Mark Cuban has made billions, built companies, and basically turned being blunt into a brand. But if there's one thing he's not doing? Pretending it was all part of some master plan.



In a <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/mark-cuban-interview-advice">2023 GQ interview</a>, Cuban stripped the gloss off the billionaire success story. "Anybody who has a ‘B' next to their name, and they tell you they <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/06/39192298/warren-buffett-was-asked-if-he-had-to-start-over-in-his-30s-how-would-he-make-30-billion-today-h">could do it all again</a>, they're lying their ass off," he said. "You've got to have luck. You gotta have timing."



That wasn't self-deprecation. It was precision.



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Cuban isn't saying success is impossible or that everyone with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44618898/warren-buffett-said-cash-is-always-a-bad-investment-and-you-dont-need-excessive-amounts-but-hes-sitting-on-record-334-billion-cash-pil">money just rolled the dice</a> right. What he's pointing out is that there's more to the story than <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42193386/mark-cuban-shared-600-a-month-dallas-apartment-with-5-guys-and-slept-on-the-living-room-floor-i-had-nothing-so-i-had-nothing-to-lose">grit and genius</a>. He had a solid idea, sure. He worked hard. But he also happened to understand networking right when the internet stock market blew up. That timing? Out of his control. "If I would have been born three years earlier, three years later, we probably would not be having this conversation," he said.



It's a rare kind of honesty in a world that loves to package ambition as a blueprint. Cuban doesn't buy into that fantasy—not for himself, and not for everyone else trying to make it.



He's not alone in this thinking. Warren Buffett has often spoken about winning the "ovarian lottery," acknowledging that being born in the right place at the right time played a significant role in his success. Similarly, Bill Gates has recognized the role of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43562104/bill-gates-was-the-richest-man-in-the-world-for-a-record-18-years-he-says-money-brings-freedom-but-beyond-that-its-the-same-hamburger">luck and timing in his journey</a>. In Malcolm Gladwell's book "Outliers," Gates discusses how having access to a computer at a young age was a rare opportunity that set him on the path to founding Microsoft.



Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a>



Elon Musk, while emphasizing hard work, also admits to the challenges and uncertainties in entrepreneurship. Speaking at a town hall in Green Bay, Wisconsin last month, he said, "It is true that most businesses that start do not succeed."



But that doesn't mean Cuban plays it safe. He's the same guy who called diversification "for idiots," though he now says that line came from a different time and market. "The only constant in life is change," he told GQ. His philosophy isn't about being right forever—it's about staying sharp while everything else shifts.



That same instinct led him to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44552923/mark-cuban-says-his-online-pharmacy-could-make-more-but-how-much-money-do-i-need-adds-in-elon-musk-dig-not-trying-to-land-on-mars">launch Cost Plus Drugs</a> with Alex Oshmyansky. It wasn't Cuban's idea, but he knew a system worth breaking when he saw one. Now they're undercutting pharma giants and drawing praise from The Wall Street Journal for it.



So yes, Cuban got lucky. But he also knew what to do when that luck showed up. The myth that success comes from a perfect plan? He's not buying it. And if he's being honest—neither should anyone else.



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Personal Finance

Mark Cuban Said Billionaires Who Claim They Could Do It All Again Are 'Lying Their A** Off' — You've Got To Have 'Luck And Timing' To Get Rich

The past week has been a whirlwind for&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), with the tech giant facing significant challenges and predictions. From the potential impact of President Trump&#8217;s tariffs to the feasibility of manufacturing iPhones in America, there&#8217;s a lot to unpack. Here&#8217;s a recap of the top stories that shaped Apple&#8217;s week.



Trump&#8217;s Tariffs Could Skyrocket iPhone Prices



President Donald Trump&#8217;s recently enacted tariffs could lead to a significant price hike for Apple&#8217;s iPhones. If Apple decides to pass these costs onto consumers, we could see a price surge of 30% to 40%. This is primarily because most iPhones are manufactured in China, which is now facing a 54% tariff.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44655937/trump-tariffs-could-spike-iphone-prices-to-almost-2300-if-apple-decides-to-pass-on-the-costs-to-buyers">Read the full article here.</a>



Manufacturing iPhones in America: A Pipe Dream?



Top analyst Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities has expressed skepticism about the feasibility of manufacturing Apple products, including iPhones, in the U.S. According to Ives, such a move would result in significantly higher costs.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44640656/apple-making-iphones-in-america-a-fantasy-that-sounds-great-behind-the-microphones-says-top-analyst-dan-ives">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44650952/china-restricts-rare-earth-exports-to-us-as-part-of-tariff-retaliation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Restricts Rare Earth Exports To US As Part Of Tariff Retaliation: &#8216;Geopolitical Earthquake In Slow Motion,&#8217; CEO Says</a>



Apple&#8217;s Strong iPhone Upgrade Cycle Predicted



BofA Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan maintained a Buy rating on Apple, anticipating a strong iPhone upgrade cycle in fiscal 2025 and 2026. This prediction is driven by the need for the latest hardware to enable generative AI features and higher growth in Services revenue.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/44613270/apple-set-for-strong-iphone-upgrade-cycle-driven-by-ai-analyst-says">Read the full article here.</a>



Apple&#8217;s $300 Billion Rout: What Could Turn Things Around?



Following a nearly 10% drop in Apple&#8217;s stock, which resulted in a loss of about $300 billion of market cap due to new tariffs, Needham analyst Laura Martin reiterated a Buy rating with a $260 price target.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/44651515/apple-analyst-holds-the-line-after-300-billion-rout-what-could-turn-stock-around">Read the full article here.</a>



Apple Stock Slammed by Trump Tariffs: Is a Death Cross Next?



Apple&#8217;s stock took a significant hit as President Trump&#8217;s surprise tariff announcement sent shockwaves through the tech sector. The stock slumped about 9.5% in early market trading, extending a brutal month-long slide that has already shaved off more than 13%. If this trend continues, the stock could soon make a Death Cross — a classic bearish signal.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/04/44629335/apple-stock-slammed-by-trump-tariffs-is-a-death-cross-next">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next: <a href="https://benzinga.com/media/25/04/44655737/former-microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-says-trumps-new-tariffs-could-spark-global-turmoil-hurt-consumers-as-sat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Says Trump&#8217;s New Tariffs Could Spark Global Turmoil, Hurt Consumers As Satya Nadella-Led MSFT&#8217;s Stock Drops 14% YT</a>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/Rounak-Jain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rounak Jain</a>

News

Tech

AAPL

Tariffs, Production Fantasies, And Analyst Predictions: This Week In Appleverse

Each week,&nbsp;Benzinga's Stock Whisper Index&nbsp;uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stock-whisper-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.



Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.



Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/44597684/exclusive-marchs-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-where-do-tesla-nvidia-apple-applovin-stock-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: March&#8217;s 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do Tesla, Nvidia, Apple, Applovin Stock Rank?</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Here&#8217;s a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending April 4:</h1>



Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOLD#NYSE">GOLD</a>): For the second-straight week, a gold stock makes its way on the Stock Whisper Index. Readers are paying increased attention to gold stocks with the price of gold at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44308014/gold-hits-record-highs-as-trade-war-fears-fuel-safe-haven-demand-mining-stocks-soar">record highs</a>. 



Barrick Gold is expected to report first-quarter financial results later this month. Analysts expect the company to post earnings per share and revenue growth from the year-over-year period. Barrick has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in two of the last three quarters, but only four of the past 10 quarters overall. The company has missed revenue estimates in seven of the past 10 quarters, including two straight quarters. With improving prices for gold, investors will be waiting to see if Barrick's financials improved and what the company is saying about the future.



The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44546189/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-59">Benzinga Pro chart</a> below shows shares dropping slightly on the week in the midst of tariffs from President Donald Trump.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44546189/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-59"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="501" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181219/Screenshot-374.png" alt="" class="wp-image-856512" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181219/Screenshot-374.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181219/Screenshot-374-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181219/Screenshot-374-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Prologis Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLD#NYSE">PLD</a>): The industrial and logistics real estate company saw increased interest from readers during the week. 



The company is set to report first-quarter financials on April 16. Analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of $1.38, up from $1.28 per share in last year's first quarter. Prologis has beaten earnings estimates in three straight quarters. 



Analysts expect the company to report first-quarter revenue of $2.04 billion, up from $1.83 billion in last year's first quarter. The company has missed analyst estimates for revenue in five straight quarters and seven of the past 10 quarters overall. Prologis will also host its annual shareholder meeting on May 8, which could provide back-to-back months of company news and catalysts.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44546189/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-59"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="498" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181238/Screenshot-375.png" alt="" class="wp-image-856513" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181238/Screenshot-375.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181238/Screenshot-375-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181238/Screenshot-375-768x384.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>



 Ecolab Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ECL#NYSE">ECL</a>): The cleaning and sanitation company saw strong interest from readers during the week, which comes with Baird maintaining a Neutral rating and lowering the price target from $288 to $277. 



The company is expected to report first-quarter financial results later this month. Analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of $1.50, up from $1.34 in last year's first quarter; it has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in nine straight quarters. Analysts expect the company to report revenue of $3.70 billion, down from $3.75 billion in last year's first quarter. Ecolab beat analyst estimates for revenue in the fourth quarter and has beaten the estimate in five of the last 10 quarters.



"We enter 2025 confident in our ability to deliver continued strong performance in a dynamic environment. Growth in the United States, our largest and most profitable region, continues to be very strong," Ecolab CEO Christophe Beck <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43626120/ecolab-q4-solid-eps-growth-industrial-and-institutional-acceleration-2025-momentum-and-more">said </a>after fourth-quarter financial results.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44546189/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-59"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="501" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181253/Screenshot-376.png" alt="" class="wp-image-856514" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181253/Screenshot-376.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181253/Screenshot-376-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181253/Screenshot-376-768x385.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>



Nutanix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTNX#NASDAQ">NTNX</a>): The cloud software company saw increased interest from readers during the week. 



In February, Nutanix<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/44007219/nutanix-q2-revenue-rises-16-margins-expand-as-cloud-business-gains-momentum"> reported second-quarter results</a> that included revenue up 16% year-over-year and earnings per share of 56 cents. Both figures beat analyst estimates and led to several analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NTNX/analyst-ratings">raising their price targets </a>on the stock. Nutanix also raised its full-year revenue, operating margin and free cash flow estimates. The company will <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/04/03/3055224/0/en/Nutanix-Announces-2025-NEXT-Event-Lineup-Shape-the-Next-Era-of-AI-Cloud-Native-and-Hybrid-Multicloud-Innovation.html">host </a>the NEXT 2025 event covering sectors like AI and the cloud from May 7 to May 9.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44546189/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-59"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="503" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181309/Screenshot-377.png" alt="" class="wp-image-856515" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181309/Screenshot-377.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181309/Screenshot-377-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181309/Screenshot-377-768x387.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Xylem Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYL#NYSE">XYL</a>): The water technology company saw increased interest from investors during the week. The company will report first-quarter financial results on April 29. 



Analysts expect earnings per share and revenue to increase from last year's first quarter. Xylem beat analyst estimates for earnings per share in the fourth quarter and has beaten estimates in eight of the past 10 quarters overall. The company has beaten analyst revenue estimates in eight of the past 10 quarters.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44546189/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-59"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="502" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181324/Screenshot-378.png" alt="" class="wp-image-856516" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181324/Screenshot-378.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181324/Screenshot-378-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03181324/Screenshot-378-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>



Stay tuned for next week's report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0403" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>



Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44209284/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-56" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March 7</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44333602/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March 14</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44448522/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-58" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March 21</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44546189/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-59">March 28</a></li>
</ul>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/01/43041374/exclusive-how-high-will-sp-500-go-under-donald-trump-in-2025-readers-are-optimistic-26-say-this" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: How High Will S&amp;P 500 Go Under Donald Trump In 2025? Readers Are Optimistic, 26% Say This…</a></li>
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Commodities

Exclusives

Trading Ideas

GOLD

NTNX

Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

The past week was a whirlwind of activity in the cryptocurrency world. From Ripple&#8217;s concerns about the UK&#8217;s crypto regulation to Circle&#8217;s renewed public listing ambitions, and the anticipated Bitcoin price surge, there was no shortage of intriguing developments.



Here&#8217;s a quick recap of the top stories that made headlines.



Ripple Raises Concerns Over UK&#8217;s Crypto Regulation



Blockchain-based payments firm,&nbsp;Ripple, voiced concerns about the UK&#8217;s slow approach to crypto regulation. Ripple&#8217;s Managing Director for the UK and Europe, Cassie Craddock, expressed that British banks are hesitant to adopt Ripple&#8217;s services due to the uncertainty surrounding crypto laws.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44649174/ripple-warns-uk-behind-crypto">Read the full article here.</a>



Circle Eyes $5 Billion Valuation For Upcoming IPO



Circle Internet Financial, the company behind the USDC/USD stablecoin, is reportedly preparing to file for an initial public offering by late April. The crypto-focused fintech is working with&nbsp;JPMorgan Chase (JPM)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Citi&nbsp;as advisors. This marks Circle&#8217;s second major attempt to go public.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44567164/circle-eyes-5-billion-valuation-for-upcoming-initial-public-offering">Read the full article here.</a>



See More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Anthony Pompliano Praises Trump&#8217;s Tariffs As Catalyst For Crypto Innovation



Anthony Pompliano, Founder &amp; CEO of Professional Capital Management, lauded the new tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump. He argued that these tariffs highlight the inefficiencies of traditional financial systems and bolster the case for decentralized finance solutions like Bitcoin.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44625640/anthony-pompliano-praises-trumps-tariffs-as-catalyst-for-crypto-innovation">Read the full article here.</a>



Bitcoin Set for April Price Surge As Fed Signals Monetary Easing



Despite recent drops in cryptocurrency prices due to inflation concerns and tariff threats from President Donald Trump, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are projected to experience a price surge in April. This follows hints from the Federal Reserve about possible monetary easing. Arthur Hayes, a prominent crypto trader and BitMex co-founder, anticipates a Bitcoin price boom in April.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44552659/bitcoin-set-for-april-price-surge-as-fed-signals-monetary-easing">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump's Tariff Surprise Sends Recession Bets Soaring on Polymarket



Cryptocurrency bettors significantly increased their expectations of a U.S. recession after President Donald Trump's underwhelming &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariff announcement. On Polymarket, the odds for the &#8220;US recession in 2025?&#8221; contract jumped from 46% to 54% within 24 hours. Just a week earlier, the probability stood at 38%.



