• Hollywood scandals are a dime a dozen, especially with the rise of social media.
• Whether they cheated or were cheated on, these celebrities will forever be associated with infidelity.
• Some couples learned from the experience and their relationship grew stronger.
• Others called it off.

Quite a few entertainment scandals are based on speculation and secondhand information, so when a celebrity confirms an aspect of their relationship, it's always a big deal. And it's an even bigger deal if it involves cheating.

Some couples credit cheating with making their relationships better than ever, while others immediately broke things off. 

Keep reading to see the 20 celebrities who have admitted to — or been caught — cheating.

Kevin Hart admitted to cheating on his pregnant wife.

The story of Kevin Hart's infidelity is confusing, to say the least.

He first denied any cheating in July, then posted a video on Instagram apologizing with the caption "Sending so many apologies to my wife & kids. I gotta do better and I will. I'm not perfect and have never claimed to be ...I love you all."

It was revealed later that Hart was in the center of an alleged extortion attempt. Someone allegedly was in possession of a video of Hart and a woman engaging in sexual activity, and was trying to expose Hart and receive money. During an interview with "The Breakfast Club," Hart admitted to his cheating.

Kris Jenner had an affair during her marriage to Robert Kardashian.

Kris Jenner admitted to having an affair with friend Todd Waterman (written about with the false name Ryan in her 2011 memoir"Kris Jenner ... And All Things Kardashian." Waterman later admitted he was Ryan in an interview.

Jenner later stated that her only regret in life was divorcing Kardashian.

Tiger Woods had one of the most explosive divorces in celebrity history.

On Thanksgiving in 2009, Tiger Woods' life was forever changed — news of his serial cheating became public. When all was said and done, Woods admitted to sleeping with multiple women, though it all started with one: Rachel Uchitel.

Woods' televised statement about the scandal was long. But the confession was relatively succinct: "I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated."

• The Ferrari 488 GTB is the Italian carmaker's top-dog supercar.
• The Corvette Z06, with its mighty engine and bold design, is a supercar in the eyes of many.
• The 'Vette costs more than $100,000 less, but the Ferrari remains king of the hill.

Fresh off a battle between the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS and the Ford Mustang— won by the 'Stang — we decided to revisit the world of unlikely face-offs between European and American legends.

Next up: the Ferrari 488 GTB against the Corvette Z06. Italy versus the USA. Maranello versus Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Again, on its face, this is a preposterous comparison: the dashing red mid-engine Ferrari, tipping the price scales at $250,000 to start, against the stonking front-engine 'Vette, with a base of about $80,000.

But we like to look closer. The competition versions of the 488 and the 'Vette face each other down on the world's racetracks. The 488's twin-turbocharged V8 cranks out 661 horsepower, while the Z06 uses a supercharged V8 to achieve 650.

The racing stuff and the motors alone give us a basis for this showdown. Read on to see who came out on top.

FOLLOW US: on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

Behold the Ferrari 488 GTB, the successor to the much-loved 458 and the latest in the line of mid-engine supercars from Maranello.

Read the review »

Voila! The Corvette Z06. Until the new ZR1 was revealed in late 2017, the Z06 was the most powerful of the seventh-generation 'Vettes. Our "Watkins Glen Gray Metallic" tester had a targa top, but the 488 can also be an open-air spider.

Read the review »

We'll start with the Prancing Horse. Though some fans prefer the finer-boned lines of the 458, the 488's looks are stunning. Our test car arrived in a "Rosso Corsa Metallizzato" paint job — $12,500 extra.

Let's just get to the pricing right up front. To own the 458, you need to have the $250,000 and a willingness to accept that anything additional will cost a lot more. Also, you might not be able to buy the car.

Ferrari produces fewer than 10,000 total vehicles every year and sells them all. So even if you have the means, you could end up waiting for the privilege of ownership.

You accept this to be part of the Ferrari mystique.

Christmas is a special time for people all over the world.

While the holiday can be celebrated in many different ways, perhaps no custom is more important than the time-honored Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meal.

