worked at various cafés in Detroit, including Astro, a coffee shop in the historic Corktown neighborhood. Astro closed in 2021, and in 2023, the owners contacted Valdez about selling him the storefront so it didn't go to a big corporation or other development.
In December, he opened Alba using Astro's storefront. The store makes specialty drinks, like a café de olla latte — a Mexican spiced coffee.
Valdez booked $306,000 in net sales this year, according to documents reviewed by Business Insider.
Finding affordability outside California
Valdez said moving to Detroit has been an exceedingly positive experience.
"It's not that Detroit is supercheap or anything like that," Valdez said. "It's rather the other way around: San Francisco was extremely expensive."
For example, the average home value in San Francisco is $1.2 million, compared to Detroit's $75,041, according to Zillow.
In 2019, Valdez bought a home in Detroit and locked in a 4.7% mortgage. In 2021, he refinanced to a 2.5% mortgage.
To be sure, some aspects of Detroit are lackluster, Valdez said. For example, he said the city is a food desert, meaning there are few grocery stores. Public transport is also lacking in Detroit, according to RedFin.
David Valdez opened Alba in December 2023.
Courtesy of David Valdez
Local resources and connections can help scale your business
Valdez said business ownership can be a path toward financial independence, but there are important steps to take to prepare for the opportunity.
"Be vocal and intentional about opening a store," he said. "Before I opened Alba, folks knew I wanted to open my own café. I don't have much capital but knew I could access social capital by building connections and relationships."
Valdez also sought out local resources for small business owners. For example, he received a $50,000 business grant through ProsperUs, a Detroit-based organization that provides loans for small businesses in the city.
He also applied for a small business loan from a neighborhood development fund in Corktown, which provided him with $80,000. Additionally, Valdez and Durrant invested $30,000 of their own money in Alba.
While Valdez loves the Bay Area — he still has family there — he said he's been able to build a financial footing in Detroit that wouldn't have been possible in San Francisco.
"If I stayed in San Francisco, I wouldn't even begin to try to open a coffee shop," Valdez said.
Are you a new small-business owner? This reporter wants to hear your story. Reach out atjtowfighi@businessinsider.com
Val Zapata turned her sneaker-collecting hobby into a seven-figure business.
She scaled her business by leveraging the live-selling platform Whatnot.
Zapata predicts a live-selling boom in the US and advises honing live-selling skills for success.
When Val Zapata reconnected with her childhood hobby of collecting sneakers at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she didn't intend to make money.
Finding unique sneakers on marketplaces like OfferUp and Facebook was a way to decompress during a stressful time. If she made money by flipping a pair, that was a bonus.
The more she bought and resold, the more viable the business became — and it was a lot more fun than her day job working as a life insurance broker.
"I was like, 'Okay, I can't leave work right now, but I need to figure this out because, obviously, I love to do it,'" the 27-year-old told Business Insider.
"We started selling five or 10 sneakers a day, and then I just started doing basic math," said Zapata, who was living at home with her parents at the time and working on the shoe project with her dad. "How do I make five grand a month? How many sneakers do I need to sell a week? Can I do $10,000?'"
She says she eventually plateaued selling on Instagram: "It became a really large workload for not a lot of reach. I was trying to sell the same sneakers to the same rotation of clients who had already bought those sneakers from me, maybe even two or three times. There was a moment where I couldn't really push past that breaking point on Instagram."
Shifting to live selling changed everything.
Scaling to seven figures using the live-selling platform Whatnot
Zapata first heard about a platform called Whatnot in 2022. She had established a habit of following major players in the shoe industry by watching their YouTube channels, and one of them mentioned selling on Whatnot.
She downloaded the app and learned that it's a marketplace that allows sellers to host live shows and sell products in real time. She joined a show, and it was unlike anything she'd ever experienced.
"It was crazy. There were shows that were happening with 600, 700, 800 people. People were buying things in under three seconds," she said. "It was like Facebook or Twitter met eBay. It was so much fun when I started watching, and I was like, 'Oh man, I would be really good at this.'"
She applied and got approved to sell on the platform, but didn't start hosting shows immediately. She shadowed a friend who was also starting to do live Whatnot shows.
"It was like a crash course of what to do and what not to do," said Zapata.
Still, her first show was "mayhem" — and not profitable. "I made like 50 bucks. I was probably negative after the boxes."
One of Zapata's biggest company costs is boxes.
Courtesy of Val Zapata
Her dad encouraged her to stick with it, comparing it to his line of work: selling cars.
"My dad knows that an F-150 in Houston is going to get the most activity, whereas, you might not get that same activity in Nevada. He's like, 'You're going to figure out what they want, what they don't want, and what they will bid for,'" said Zapata. "Slowly but surely, we started making 3%, 4%, 5%, and then one day we made 15% And then one day we sold $25,000 in a day."
Most of her sales now come from live Whatnot shows. In the beginning, she was hosting daily. She and her dad turned the game room of their family home into her studio.
"We've gotten a little techier now, but at the time it was just my iPad, so I could see the chat, and my iPhone, so the chat could see me," said Zapata. "I had a little desk ring light. It was probably 15 bucks on Amazon. The backdrop was a couple of racks of sneakers."
While her current streams are shorter one- to two-hour "power hours," in her first few months on the platform she'd go live for multiple hours at a time. "I would wake up so fried from eight or nine hours of really high intense energy, because we bring the show, and my dad would have set the stream back up, my background would be perfect, and that was just his way of continuing to encourage me."
After just one month on Whatnot, Zapata says she did enough in sales to quit her insurance job in September 2022.
Her company has expanded to offering streetwear and has brought in up to $500,000 in sales in a single month. BI viewed her Whatnot seller dashboard and confirmed that her business has generated over $4 million in sales so far in 2024.
Predicting a live-selling boom in the US
Zapata, who leads a team of eight employees and rents a 6,000-square-foot warehouse to store inventory, aspires to run a seven-figure monthly operation. She believes her current sales strategy can help her achieve that goal.
"Live selling has just now started. We're at the tip of the iceberg right now," she said. "This isa big thing in other countries. This is not a big thing in the US. It's about to be massive. We're going to have streams that have 10,000 viewers, and that's going to be a small stream."
Her advice to any online or brick-and-mortar store owner is to develop the skill of live selling. While Zapata has had success on Whatnot, there are other live-selling platforms like Bambuser,Channelize.io, Facebook Live, and YouTube Live.
She honed the skill by observing top sellers.
"If I wasn't livestreaming I had someone on in the background — someone that I admired, someone that I liked the way that they spoke to the chat and the way they sold their sneakers," said Zapata. "I would ask, 'Okay, what are they doing?' They're doing intros, they're interacting, they're really getting creative with the things that they're giving to their community. They're taking the time to educate."
She's learned thatsourcing good sneakersis just half the battle. She could get an incredible deal on a unique pair, but it doesn't matter if she can't sell them.
The more she can educate her buyers, the more successful she is.
