The winners of the James Beard Awards were announced this week, crowning the best establishments and biggest players in the restaurant industry. Known as the Oscars of the culinary world, a panel of over 600 judges selected winners in 23 different categories, from "Rising Star Chef" to "Design Icon." 

This year, the title of "Best New Restaurant" went to New York City's Le Coucou. Opened in June 2016, the French restaurant is helmed by Chef Daniel Rose — who also runs the Paris-based Spring — and famed restaurateur Stephen Starr. 

Le Coucou has earned plenty of praise for its delicious dishes as well as its charming dining-room setting. It was given a three-star review by New York Times food critic Pete Wells back in November. Below, take a look inside America's best new restaurant.  

SEE ALSO: We took a helicopter to dinner at the Rockefeller Estate with the most powerful business players you've never heard of

Le Coucou is located in 11 Howard, a boutique hotel in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BQiz6AohCHc/embed/
Width: 658px

The restaurant opened its doors with a dinner menu in June 2016.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BNe38rsBjwX/embed/
Width: 658px

Aside from the beautiful dining room, there's also a gorgeous bar that serves a variety of cocktails, like a pear cider that comes with white vermouth and yellow chartreuse.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BS9ygctAksp/embed/
Width: 658px

Warning: There are major spoilers ahead for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is in theaters this weekend and, after much teasing, we finally know Sylvester Stallone's secret role in the sequel.

He plays Stakar Ogord. But who's that? And what's up with the group we see him with in the end-credits of the movie?

Most of them are the original Guardians of the Galaxy group from the 1969 comics.

If you were confused by the short scene at the end of the film, or weren't sure who all of those celebrity cameos were, we've broken down what you need to know about the Stakar and his friends. 

Sylvester Stallone plays Stakar Ogord who becomes the hero Starhawk.

Stakar was raised by the Reavers, a group of cyborgs. In "Vol. 2" he's a respected leader of the Ravagers, the gang of space pirates from the first film which includes Yondu. In the comics, the character is also known as Starhawk, a hero who has worked alongside the Fantastic Four and Thor and who has a long lifespan.

We didn't see Stallone with any of the comic character's flying abilities so it looks like he may not be Starhawk yet.

Michelle Yeoh ("Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon") plays Aleta Ogord, the female Starhawk.

Aleta's relationship to Stakar is an interesting one. The two grew up as adopted brother and sister before falling in love and getting married. However, the two wound up merged together and trapped in the same body after coming across a Hawk God. Together, they became the superhero Starhawk. Only one of them is able to have control of their body at once, and, for the most part, Stakar is who we see as Starhawk.

They were allowed to be separated at one point to have children; however, they were killed by Aleta's father. From that point on, Aleta always held Stakar responsible. When the two were finally separated, she moved on with another Guardians member, Vance.

Ving Rhames plays tough guy Charlie-27.

Charlie-27 is a space pilot for Jupiter who has teamed up with a lot of different heroes and groups like Thor and Captain America, time-traveling through comics. He also becomes involved in the "Infinity War," which will be the next "Avengers" movie.

The INSIDER Summary:

• Sephora is one of the world's most popular beauty retailers.
• INSIDER asked a Sephora employee to reveal store perks and hacks that most customers don't know about.
• Customers who spend over $50 can score free makeovers, maximize their Beauty Insider points by shopping at select times, and request free samples of almost anything they want.

With so many products to choose from, Sephora is the ultimate place to buy makeup.

And while the store's employees will happily recommend their favorite products, they're less likely to tell you how to maximize your Beauty Insider points or even score free makeup. 

INSIDER spoke with a Sephora employee to find out the secrets that staff members rarely share with customers.

Here's what we learned.

You can return a product after you've used it.

There are two ways to make a return: you can either return an item with your receipt, or the transaction can be searched via your Beauty Insider account.

"The cash wrap coordinator and store leadership check to make sure first that a lot of the product has not been used," the employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, told INSIDER.

So, while you can return an item after you've opened it, it won't be accepted if a considerable amount has been used.

You can ask for a free 45-minute makeover.

Spend more than $50 on a product, or buy products using a gift card valued at $50 or more, and you can get a 45-minute custom makeover for free. This information is on Sephora's website, but most people don't even notice it.

There's just one catch: you have to get the makeover at the time you make your purchase or redeem the gift card.

Also, note that makeovers are only offered at stand-alone Sephora stores in the US and Canada — and not at Sephora inside JCPenney stores.

The staff member helping you is an actual expert.

Sephora employees undergo rigorous training — which includes learning various application techniques and beauty hacks— throughout their careers.

"I have learned so much over these last few months from working at a stand-alone store," the employee said.

"One of the things I love most about working for Sephora is the training," she said. "You are trained when you are first hired, of course, then the rest of the training comes over time."

Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting — a financial pilgrimage that draws throngs of CEO Warren Buffett's admirers from around the world — is on Saturday.

Buffett and his vice chairman, Charlie Munger, will take questions from journalists, analysts, and shareholders for seven hours in Omaha, Nebraska.