Still, these meals vary greatly depending on where they're taking place.

Inspired by this BookTable post by Rob Rebelo, we took a look at some typical Christmas meals from countries across the globe.

SEE ALSO: Happy Holidays from the White House: See the presidents' Christmas cards, from Trump to JFK to Coolidge

Germans often serve fruity Stollen cake, along with a mulled wine called Gluehwein. Stollen is traditionally baked to have a hump, symbolizing the humps of the camels that carried the wise men to see Jesus.

Many Bulgarians fast before Christmas, so on Christmas they nosh on stuffed vegetables, soups, and cakes.

In Fiji, locals dine on banana leaf-wrapped fish, stuffed chicken, and pork made with a "Lovo," an earth oven made with heavy stones, like the one seen below.

The question has been popped, the date has been set and the photos have been released. It’s official: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are engaged, and we offer them our heartiest congratulations — particularly Markle. Because it’s no small feat to ingratiate oneself into the royal family, with all its strict protocol, and we can only imagine what a whirlwind their relationship has been for the American actress.

Even under normal, non-royal circumstances, going out with someone from the UK isn’t like dating a fellow American. The dating culture there has loads of differences, and even though our countries share a common tongue (no pun intended) and a lot of history, these distinctions just might surprise you.

Booze is an essential part of British dating.

Drinking culture is alive and well in both the United States and the United Kingdom. However, according to BBC America, going on a date in the UK without having a drink is simply not done — and getting hammered is a common occurrence. Although many Americans opt for some liquid courage on the dating scene, it’s not considered a requisite.

Parental approval isn’t as important in Britain.

Taking the new boyfriend or girlfriend home to meet Mom and Dad is a big dating milestone in the US, and nobody wants to get the thumbs down from their folks. In the UK? Not so much.

"Americans seem to genuinely care about having their parents approve of their partner, whereas, while we Brits like it, we typically take an attitude that, if they don’t approve, then they can ... mind their own business," Quora user Alec Fanes in a forum on this subject.

Brits want to meet in person sooner.

When dating in the US, you might have to endure weeks of emailing and texting before graduating to phone calls and finally an in-person meeting with your love interest.

According to The Telegraph, Brits like to cut through the rigmarole and meet in person much sooner so as to not waste anyone’s time with potentially misleading communication and emoji-deciphering.

Perhaps the biggest take-away of this NBA season, which is closer to the midway point than most would know, has been the unexpectedness of much of it.

The Warriors and Cavs don't lead their respective conferences, instead ceding No. 1 seeds to the Celtics and Rockets.

Playoff stalwarts like the Grizzlies and Clippers have fallen off in the West, while teams we were certain would be bad, like the Knicks and Pacers, are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

There's a lot of games to be played, but as we head into the NBA's Christmas Day spectacle and the end of 2017, here's where all 30 teams stand.

30. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 9-23, 15th in West

Offensive rating: 101.0, 28th

Defensive rating: 105.8, 17th

One thing to know: Since starting 7-4, the Grizzlies have gone 2-19. The firing of David Fizdale looks even more questionable as the team has struggled mightily without Mike Conley, who has played just 12 games this year.

29. Atlanta Hawks

Record: 7-24, 15th in East

Offensive rating: 103.5, 18th

Defensive rating: 108.3, 27th

One thing to know: In a rebuilding year for the Hawks, they can take solace in the development of Taurean Prince. The second-year wing is averaging 14 points per game on 44% shooting, 42% from three, with 5.3 rebounds per game.

28. Sacramento Kings

Record: 11-20, 12th in West

Offensive rating: 98.9, 30th

Defensive rating: 108.8, 30th

One thing to know: One of the best offseason moves was the Kings' signing of Zach Randolph. Not only is Randolph still plugging away on the court, averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds per game at 36, he's become a mentor to the young Kings, as SB Nation's Kristian Winfield detailed.