<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44640419/recession-in-2025-crypto-betters-now-see-over-50-probability-after-trumps-sweeping-tariff-rollout">Read the full article here</a>.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44647456/bitcoin-xrp-diversion" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Consolidates, But XRP May Have Topped: What&#8217;s Driving This Diversion?</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ananya Gairola</a>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

Media

Ripple's Crypto Warning, Circle's IPO Ambitions, And Bitcoin's Anticipated Surge: This Week In Crypto

The past week was a rollercoaster ride for global markets, largely due to President Donald Trump&#8217;s new trade tariffs. The tariffs, aimed at reducing America&#8217;s $1.2 trillion annual trade deficit, have sparked a flurry of reactions from economists, investors, and market observers. Here&#8217;s a quick recap of the top stories that shaped the week.



Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Reciprocal Tariff&#8217; Math



President Trump&#8217;s tariff calculations have raised eyebrows among experts. James Surowiecki, a writer for The Atlantic and Fast Company, questioned the credibility of the figures shared by the White House, calling them &#8220;dumb and deceptive.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44622346/trumps-reciprocal-tariff-math-a-masterclass-in-economic-absurdity">Read the full article here.</a>



Wall Street Wipes Out $2 Trillion



Trump&#8217;s new trade tariffs sent shockwaves through global markets, triggering a massive sell-off. Wall Street saw a staggering $2 trillion in market cap erased in a single day, with the U.S.'s biggest 10 companies shedding $1 trillion alone.&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) plunged 8.7%, wiping out nearly $300 billion in value.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44645172/china-retaliates-with-34-tariff-on-all-us-imports-urges-trump-to-immediately-cancel-the-tariffs-calls-for-negotiation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Retaliates With 34% Tariff On All US Imports, Urges Trump To Immediately Cancel The Tariffs, Calls For Negotiation</a>



Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Liberation Day&#8217; Tariff Label Is Orwellian Doublespeak: Dr. Doom



Economist Nouriel Roubini criticized President Trump's declaration of "Liberation Day," marking the imposition of new tariffs. Roubini described the term as "literally Orwellian doublespeak," suggesting that the tariffs would lead to "lower growth and higher inflation."



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44620056/dr-doom-nouriel-roubini-trumps-liberation-day-tariff-label-is-orwellian-doublespeak-us-playing-with-fire">Read the full article here.</a>



Larry Summers Warns Trump&#8217;s Tariffs Will Deliver &#8216;Oil Crisis-Like Shock&#8217;



Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers warned that President Trump‘s tariffs will cause an "oil crisis-like shock" to the economy, spiking prices and unemployment while shrinking productive capacity.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44623179/larry-summers-warns-trumps-tariffs-will-deliver-oil-crisis-like-shock-slash-30-trillion-from-economy-as-markets-plunge">Read the full article here.</a>



Lutnick Says Markets Will Do &#8216;Extremely Well&#8217; Long-Term



Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick believes the Trump Administration's reciprocal tariffs will cause some short-term pain, but ultimately result in medium- and longer-term gain.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44630931/commerce-secretary-lutnick-says-us-markets-will-perform-extremely-well-long-term-despite-trump-tariff-selloff">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44643368/donald-trump-says-market-is-going-to-boom-claiming-6-7-trillion-worth-of-inflows-will-come" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump Says &#8216;Market Is Going To Boom,&#8217; Claiming &#8216;$6-7 Trillion&#8217; Worth Of Inflows Will Come After The Worst Selloff Since 2020</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ananya Gairola</a>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Economics

Trump's Tariffs Stir Global Markets, Wall Street Loses $2 Trillion, And More: This Week In Economics

Global markets plunged in the first week of the new quarter after President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on Wednesday—an event <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44616760/donald-trump-sets-reciprocal-tariffs-on-key-trade-partners-in-historic-policy-shock">he dubbed "Liberation Day."</a>



Trump unveiled a set of retaliatory tariffs with differentiated rates depending on the trading partner. The announcement sparked backlash from analysts, who criticized the methodology and raised fears of retaliation <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44647999/trumps-tariff-war-could-take-us-tech-industry-back-a-decade-while-china-steam-rolls-ahead-analyst-says">from global trade partners.</a>



China, the country with which the U.S. has the largest trade deficit, was hit with a steep 34% tariff, prompting Beijing to respond with similar countermeasures by the end of the week. The escalation marked the beginning of a new global trade war between the world's two largest economies.



Other key trading partners were also targeted: the European Union faced a 20% tariff, Japan 24%, and India 26%. Canada and Mexico were spared, as long as their exports complied with USMCA provisions.



The surprise severity of the measures sent shockwaves through markets, surpassing even the most pessimistic forecasts. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44645518/strong-jobs-report-offers-hope-but-will-it-be-enough-to-counter-tariff-turmoil">A strong March jobs report</a> offered little reassurance to investors, who remain focused on the looming economic fallout from rising tariffs.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trillions Of Wealth Evaporates As Stocks Crash </h3>



Trillions of dollars in market value were wiped <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">out from Wall Street</a>. 



The S&amp;P 500 Index recorded its worst weekly decline since March 2020, when markets were devastated by the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns.



With the S&amp;P 500 plunging 10.5% over Thursday and Friday, this marks only the fourth time such a sharp two-day drawdown has occurred in modern market history—joining October 1987, September 2008, March 2020, and now April 2025.



The Nasdaq 100 plunged more than 20% from its February all-time high, officially <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44647678/nasdaq-100-enters-bear-market-dow-in-correction-territory-as-traders-anxiously-await-powell-remarks">entering bear market territory.</a>



Mega-cap tech stocks led the rout, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) posting its worst two-day drop since October 2008. 



Financial stocks also suffered steep losses, with double-digit declines across JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Citigroup Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), and others.



Oil prices bore the brunt of the sell-off. Crude dropped 10% on the week, hitting a four-year low, pressured by weakening demand expectations and a surprise announcement from OPEC+. The cartel disclosed plans for a larger-than-expected production hike starting in May, raising fears of an oversupply in global energy markets.