"Holly might come on and say, 'I love that pink sneaker,' and bid. But if I tell Holly, not only is this a really cool pink sneaker, but this is a 2020 collectible from Kobe Bryant, Holly might be willing to pay a little bit more," explained Zapata, who starts every product at a dollar during a live show. The highest bidder takes it home. "But if I don't know and don't share, then they're just consumers bidding and trying to get a good deal. So I learned very early on that I have to bring knowledge to them."
She also spends a lot of time reading reviews and making adjustments based on what her buyers are saying.
"When I look at my reviews every morning, I'm like, 'This is no good. We have to fix this. We have to figure this out,'" she said, adding: "When you're your own boss, you're your own motivator. You lead yourself."
Costco is the latest warehouse brand to tout its growing popularity with younger shoppers, extending a trend that has become increasingly clear over the past few months.
CFO Gary Millerchip said that about half of Costco's new sign-ups this past year were under 40 — a figure that works out to some 2.5 million millennial and Gen Z households paying for memberships.
"This percentage has been growing since COVID-19 and has lowered the average age of our members over the last few years," Millerchip said on Costco's fourth-quarter earnings call on Thursday.
In a survey last year, roughly one in six shoppers between 18 and 35 told GoBankingRates they shop at Costco, especially as they continue to reach "adulting" milestones.
"I admit that I did feel a little older when I became a Costco member," said Dominic Wright, a Gen Z financial planner who told the outlet he's a fan of the company's eyeglasses, contact lenses, and prescriptions.
According to Placer.ai Head of Analytical Research R.J. Hottovy, younger generations are starting families and buying houses in the suburbs, which is a big driving force behind this trend.
"That's been one of those things I don't think has gotten enough attention," Hottovy told Business Insider.
The news echoes results from Sam's Club, the Walmart-owned club store, where Gen Z membership has grown by 68% in the past two years.
While Sam's Club clearly has a technological and convenience advantage over Costco, the main draw of both brands remains low prices on high-quality items.
Nicholas' comment points to another major change: a new social attitude about scoring deals.
"If you think back decades ago, there was this stigma about shopping in value-oriented channels," Jefferies retail analyst Corey Tarlowe told BI. "Over time, it's kind of withered away."
Astute viewers of the film "The Wolf of Wall Street" may recall Jordan Belfort's office speech in which he ridicules the idea of a failed salesman pulling up to a traffic light in a beat-up Ford Pinto with "a carload of groceries" from Price Club, which merged with Costco in 1993, around the time the scene was set.
"If you ever went to a TJ Maxx parking lot two decades ago, you probably saw like Nissans and Toyotas," Tarlowe added. "Now you go there and you'll still see the Nissans and Toyotas, but you'll also see BMWs and Mercedes."
Indeed, while so-called store brands were once considered a trade-down from national brands, Costco's Kirkland Signature and Sam's Club's Member's Mark have won a loyal following in stores and on social media.
Now it's trendy to spend a Saturday afternoon wandering the aisles of a warehouse club, munching on free samples, and stocking up on essentials — and that's great news for Costco.
Stocks have hit records highs this year as they've entered "Goldilocks zone," Mark Spitznagel says.
He says investors are overly confident amid immediate positive catalysts like rate cuts and disinflation.
Spitznagel thinks they should focus instead on lagging drivers that could spur a sharp stock downturn.
"Black Swan" investor Mark Spitznagel thinks that the stock market's streak of record highs is distracting from a more jarring reality that could come by year-end.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg TV, he said investors are currently enjoying a market that's in a "Goldilocks zone." In his mind, they're focusing too much on positive drivers like disinflation and dropping rates. That's built up overconfidence in the current market.
Instead, Spitznagel says they should focus more on catalysts that have a greater lag time, and which could send markets spiraling once they hit. Still, any sort of downturn could take a while longer, he admitted.
"I think this is going to continue more into sort of pure euphoria before it's over," he said.
Spitznagel specifically referenced the recent uninversion of the yield curve, which has historically been a reliable recession indicator.
"When the yield curve disinverts and then unverts, the clock starts ticking and that's when you enter black swan territory," Spitznagel told Bloomberg. "Black swans always lurk, but now we're in their territory."
Spitznagel said traders should be more focused on where the market will stand next year as the Fed cuts rates. In his opinion, the Fed was wrong to hike rates so much during the most recent tightening cycle, and that the economy will be forced to deal with those effects eventually.
"We really need to look back to '22 and what happened there. That was a massive hike, a massive tightening that happened in the economy. Personally, I thought it was an enormous mistake at the time," he said.
It's not the first time Spitznagel has raised warning signs on the economy. He has warned of a stock market crash since January 2023, and back in July, he said the market's yearslong rally has become the "greatest bubble in human history," and its bursting would make for a recession.
Spitznagel heads Universa Investments, a fund that hedges bets on "Black Swan" events like the 2008 stock-market crash, the 2015 flash crash, and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. When such events occur, Spitznagel capitalizes on the sudden dislocations.
Business Insider spoke to stylists and designers about what shoe trends are in and out this season.
Shoes and boots with hardware, like buckles and studs, are rising in popularity.
On the other hand, retro running shoes are being replaced with more utilitarian footwear.
There are a lot of mixed opinions on what the next big fall shoe will be. On TikTok, some creators are arguing slip-on loafers are so back, but others are firmly team Frye boot.
So, Business Insider spoke to two fashion designers and a stylist about what styles are actually in and out right now.
Here's what the experts said.
Shoes with exaggerated toe silhouettes are all the rage.
Square-toed shoes are trending.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Whether it's high-heels or boots, fashion stylistSusan Mammadova said shoes with a pointy or square toe are in right now.
"As we move into fall and winter, shoes with bold and dramatic toe shapes will be everywhere," she told BI. "They offer an additional way to play with shapes and silhouettes in any getup."
Sincenostalgic and retro styleshave cropped up over the last few years, she specifically recommended chunky, square-toed shoes for casual fall outfits.
Slim shoes are a good match for baggier clothes.
Ballet flats have been back in style for a while now.
Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images
Fashion designer Mason Miller told BI that ballet flats and similarly slim shoe options are still in this season.
"There's something chic about them," he said. "And they go great with the baggier clothes we're all obsessed with and seeing in high-end and streetwear fashion."
Miller explained that the thinner shoes help create a balanced look when you're playing around with baggier pants and tops.
Well-made, practical boots are worth investing more money in.
Designer Jarrah Webster is a fan of Guidi boots.
Vanni Bassetti/Getty Images
Fashion designer Jarrah Webster recommended investing in a pair of well-crafted boots that can go with any outfit.
"I think when you're trying to buy boots, people are willing to spend more money since there's more longevity and they're meant to last longer," he told BI.
Instead of relying on ubiquitous brands like Dr. Martens and Steve Madden, the designer said it's worth splurging on more unique high-end options. Slouchy leather boots from brands like Guidi are his personal favorites.
Loafers are here to stay.
You can't go wrong with a classic leather loafer, but fun hardware is a nice touch.
"The loafer has blown up the last two years, and for good reason — they're easy to throw on but still give off a more sophisticated look," Miller said.