The lines to get in to see the two speak starts hours before the sun begins to rise. From the grand arrival of CEOs, to the stampede for seats, to the ice cream breakfast, to the brief moment when you can almost reach out and grab him, it is quite a day. 

Business Insider sent then reporter Myles Udland to Berkshire's annual meeting in 2015 and got the full shareholder experience. This is what it was like: 

I was told to get there by 5:00 a.m. to get a decent seat. It wasn't even dawn and the line is at least a few thousand deep.

A few minutes later, a party bus shows up.

As day begins to break, the crowd is seriously swelling on both sides of the entrance.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• For making smoothies, soups, and more, you can’t beat the convenience of an immersion blender. The Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender is our top pick with its excellent performance, ergonomic design, and ease of use.

Immersion blenders are a dream come true for the smoothie lover, nut-butter maker, or mom who prefers making her own baby food. They’re easy to use, don’t take up much storage space, rinse or wash clean without fuss, and make preparing a fruit-shake breakfast on the run a breeze.

Although you can chop or grind in a food processor and blend or puree in a countertop blender, using an immersion blender – often called a stick or hand blender – makes it so much easier. Once you buy a stick blender, you’ll probably find yourself reaching for it far more often than its larger kitchen cousins.

We researched all the most popular and recommended immersion blenders, looking for those that deliver the most bang for your buck. For the most part, stick blenders are a relatively inexpensive kitchen appliance, so even our top pick won’t break your budget; but just in case, we’ll give you some less expensive choices as well.

What to look for in an immersion blender

Stick blenders are fairly straightforward, but there are a few things to know before choosing one.

• How powerful is the motor? While an immersion blender isn’t going to beat your countertop blender in a duel, an effective stick blender needs at least 200 watts of power. In general, the more power, the better it will do when mixing and chopping ingredients into creamy smoothness.
• How many speeds does it have? The most basic immersion blenders have two speeds, but some offer five or more. While two speeds are perfectly sufficient for occasional mixing or blending, you’ll enjoy having more choices if you use your stick blender regularly. That's especially true if you are chopping nuts or herbs, or mixing thick soups or purees.
• Cord or cordless? While cordless hand blenders are great for use at the office, in a kitchen without many outlets, or while camping, you’ll usually pay for that versatility with less power. However, cordless immersion blenders do have their benefits, so we have a recommendation if you prefer to unplug.
• How about accessories? Less-expensive stick blenders don’t typically include much in the way of accessories, but many models come with some handy extras, such as mixing or chopping cups, whisks, or even an electric knife attachment.
• Plastic or stainless steel? While just about every hand blender has steel blades, the more expensive models typically have stainless steel shafts, as well. Less expensive immersion blenders are likely to have plastic shafts. While not a deal-breaker, plastic is more likely to warp or crack, and white plastic may stain if you frequently mix strongly colored ingredients like tomatoes or beets.
• Is it easy to clean? Some immersion blenders have detachable shafts for easy cleanup in the dishwasher. If not, you’ll have to rinse the shaft and blade assembly by hand.

Choosing your immersion blender

When shopping for a stick blender, consider how you’ll be using it. If you simply want to mix protein powder and water, a basic, inexpensive model will be sufficient. If you love blending thick fruit smoothies, pureed baby food, creamy soups, or homemade mayonnaise, you’ll be happier with a hand blender with several speeds and more power. If you want to chop nuts or herbs, a chopper attachment is a handy accessory.

If you’ll be using your immersion blender regularly, perhaps each morning to whip up a smoothie or power juice, it’s also important to choose a model that feels comfortable in your hand, switches on and off easily, and doesn’t vibrate excessively or become hot during use.

Easy breakfast smoothie

In case you're wondering what you can do with a hand blender, we have a recipe for you to try.

No need to grab a donut or wait online at the nearest coffee shop when you have a hand blender. Instead, quickly whip up a refreshing, healthy breakfast that you can take with you on the busiest mornings.

Blend together:

• 1 small banana
• ½ cup raspberries or strawberries
• 1 small orange
• ½ cup orange juice
• 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

Pour into your favorite travel cup and enjoy!

Although the Breville BSB510XLControl Grip Immersion Blender is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Cuisinart CSB-75BC Smart Stick, the Cuisinart CSB-300 Smart Stick, the OXO On Digital Immersion Blender, and the KitchenAid KHB2561CU 5-Speed Hand Blender.

SEE ALSO: The best espresso machines you can buy

DON'T MISS: The best spice racks you can buy

The best immersion blender overall

Why you’ll love it: Whip it, chop it, mix it, puree it, and blend it: The Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender handles every tasks like a champ.

With 280 watts of power, the Breville Control Grip is strong enough to chop, mix, blend, puree, or emulsify just about anything you are likely to throw at it.

Amazon buyers praised its ability to tackle even tough ingredients like kale and other leafy greens. It’s able to chop ice cubes, too – a task that many lesser immersion blenders struggle with. Plus, the variable-speed control lets you pinpoint your mixing speed with 15 possible settings.