Playing daily fantasy is always a game of highs and lows, but last week our value picks were extreme on both sides of that spectrum.

Nick Foles threw for four touchdowns in one of the best quarterback fantasy performances of the week, outscoring more expensive options, including Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan. In addition, JuJu Smith-Schuster went off for 114 yards on just six receptions. On the other side of the coin, Brent Celek and the Browns' defense scored just one point with their combined efforts.

This week, we're back at it, trying to identify the best, affordable players for your DraftKings lineup. Below we've picked some of our best value plays for daily fantasy. Consider them when trying to find a few extra dollars to upgrade elsewhere in your lineup.

QB: Tyrod Taylor, $5,500

Tyrod Taylor has been a regular entrant in this spot mostly because there are few quarterbacks you can trust who also don't cost a fortune. That said, there's reason to like Taylor here. Although the Bills failed to find the end zone when they played the Patriots earlier in the season, New England has looked susceptible the past two weeks and the Bills have enough offensive talent to cause them trouble.

RB: Dion Lewis, $6,000

Dion Lewis should be the featured back for the Patriots this week with Rex Burkhead out due to injury. Lewis is averaging over five yards a carry and has scored 15 points or more in four of the past six weeks even with Burkhead getting the bulk of the workload.

RB: Bilal Powell, $4,000

With Bryce Petty under center, Bilal Powell became the center of the Jets' offense. This week he faces the Chargers, who currently sport the third worst rushing defense in the league.

Sports give us some of the most defining moments of each year.

Looking back through photos not only serves as a reminder of events forgotten, but of the range of emotions that come with it.

From happiness to anger, sadness and celebration, to simply incredible highlights, these are our favorite photos of the year, courtesy of The Associated Press and Getty Images.

Markus Eisenbichler of Germany soars through the air.

Serena Williams serves at the Australian Open. It was later revealed she won the tournament while pregnant.

The Ballon d'Or.

No matter how many countries you've been to, there's always somewhere new to discover.

But with so many cultures, countries, and landscapes to explore, it's hard to prioritise one dream destination over another.

Business Insider UK asked top travel bloggers and writers/editors from the likes of Lonely Planet, Suitcase, and Airbnb for the best European destinations they've ever visited — or the ones that are at the top of their bucket list.

Based on their advice, we've compiled a list of must-see places across the European continent that everyone should visit in their lifetime.

From off-the-beaten-track hidden gems to well-recognised yet stunning locations, prepare to get hit with some serious travel envy as you scroll on to see the 32 destinations in Europe everyone should visit in their lifetime — along with why everyone should experience each trip.

Visit the chocolate box fishing villages of the Lofoten Islands, Norway.

"This remote archipelago in Norway is known for dramatic peaks and dark glassy seas," said India Dowley, Digital Editor of Suitcase Magazine.

"Dotted with chocolate-box fishing villages such Henningsvær, it's not hard to imagine it when the Vikings ruled the north seas."

Explore the sci-fi landscapes of Cappadocia, Turkey.

"Volcanic eruptions nearly four million years ago left the landscape dotted with rock structures known as fairies, leaving the region looking like something out of a Star Wars film," Dowley said. "Now scattered with underground cities and carved out cave dwellings, Cappadocia has only begun to attract visitors in recent years."

Camp in the Caucasus Mountains in Kazbegi, Georgia.

"This small town in the Caucasus Mountains is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been," Dowley said. "Tbilisi locals go in the summer months to camp among wild horses on the lush carpet of the mountains, with vertiginous views of waterfalls and towering peaks."

Not everyone can play Santa Claus for a living.

Sure, anyone can don a Santa hat, beard, and suit and invite parents to plop kids on their lap.

But to play a convincing Santa Claus that kids will forever cherish, and to make a living at it, you must become Santa Claus — and that process takes a lot of work.

For Jim Manning, a full-time children's entertainer who has played Santa Jim in the Boston area for 14 years, learning how to become the perfect Father Christmas meant attending a couple of Santa Claus schools, picking up tricks of the trade from other Santas, and learning the nuances of the job through trial and error.