Because they're so classic and easy to style, they can be used to easily dress up more casual outfits. As fall approaches, the designer recommends pushing your personal style a bit by reaching for a pair a little out of your comfort zone.
Colorful sneakers are a must-have statement piece.
Sneakers are a great way to incorporate a pop of color into an outfit.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Mammadova said sneaker trends are moving from basic, all-white options to vibrant pops of color.
"The rise in colorful sneakers ties into the broader retro and nostalgic vibes we're seeing right now in fashion, and they offer both a playful yet throwback appeal," she told BI.
The stylist said shoes like Maison Margiela Replica ($670) and Adidas Gazelles ($100) are two great, colorful options at different price points.
Soccer-inspired sneakers are still going strong.
It's not time to pack away the Sambas yet.
Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images
Adidas Sambas regained popularity around this time last year, and Miller told BI that the craze isn't over yet.
"On one hand, they're being seen everywhere, and people are sick of seeing it," he said. "But either way, the style is here to stay."
Because the popular shoe may become oversaturated in the coming seasons, the designer recommended investing in a pair with unique colorways or personalizations, like special laces or pins on the tongues.
Shoes with hardware details are an emerging, playful trend.
Studs have been all over fashion lately, including shoes.
Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images
Shoes with studs and exaggerated buckles are everywhere, from Target toluxury brandslike Toga Virilis.
"As maximalism continues to persist in fashion, shoes with eye-catching hardware perfectly complement the bold, playful styles," Mammadova said.
The stylist added that because it's so accessible across budgets, the shoe style is really popping off as a way to show personality and add a statement piece to an outfit.
On the other hand, chunky sneakers are still out.
Basic, chunky sneakers were big for a while, but they've been eclipsed by newer trends.
PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Webster said chunky sneakers (especially high-end ones) are out unless they have enough uniqueness to stand out.
"Shoes that are more affordable are starting to overpower high-end brands like Balenciaga because those are pretty cliché and overdone," he told BI.
The designer recommended looking for more affordable chunky shoes that aren't necessarily sneakers. Brands like Crocs or Edy are a good place to start looking.
Classic running shoes are being replaced with utilitarian options.
Running shoes had a moment this summer.
"New Balances, Asics Gel Lytes, and even retro-inspired running shoes are outdated," Webster said. "I think that era is becoming dead."
Instead, people are starting to gravitate toward more practical, utilitarian styles, such as Merrell hiking shoes and Soloman trail runners.
Knee-high boots are being left behind.
Show a bit more skin this fall with shorter boots.
Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
Instead of reaching for knee-highs this fall, Mammadova said she plans to gravitate toward shorter boots.
"Knee-highs were all the rage a few years ago, but calf-length boots are taking over with the recent moto-style clothing trend," she told BI. "Plus, they've got that nostalgic feel that's really in right now."
Laid-back sandals are no longer as popular.
You can toss sandals on to run errands, but they're no longer a real trend.
Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
Sandals and laid-back shoes from brands like Birkenstock became especially popular at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when people really only needed one pair of shoes to slip on for a quick errand. But Webster thinks they're overdone right now.
"They're just not in anymore, especially because the relaxed look isn't as popular as it was a few years ago," he told BI.
Instead the designer recommended buying mules or a shoe with an exposed heel. They're sometimes just as comfortable but look better and pair well with more outfits.
Basketball shoes are out.
Sneakerheads may always make room for them in their closets, but the general public is over basketball shoes.
Paul Gonzales/Getty Images
Classic basketball sneakers, like Jordans, aren't as hot as they once were.
"The streetwear trend has died down, and with so many shoe options out there, people are finding everyday shoes that look better and cost less," Mammadova said.
This is especially true as styles shift toward sleeker and thinner silhouettes — chunky basketball shoes just don't fit this fall.
Adrian Cheng during dinner after the opening ceremony of the Festival de Cannes Film Week in Asia in 2019.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images for Festival de Cannes Film Week in Asia
Cheng Yu-tung's family is one of the richest in Hong Kong, with a property empire larger than Central Park.
The family also owns the Carlyle, the glitzy New York City hotel that's tied to the Met Gala.
Cheng's grandchildren Adrian and Sonia are in the spotlight as contenders to inherit the family's wealth.
The Cheng family is one of Hong Kong's most prominent and richest families, owning billions in property and a bustling jewelry business that's a household name in Asia.
Bloomberg estimated their net worth to be $22.7 billion in March, though it's since fallen to $17.7 billion in September.
The family's company, New World Development, oversees about 41.5 million square feet of property — more than all of Central Park — in Hong Kong, Asia's most expensive city for real estate.
The Cheng clan revolves around the families of two brothers, though the elder and his children have long been considered the main force in the business.
As he nears 80, the family patriarch is expected to name a successor. But he's been coy so far with his plans, and rumors of a possible family feud abound in Hong Kong.
The suspense turned into turmoil on Thursday, when his eldest son, assumed for years to be the one to take over, announced his resignation as CEO just after the company announced its first loss in decades.
Here's what you need to know about the Chengs, a family whose massive wealth is rooted in the city's early days:
The Chengs' wealth comes from their grandfather, a jeweler turned real-estate mogul.
Cheng Yu-tung, center, ran a property empire birthed from the profits of his jewelry business.
Jonathan Wong/South China Morning Post via Getty Image
The Chengs' empire can be traced back to World War II, when their grandfather, Cheng Yu-tung, started working as an apprentice at a gold shop in Macau called Chow Tai Fook.
In 1943, he married the daughter of the shop's owner, and shortly after, he moved to Hong Kong to open the store's first branch. As the Asian financial hub's affluence accelerated after the war, so did Cheng's business, which specialized in 24-karat gold jewelry.
The jeweler invested his profits heavily in real estate during the 1970s, starting a company called New World Development. Now publicly listed, it owns department stores, hotels, and infrastructure across mainland China, Hong Kong, and the US.
Cheng died in 2016 at the age of 91, when he was worth about $14.6 billion. His elder son, Henry, took over the jewelry and real-estate empire.
With the 77-year-old Henry now signaling that he may be looking for a successor, his two eldest children, Adrian and Sonia, have entered the spotlight.
Each has been running a key pillar of the family's property business for more than a decade, so they're considered the de facto contenders for their father's position.
Both oversaw meaningful expansions in their primary fields — hotels for Sonia and commercial real estate for Adrian — and have worked to transform their properties into cultural icons for younger generations.
Sonia runs the family's hotel business, turning it into a sprawling collection of resorts and luxury locations.
Sonia Cheng, left, is the head of the Rosewood Hotel Group, which owns 51 hotels and is planning more than two dozen others. The group includes the Carlyle in New York City.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion and Thomas Iannaccone/Penske Media via Getty Image
Sonia, 43, studied applied math at Harvard University before working as a real-estate banker for Morgan Stanley and in private equity for Warburg Pincus, according to a 2019 profile by CNBC.
In 2008, she joined her family's business at age 28, becoming CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group three years later when the Chengs purchased the properties from Rosewood Corp. and Maritz, Wolff & Co.