On Friday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell failed to soothe market concerns, reiterating "no hurry" on interest rate cuts and highlighting that the new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44648681/powell-cites-tariff-driven-inflation-risks-shrugs-off-trumps-call-for-perfect-time-to-cut-rates">tariffs could fuel inflation.</a>



Meanwhile, Trump continued to publicly pressure the central bank, stating that now is the "perfect time" to lower interest rates.



Also on Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the tariff plan, attributing the roots of the market collapse instead to China's DeepSeek AI breakthrough.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44652055/its-more-a-mag-seven-problem-than-a-maga-one-treasury-secretary-says-as-wall-street-meltdowns">&#8216;It&#8217;s More A Mag 7 Problem Than A MAGA One,&#8217; Says Bessent As Wall Street Implodes</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Equities

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Macro Economic Events

Regulations

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

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ETFs

Trump Tariffs Trigger Wall Street Bloodbath, S&P 500 Notches Worst Weekly Drop Since 2020: This Week In Markets

The past week has been a rollercoaster ride for the auto industry, with major headlines revolving around&nbsp;Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>),&nbsp;Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>),&nbsp;General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), and&nbsp;Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>). From Tesla&#8217;s anticipated first-quarter delivery figures to the impact of Trump&#8217;s tariffs on Detroit automakers, there&#8217;s a lot to unpack. Let&#8217;s dive in.



Tesla&#8217;s Q1 Deliveries: A Potential Miss?



The first quarter delivery numbers from Tesla are eagerly awaited, especially in light of recent boycotts and reported sales dips in certain European regions. Analysts are predicting around 377,000 deliveries, but traders at Kalshi are less optimistic, forecasting a miss.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/previews/25/04/44593138/tesla-q1-deliveries-preview-analysts-forecast-377k-but-kalshi-traders-predict-a-miss">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump Tariffs Worry Detroit Automakers



Executives at&nbsp;Ford&nbsp;and&nbsp;GM&nbsp;are working to reassure their employees amidst the challenges posed by President Trump&#8217;s 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/03/44574393/ford-gm-executives-address-trump-tariffs-in-internal-memos-aimed-to-reassure-employees-report">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/24/01/36615986/top-10-bestselling-electric-vehicles-in-u-s-2023-where-do-tesla-ford-general-motors-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 10 Bestselling Electric Vehicles In U.S. 2023: Where Do Tesla, Ford, General Motors Rank?</a>



Rivian CEO Calls For More Affordable EVs In The US



Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe expressed his concern at the Nvidia GTC conference about the US lagging behind China in EV market share. He emphasized the need for more EVs priced under $50,000 in the US market. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/44598035/rivian-ceo-says-us-needs-more-under-50k-evs-to-catch-up-to-china-you-have-to-have-the-plumbing-right">Read the full article here.</a>



Tesla&#8217;s Sales Dip In 2025: A Result Of Musk Backlash?



Market experts are bracing for a potential downturn in Tesla&#8217;s sales this year, with the brand&#8217;s recent struggles being a major concern. Tesla&#8217;s Q1 deliveries have already seen a 13% decrease, the lowest in nearly three years.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44646680/tesla-to-face-steeper-sales-dip-in-2025-amid-growing-backlash-against-elon-musk-report">Read the full article here.</a>



XPeng&#8217;s Record Q1 EV Sales In China



Chinese electric vehicle company&nbsp;XPeng Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NYSE">XPEV</a>)&nbsp;reported a record surge in its Q1 EV sales. In March alone, XPeng delivered 33,205 Smart EVs, marking a 268% growth and surpassing 30,000 units for the fifth consecutive month.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44582215/chinas-xpeng-clocks-record-q1-ev-sales-deliveries-surge-3-6x">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44635878/tesla-shares-are-falling-today-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Shares Are Falling Today: What&#8217;s Going On?</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ananya Gairola</a>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

RIVN

TSLA

XPEV

Tesla's Q1 Delivery Predictions, Trump Tariffs, And China's EV Dominance:  This Week In Mobility

The past week was filled with intriguing stories, from the Trump administration&#8217;s backing of a Biden-era project to a lawsuit over China tariffs. Members of Congress are trading Tesla stock, while Trump&#8217;s stance on cannabis policy remains unclear. Lastly, the President sets up a new entity to manage the CHIPS Act. Here&#8217;s a quick recap of these stories.



Trump&#8217;s Administration Backs Biden&#8217;s Legacy Project



The Trump administration has shown support for the Lobito Corridor, a project initiated by former President Joe Biden. The transcontinental railway project aims to link resource-rich areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to Angola&#8217;s Atlantic port of Lobito. This move is expected to strengthen the West&#8217;s critical minerals supply chain.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44644390/trumps-administration-backs-bidens-legacy-project-to-secure-african-resources">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump Faces Lawsuit Over China Tariffs



President Donald Trump is facing a lawsuit over the 20% tariffs imposed on Chinese goods. The lawsuit, filed by the New Civil Liberties Alliance on behalf of a Florida-based small business, challenges Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44639682/trump-gets-sued-over-china-tariffs-congress-did-not-grant-presidents-blank-check-to-write-domestic-policy">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44639682/trump-gets-sued-over-china-tariffs-congress-did-not-grant-presidents-blank-check-to-write-domestic-policy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Gets Sued Over China Tariffs: Congress Did Not Grant Presidents &#8216;Blank Check To Write Domestic Policy&#8217;</a>



Congress Members Trading Tesla Stock 



Seven members of Congress have bought and sold Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) stock since the 2024 presidential election. The rising price of Tesla stock in 2024 following Trump&#8217;s election win may have boosted the wealth of these Congress members.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44614311/7-congress-members-have-bought-and-sold-tesla-stock-since-2024-election-a-look-at-the-republicans-and-democrats-betting-on-ev-giant">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump&#8217;s Stance on Cannabis Policy 



Despite receiving praise from a pro-cannabis PAC during his campaign, President Trump seems to be in no rush to make significant changes to cannabis policy. A White House official stated that &#8220;no action is being considered at this time&#8221; regarding marijuana policy.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/25/04/44593274/trump-gets-fawning-praise-from-pro-cannabis-pac-but-hes-not-returning-the-sentiment">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump Sets Up New Entity for CHIPS Act



Days after criticizing the CHIPS Act as a &#8216;horrible thing,&#8217; President Trump has set up a new entity within the Commerce Department to manage the CHIPS and Science Act, 2022. The United States Investment Accelerator will now oversee the CHIPS Act program.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44584283/days-after-calling-the-chips-act-a-horrible-thing-donald-trump-sets-up-new-entity-for-negotiating-much-better-deals-heres-more">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/03/44575791/lindsey-graham-dodges-third-term-question-after-trump-makes-it-amply-clear-hes-not-joking-about-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lindsey Graham Dodges Third Term Question After Trump Makes It Amply Clear He&#8217;s Not Joking About It</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/Rounak-Jain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rounak Jain</a>

Politics

Trump Backs Biden's Project, China Tariffs, Tesla Stock, Cannabis Policy, And The CHIPS Act: This Week In Politics

Benzinga examined the prospects for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.