When he's not making appearances at holiday parties dressed as the man in red or the guest of honor at the City of Boston Tree Lighting celebration, he keeps his skills sharp 11 months of the year as "Jungle Jim" of Jungle Jim's of Boston.

This professional Santa understands the value of a top-notch beard — no straggly, wispy nonsense or anything that could easily get pulled off — and knows that keeping kids happy requires getting on their level.

And perhaps most importantly, to truly transform yourself into the magical elf, Manning tells Business Insider that you have to really love kids — and believe that it's your job to be a beacon of hope and joy to them no matter what.

Below, Manning shares his personal journey of being a professional Santa Claus:

SEE ALSO: Inside the school where men train to be the perfect Santa Claus

DON'T MISS: Take a look at Santa's real-life 'office' in snowy Finland, which receives more than half a million letters every year

What exactly does a pro Santa do?

I've been a professional private-events Santa Claus for 13 years. Generally, there are two kinds of Santas — mall Santas and private-event Santas. Mall Santas tend to be older gentlemen — you get to sit in the mall, you might get the photo, and that's that.

But mostly what I do is corporate and private events. I'm the official Santa Claus for the city of Boston's tree lighting, so I do the tree lighting on TV. I was on the cover of the Red Sox Christmas card this year. Most of my work is generally one-hour visits in people's homes, corporate office parties, and they'll have kids there, and sometimes it's just adults.

And I'm a younger Santa — I'm only 40 — and I'm very high-energy, so I tend to put on a little bit of a show: The Night Before Christmas, and caroling, and magic. A lot of people think being Santa Claus means just showing up, sitting on the couch, and letting kids sit in your lap. But what I do is a lot more.

What does your busy season look like?

The busy season is December, Thanksgiving to Christmas. We start receiving calls and emails in August to book events. Some people will book from the year before. But the real majority of the requests start coming in October and November. And a lot of last-minute requests come in too. The real season starts to ramp up after Thanksgiving.

The first week of December is more promotional work — a lot of photo shoots. I did a photo shoot for Legal Sea Foods, where they had me as Santa Claus taking photos of their clam chowder or their lobster. Drug stores, car dealerships — they'll bring me in to set the tone for the season and whatnot.

Then toward the middle of December, that's when I start getting into more corporate parties, private parties. And then as we get closer to Christmas Eve, the majority of my events are parties in people's homes.

Christmas Eve is the busiest day. I'll do 10 appearances. This year, my first visit is at 11 a.m. and my last visit is scheduled for 9 p.m.

Most weekdays are two to three visits. Weekends are much busier. Sunday I did eight different visits. I'll have five or six days off somewhere in between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

How does it compare to what you do for the rest of the year?

December is the busiest month for my business. We will bring in about 30% of our income for Santa Boston/Jungle Jim's, my children's-entertainment business, during this time. For the rest of the year I'm doing balloon magic shows as Jungle Jim.

During the summer, as Jungle Jim, I'll do 150 performances, most in libraries.

The good thing about being Santa is I don't have as much prep work before an event. It takes me about a half-hour to get into the suit, but then I show up and I am Santa. Whereas with the magic shows and everything, they involve a lot of set up and prep work.

That being said, we devote a lot of man-hours in preparation for December. Pretty much October through December, I'd say 75% of our energy is devoted toward Santa Claus.

• At the end of 2016, I made some predictions about Tesla. 
• A year later, I'm grading myself on how I — and Tesla — did.
• On balance, Tesla got a higher GPA than I did.

A year ago, I took a gander at everything Tesla had in store for it in 2017 and made some predictions. As the carmaker heads into an even more challenging 2018, I thought it would be worth a look back to grade both Tesla — and myself! 

Here's the report card:

FOLLOW US : on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

The launch of the Model 3

"Tesla's mass-market vehicle, which will be priced at around $30,000 after tax breaks and serve up 200 miles of range on a single charge, is scheduled to launch in late 2017," I wrote.