The luxury hotel brand owned 19 properties at the time, including the glamorous Carlyle hotel in Manhattan, which celebrities flock to when they visit for the Met Gala.
With Sonia at the helm, Rosewood has since expanded into a global powerhouse for luxury hotels, with 34 locations and another 24 on the way.
It's pushed hard into mainland China under the brand name New World Hotels, opening 16 more properties in cities such as Beijing, Sanya, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, for a total of 51 hotels and resorts.
Sonia has often said she grew up in the hotel industry since her father, Henry, started his career as general manager of a hotel.
She told the Singaporean outlet Channel News Asia that her philosophy had been to ditch stuffy hotel standards and attract younger travelers looking for tailor-made experiences.
"There's a sense of discovery and curiosity when we go to hotels, we don't want to go to a place that doesn't reflect the local culture," she said.
Rosewood's Hong Kong property ranked second on the World's 50 Best Hotels' 2023 list, with two other hotels in São Paulo and Paris earning spots as well.
Sonia is married to Paulo Pong Kin-yee, who also comes from one of Hong Kong's wealthiest families, the Pongs. He's the founder of Altaya Group, a wine wholesaler, and the boutique restaurant company Classified Group, which runs five locations.
Adrian, the eldest sibling, helms his brand of billion-dollar megamalls that double as art museums.
Adrian Cheng, pictured in the center at an event last year, launched K11's art malls in 2008.
Keith Tsuji/Getty Images for K11
Adrian, 44, was long presumed to succeed his father as head of the family's wealth.
The eldest of four siblings, he started his career as a banker at UBS and Goldman Sachs before diving into the family business in 2007.
A year later, Adrian launched K11, his brand of malls and office buildings in Hong Kong and China that came with a unique selling point — a focus on showcasing art and designer work.
Art has been core to his personal brand. A classical singer who trained on Broadway, he graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's in East Asian Studies.
Seen for years as the heir apparent to the Cheng business empire, he's dominated the lion's share of headlines about the family.
Like his sister, he led aggressive expansions for New World Development, pouring billions into residential and commercial buildings in Hong Kong and Chinese urban hubs.
His vision is to bring K11 to nine Chinese cities in total, and he's now building a mall in Shenzhen that's estimated to cost $1.4 billion.
A prolific investor, he's put money into more than 60 companies through his fund, C Ventures, including Shein, electric-vehicle makers such as XPeng, and the COVID-19 detection tech startup Prenetics.
Adrian is married to Jennifer Yu, who runs Chow Tai Fook Education, a collection of K-12 schools and play facilities, and Arch Education, a tutoring company.
Their father, Henry, hinted at a succession toss-up at a time when Adrian was expected to be heir.
Henry Cheng, chairman of New World Development, at a 2016 press conference on the company's financials.
Jonathan Wong/South China Morning Post via Getty Images
"I'm still observing, but I think it's not so easy to identify such a person," Henry said, adding that if there was no one suitable, the Chengs could "hire from the outside."
Each family member could continue to helm their own sector of the business, Henry said.
That comment rattled what had for years been presumed by the business world as the plan for the Chengs — that Adrian would take over everything.
By then, the family's net worth had reached $26 billion, and Adrian was already CEO of New World Development, though his father still controlled the family's assets.
Bloomberg noted that Adrian's representatives had described him in 2020 as "the heir to New World Development and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises."
All three were poised to lead their own fiefdoms in the Cheng empire, with Henry's fourth child, Christopher, holding an executive directorship at the company.
But on Thursday, it became clear that the Chengs' traditional succession narrative had been thrown into disarray. Adrian announced that he would step down as CEO and become a non-executive director in the company.
He would focus instead on public services, he told reporters at a press conference.
The Chengs have been beset by bleak market conditions as Hong Kong tries to regain its footing.
The entrance of the K11 Art Mall in Hong Kong.
NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Chengs have had to weather an ailing property market in Hong Kong.
The city suffered a rout among investors and residents after recent years of political turmoil, coupled with a weaker economy after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and lower demand for property from mainland China's wealthy buyers.
Rising taxes and interest rates in the city have also slowed the market, hemming in New World Development after it gobbled up loans and new properties.
The company's stock has dropped about 82% in the past five years.
Adrian's resignation also comes as New World Development suffered a heavy blow under his leadership — its first annual loss in 20 years.
It was a sign of heavy pressure on the company, which is already considered one of Hong Kong's most indebted property developers.
The Financial Times reported shortly after the announcement, citing several unnamed sources familiar with the company, that New World Development staff were growing worried about how quickly the Chengs were expanding.
"Today we face one of the most challenging combinations seen in decades — from high interest rates to uncertain market conditions," Adrian said in a statement to the FT. "I believe this game of patience paired with consistency and dedication will eventually get us to our goals."
He's been attempting to shore up confidence in Hong Kong's status as a financial hub, having started an institute in November to promote the city to the wealthy.
"I'm very confident we will be No. 1 for family office wealth management in the future," he told Bloomberg in August.
As Adrian exited the company's executive leadership on Thursday, New World Development's chief operating officer, Ma Siu-Cheung, became CEO.
A representative for New World Development declined to comment for this story.
September 27, 2024: This story was updated to reflect Adrian Cheng's resignation as CEO.
Correction: September 24, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misspelled Cheng Yu-tung's name.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on on bribery and conspiracy charges.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan say he solicited foreign contributions to fuel his political career.
Adams is the first sitting NYC mayor to be charged in a criminal indictment.
A federal grand jury in Manhattan has indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams on bribery and conspiracy charges.
The charges were detailed in a 57-page indictment unsealed Thursday, accusing Adams of soliciting bribes from foreign businesspeople, including a Turkish government official, to fuel his political campaigns.
"By 2018, ADAMS — who had by then made known his plans to run for Mayor of New York City — not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals," the indictment alleges.
The five-count indictment goes on to describe how foreign nationals sought to "cash in on their corrupt relationships" with the mayor — which prosecutors allege Adams welcomed.
Adams, a Democrat and retired NYPD police captain, is the first sitting New York City mayor to be charged in a criminal indictment.
Rudy Giuliani, who served as mayor from 1994 to 2001, is under indictment in Arizona and Georgia in connection with his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election on behalf of Donald Trump.
Adams, 64, has vowed to fight the "entirely false" charges and remain in office, though his indictment is the latest development in a year-long series of subpoenas, searches, and resignations that have already upended City Hall.
Adams was a former state senator and the current Brooklyn borough president when he was elected in 2021 to succeed former Mayor Bill deBlasio, who had served two terms.
He took charge of the city during challenging times, as it struggled to rebuild its economy from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit," Adams said in a videotaped statement when news of the indictment broke Wednesday night.
"I will request an immediate trial, so that New Yorkers can hear the truth," he said.
Earlier Thursday, Adams' attorney, Alex Spiro, criticized federal officials for searching the mayor's residence.
"Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle, (again) and take Mayor Adams' phone (again)" Spiro said in a written statement.
"They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in," Spiro said.