Wall Street reeled this week as President Donald Trump's new global tariffs and hawkish Fed signals rattled investors. The tariffs triggered broad selloffs, dragging the S&amp;P 500 to its worst weekly loss since the pandemic's onset in 2020.



Stocks tumbled Thursday and Friday, with tech and consumer names especially hard-hit, as traders braced for higher costs and retaliatory trade risks. Concerns mounted over how renewed trade tensions could disrupt supply chains and weigh on corporate margins.



At the same time, Federal Reserve officials signaled fewer rate cuts ahead, compounding fears and sending bond yields higher, further pressuring equities across sectors.



Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.



The Bulls



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44645277/why-is-ev-maker-mullen-automotive-stock-skyrocketing-today">"Why Is EV Maker Mullen Automotive Stock Skyrocketing Today?"</a>, by Shivani Kumaresan, reports that Mullen Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MULN#NASDAQ">MULN</a>) shares surged over 80% after the EV maker secured a $50 million funding commitment and reaffirmed it won't pursue a reverse stock split.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44589883/why-cloudastructure-stock-is-soaring-tuesday">"Why Cloudastructure Stock Is Soaring Tuesday"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Cloudastructure Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLOU#OTC">CLOU</a>) shares jumped over 40% after the company reported a 161% year-over-year revenue increase in its fiscal fourth quarter and a significantly narrowed net loss.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/04/44597023/trumps-tariffs-could-spark-reshoring-boom-for-these-4-us-stocks">"Trump's Tariffs Could Spark Reshoring Boom For These 4 US Stocks"</a>, by Erica Kollman, explores how new U.S. tariffs and China's response could boost reshoring plays like Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>), Eaton Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETN#NYSE">ETN</a>), General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>), and Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EMR#NYSE">EMR</a>).



For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44634431/altimeters-brad-gerstner-builds-up-nvidia-stake-after-trump-tariffs-applauds-semiconductor-exception">Altimeter's Brad Gerstner Builds Up Nvidia Stake After Trump Tariffs, Applauds Semiconductor Exception</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/04/44610672/stock-of-the-day-will-johnson-johnson-rally-the-sell-off-may-have-ended">Stock Of The Day: Will Johnson &amp; Johnson Rally? The Sell-Off May Have Ended</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44645518/strong-jobs-report-offers-hope-but-will-it-be-enough-to-counter-tariff-turmoil">Strong Jobs Report Offers Hope — But Will It Be Enough To Counter Tariff Turmoil?</a>



The Bears



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44629275/nike-stock-is-tumbling-thursday-heres-why">"Nike Stock Is Tumbling Thursday: Here's Why"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) shares fell after Citigroup downgraded the stock to Neutral, citing weak consumer demand in China and concerns about the company's long-term growth strategy.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/offerings/25/04/44627275/lucid-stock-is-hitting-the-brakes-thursday-whats-driving-the-action">"Lucid Stock Is Hitting The Brakes Thursday: What's Driving The Action"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reveals that Lucid Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>) shares dropped after the EV maker announced a $1 billion stock offering backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, raising dilution concerns among investors.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44632479/retail-stocks-slammed-as-trumps-tariff-plan-sends-shockwaves-through-sector">"Retail Stocks Slammed As Trump's Tariff Plan Sends Shockwaves Through Sector"</a>, by Erica Kollman, reports that the new tariffs triggered a selloff in major retailers including Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), and Target Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) over fears of rising costs and inflation.



For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/04/44645278/coinbase-stock-drops-into-a-death-cross-will-xrp-futures-be-its-comeback-catalyst">Coinbase Stock Drops Into A Death Cross: Will XRP Futures Be Its Comeback Catalyst?</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44647678/nasdaq-100-enters-bear-market-dow-in-correction-territory-traders-await-fed-chair-powells-remarks">Nasdaq 100 Enters Bear Market, Dow In Correction Territory, Traders Await Fed Chair Powell's Remarks</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44618811/trump-tariffs-trigger-sell-off-on-holding-ast-spacemobile-lululemon-shopify-robinhood-tank">Trump Tariffs Trigger Sell-Off: On Holding, AST SpaceMobile, Lululemon, Shopify, Robinhood Tank</a>



Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following <a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> on X</a>.



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Markets

CLOU

LCID

MULN

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Nike, Target, And Walmart Among Hardest-Hit Following Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariffs

Charlie Munger wasn't just Warren Buffett's right-hand man—Buffett once called him the "architect of Berkshire Hathaway." He was a machine of rational thinking, known for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44146342/charlie-munger-said-he-was-passionate-about-getting-rich-but-not-because-i-wanted-ferraris-i-wanted-the-independence">cutting through Wall Street hype</a> with a few words sharper than most analysts' full reports. But even the sharpest minds miss the mark now and then.



In 2021, Munger made a bold bet on Alibaba (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>). He didn't whisper it either—he went all in through the Daily Journal Corporation, where he served as chairman, snapping up 165,000 shares of the Chinese tech giant. As the price dropped, he doubled down, building the position to over 600,000 shares—worth about $72 million and nearly 30% of the portfolio.



Then came the U-turn.



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<li>Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.55 per share now</a>.</li>



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The same man who had praised Alibaba's strategic positioning in China's internet ecosystem called the move "one of the worst mistakes I ever made." At the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/9VVPO3KWj3A?si=f8EWUfxwW4Gj27K0">Daily Journal's 2023 annual meeting</a>, Munger admitted:



"I got charmed by the idea of their position in the Chinese internet; I didn't stop to realize they're still a goddamn retailer. It's going to be a competitive business, the internet — it's not going to be a cakewalk for everybody."



He also added, "I keep rubbing my own nose in my own mistakes like I'm doing now because I think it's good for myself."



Alibaba's stock had been battered by regulatory crackdowns, founder Jack Ma's disappearing act, and a broader market chill toward Chinese companies. Munger criticized Ma directly, <a href="https://youtu.be/NZzv2GJxRaw?si=YzvigfQEJ1CXEtkK">calling him "very arrogant"</a> for publicly taking shots at Chinese regulators.



Trending: The secret weapon in billionaire investor portfolios that you almost certainly don't own yet. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">See which asset class has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 (1995-2024) – and with near-zero correlation.</a>



At that point, it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44238467/warren-buffett-shares-biggest-investing-mistakes-433m-deal-that-cost-berkshire-billions-and-trillion-dollar-tech-stocks-he-missed">seemed like a rare Munger misfire</a>. The stock had nearly halved, and Daily Journal started trimming its stake. By Q1 2024, the holding was down to 195,000 shares—worth just $16.5 million at the time.



But then something happened.



Since Munger's death in November 2023, Alibaba stock has rebounded—hard. It's up 74% <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/charlie-munger-alibaba-stock-ma-mistake-china-tech-byd-buffett-2025-3">according to Business Insider</a>, driven by surprisingly strong earnings and a push into artificial intelligence. In February, Alibaba blew past analyst expectations, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250219393026/en/Alibaba-Group-Announces-December-Quarter-2024-Results">reporting $38.5 billion in revenue</a> and EPS of $2.93. AI products racked up triple-digit growth for six quarters in a row.