"There's skepticism about whether Tesla will be able to meet that goal, but the Model 3 should be far easier to build than the delayed Model X SUV was."

I added: "Make no mistake — this is Tesla most important execution point of the entire year. Bringing in the Model 3 on time will vindicate Musk's promises, vision, and ambitions."

Grade:

Tesla, A+

Me, B+

Tesla launched the Model 3 in July, ahead of schedule and ahead of my expectations. Note that I didn't grade Tesla on actually building the Model 3. On that score, Elon Musk would probably give himself an F-, as the new vehicle has massively lagged its ambitious production targets.

I'm taking the hit for that myself in my grade. I should have seen it coming and expressed more than sidelong skepticism.

The arrival of Tesla's solar roof

"The first important product from the Tesla-SolarCity tie-up will be the solar roof," I wrote.

I added: "Effectively, it will turn an entire roof into a giant, durable solar panel. It will also likely be an expensive product. But it will feed into Tesla's other products — and provide Tesla with a way to free SolarCity from its current leasing model, moving toward selling solar solutions rather than loaning them out."

Grade:

Tesla, C-

Me, B-

The solar roof isn't as far along as it should have been by this point. Tesla said mid-2017 for a rollout, but it later pushed that back to 2018. Again, not good for either me or Tesla, but Tesla does worse on this one. I still like the product, and my prediction wasn't as linked to the timetable. Obviously, I get a lower grade in 2018 is the solar roof suffers more delays.

The development of the Tesla Network

"Musk has done a complete 180 on car sharing, likely compelled by Uber's success and by the advent of ride-sharing and car-sharing schemes from traditional automakers," I wrote.

"Up to this point, he's talked a good game about enabling owners to make money off their Teslas when they'd otherwise be sitting in the driveway — while perhaps not really expecting that the owner of a $100,000 luxury car would want to lend it out and have it come back with a few dents and a bunch of McDonald's wrappers in the backseat."

Then I added""But now Tesla will likely start to build out a network, leveraging its vehicles' software and Tesla Autopilot suite of self-driving features. So look for the Tesla Network to be discussed far more in 2017."

Grade:

Tesla, D

Me, F

The Tesla Network is pretty much nowheresville at the end of 2017. Better luck in 2018! I get the lower grade because I was pushing the idea, while Tesla was just dropping suggestions.

Smartwatches are still evolving and maturing, but if you're intent on buying one right now, there are plenty of beautiful and functional designs to choose from.

Throughout the past year, I've had the change to try out a lot of different smartwatches. While they all have their limitations — battery life is still holding back the entire category — I found five watches I think rise above the rest, thanks to beautiful design, comfort, or ease of use. 

Here are my favorite smartwatches of the 2017:

SEE ALSO: My 11 favorite apps and gadgets I tried in 2017

The LG Watch Style is a clean, minimalist smartwatch.

The LG Watch Style debuted back in February, one of two new smartwatches that showcased Android Wear 2.0, Google's revamped smartwatch operating system. It's the slimmer, more stylish alternative to the LG Watch Sport, a hulking gadget with its own SIM card and advanced fitness-tracking capabilities.

At the time of its release, the Style was being marketed by LG and Google as a watch for "trendsetters," a device for daily use that can almost pass as a standard timepiece. I wouldn't exactly call it trendy, but I really enjoyed wearing the watch and often forgot it was a gadget. 

It's not the perfect smartwatch — if there is such a thing just yet — but it's a clean, modern, and useful watch that proves wearables may not be dead after all. 

For more on the LG Watch Style, check out my full review. 

The Movado Connect is one of the most luxurious smartwatches on the planet.

For the price of a Movado Connect ($650), you could buy an iPhone 7. It's a lot to pay for a werable tech product, but not a lot to pay for a luxury fashion product — and that's exactly what it is. 