Despite his vows to remain in City Hall, calls rose Thursday for Adams to step down, including from his own party.
"I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, wrote in an X post.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, had not commented on the indictment news Thursday morning.
New York City's public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would serve as acting mayor if Adams resigns or is removed.
China's new stimulus measures helped boost Bernard Arnault's net worth by $6.2 billion in a day.
China's central bank announced interest rate cuts and liquidity support to aid its struggling economy.
LVMH shares surged 4% on the news. Consumers in China represent about 20% of its global sales.
A slate of new stimulus measures from China has made the fifth-richest person in the world the fourth-richest this week.
Bernard Arnault, the chairman of LVMH, saw his net worth soar $6.2 billion on Tuesday, according to data from Bloomberg, as shares of the luxury goods maker surged 4%.
Arnault owns about half of LVMH, the luxury conglomerate whose portfolio includes brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany & Co., and TAG Heuer.
At one point in March, Arnault was the richest person in the world, but since the start of the year, he slipped in the net worth rankings as LVMH stock struggled and a huge mega-cap tech rally boosted the net worth of tech CEOs.
The latest gains for LVMH came after China's central bank to big steps to support its struggling economy, announcing interest rate cuts, liquidity support, and reduced bank reserve requirements.
People's Bank of China governor Pan Gongsheng said authorities are also looking into a stock stabilization fund, as the country's stock market, as measured by the SSE Composite Index, is trading at the same level as it was in 2007.
High unemployment rates among its youth, US tariffs, lingering demographic issues, and falling real estate values have prevented the country from staging a full economic rebound.
That's bad news for luxury goods makers who have increasingly relied on China's consumers to grow sales.
Over the years, as the country's middle and upper-middle classes have grown, consumers in China have increasingly represented a sizable chunk of LVMH's business.
About 20% of LVMH's global sales come from the region. That's part of the reason why the stock has done poorly this year, with shares down 14% year-to-date.
But after the economic stimulus measures were announced on Tuesday, shares of various luxury brand makers surged.
Arnault's net worth now stands at $183 billion, just ahead of Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison's $179 billion and behind the $200+ billion fortunes of Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk.
George Clooney is among the most prominent voices that had called on Biden to step aside and is now backing Harris.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Many of the biggest entertainment stars are supporting — and performing for — Kamala Harris.
Charli XCX's endorsement quickly became iconic, as Harris has incorporated it into her marketing.
George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey are among the the prominent voices backing Harris.
After slinking away from Joe Biden in the final weeks of his campaign, many of the biggest stars in entertainment are throwing their support behind Kamala Harris. Like many billionaires and big donors who had soured on the president, stars seem invigorated by the prospect of a Harris campaign, coconut memes and all.
While some have expressed their support online or through donations, others have performed at Harris rallies. The Democratic National Convention was a star-studded event, with everyone from John Legend to Julia Louis-Dreyfus, appearing at the made-for-television vice president. Despite the Hollywood fervor, Democrats are still waiting to see if Beyoncé will throw her weight behind the Harris-Walz ticket.
Here are some of the biggest Hollywood names publicly endorsing Harris.
Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell
Eilish and O'Connell shared a post on Instagram encouraging their followers to vote early.
"We can't let extremists control our lives, our freedoms, and our future," said O'Connell, adding, "The only way to stop them and the dangerous Project 2025 agenda is to vote and elect Kamala Harris."
"Vote like your life depends on it because it does," Eilish added.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift.
Kate Green/Getty Images
Pop star Taylor Swift endorsed Harris for president on September 10, minutes after the ABC News presidential debate between the vice president and former President Donald Trump ended.
"I'm voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them," the singer wrote on Instagram. "I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos."
George Clooney
Clooney endorsed Harris while speaking on CNN.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images
After publishing an opinion piece calling on Biden to step aside earlier this month, the actor and Democratic donor endorsed Harris while speaking on CNN on Tuesday.
"President Biden has shown what true leadership is," Clooney said. "He's saving democracy once again. We're all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest."
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah reached out to independents and undecided voters when speaking at the DNC
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Oprah made a surprise appearance at this year's DNC and told voters to "choose common sense over nonsense." A registered independent, she appealed to undecided voters and told them that "decency and respect are on the ballot."
Aaron Sorkin
Sorkin originally said that Democrats should nominate a Republican instead of Biden, but has now come out in support of Harris.
Gilbert Flores/Getty Images
Sorkin, who created the political drama "West Wing," originally argued that Democrats should nominate a Republican in Biden's stead, but has since changed his tune. After Biden announced that he was ending his reelection bid, Sorkin posted a message on X via a friend's account.
"I take it all back. Harris for America!"
Spike Lee
Lee endorsed Harris through an emoji-studded Instagram post.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Lee kept his endorsement short, sweet, and full of emojis. On Sunday, he posted a picture of Harris on Instagram with a caption full of purple hearts, fire symbols, and clapping hands.
"ONCE AGAIN A SISTA COMES TO DA RESCUE," he wrote.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus has joked that Harris is nothing like her character on the hit television show "Veep."
Jesse Grant/Getty Images
From one veep to another, the connection is strong.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who starred in the hit television series "Veep" that bears striking resemblance to Harris' current political reality, hosted a panel with eight female governors at the DNC. The women joked at times, but also discussed serious policy questions related to election security and reproductive rights. In an interview with Stephen Colbert, the Emmy-winning actress joked that Harris is nothing like her character on the show, Selina Meyer.
"On 'Veep,' I played a narcissistic, megalomaniac sociopath, and that is not Kamala Harris," she said. "It might be another candidate in the race."
Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo endorsed Harris in an Instagram story on Tuesday.
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
Rodrigo has a track record of backing the Biden administration. The pop star visited the White House in 2021 where she met with President Joe Biden and helped to promote the COVID-19 vaccine to youths.
On Tuesday, Rodrigo posted a clip of Harris's first campaign rally in an Instagram Story, which she captioned with the raising hands emoji.
Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling recalled meeting Kamala Harris in 2019 and connecting over their similar familial backgrounds.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The comedian hosted the third night of the DNC, when she joked that she "outed Kamala Harris as Indian" in a cooking video from 2019 when they made dosas. Kaling began donating to Democrats after the video aired, campaign finance records reveal. She donated to Biden's 2020 campaign only after he brought Harris on as his vice president.
Harris was Kaling's senator at the time they filmed the video, and the actress said that the two got along easily. Both of their moms are from South India and immigrated to America to pursue careers in science.
Megan Thee Stallion
The rapper created a new group during her performance: Hotties for Harris
Julia Beverly/Getty Images
The Grammy-winning rapper performed at a Harris rally in Atlanta, Georgia and coined a new term: Hotties for Harris. She performed a compilation of some of her top songs, including "Savage" and "Body."
She urged voters to support Harris during her performance, saying that "we about to make history with the first female president, the first Black female president."
Charli XCX
Harris' team has embraced Charli XCX's seeming support and implemented lime green branding.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Charli XCX, the British singer-songwriter, has come out with the most iconic endorsement — or evident endorsement — of Harris yet.