So was it really one of the worst mistakes of his investing career?



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.



Maybe not. The rebound doesn't erase the pain of mistiming or the political risks Munger flagged. But the story of Alibaba now reads less like a disaster and more like a case of brutal short-term volatility that clouded long-term potential.



The Daily Journal still holds its smaller stake. Whether that holding grows again remains to be seen—but it's clear that what looked like a major blunder may have just needed more time.



Munger often said, "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44065682/charlie-munger-shared-advice-for-the-young-but-it-applies-to-all-if-youve-got-anything-you-really-want-to-do-dont-wait-until-youre-93">All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I'll never go there</a>." Turns out, even he couldn't always predict which bets would live and which would come roaring back from the grave.



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BABA

Charlie Munger Called Alibaba 'One of the Worst Mistakes I Ever Made'—Now It's Up 74% Since His Death, and That 'Goddamn Retailer' Is Surging

Many Americans face a critical decision as they approach retirement: when to start collecting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44552524/sen-angus-king-on-social-security-whats-going-on-is-the-destruction-of-the-agency-from-the-inside-out-and-its-accelerating">Social Security benefits</a>. While some opt to claim as early as age 62, financial expert Suze Orman warns that this decision could be a major mistake.&nbsp;



On a recent episode of her &#8220;<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/suze-ormans-women-and-money/suze-school-your-must-do-s-for-right-now">Women &amp; Money</a>&#8221; podcast, Orman urged listeners to rethink early Social Security claims, emphasizing that fears about the program's future shouldn't dictate financial choices.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Fear of Social Security Running Out</h2>



Orman acknowledges that many people are worried about the long-term stability of Social Security. She said that some individuals rush to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/43036312/grab-the-money-while-you-can-grant-cardones-unconventional-advice-for-those-eligible-for-social-security">claim benefits early</a>, fearing that if they wait, the system might collapse and they won't receive anything at all. However, she told her listeners to stop thinking that way because "you could be sabotaging your financial future."



Orman said that Social Security is a foundational part of financial security for millions of Americans and that it isn't going away any time soon.&nbsp;



"If they were to do something like that or if Social Security all of a sudden stopped sending you checks because the whole system crashed, there would be such an uproar," she said.&nbsp;



Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Delaying Benefits Pays Off</h2>



Orman has consistently recommended waiting until age 70 to claim Social Security. By delaying, retirees can significantly increase their monthly payments. Under current rules, claiming at 62 results in reduced benefits, while waiting until full retirement age — age 66 or 67 depending on when you were born — allows recipients to receive 100% of their benefits. Those who hold off until 70 can receive even more — up to 32% higher than what they would get at full retirement age.



Orman cautioned against making hasty decisions based on fear, urging people to consider the long-term benefits of waiting. "Don&#8217;t claim at 67 when you were going to wait till 70 because you&#8217;re afraid that if you&#8217;re not already claiming that therefore you&#8217;ll maybe be cut," she advised.



See Also: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Potential Changes to Social Security</h2>



While Orman reassured listeners that Social Security won't disappear, she acknowledged that changes to the program are likely. Instead of cutting benefits for current recipients, she believes lawmakers may gradually <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44552100/i-have-no-doubt-theyre-going-to-raise-the-full-retirement-age-possibly-to-70-suze-orman-weighs-in-on-social-security-fears">increase the eligibility age</a> for future retirees. "What they&#8217;re going to do is, like I told you before, they will postpone the age that you can get your Social Security," she explained.



She also pointed out that recent government layoffs and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44540084/mark-cuban-says-closing-social-security-offices-and-ending-phone-support-is-just-a-back-door-way-to-cut-benefits-calls-it-horrific-for-seniors">office closures</a> could make it harder for people to apply for benefits or get answers to their questions. Orman encouraged listeners to be proactive and call their congresspeople and senators to urge them not to lay off Social Security workers.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Steps to Take Now</h2>



For those concerned about Social Security, Orman recommends taking practical steps to prepare:



<ul>
<li>Create an online "<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/">my Social Security</a>" account to track your benefits.</li>



<li>Gather necessary documents so you&#8217;re ready when it&#8217;s time to apply.</li>



<li>Stay informed about potential policy changes.</li>



<li>Advocate for Social Security resources by reaching out to lawmakers.</li>
</ul>



Ultimately, Orman says patience and planning are key. While uncertainty exists, she remains confident that Social Security will continue to be a cornerstone of retirement planning for millions of Americans.



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Suze Orman Says Stop Collecting Social Security Early Because 'You Could Be Sabotaging Your Financial Future'

In response to President Donald Trump&#8217;s sweeping new tariffs on global imports, Gov. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/gavin-newsom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gavin Newsom</a> (D-Calif.) has directed his administration to pursue new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strategic partnerships with international trading partners.</a>



&#8220;California is not Washington D.C.,&#8221; Newsom said in a video <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/04/04/governor-newsom-directs-state-to-pursue-strategic-relationships-with-international-trading-partners-urges-exemptions-of-california-made-products-from-tariffs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">message</a> Friday, distancing his administration from Trump&#8217;s trade agenda.



Newsom is also calling for California-made products to be exempted from retaliatory tariffs, stressing that the Golden State remains committed to open, fair, and mutually beneficial trade.



The governor&#8217;s directive comes as the Trump administration imposes a 10% baseline tariff <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44656680/trumps-10-tariff-on-most-imports-is-finally-here-taking-effect-saturday" rel="noreferrer noopener">on all imports, triggering global retaliation.</a>



China, one of California&#8217;s largest trade partners, announced a 34% counter-tariff taking effect next week, raising concerns over the future of key industries like agriculture and manufacturing.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44645172/china-retaliates-with-34-tariff-on-all-us-imports-urges-trump-to-immediately-cancel-the-tariffs-calls-for-negotiation" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Retaliates With 34% Tariff On All US Imports, Urges Trump To Immediately Cancel The Tariffs, Calls For Negotiation</a>



Newsom emphasized the importance of protecting California&#8217;s $3.9 trillion economy—now the fifth-largest in the world—including its $675 billion in two-way trade and 1.1 million manufacturing jobs.



California leads the nation in agriculture, high-tech, and venture capital, and is home to 32 of the world&#8217;s top 50 AI companies.



The governor warned that retaliatory tariffs could severely damage California&#8217;s supply chains and export markets, especially for small businesses and farmers already struggling in a difficult economy.



Goods like steel, aluminum, and drywall—essential for rebuilding after recent wildfires—could also see price spikes due to the new tariffs.



Newsom&#8217;s administration will now work to identify partnerships that support cross-border trade, protect critical supply chains, and stabilize industries vulnerable to federal trade disruptions.



California has signed 38 international agreements under Newsom, reflecting a long-standing commitment to global cooperation.