The Movado Connect is an absolutely stunning watch, and one of my favorites on the market. It features the brand's signature Museum Dial — a large metallic dot at 12 o'clock and two metal arms — on both the awake and sleep screen. Its crystal face is encased with gold ion-plated stainless steel, and customers can choose a silicone or metal strap. It's a gorgeous watch, if a bit too large for a woman's wrist. 

The Movado Connect likely won't attract techies, but it will attract people with high-end taste, or diehard fans of Movado watches. It looks just like an analog watch at first glance, but has Android Wear running under the hood. 

And hey, it's not even close to the most expensive smartwatch on the market. The Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon starts at $2,450. 

The Apple Watch Series 3 is still the best option for iPhone users, hands down.

I held off on testing an Apple Watch until 2017 because I didn't think I needed or wanted it. But after trying mostly Android Wear watches all year, I wasn't prepared how seamless an Apple Watch Series 3 would feel. 

For iPhone users, there is simply no better option; the Watch effortlessly pairs and syncs with your iPhone. If you're someone who wants a smartwatch for reasons other than fitness tracking — getting notifications on the go, using Apple Pay, etc. — the Apple Watch is still the top choice. But if you do want the fitness tracking part, the Series 3 is great for that too. It provides a comprehensive look at your fitness and health, encourages you to get active, and even lets you compete with your friends. 

If I have any issues with the Series 3, it is (and always has been) from a looks standpoint. Apple hasn't changed the design since it launched the Watch in early 2015, and the watch's bulky, rectangular body isn't for me. That said, the new gold finish is beautiful, and the various interchangeable bands allow for a lot of customization. 

One thing to note: The Series 3 comes in two versions — one with cellular and one without. While mine came with cellular functionality, I never turned it on. It sucks your battery, costs extra on your phone plan, and offers a level of connectivity that you just don't need. Save yourself $70 and buy the non-cellular version. 

• Many of the most successful people out there also have incredibly successful marriages.

• While you can't read into a marriage from a wedding, it's fun to take a look back at the days that marked the begin of married life.

• Some couples, like Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, took the low-key route. Others, like Bill and Melinda Gates, threw huge bashes.

No two weddings are exactly alike. Couples tend to throw events that match their personalities, tastes, and budget.

So it's not surprising that there's quite a range of wedding styles, even among some of the most successful people in the world. Some couples went for more modest, intimate affairs, while others opted for massive celebrations.

Here's a look at the weddings of some of the most successful couples out there:

SEE ALSO: The incredible career of Jeff Bezos' wife MacKenzie, an acclaimed writer who quit her job to support her husband and is now half of the richest couple in the world

The 100 or so guests attending the surprise wedding of Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan initially thought they had been invited to the latter's medical school graduation party. The nuptials took place in the backyard of the couples' Palo Alto home on May 19, 2012.

Source: The Washington Post

Zuckerberg designed a ruby wedding ring for his bride. The Washington Post reported dessert consisted of "Burdick Chocolate 'mice' (tiny chocolate truffles in the shape of mice), which they ate during their first date."

Source: The Washington Post

Bill and Melinda Gates married in 1994 in what was then Manele Bay Hotel in Hawaii. They tied the knot by the "par-3 12th hole" on the property's golf course, according to Forbes. The event reportedly cost $1 million.

Source: Business Insider, EasyWeddings.com, Forbes, People magazine, Business Insider, Business Insider

• We're nearing a tech revolution in the auto industry, as car companies make significant investments in electric and autonomous vehicles.
• Car companies are including impressive tech features in their latest sedans.
• These features include advanced autopilot modes, massage chairs, and apps that can start the car remotely.

As we move closer to a world of electric and autonomous vehicles, car companies are racing to introduce the most compelling tech features in their cars. 

While they haven't mastered self-driving technology yet, some of our favorite sedans have features that make the driving experience easier than ever, like autopilot modes that can control the car on the highway, massage chairs, and apps that can start the car remotely.

These are the most high-tech sedans on the market.

SEE ALSO: These were the most talked about cars brands in 2017

1. Inside the BMW 7 Series' powerful exterior, its interior provides a killer combination of comfort and high-tech features that can make long road trips pass by in an instant.