However, it’s the ergonomically designed handle that really sets this immersion blender apart from the competition. Easy to hold, and with trigger operation, your hand won’t feel tired or sore during extended use. In fact, several Amazon buyers commented that even arthritic hands could use this blender comfortably.

The Breville Control Grip offers lots of other great features, as well. The 8-inch shaft reaches easily into soup pots, while the bell-shape design reduces suction and creates more efficient blending. It has a non-scratch guard base, so you won’t damage your pot’s finish, and is made of durable stainless steel.

Reviewers on Amazon loved the fact that the hand blender easily disassembled for dishwasher cleaning, although many commented that it’s easy to simply rinse the blades clean after each use.

You’ll also get several handy accessories with it, including a whisk for beating egg whites or salad dressing ingredients, a 42-ounce blending jar, and a chopper for chopping nuts, herbs, and similar ingredients.

The Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender isn’t just our top pick: it’s also the favorite choice at The Sweethome, which praised its ease of use, ability to handle tough tasks, and creamy-smooth blending results. Consumer Reports also choose the Breville Control Grip as its best pick, giving it a score of 92 out of 100, and commenting on its superb performance in blending frozen fruit into smoothies.

It's a great deal when you consider everything that's included, plus the positive reviews.

Pros: A 6-foot cord, superb performance, additional accessories, and ergonomic design

Cons: It’s a fairly expensive immersion blender

Buy the Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender on Amazon for $99.75 

The best immersion blender for making smoothies

Why you’ll love it: The KitchenAid KHB2561CU 5-Speed Hand Blender is a versatile kitchen tool, but it’s especially strong at blending chunky fruit into creamy, delicious smoothies.

The most popular use for an immersion blender is whipping up fruit or protein smoothies. While all of our picks are great for this purpose, the KitchenAid KHB2561OB 5-Speed Hand Blender is especially good for this task. What makes the KitchenAid so special are its unique interchangeable bell blade assemblies.

Instead of just one blade assembly that has to do it all, the KitchenAid hand blender gives you three: an S-blade assembly for general mixing and pureeing; a multi-purpose blade assembly that makes short work of chopping ice or frozen fruit, and also shreds cooked meat and minces ingredients; as well as a frother and beater blade assembly for whipping coffee drinks, batters, or light and airy smoothies.

All it takes is a simple twist to switch the blades – no struggling or tools required. Perhaps that’s why this model has an average rating of 4.1 with nearly 700 reviews on Amazon.

The KitchenAid 5-speed has more to offer than its interchangeable blades, however. It’s powerful, quiet, and of course, has five speeds to choose from. The 8-inch blending arm is handy for deep pots of soup, or tall smoothie cups.

It also comes with a whisk attachment for making whipped cream, mayonnaise, and salad dressings; a 2.5-cup chopper for tackling nuts, herbs, and cheese; and a 4-cup beaker with lid for use in making smoothies, protein drinks, baby food, and more. KitchenAid even includes a handy storage case, which many Amazon buyers love.  

Reviewers on Amazon also like the soft-grip handle with its easy-to-press power button, which is comfortable to hold even for arthritic hands. Many commented on the rugged stainless steel construction of the blades and shaft, calling the KitchenAid stick blender an extremely versatile kitchen “workhorse” that was a regular part of their daily breakfast routine. It's decently priced, too.

Pros: Interchangeable blade assemblies, ergonomic design, powerful performance, available in three colors

Cons: Some parts are not dishwasher safe

Buy the KitchenAid KHB2561OB 5-Speed Hand Blender in Onyx Black on Amazon for $79.99

The best budget immersion blender

Why you’ll love it: It might have a small price tag, but the Cuisinart CSB-75BC Smart Stick blender boasts big performance.

If you’re looking for a no-frills immersion blender, you can't go wrong with the Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-75BC. For less than $30, you get a high performing immersion blender that can handle almost any task.

At 200 watts, the Cuisinart Smart Stick isn’t a high-powered device, but it still gets the job done with surprisingly good efficiency. While The Sweethome commented that the Smart Stick has a cheaper-feeling handle and overall flimsier feel than the Breville Control Grip, the reviewer added that the Smart Stick blends to a pleasingly thick and creamy texture. 

There are only two speeds to choose from, and you need to keep the power button depressed the entire time you’re using the hand blender, making it a poor choice for those with very weak or arthritic hands, although some Amazon buyers did say that they appreciated the simplicity of a simple squeeze of the button to operate the blender. 

However, many reviewers on Amazon commented that it struggled with raw kale or similar leafy greens, and also had a hard time blending frozen fruit or chopping ice.

One fun feature of the Smart Stick is the wide range of available colors. There’s basic brushed chrome, but also pink, red, orange, pearl white, and several others. The device has a stainless steel, detachable shaft and blade assembly, making it easy to clean in the dishwasher. The motor housing is plastic.

The only included accessory is a 2-cup plastic mixing blender. It's large enough to whip up a smoothie, batch of pureed baby food, dressing for a salad, or protein shake, and it's dishwasher safe.

Although it's not as fancy as some of the other hand blenders on this list, the Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-75BC is the number one best-selling hand blender on Amazon. It has more than 6,200 reviews, and 79 percent of them are four stars and up.