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Shutterstock: Sheila Fitzgerald

General

Newsom Seeks Direct Trade Deals With Other Nations: 'California Is Not Washington D.C.'

Most people dream about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44133292/it-takes-money-to-make-money-is-an-excuse-broke-people-make-dave-ramseys-response-to-caller-seeking-advice-about-200k-inheritance">inheriting a chunk of money</a> or property. What they don't talk about? The fallout. The phone calls. The "we were so close" relatives who magically reappear when there's money on the table. Just ask Jeffrey.



At 32, Jeffrey <a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/newsroom/ramsey-syndication/Dave-Says--You-Haven--39-t-Done-Anything-Wrong">wrote to Dave Ramsey</a> with what seemed like a classic personal finance win: debt-free except for his house, a close bond with his grandmother, and a surprise inheritance. She left him everything—her home, property, and about $300,000 in cash. But instead of congratulations, he got side-eyes and accusations from family members who claim he turned their grandmother against them.



"I never asked her for anything," he wrote. "I just helped take care of her."



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Ramsey's response? Straight to the point: "It was your grandmother's stuff, so it was her decision. Period."



And he didn't stop there. While offering compassion, he cut through the guilt trip others were laying on thick. "No one in your family—even you—deserved anything from her," he wrote. "She could've spread it around, but she didn't. She had her reasons."



That's not just tough love—it's true.



When someone dies, their will speaks for them. It's not a group vote. And despite how common inheritance drama is, most Americans won't even receive one. According to <a href="https://news.northwesternmutual.com/2024-08-06-As-90-Trillion-Great-Wealth-Transfer-Approaches,-Just-1-in-4-Americans-Expect-to-Leave-an-Inheritance">Northwestern Mutual's 2024 Planning &amp; Progress Study</a>, just 26% of Americans expect to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/41987495/the-greatest-wealth-transfer-in-history-is-here-but-72-of-americans-say-theyre-not-ready-for-it">leave behind an inheritance</a> at all. And yet, when someone does leave something meaningful behind, everyone seems to believe they were supposed to be on the list.



Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a>



But Jeffrey didn't ask to be. He helped care for his grandmother because she needed him—not because he expected anything in return.



According to a <a href="https://agewave.com/what-we-do/landmark-research-and-consulting/research-studies/leaving-a-legacy-a-lasting-gift-to-loved-ones/">2018 Merrill Lynch and Age Wave study</a>, two-thirds of Americans agreed that heirs who provided care to aging parents or relatives should receive more than those who didn't. That's exactly the situation Jeffrey was in. He didn't just get her money—he earned her trust.



Still, guilt has a way of creeping in—especially when the people around you are angry. Ramsey understood that. "This is a hard position for you to be in, Jeffrey," he wrote. But he didn't leave room for doubt about who was owed what. "The others aren't entitled to what she had just because they're relatives or they want it."



Some might wonder if Jeffrey should divide the inheritance just to keep the peace. Ramsey didn't say no—but he made it clear that it's a personal choice, not a moral obligation. "This has probably crossed your mind, so I'll go ahead and say it," he wrote. "Generally speaking, it's possible to transfer part of your inheritance to someone else even if it's not specified in the will or trust."



Jeffrey could do that if he wants. But depending on the state, he might need court approval to make it happen. And if the family wants to contest the will, they can try. But that doesn't mean it'll end well.



"One possible outcome is you might have to spend the money she left fighting them in court," Ramsey warned.



So yes, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/06/39556597/dave-ramseys-sage-advice-to-36-year-old-who-inherited-millions-do-not-put-money-in-something-you">Jeffrey inherited the house</a>. He inherited $300,000. But he also inherited the drama—the accusations, the pressure, the tension no one wants to talk about at the next holiday dinner. It's the kind of situation that shows how quickly people can rewrite family history when there's a dollar sign involved.



But according to Ramsey, there's one thing that shouldn't get lost in all of this: his grandmother already made her decision.



"The lady left what she left. There's no more."



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32-Year-Old Tells Dave Ramsey He Feels Guilty After Being Only One To Inherit Grandma's Home and $300K — 'No One Deserved Anything From Her'

President Donald Trump&#8216;s 25% tariffs on auto imports have sent shockwaves through the integrated North American automotive supply chain, prompting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44630499/trump-auto-tariffs-could-up-car-prices-by-15k-analyst-calls-it-pure-chaos">divergent responses from major manufacturers</a> as United Auto Workers leadership criticizes job cuts.



What Happened: Stellantis NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>) announced Thursday it will temporarily lay off 900 workers at five U.S. facilities and pause production at assembly plants in Mexico and Canada. The affected U.S. sites include Warren Stamping, Sterling Stamping, Indiana Transmission Plant, Kokomo Transmission Plant, and Kokomo Casting Plant.



&#8220;We&#8217;re continuing to assess the medium- and long-term effects of these tariffs on our operations, but also have decided to take some immediate actions,&#8221; Antonio Filosa, Stellantis&#8217; chief operating officer for the Americas, wrote in a letter to employees.



In contrast, General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) plans to increase light-duty truck production at its Fort Wayne, Indiana, assembly plant, according to a company webcast viewed by Reuters. The expansion will add 225-250 jobs at the facility, which manufactures Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.



UAW President Shawn Fain criticized Stellantis&#8217; decision, calling the layoffs &#8220;completely unnecessary&#8221; and arguing the company has &#8220;the money, the capacity, the product, and the workforce to employ thousands more UAW members.&#8221;



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Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s tariffs, which also include a 10% baseline on all imports, have sent automaker stocks tumbling. Stellantis shares fell 9.41% in New York trading on Thursday, while GM lost 4.34%.



Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) responded to the tariffs by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44641009/ford-launches-from-america-for-america-discount-program-as-tariffs-threaten-vehicle-price-surge">extending employee pricing to all customers</a> through Jun. 2, a promotion the company described as helping Americans navigate &#8220;uncertain times.&#8221;



Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives called the situation a &#8220;tariff torpedo&#8221; and &#8220;pure chaos&#8221; for the industry, estimating potential price increases of $5,000-$10,000 per vehicle, with luxury models <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44630499/trump-auto-tariffs-could-up-car-prices-by-15k-analyst-calls-it-pure-chaos">seeing hikes up to $15,000</a>.



White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt defended the tariffs <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/karoline-leavitt-trump-tariffs-deportations/">on</a> NewsNation, saying, &#8220;They can expect their wages to go up&#8230; There&#8217;s not going to be any pain for American-owned companies and American workers because their jobs are going to come back home.&#8221;



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STLA

Trump's 25% Auto Tariffs Spark Stellantis Layoffs, GM Expansion: UAW's Shawn Fain Calls Job Cuts 'Completely Unnecessary'

Financial analyst Tom Lee from Fundstrat Global Advisors provided his analysis on the market&#8217;s response and potential tactics behind the White House&#8217;s actions.