"kamala IS brat," she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, in a reference to her recent album.
Harris' team has wasted no time capitalizing on the Gen Z approval, with her social media accounts using Charli XCX songs in videos and embracing the signature brat lime green.
Barbra Streisand
Streisand stressed the importance of reproductive freedom in her endorsement.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
The American singer and actress expressed gratitude for Biden and support for Harris in a statement to the New York Times. Streisand emphasized that Harris "will work to restore women's reproductive freedom" and build on her accomplishments as Vice President.
Mark Hamill
An outspoken Biden supporter, Hamill urged voters to support Harris in a post on X.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The man most famous for playing Luke Skywalker is also a well-known Biden supporter — and, now, Harris supporter. On Monday, Hamill posted a picture of himself with Harris on X and called her "the candidate who will both honor & further" Biden's legacy.
Under the photo, he coined a new, alliterative hashtag: #HamillHeartsHarris
Pink
Pink performed on the final night of the DNC alongside her daughter, Willow.
Anadolu/Getty Images
The singer Pink was another DNC headliner, where she and her daughter, Willow, sang an acoustic version of her single, "What About Us."
They performed just after a group of people impacted by gun violence took the stage. Pink has spoken out against gun violence in the past, as she faced criticism from some conservatives in 2019 for reposting the poem, "America Is a Gun."
John Legend
Legend performed at the Democratic National Committee in 2020.
Antony Jones/Getty Images
In social media posts on Sunday, Legend praised Biden's record and endorsed Harris, saying, "I'm excited to help her in any way I can."
Legend has long supported Democrats, as he performed at the Democratic National Convention in 2020 and 2024. This year, he performed Prince's song "Let's Go Crazy" before Gov. Tim Walz spoke and accepted the vice presidential nomination.
Rosie O'Donnell
O'Donnell has publicly sparred with Trump throughout his political career.
Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images
O'Donnell, who has sparred with Donald Trump throughout his political career, voiced her support for Harris on Instagram. She posted a picture of Biden's letter announcing the end of his campaign and thanked him in her caption. O'Donnell offered her endorsement by way of hashtag, writing, "#vote #harris #energize."
Bon Iver
Bon Iver's lead singer, Justin Vernon, celebrated the Harris campaign's central message of freedom.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
The indie folk band performed at a Harris rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, which also happens to be the hometown of the lead singer, Justin Vernon. They sang "The Battle Cry of Freedom," a Civil War-era anthem that aligns with Harris' central campaign focus on freedom.
"I love this melody, I love you all, appreciate you — we're here for the right reasons and we all know what we're here for."
Ben Stiller
Stiller committed to matching a $150,000 donation on a Zoom call.
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images
"Zoolander" star Ben Stiller joined a slate of other comedians on a "Comics for Harris" Zoom call that reportedly raised almost half a million dollars. On it, Stiller said he would match the host's $150,000 donation to the Harris campaign. He attended the DNC with his daughter and shared a clip of Harris speaking on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"So many young people — and just people in general — are feeling motivated to participate in the democratic process and feeling a patriotism that's connected to the values that unites us all,"the actor wrote.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Like many others, Curtis endorsed Harris via social media.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Curtis reposted an image from Joe Biden's Instagram account in her endorsement. She highlighted specific groups of voters in her caption, writing, "Women. Minorities. LGBTQ+IA. We still have a CHOICE with Kamala Harris. TRUSTED. TESTED. TOUGH."
Jennifer Lawrence
"I'm voting for Kamala Harris because I think she's an amazing candidate and I know that she will do whatever she can to protect reproductive rights," Jennifer Lawrence, 34, told People magazine.
Marleen Moise/WireImage via Getty Images
"Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence, 34, told People magazine in a story published Tuesday, that she was backing Harris this election because "abortion is literally on the ballot."
"I'm voting for Kamala Harris because I think she's an amazing candidate and I know that she will do whatever she can to protect reproductive rights," the Oscar-winning actor said.
"That's the most important thing, is to not let somebody into the White House who is going to ban abortion."
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" ended in May 2022, two years after toxic workplace allegations surfaced.
Celebrities have spoken out over the years about their relationship with DeGeneres.
DeGeneres reckoned with the end of her talk show in her 2024 Netflix special, "For Your Approval."
She was supposed to go out with a bang, but Ellen DeGeneres' much-loved talk show instead went out with a whimper.
In 2020, current and former staffers began airing claims that the talk show host had mistreated employees and fostered a toxic work environment on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Then, celebrities started sharing their own stories about the comedian.
Some stars, such as Brad Garrett and Lea Thompson, expressed negative sentiments toward DeGeneres, claiming her "nice" persona was a facade, while others, including Scooter Braun and Katy Perry, defended the star.
"Honestly, I'm making jokes about what happened to me but it was devastating, really," she said at the show, per the publication. "I just hated the way the show ended. I love that show so much and I just hated that the last time people would see me is that way."
DeGeneres also grapples with the backlash and the end of her talk show in her 2024 hour-long Netflix special "For Your Approval," which is now streaming.
"I was in therapy for a while trying to deal with all the hatred that was coming at me, and it was not a common situation for a therapist to deal with," DeGeneres said in the special.
"At one point, my therapist said, 'Ellen, where do you get this idea that everyone hates you?'" she continued. "And I said, 'Well, um, New York Times, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly. I think Elmo may have said something recently on an episode of 'Sesame Street.''"
Even years after the 2020 controversy and ending of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski have continued to question some of her behavior.
Here's what celebrities are saying about DeGeneres.
Brad Garrett said DeGeneres' mistreatment of others was 'common knowledge'
The "Everybody Loves Raymond" actor Garrett called out the comedian via Twitter on July 31, 2020.
Music manager Scooter Braun called DeGeneres a 'kind, thoughtful, courageous human being'
Braun, who manages artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, defended the comedian in a series of tweets on July 31, 2020.
"People love to take shots at people," he wrote. "They love to see people fall. How quickly so many forget."
Braun continued to describe DeGeneres as a "kind, thoughtful, courageous human being who stands for what is right and highlights on her show the best of us," adding that she'd used her platform to "change the views for equality."
"Needed to say this as I know first hand how she helps so many when we are watching and when we are not," he wrote. "She isn't about what is popular she is about what is right. Sending love to Ellen today."
Portia de Rossi, DeGeneres' wife, shared a message in support of the comedian
The model Portia de Rossi spoke out in support of DeGeneres in an Instagram post on August 3, 2020.
De Rossi, who married the comedian in 2008, shared a picture that said "I Stand By Ellen" on it along with the show's mantra, "Be Kind To One Another," in the corner.
She captioned the post: "To all our fans....we see you. Thank you for your support."
A post shared by Portia de Rossi (@portiaderossi) on Aug 3, 2020 at 10:03am PDT
The celebrities Kris Jenner, Nacho Figueras, and Brandi Carlile were among those who liked and commented on de Rossi's post.
Argentine polo player Nacho Figueras said DeGeneres 'makes the world a better place'
In an Instagram post he shared August 2, 2020, Figueras opened up about his friendship with DeGeneres and called on others with platforms to defend the talk-show host.