It’s not just Amazon buyers who are impressed: the Smart Stick is Consumer Report’s second choice after the Breville Control Grip, receiving a score of 76 out of 100. The Sweethome likes it as well, calling it surprisingly powerful for its price.

For less than $30, you really can't do better than the Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-75BC.

Pros: The low price, reasonable power, ease of use, and great color choices

Cons: Somewhat flimsy construction, not good for chopping, only two speeds

Buy the Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-75BC in brushed chrome on Amazon for $26.49

The INSIDER Summary:

• Make sure to ask what other venues they have had weddings in and how exactly they approach their designs.
• Be sure to ask how long they've been in the business for. While there's nothing wrong with just starting out, you definitely want someone who has seen it all and won't panic.

Hiring a wedding planner can be a very daunting task. It’s the vendor you’ll be working with the most closely throughout the months leading up to your wedding and the person responsible for bringing your vision to life. With all the talented people out there designing gorgeous weddings, how are you supposed to find the person that’s right for YOU? We sat down with Melissa McNeeley of Events by Melissa McNeeley to find out! Here are the ten questions you should ask every wedding planner you interview to get the conversation started and find THE ONE. 

1. How do you work?

This is one of the first questions a couple should ask a wedding planner when they sit down to talk about the details. Most couples dive into the planning process without any idea of where to actually start, so this is a valuable way to start to understand how the next few months will play out. Get a sense of how he/she likes to communicate with his/her clients. Does the planner prefer face-to-face meetings, calls or emails? Do they have a game plan for how to tackle the planning process? Their response will give you a sense of where their priorities fall.

2. Do you have a minimum budget?

If you’ve never planned a wedding before, you probably don’t know ho much it will actually cost to pull together your wedding. While you know the MAXIMUM you’re willing to spend, it’s just as important to determine if there are any restrictions on the low end of things early on. You want to reconcile your big dreams and small budget before you get too far along so that you and your potential planner are on the same page. It’s better to be transparent and create realistic expectations then to be disappointed and frustrated by the process!

3. Do you have favorite vendors that you prefer to work with? Will you go outside of that list?

Preferred vendors are a double-edged sword. If a planner has a list of vendors they like to work with, it usually means that they have established a solid relationship, access to discounts, and an understanding of the other vendors’ quality of work. But it can also restrict your ability to find a florist willing to make the crazy bouquet of your dreams or a baker that will make you up a non-traditional cake. As a follow up, make sure to ask if the planner gets a percentage from their preferred vendors so you know why they like working with those vendors and how they’ll be working for YOU.

Walmart is going after Amazon in a race to offer the lowest prices.

The brick-and-mortar retail giant has been on a shopping spree over the past year to ramp up its e-commerce business, acquiring Shoebuy, Moosejaw, Modcloth, and, most notably, Jet.com, for which it paid $3 billion last year.

Walmart, along with its subsidiary Jet, is taking direct aim at Amazon's booming e-commerce dominance that's putting many traditional retailers out of business.

All this competition, in theory, should be good news for shoppers.

But which online retailer is cheapest? To find out, we did a price check on 25 matching products on Amazon.com, Jet.com, and Walmart.com.

Amazon was the cheapest overall. The 25 products in total were $423.94 cheaper than on Jet and $161.05 cheaper than on Walmart.

Jet tended to have a price advantage with household products, while Amazon had generally cheaper higher-value items such as electronics. The biggest price difference, which significantly affected the totals, was for an LG smart HD TV.

Prices don't include shipping fees, which vary across the sites. Walmart, Jet, and Amazon all offer free shipping on orders of more than $35.

Here's the price breakdown:

Heinz tomato ketchup squeeze bottle (32 ounces)

Jet: $3.17

Amazon: $2.88

Walmart: $2.88

Tostitos, original restaurant style (13 ounces)

Jet: $4.99

Amazon: $2.99

Walmart: $2.98

Oreo sandwich cookies, chocolate (14.3 ounces)

Jet: $3.13

Amazon: $2.99

Walmart: $2.98

Over the past five years, I've written about money a lot.

A lot.

I don't pretend to be a financial expert or hold any kind of certification, but between writing, editing, and reading hundreds (thousands?) of stories about money, I've picked a few things up.

Chief among them is that the best, most critical first step you can take to improve your finances is to track your spending.

If you think about it for 30 seconds, it makes perfect sense. If you don't know where your money goes today, how are you going to realistically plan where it should go tomorrow? Unless we start writing things down, we're all going to continue lying to ourselves about how much we spend on bagels, anyway.

For a few years, I let LearnVest (where I used to work) track my spending automatically, by connecting my accounts. That was fine, and I recommend it, or a similar service like Mint or You Need a Budget, over doing nothing. But I couldn't get granular enough. I couldn't manipulate the numbers. I couldn't project anything. And I found having 40 category folders in a drop-down list to be tedious. 

I started interviewing real people about their budgets for Business Insider, and found myself getting jealous of their spreadsheets. How nimble! How detailed! How customizable!

So I made my own.