One of the sedan's most interesting features is subtle—a pair of roof windows that offer LED ambiance lighting to make driving less stressful.

Passengers might have the best deal, as they can use the standard, in-car Wi-Fi that allows you to stream Netflix or other video content on 10'' screens perched on the back of the front seats.

Traveling through Kenya recently, I had the opportunity to strike a major item off my (and many others') bucket list: African safari.

I was in Nairobi, the capital city, and I'd booked a half-day safari in Nairobi National Park, where I had read I could see big game such as lions, rhinos, and buffalo.

I admit I was nervous about not seeing much, since the animals had ample space to hide in the park's 45 square miles, and there were no guarantees I'd see even a wild turkey. However, this being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I figured there were far worse ways to spend a few hours.

Here's what I saw.

SEE ALSO: I visited a baby elephant orphanage in Kenya — here's what it was like

I was picked up from my Airbnb at 6:15 a.m. and deposited about an hour away at the park's east gate. This is where my fellow tourists and I would begin our tour.

The Kenya Wildlife Service is very protective of its animals. There are endangered black rhinos and over 400 species of birds living in the park. I could take all the photos I wanted; the camera just had to stay inside the car.

With our van loaded up (read: just me and my driver, Steven), we left the paved roads behind for the park's winding, dusty path.

As 2016 drew to a close, I published a list of nonfiction books I'd read that year. At that point, I thought I knew everything about how to be happier, how to achieve my goals, and how to become an expert at anything.

In 2017, I learned — surprise! — I was wrong. This past year, I read another boatload of books on human behavior (you can consider many of them self help books) and gained brand-new insights into the worlds of relationships, emotions, and money management.

Below, I've highlighted the best of those insights and the terrific books they came from.

SEE ALSO: The 19 best business books of 2017

Even the smartest people can fall into common mental traps when it comes to saving money

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely is by now well-known for introducing readers to all the ways in which they can, unwittingly, sabotage their own success.

In his latest book, "Dollars and Sense," Ariely teams up with lawyer-turned-comedian Jeff Kreisler to explore all the traps we fall into when it comes to spending and saving — and how to outsmart them.

For example, we think of money as relative, not absolute. If you've just bought a $100 shirt, you might easily throw in a $10 pair of socks; but if you've just bought a $5 shirt, you'd be hard pressed to tack on an additional $10 purchase.

If you're aware of this tendency, and if you can stop to think about the fact that it's the same $10 in both scenarios, you'll be able to make wiser financial decisions.

Cheating doesn't have to destroy a relationship

If you ask Esther Perel whether she's "for" or "against" cheating, she'll simply answer, "Yes."

That's because Perel — a renowned couples therapist and bestselling author — has seen firsthand how infidelity can damage trust in a relationship, sometimes irreparably. But in her new book, "The State of Affairs," Perel argues that she's also seen a couple rediscover honesty, intimacy, and even passion in the wake of an affair.

While Perel would never recommend that someone deliberately cheat on their partner, she explains that on some level, infidelity can revitalize an otherwise deadened relationship, bringing both partners back to reality — and to each other.

You're more likely to thrive in a work environment that suits your personality

Everyone loves a good personality test — and Gretchen Rubin's "four tendencies" quiz is one of the most revelatory.

Rubin, a bestselling author and one of the biggest names in the self-improvement space, says everyone forms habits and approaches expectations differently: Either you're an Upholder, a Questioner, an Obliger, or a Rebel.

In her latest book, "The Four Tendencies," Rubin says that knowing your tendency can help you figure out what kind of workplace you'd thrive in. For example, maybe you need a boss who checks in all the time, or maybe you'd be a rockstar entrepreneur. Keep this in mind when you're job-searching.

• Kathy Caprino is 57 years old and a career and personal success coach.
• Looking back on her past experiences, she realizes she was often chasing what other people wanted, instead of what she wanted.
• There are nine life lessons Caprino wishes she could impart to her younger self, including: express your creativity, get help when you need it, and don't waste time on "shoulds."