After saying he'd waited for "someone with more authority" to speak up about DeGeneres' character, Figueras reflected on his own appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and called it a "very well run machine."
"Everyone was super nice, not just to me but to each other and anyone involved," he wrote.
Figueras went on to say he'd seen DeGeneres treat people kindly both on and off of her show.
A post shared by Ignacio Figueras (@nachofigueras) on Aug 2, 2020 at 8:26pm PDT
"I have seen Ellen act not just in her show but in public appearances in theaters where she is nice to absolutely everyone, the guy serving the coffee, the person in the elevator, the security guy and the owner of the venue," Figueras said.
He added: "Everyone loves her because that is who she is. She makes the world a better place for millions of people everyday."
The athlete then challenged some of DeGeneres' friends — like Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Obama, Pink, Sean Hayes, Lady Gaga, Oprah, Katy Perry, and Justin Timberlake — to share their experiences with the comedian.
"The world has become a very dangerous place because it seems that we cannot make anything right," he wrote. "If I am going to be criticized for defending someone that I think deserves to be defended then so be it."
Katy Perry drew attention to the talk-show host's 'light & continual fight for equality'
Perry shared a positive message about DeGeneres in a series of tweets on August 4, 2020.
Prefacing her message by saying she's speaking from her own firsthand experience with the comedian, the pop star said she wanted to acknowledge she's "only ever had positive takeaways" from both DeGeneres and her show.
"I think we all have witnessed the light & continual fight for equality that she has brought to the world through her platform for decades," she wrote. "Sending you love & a hug, friend."
Perry spoke about her decision to publicly support DeGeneres during an interview with The Los Angeles Times later that month.
"I started that tweet off not undermining anyone else's experience," Perry said. "I wanted to only speak from my own experience. I have over 100 million people that follow me on Twitter, so not everyone is going to agree with me. And I'm not here to make everyone agree with me."
Samantha Ronson said DeGeneres had consistently been 'respectful and kind' to her
The British DJ Samantha Ronson spoke about her interactions with the talk-show host.
"Unpopular opinion: I've worked for @TheEllenShow as a dj, for her parties, for years and she has ALWAYS been respectful and kind to me," she wrote in a tweet August 3, 2020.
When a Twitter user pointed out that she was a "celebrity guest" on the show rather than a staffer, Ronson responded: "I wasn't a celebrity guest. I was an employee. Very different. Trust me."
Diane Keaton said DeGeneres 'gives back to so many'
The "Something's Gotta Give" actress Diane Keaton posted an Instagram photo on August 4, 2020 of herself and the talk-show host filming an episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
"I ALWAYS ENJOYED MY VISITS TO THE ELLEN SHOW," she captioned the picture. "I'VE SEEN HOW THE AUDIENCE EXUDES HAPPINESS AND GRATITUDE. SHE GIVES BACK TO SO MANY INCLUDING ME."
A post shared by Diane Keaton (@diane_keaton) on Aug 4, 2020 at 10:55am PDT
Kevin Hart said the talk-show host was 'one of the dopest people on the f---ing planet'
The comedian Kevin Hart shared a photo from one of his visits to "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" via Instagram on August 4, 2020.
"It's crazy to see my friend go thru what she's going thru publicly. I have known Ellen for years and I can honestly say that she's one of the dopest people on the f---ing planet. She has treated my family and my team with love and respect from day 1," he captioned the photo.
Hart — who stepped down from hosting the 2019 Oscars following a backlash over his past homophobic tweets — then criticized the public for "falling in love" with people's downfalls.
"It's honestly sad...When did we get here?" he added. "I stand by the ones that I know and that I love. Looking forward to the future where we get back to loving one another....this hate s--- has to stop. Hopefully it goes out of style soon."
The comedian said his message wasn't meant to "disregard the feelings of others and their experiences" but rather to "show what my experiences have been with my friend."
A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real) on Aug 4, 2020 at 9:48am PDT
Ashton Kutcher claimed that DeGeneres 'never pandered to celebrity'
In a tweet the actor shared on August 4, 2020, he said that the talk show host treated everyone — both celebrities and nonfamous individuals — with the same "respect & kindness."
"I haven't spoken with @TheEllenShow and can only speak from my own experience. She & her team have only treated me & my team w/ respect & kindness. She never pandered to celebrity which I always saw as a refreshing honesty. When things aren't right she handles it and fixes," he wrote.
People replied to Kutcher's tweet to explain that mainly staffers, not celebrities, are coming forward about a toxic work environment and sexual misconduct at "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
One person tweeted that the celebrities coming forward to defend DeGeneres are "invalidating" what current and former employees "experienced on a regular basis."
A post shared by Jerry O'Connell (@mrjerryoc) on Aug 3, 2020 at 10:48am PDT
The actor told Entertainment Tonight that his longtime friendship with the couple drove him to share his support for DeGeneres.
"I've known Ellen and Portia for almost three decades now and I saw that Portia… Instagrammed out, 'All of our friends, we need your support right now.' And I felt compelled to repost it," he told the outlet, adding, "I just wanted Ellen and Portia to know that I love them very much."
While many of the celebrities defending the comedian have faced backlash, O'Connell said that he's not letting the public affect his relationships.
"I'm not gonna let Instagram comments and Twitter comments tell me who can and can't be my friends," he said.
O'Connell explained that he does "believe all victims" and "all stories" from former and current staffers, admitting that "something has to change in that work environment."
"But I do love Portia and Ellen. I do. And it's gonna take a lot to change my love for them," he said.
Jay Leno said he won't 'discard a 40-year friendship on hearsay'
The former host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" offered his full support to DeGeneres on August 4, 2020.
"I don't discard a 40-year friendship on hearsay. The Ellen I know has raised over $125 million dollars for charity and has always been a kind and decent person. I fully support her," he wrote on Twitter.
Actor Andy Richter pointed out the irony of DeGeneres' entire show's mantra to 'Be Kind'
"A Black Lady Sketch Show" actress Ashley Nicole Black tweeted a message addressing the toxic work environments that are "widely accepted" in the television industry on August 5, 2020.
"I don't think it's that celebs 'don't know' people treat them differently. I think it's that toxic workplaces are widely accepted in this industry, ppl are expected not to complain, and higher ups dont care how folks are treated as long as the work is done on time and on budget," she wrote.
Actor Andy Richter, who often appears on TBS' "Conan," agreed with Black and highlighted the hypocrisy of DeGeneres' "Be Kind" mantra given former staffers' accusations about the host.
"I agree," he wrote, adding, "Although there's toxicity tolerated by higher-ups in every industry, but few of those workplaces are controlled by a manager who's entire brand is being 'nice.'"
Howard Stern gave advice to the comedian on his show
On an episode of SiriusXM's "Howard Stern Show" on August 10, 2020, the radio personality said that he'd "change his whole image" if he was in DeGeneres' shoes.
"I'd go on the air and be a son of a b----," he said, adding, "People would come on and I would go, 'F--- you.' Just be a prick."