Since its creation, I've shared it with a handful of friends, some of whom have shared it with their friends in turn. They've found it useful, so I got to thinking: maybe you would, too.

A few disclaimers before we get to the spreadsheet itself:

• These are not my actual spending numbers. I repeat: These are example numbers. They are not mine. They are arbitrary numbers I chose to demonstrate how the spreadsheet works. I don't want everyone knowing the truth about how much money I spend on chocolate or blowouts. That shame is mine alone.

• The sheet is not that complicated. That's part of its charm. The formulas in the sheet are pretty straightforward: adding, subtracting, dividing. Nothing wild. Consider it a beginner's spreadsheet. If you have impressive Excel skills, go ahead and trick it out.

• It is for tracking your spending, not keeping to a budget. If you want to set up a budget in the traditional sense, imposing spending limits on each category, this sheet will help you establish those limits. However, you'll need to make some of your own additions if you want to track your spending in relation to a budget rather than to get an idea of where your money goes.

• If you want to use it, you'll have to make a copy. It's a plain old Google Sheet, and it's view-only. So make a copy, then enter your numbers. (File > Make a Copy)

Now, to the spreadsheet. Here's how it works:

If you don't want to read about it, skip straight to the spreadsheet »

SEE ALSO: Here's the budget of a 29-year-old who's almost done paying over $100,000 of student loans

Each column is a month, each tab is a year.

Plus, I added an extra "test" tab, where I copy over the formulas and play with the numbers. What would happen if I saved an extra $500 this month? What about if I didn't buy any chocolate? You'd be surprised at the difference that makes (don't judge).

Each January, I plug in my fixed expenses for the entire year.

I know what my mortgage and maintenance payments will be. I know what my phone and internet costs will be.

Plus, plugging in all the numbers in January just means one less field to fill out going forward.

I add those fixed expenses to see what it would cost me to live every month, bottom line.

Planning out my fixed expenses ahead of time, I can see that if I didn't spend a single penny in a month, it would cost me — in the example, anyway — $2,670 to live. That isn't even counting food, or gas, or commuting costs.

If I were to notice that my income was dangerously close to, or even below this number, I would know that my lifestyle was unaffordable and I'd need to make a major change.

A slew of automakers plan to launch electric SUVs during the next few years. 

Companies — including Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, and more — are looking to capitalize on consumers' desire for space by releasing long-range, electric SUVs.

Here are 11 electric SUVs slated to arrive by 2020:

SEE ALSO: Jaguar's Tesla rival is coming in 2018 — here's everything we know about it

1. Jaguar first unveiled its I-PACE electric SUV concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, but the automaker recently showcased the car in a stunning red. The car is serving as the basis for a production model slated to arrive in 2018 — and we like what we're seeing so far.

Jaguar said its I-PACE can drive 220 miles on a single charge and accelerate to 60 mph in 4 seconds. There's no word on price yet, but it will likely fall in the luxury price range north of $50,000.

There are two touchscreen displays on the center console of the I-PACE. There's also a virtual screen instead of a traditional driver's instrument that can be controlled using buttons on the steering wheel.

You can get a more in-depth look at the Jaguar I-PACE SUV here.

Actors, athletes, and musicians can get paid a lot of money. And while it's easy to buy a couple of extra yachts or a crystal-studded bathtub, the smartest ones know when to invest.

Often, they'll invest in a business they already know. Brad Pitt founded Plan B productions, which produced the Oscar-winning "12 Years a Slave" and "Moonlight." But they can also invest in unrelated companies, and use their fame to get publicity and open doors in the business.

Sometimes, the investments are a massive failure, like Ja Rule's Fyre Festival. Other times, they can be huge successes, like the projects on this list.

Here are 19 celebrities who've made tons of money outside of their usual line of work.

SEE ALSO: 35 movies coming out this summer that you need to see

Ashton Kutcher was an early investor in Uber, Airbnb, and Spotify.

Aside from his romantic comedies and stint in "Two and a Half Men," Ashton Kutcher has made millions of dollars from his venture capital fund, A-Grade Investments. Kutcher co-founded the firm in 2010. By 2013, it was valued at over $100 million.

Magic Johnson has a sprawling portfolio of investments in different franchises.

The retired basketball player owns Magic Johnson Enterprises, a massive investment company. It has stakes in a bunch of different companies, but he mainly uses it to invest in franchises. At different times, Magic Johnson Enterprises owned shares in movie theaters, gyms, and hundreds of  T.G.I. Friday's, Burger King, and Starbucks locations. He also became a co-owner of the LA Dodgers, for which he paid $50 million.

Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle brand, Goop, raised millions in venture capital.

Goop is frequently mocked online for selling obscenely expensive knicknacks, but Paltrow seems to have convinced investors that it's a promising business. She's raised $20 million in venture capital funding since she began Goop as simply a personal newsletter in 2008, according to CNBC.

It's not clear, though, if Goop is profitable yet. In 2014, leaked documents seemed to show that the company was $1.2 million in debt. But it's e-commerce business seems to be growing steadily, according to Racked.

If there's one question on the minds of thousands of soon-to-be college graduates right now, it's this: what's the best job I can get?