What Happened: On Thursday, in a conversation with StockMKTNewz, Tom Lee gave his viewpoint on the repercussions of the sudden tariff rates declared by the Trump administration. The rates, 46% on Vietnam and 34% on China, were calculated based on trade deficits, a departure from traditional tariff methodologies, and were much harsher than expected.



Lee characterized these rates as &#8220;absurd,&#8221; comparing them to a &#8220;dark comedy&#8221; due to their arbitrary nature and lack of economic rationale. The immediate market reaction was a significant 3.5% opening gap down in the S&amp;P 500, marking the seventh largest negative opening gap in 40 years.



Trump&#8217;s tariff wiped out around $2.5 trillion from the U.S. stock market. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Tom Lee&#039;s BIG Takes After Tariff Liberation Day: Exclusive StockMKTNewz Interview" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HC6V1B7PceI?start=169&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



As earnings season nears, Lee expects companies with solid fundamentals and limited exposure to tariff-impacted supply chains to stand out as &#8220;superpower companies.&#8221;



Lee believes Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) remains stable because the market has already accounted for the worst-case scenario, potentially setting the stage for a V-shaped recovery. Strong performers like Palantir (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), and Strategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), previously MicroStrategy, further indicate that market leaders are stabilizing rather than declining further.



&#8220;I expect a V-shaped recovery, but the timing is now a bit harder to judge because we don't really have the band-aid completely ripped off until April 9th.&#8221;



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44642355/trumps-25-auto-tariffs-spark-stellantis-layoffs-gm-expansion-uaws-shawn-fain-calls-job-cuts-comp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s 25% Auto Tariffs Spark Stellantis Layoffs, GM Expansion: UAW&#8217;s Shawn Fain Calls Job Cuts &#8216;Completely Unnecessary&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: Despite the initial market panic, Lee maintains a cautious optimism, arguing that the economic impact may not be as catastrophic as feared. He pointed out the benefit&nbsp;of falling bond yields: for&nbsp;every 10 basis points the&nbsp;10-year Treasury yield drops, the&nbsp;U.S. saves $36 billion in&nbsp;debt service costs.



Lee sees the White House&#8217;s silence as a calculated strategy to create panic&nbsp;among trading partners, maximizing negotiating&nbsp;leverage until the April 9&nbsp;deadline. He believes this approach is primarily aimed&nbsp;at the EU and China,&nbsp;the two regions most critical&nbsp;to U.S. trade dynamics.



Tom Lee called the market sell-off <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44244329/tom-lee-predicts-market-stabilization-following-mondays-overreaction-foresees-may-rate-cut">amid recession fears</a> during mid-March an &#8220;overreaction&#8221;. Even earlier this week, Lee wrote on X, "Markets are deeply oversold," adding that "too many are only pricing in ‘worst case&#8217;" scenarios. 



Despite the market turmoil, Lee encouraged investors to remain resilient,&nbsp;predicting a sharp bounce around&nbsp;April 9 as negotiations progress&nbsp;and the VIX subsides.



<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/03/44575557/mark-cuban-says-if-they-replaced-elon-musk-with-him-hes-still-try-to-make-government-smaller-by-cutting-a-lot-of-people" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Says, If They Replaced Elon Musk With Him, He&#8217;ll Still Try to Make Government Smaller By &#8216;Cutting A Lot Of People&#8217; &#8211; Benzinga</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

$BTC

MSTR

PLTR

Tom Lee Slams Trump's 'Absurd' Tariff Hike — Expects A 'Recovery' But Says Timing Is Uncertain As Market Sheds $2.5 Trillion In A Day

The past week was a whirlwind of AI-related news, with tech giants&nbsp;Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>),&nbsp;Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), and&nbsp;OpenAI&nbsp;making significant strides in the field. From AI roasting tech leaders to the unveiling of new AI models, the week was filled with exciting developments. Let&#8217;s dive into the top stories.



Microsoft&#8217;s AI Copilot Roasts Tech Leaders



In a humorous twist during Microsoft&#8217;s 50th-anniversary celebrations, the company&#8217;s AI assistant, Copilot, took the opportunity to roast tech leaders Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, and Steve Ballmer. The event was part of a special interview designed to celebrate Microsoft&#8217;s legacy.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44656079/bill-gates-satya-nadella-and-steve-ballmer-get-roasted-by-microsofts-ai-copilot-lets-spice-it-up">Read the full article here.</a>



Alibaba Challenges DeepSeek with Qwen 3



Chinese tech giant Alibaba plans to release an upgraded version of its flagship AI model, Qwen 3, by April. This move comes as China&#8217;s tech leaders are flooding the market with affordable AI services, following the success of a robust model by domestic AI startup, DeepSeek.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44625580/alibaba-steps-up-ai-game-with-qwen-3-challenging-deepseeks-low-cost-ai-success">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/03/44402199/elon-musks-first-ex-wife-says-she-sucked-at-being-his-trophy-wife-and-recalls-him-saying-if-you-were-my-employee-i-would-fire-you" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s First Ex-Wife Says She &#8216;Sucked&#8217; At Being His Trophy Wife And Recalls Him Saying: &#8216;If You Were My Employee, I Would Fire You&#8217; &#8211; Benzinga</a>



Peter Thiel-Backed Sentient Takes Aim at Closed AI Systems



Sentient, a San Francisco-based AI development lab backed by Peter Thiel&#8217;s Founder's Fund, has unveiled its open-source AI search framework. The company positions its work as a response to China&#8217;s DeepSeek, claiming that its Open Deep Search (ODS) framework outperforms major closed-source competitors.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/44620834/peter-thiel-backed-nonprofit-sentient-aims-to-be-americas-deepseek-takes-aim-at-closed-ai-systems">Read the full article here.</a>



Mark Cuban Sees AI as a Growth Engine



Billionaire investor Mark Cuban dismisses concerns that artificial intelligence will drive deflation. Instead, he believes that AI will be a massive driver of innovation and productivity, dubbing it the &#8220;greatest growth and productivity engine ever.&#8221;



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44600269/mark-cuban-argues-ais-new-sht-will-drive-growth-not-deflation">Read the full article here.</a>



OpenAI Plans to Release Open-Weight AI Model



OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced plans to release a new open-weight language model with reasoning capabilities in the coming months. This move may have been influenced by the success of DeepSeek's R1 model and the growing popularity of Meta Platforms, Inc.'s Llama models.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44577187/sam-altman-led-openai-releases-open-weight-ai-model-with-reasoning-capabilities-as-deepseek-and-meta-taste-success">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44645172/china-retaliates-with-34-tariff-on-all-us-imports-urges-trump-to-immediately-cancel-the-tariffs-calls-for-ne" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Retaliates With 34% Tariff On All US Imports, Urges Trump To Immediately Cancel The Tariffs, Calls For Negotiation</a>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/Rounak-Jain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rounak Jain</a>

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AI Takes Center Stage With Microsoft, Alibaba's Qwen 3, And OpenAI's Open-Weight AI Model: This Week In AI

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