Both Howard and his wife Beth have both appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" several times and have been longtime friends with the host. During a 2019 episode of the show, Howard and Beth even remarried each other in front of the studio audience.
Musician Phoebe Bridgers called the talk-show host 'ellen degenerate'
Amid the backlash against DeGeneres, the "Garden Song" singer used a pun to give her own two cents about the comedian.
She wrote "ellen degenerate" on Twitter, but Bridgers didn't elaborate on her own personal experience with the host.
Octavia Spencer said all her experiences on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' have been 'supportive and fun'
The actor, who's appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" numerous times over the years, issued a statement supporting DeGeneres via Instagram on August 13, 2020.
"Sending love and support to Ellen and all of the employees of her show," Spencer began.
She continued to share that her interactions with "everyone from the show including ELLEN" were "supportive and fun" and said she's "praying" for the people involved.
Spencer also said she believes "all of the voices of her employees need to be heard" and explained that she's only speaking from her own personal experience with the comedian and her show.
"Speaking truth to power is the only way change happens. My truth is everyone was kind to me. From the PAs to the producers. So yeah! I want all of those people to feel valued and heard. And no, people are NOT always kind to talent," she wrote.
A post shared by Octavia Spencer (@octaviaspencer) on Aug 13, 2020 at 9:51am PDT
After fans accused DeGeneres of mocking Sofia Vergara's accent on the show, the actor said she was 'always in on the joke'
The Colombian-American actor has appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" numerous times throughout the years. In the midst of the accusations against the show, her fans began circulating her interviews with DeGeneres and accused the host of mocking Vergara's accent.
On August 21, 2020, the "Modern Family" star posted a video from her 2015 "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" appearance on Twitter and shut down claims that the host was making fun of her.
She wrote: "Two comedians having fun with each other to entertain. I was never a victim guys, I was always in on the joke."
Mariah Carey said she was 'extremely uncomfortable' during her 2008 interview on the show
When the "We Belong Together" singer appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2008, the host pushed her to announce her pregnancy.
Carey quietly said that she prefers not to discuss that on television, so DeGeneres asked her to "toast with champagne" instead, effectively forcing her to admit whether or not she was carrying a child since pregnant women are advised against drinking alcohol.
"I can't believe you did this to me, Ellen," Carey said.
DeGeneres then said, "Let's toast to you not being pregnant if you're not pregnant."
The singer continued to stall by making excuses like the time of day or champagne's "fattening" effects, leading the host to yell, "You're pregnant!"
The clip resurfaced online 18 years later amid the controversy surrounding DeGeneres, and Carey revealed that the moment made her "extremely uncomfortable" during an August 2020 interview with Vulture.
"I was extremely uncomfortable with that moment is all I can say. And I really have had a hard time grappling with the aftermath," she told the outlet.
Carey continued, "I wasn't ready to tell anyone because I had had a miscarriage. I don't want to throw anyone that's already being thrown under any proverbial bus, but I didn't enjoy that moment."
The singer finished by stating that there's "an empathy that can be applied to those moments that I would have liked to have been implemented. But what am I supposed to do? It's like, 'What are you going to do?'"
Steve Harvey called DeGeneres one of the 'coolest and kindest people' in entertainment
Ellen DeGeneres and Steve Harvey are friends.
Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images
The comedian came to DeGeneres' defense on an episode of "PEOPLE (The TV Show!)" that aired on September 17, 2020.
"I'm going to say this about it: Ellen DeGeneres, the person that I know, that I've known for a number of years, that I saw back in the comedy club days, when we used to split time with the same management, all of this and what's happening now, Ellen, the person, is probably one of the coolest and kindest people I've met in this business," he said.
Though DeGeneres' show returned on September 21 after a break, Harvey previously told Entertainment Tonight that he'd "walk away" from "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" if he were her.
"Ellen has got a lot of money. If I was Ellen, I'd just walk away," he said, adding, "She got enough. I wouldn't let them drag me down like that!"
The comedians have been friends for years, and Harvey has appeared on DeGeneres' show several times. They also cocreated and coproduced the show "Little Big Shots" together in 2016.
Alec Baldwin told DeGeneres that she was 'one of the most funny and talented people' in show business
During his appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on September 23, Baldwin shared words of encouragement with the talk-show host via video chat.
"I have followed your career from when you were doing stand-up and you were a solo performer. I've watched the films you've done, and I've watched your success on this TV show, and you are one of the funniest and most talented women, one of the most funny and talented people, in all of show business," he told her.
Baldwin added, "We all have some patches of white water here, but you keep going. Don't you stop doing what you're doing."
Ryan Phillippe mocked DeGeneres' 'Be Kind' mantra during his outdoor jog
The "Cruel Intentions" actor seemed to take a jab at the talk-show host during his jog in October 2020.
Phillippe posed in front of a poster with DeGeneres on it and wrote, "And remember to be kind... wait," a reference to the show's "Be Kind" catchphrase. He shared the selfie to his Instagram story.
She told the Dutch TV show De Wereld Draait Door it was a "huge honor" but said that she had a less than great experience on the show. Degeneres, she said, had acted "cold and distant" toward her.
When she was asked what it was like to appear on the show, she told the host: "It's really nice that you came over and said hello to me... She didn't."
DeGeneres' former DJ Tony Okunbowa said he felt the 'toxicity' of the show's environment'
Tony Okunbowa was DeGeneres' on-air DJ from 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2013. In August 2020, as allegations against DeGeneres and the production emerged, he posted on Instagram alleging that the show had been a toxic place, though he didn't specify what he'd experienced in his time there.
"I have been getting calls asking me about the Ellen DeGeneres Show and I would like to address the time I spent there," he wrote. "I was on air talent from 2003-2006 and from 2007 -2013. While I am grateful for the opportunity it afforded me, I did experience and feel the toxicity of the environment and I stand with my former colleagues in their quest to create a healthier and more inclusive workplace as the show moves forward."
Emily Ratajkowski came to Taylor Swift's defense after watching a resurfaced clip of the singer on the talk show
In January 2023, an old clip of Taylor Swift on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" resurfaced on TikTok, showing Swift visibly upset and on the verge of tears after DeGeneres made her play a "game" in which she was supposed to identify all the men she had dated.
"It makes me feel so bad about myself every time I come up here you put like a different dude up there on the screen, and it just makes me really question what I stand for as a human being," Swift said.
After viewing it, model Emily Ratajkowski commented, "This is so fucked up. She's literally begging her to stop."
"Watching that [interview], I was so struck by how clear she's being about what is making her uncomfortable," Ratajkowski told Elle in a January interview. "I think the lens that I would've viewed that interview from 10 years ago versus now has evolved so much, which is why it struck me. I was in bed falling asleep and commented on it, not because I thought it was going to make headlines at all."
Ratajkowski went on to say "that clip in particular was just so striking to me because she was communicating very clearly about why she didn't feel comfortable with what was happening. And it was making everyone laugh. It actually upset me. And I think that just even that speaks to a larger thing I've noticed, where people don't listen to femme-presenting people."