To determine which entry-level jobs hold the most promise in 2017, Monster recently teamed up with CEB Global to compile a report of all available entry-level positions currently posted online.

Monster defines "entry-level" as needing zero to two years experience, and the sample size featured 943,008 jobs that all require either a Bachelor's, Master's, or doctoral degree.

The top jobs were determined based on the number of entry-level jobs currently open in each occupation, and each have a median annual salary of at least $65,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here are nine high-paying jobs for recent grads with a large number of job openings, ranked based on number of openings:

SEE ALSO: 9 entry-level jobs that prove your first job doesn't have to be terrible

9. Computer systems analysts

Computer systems analysts study, design, and work to make information systems more efficient.

Market-wide job openings: 8,190

Median annual pay: $87,220

8. Healthcare managers

Healthcare managers direct medical services at hospital and health clinics.

Market-wide job openings: 8,615

Median annual pay: $96,540

7. Physical therapist

Physical therapists are healthcare professionals who specialize in helping individuals regain mobility or relieve pain.

Market-wide job openings: 9,246

Median annual pay: $85,400

The Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting is an all-out festival. 

Berkshire shareholders come from around the world to see CEO Warren Buffett speak for hours on Saturday morning. 

Berkshire owns dozens of businesses — from shoemaker Brooks to See's Candies — and while Buffett is speaking, there is a shopping event in the convention center adjoining the meeting arena. 

In 2015, Berkshire's 50th anniversary, the shopping festival ran into a second day, and Business Insider sent reporter Myles Udland to see what the madness was all about. He saw everything from gold-plated vacuum cleaners to something called "cognitive cooking."

Here's what happened:

The CenturyLink Center in Omaha hosts both the shopping event in a convention hall and the annual meeting in an arena right next door.

As I approach CenturyLink at around 11:30 a.m., it's clear there will be a line before the doors open at 12:00 p.m.

It's a long line.

Ever since the original "Guardians of the Galaxy" film came out in summer 2014, Marvel fans, movie fans, and Chris Pratt fans have been impatiently awaiting the sequel.

Luckily it hits theaters Friday. Overall, critics are loving it. The spirit of the film, the memorable personalities, and the modern music made "Guardians of the Galaxy" feel fresh, special, and unlike any other Marvel film. Critics agree that "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" doesn't disappoint. 

While the film doesn't feel as fresh as the original, it's still a must-see. 

Here's what critics are saying about "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2":

SEE ALSO: 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' confirms a crazy Marvel theory fans have had for years

It’s just like the first — and that’s a good thing.

“All sequels repeat the best tricks of their predecessors, but director James Gunn's choice of tricks is way more fun than most.” —Slate

It maintains the spirit of the original that fans loved so much.

“Like many a sequel to a slam-bang, much-liked mega-hit, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' isn't quite as much fun, not quite as clever, not quite as fresh as the original — but it still packs a bright and shiny and sweet punch.” —Chicago Sun-Times

Like the first, it's movie magic.

“The most fun I've had in a theater this year and as much fun as the original. This is the kind of fun that made me love movies as a kid and is why I keep reviewing film.” —Tri-City Herald

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase

Graduation season is fast approaching, and parents, friends, and other relatives are trying to figure out what to get the graduate in their life. 

They’ve just completed one of the biggest milestones in their lives, and it’s worth celebrating.

The objective is to give things that both commemorate the occasion and hopefully make their lives easier and better going forward because of your gesture.

Using input from colleagues, fellow students, and my own input as a graduate-to-be, I’ve rounded up 20 of the most thoughtful gifts that you could give: subscription services that take away pressure and stress, functional luxuries they’ll love to have but can’t buy for themselves, simple alternatives to just giving cash in a lone envelope, and more.

DON'T MISS: 16 of the most valuable things you can buy as a college student

SEE ALSO: 10 gadgets that solve some of our most annoying tech problems

A Birchbox subscription

In general, subscriptions are some of the best gifts that you can give. A monthly treat, especially on a tight budget, can be an extremely nice thing to look forward to. Every time their subscription is delivered, your giftee has a nice reminder that you care.

In my opinion, Birchbox is one of the best subscription services available and uniquely well-suited for graduates. It was started to get around how inconvenient and expensive shopping for new products can be. So, the founders combined monthly deliveries of personalized samples and an e-commerce shop. 

The products come in small sizes, so if they don't love them, no harm done. Her box will likely include products like face primers, conditioners, cleansers, mascaras, etc. that are expensive to buy in a store like Sephora but extremely easy and fun to do with Birchbox. His box will have four grooming samples (like nice aftershave, body wash, or even cologne), plus a stylish accessory or gadget each time. 

For her, you can gift a woman's subscription for 3 months for $30, 6 months for $60, or a full 12 months for $110.

For him, you can gift a man's subscription for 3 months for $60, 6 months for $110, or a full 12 months for $220.

Gift a Birchbox subscription to your grad

An Amazon Prime membership

An Amazon Prime membership is one of those things that immediately makes life easier and better. If you decide to gift one, the recipient will enjoy free two-day shipping; access to the Prime Now app, which provides free two-hour delivery on tens of thousands of items; Prime Video, Amazon's streaming video service; Prime Music; the Kindle Lending Library; Prime Reading; Prime Audible Channels; unlimited photo storage, and more. 

If you want to know a little bit more about how Amazon Prime actually gives you a lot more than free shipping, you can read our overview of the service here. 

Gift an Amazon Prime membership

A trusted cookbook

A lot of graduates are coming out of school with little knowledge of cuisine or the human palette as it pertains to tastes not covered in mac and cheese or $1 pizza. A cookbook is a nice way to make sure they can get off on the right foot post-graduation, maybe eating some vegetables and enjoying the activity itself rather than relying on the same cheap eats out of habit or lack of know-how. 

Gift an Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa cookbook

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."

The "Guardians of the Galaxy" sequel has a lot of cameos from big stars, from Sylvester Stallone to David Hasselhoff. But because of makeup, background cameos, or uncredited roles, there are even more celebrities that may go unnoticed the first time you see the movie. 

Keep reading to see who you should keep an eye out for while watching.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars: Episode IX' 'started over' after Carrie Fisher’s death, says Kathleen Kennedy

Miley Cyrus has an uncredited role in one of the film's end-credits.

Cyrus voices the disembodied head, Mainframe, in one of the movie's five end-credits scenes.

It was director James Gunn's idea to add the singer into the movie after catching her on TV.

"I was watching 'The Voice' and I [thought] she's so likable and her voice is awesome, she's got the best voice," Gunn told reporter Sarah Ruhlman. "And then I asked Kevin [Feige], what do you think about casting Miley Cyrus as the voice of Mainframe? He was like well if you think we can get her … and I got her to do it."

Gunn told Buzzfeed there's a chance of Cyrus returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a larger role as well.

Rob Zombie plays an unseen Ravager.

"Rob's a friend, and he appeared in my first movie, 'Slither,' so now it's become my signature," Gunn told Fast Company. "But I love putting a lot of stuff in my movies for fans. In 'Slither,' every street sign referenced a classic horror film. There were hundreds of them. I'm in service to those people who want to watch a movie again and again."

Zombie lent his voice to the first film as well. 

Director James Gunn's father, Jim Gunn Sr., and his mother, Leota Gunn, are credited as playing "weird old man" and "weird old man’s mistress."

It only makes sense for a movie about fathers and son. It's not clear where the two appear in the film.

Gunn is pretty close with his family and has shared sweet messages about, what he calls, his "dysfunctional" family on Facebook. His brother Sean Gunn has also been in both "Guardians" films doing double time as both one of the Ravagers and a stand-in for Rocket Raccoon. 

The $60 billion weight loss industry thrives on a single belief: That it's better (and healthier) to weigh less than to weigh more. 

The problem with that belief is that it's not always true. 

Yes, being overweight increases the risk for many health problems, and many people do get healthier when they bring down the number on the scale.

But plenty of people have improved their health by gaining pounds.

The proof is all over Instagram. Search hashtags like #morethananumber and #gainingweightiscool and you'll find emotional stories of transformation from women who stopped obsessing over weighing less and started to focus more on strength, balance, and overall wellbeing. 

These 15 before-and-after photos show why weight gain shouldn't always be feared.

Some people — like fitness blogger Emma O'Neill — gain weight by putting on more muscle and getting stronger.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BS1kD3ZDpRZ/embed/
Width: 800px

She started lifting weights and gained more than 20 pounds of muscle mass. 

Jessica O'Brien said that her body changed dramatically when she stopped focusing on how it looked and started focusing on what it could do.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BSyDbQGgnwb/embed/
Width: 800px

She gained about 10 pounds but ended up much stronger. 

"A few years ago, I used to trick myself into thinking I was healthy," trainer Chloé Maxwell wrote on Instagram. "I was scared of food, scared of carbs."

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BTjdg7tgVKb/embed/
Width: 800px

"A few years later, I'm 15 kilograms heavier," she added. "After almost 2 years of weight lifting, I'm 3 times stronger, 2 times more confident, and a lot happier."

Joe and Ali Olson spend their days traveling around the world with their one-year-old daughter, Annabelle.

Each in their early 30s, the couple were able to quit their jobs as public school teachers in August 2015 and retire after just eight years in the workforce.

How do you retire early as a public school teacher? The key: minimizing cost of living and finding a good side hustle. 

The Olsons met in 2004 when they were both college students, and got married during winter break of their senior year. Straight out of college they moved to Las Vegas, where Joe had accepted a teaching position with Teach For America. Ali started as a substitute teacher and eventually joined TFA as well, teaching English at a local high school.

"Luckily, Las Vegas has a really low cost of living — but it also has a low teacher pay," Ali told the Mad Fientist on an episode of his "Financial Independence Podcast."

So they took on any extra jobs they could — teaching summer school, running clubs, after-school tutoring — to bulk up their salaries. "It's a big difference percentage-wise because if you're making $35,000, and you teach summer school for $3,500, it's like, 'Wow, there's a 10% boost in my salary,'" Joe explained.

Some years, they were able to boost their income by as much as 50% through these supplemental positions.

Eventually, the couple realized they wanted to achieve financial independence and have the freedom to pursue whatever dreams they wanted, whenever they wanted. They continued to live frugally, saving around 75% of their teaching incomes, and in 2008, they bought their first rental property in Vegas.

In the following couple of years, the couple scooped up 14 more rentals. Though they lost money on these during the financial crisis, the market eventually turned and their properties starting bringing in steady profits, eventually pushing their net worth over $1 million.

Now, they're completely financially independent, traveling the world with Annabelle in tow, and occasionally sharing their experiences on their blog, Adventuring Along. Read on to see how they did it. 

SEE ALSO: A man who retired at 34 explains one bad savings habit that everyone should avoid

DON'T MISS: The simple strategy one man used to save enough money to retire at 30

The Olsons graduated from college with a combined $30,000 in student loans to pay off — no small amount, but not as much as it could have been, thanks to the low tuition costs of their public, in-state college and assistance from relatives. But they lived frugally and made consistent payments, quickly watching that number shrink.

In 2007, Joe and Ali bought their Las Vegas condo at a steep discount. At the end of 2008 — amid the financial crises when housing prices were battered — they also purchased a rental property nearby and started trying to turn a profit. It didn't work out at first, and they took a financial hit.

"It seemed like a good deal because the price of the property was $120,000, and at the peak, it had sold just two years before for $360,000," Joe said. "But then the prices kept falling. And it kept falling in 2009 in 2010. And that property actually bottomed out being worth around $80,000. So we were under water on it, but we were still making money every month because the rent was higher than the mortgage payment by a decent amount."

To keep everything copacetic — not to mention to keep their jobs — there are some things flight attendants just can't tell passengers, even if they want to.

But some of these things, while perhaps controversial, could end up being a service to fliers or flight attendants, if only someone would just tell passengers.

So we asked flight attendants everywhere to weigh in on the one thing they'd love to tell passengers but can't, and more than 60 shared their insights.

We've anonymously included some of the more constructive thoughts here:

DON'T MISS: A flight attendant shares the best ways to avoid getting bumped from your next flight

SEE ALSO: Here are some of the most bizarre things flight attendants have seen in their line of duty

'Be considerate'

"It's not all about you."

'Public transportation isn't for everyone'

"If you have such high demands you should consider getting your own plane."

'I'm not talking to hear myself speak'

"I'm tasked with carrying out the rules and regulations set forth by FAA. I risk a possible fine if I don't do what I am tasked to do. There is always a reason we say the things we say."

Luxury private jet title Elite Traveler, in association with Grey Goose, has announced the results of its sixth annual poll to find the world’s best 100 dining destinations.

Over 6,000 Elite Traveler readers voted on the top dining spots.

This year, Grant Achatz’s Alinea, which has been number one for the last five years, was knocked off the top spot for the first time.

The US was recognised as the best-performing country in the world, with 24 restaurants making the top 100 list, including five in the top 10.

Scroll down to see the 10 best dining destinations in the world, along with a photo of one of their signature dishes.

10. Fat Duck, Bray, UK

Run by British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, The Fat Duck is a three Michelin-starred restaurant in the county of Berkshire.

Blumenthal says:"The whole experience is a Journey, centred around a nostalgic trip full of playful memories, filled with curiosity, discovery and adventure. This nostalgic trip is based on a collection of some of my favourite childhood holiday memories, taking place over the course of a day. The menu is your itinerary for the day, represented on the map you’ve just seen on the homepage."

The Fat Duck was the UK’s highest entry in this list and the world’s top new entry. Britain is home to five of the world’s top 100 restaurants in total. The other restaurants to make the list are Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (15), Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (22) and The Ledbury (36), with Nottingham-based Sat Bains making its debut in 94th place.

9. Le Bernardin, New York, US

A tasting menu at Le Bernardin will set you back $180 (£139) per person, or $270 (£208) with a wine pairing, according to the online menu.

8. The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, US

A tasting menu at The Restaurant at Meadowood costs $330 (£254), while the wine experience will set you back $250 (£193).

Since the races were first run in 1875, the Kentucky Derby has been drawing thousands of celebrities, politicians, and Louisville locals to the horse track at Churchill Downs.

Started by Louisville Jockey Club founder Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the sporting event has a long history tied to horse racing, mint juleps, and, of course, the famous Kentucky Derby hat.

As you prepare to watch the 143rd iteration of the big event Saturday, see an overview of the Derby's history in photos. 

SEE ALSO: Go inside the stunning French bistro that was just named the best new restaurant in America

Though the Kentucky Derby was held for the first time in 1875, photos of it began to appear in the 1920s. It was during this time that the derby began being broadcast on the radio, and five to six million listeners tuned in.

Starting in 1931, the Kentucky Derby was permanently scheduled for the first Sunday of every May.

Even throughout the years of the Great Depression, the race continued, though tickets were priced at 50 cents for a spot in the infield. In 1932, it was broadcast on the radio internationally.