At 57 years old, I'm able to look back and view my life in an utterly different light from when I was 40, 30 or 20. So much of what I believed was crucial to my success and happiness when I was in my 20s and 30s proved to be erroneous and misguided.

And most of those misguided notions were based on the "shoulds" we are taught and hear every day — what society, our families, or the "group think" deems as "success" (meaning: make a lot of money, have a big house, rise to a high level in corporate America, strive for power and influence, etc.). The problem is that these outer measures of "success" simply cannot and will not give us the fulfillment, meaning and wholehearted contentment and peace we're longing for.

Interestingly, I achieved all of those measures of success at one point or another, and literally none of them have come close to yielding the happiness and fulfillment I craved.

On the other hand, the endeavors that have made me who I am today (and paved the way for so much more joy and deep fulfillment) are all around experiencing wholehearted love, honesty, compassion, healing, building strong boundaries, mustering intense commitment, taking big risks, and bravely standing up for who I really am at my core, and making as good use of that in the world as I can. 

I've seen in working with and coaching thousands of people over the past 12 years that it's the very things that society warns us against, that tend to yield the most powerful returns in our lives. Society tends to subtly or overtly instruct us NOT to risk, NOT to follow our passions, NOT to rise up and speak up and stand up for authentic ourselves (if you're a woman even more so) or do the "stupid" thing that you feel in your heart is the right direction for who you really are. But societal thinking is often dead wrong.

In looking back, I've found there are 9 powerful lessons of my life that I wish I'd understand long before now. If I had known these 30 years ago, I would have not wasted so much time and energy on the wrong choices.

The top 9 lessons we need to learn before midlife are:

SEE ALSO: The best life advice of 2017

1. Make a brave decision on what you want to stand for

I've worked now with hundreds of adult children of narcissists around the world, and many others who were treated terribly and emotionally manipulated as children and adults.

When this happens to us as young children, our development is thwarted, and we find it very difficult to ever believe we're "good enough" or to speak up and stand up for who we really are (or even to dare to figure out what that is.) Even if we weren't mistreated as children, so many don't take a stand on the life they want to live.

It took me until I was 41 years old to start standing up and speaking up powerfully for myself and my life, and never again will I let others define or suppress me. 

Before it's too late, you need to "find your brave" and make a powerful stand about who you want to be in the world, and what you stand for. It's also time to STOP tolerating and allowing what you can no longer accept, in your life and in the world. 

Make the decision today to become the person you will be proud and honored to be, so you have no regrets when the time comes for you to leave this life.

What do you want to stand for, starting right now? 

2. Never compromise your soul

There are things that it's ok to compromise on — perhaps the size of your home, or the geographic location of your job, or the length of your commute, or where you'll go for summer vacation. But it's NOT ok to compromise your soul. If you do, disastrous outcomes will occur. 

Know what keeps your spirit alive, and honor that with all you've got. 

For me, that's truth, transparency, compassion, strength and integrity. For years I couldn't freely express any of those without punishment or suppression. If I can't live those qualities in my work or my relationships, I start to wither, fail and disappear. But I've learned what's required to honor my soul, and I won't compromise it ever again. 

What do you need to do to keep your spirit alive? 

3. Engage your wisdom and discernment when you choose whom to love and trust

The people you choose to enter into relationships with — be it through marriage, friendship, business partnerships, work colleagues and those you hire to work with and for you — will dramatically impact the quality and condition of your life.

Don't let people into your life who will hurt or demean, diminish and mistreat you. Simply don't allow it. If you continually attract people who hurt or abuse you, you have to look at what is inside of you that needs healing so you won't repeat or continue to hook into abusive patterns over and over. 

Be incredibly discerning about who you will give your heart and trust to. And if and when they violate your trust, care and respect, don't wait to do something self-affirming and powerful about it. 

Who is in your life today that you now need to move away from? 

Like most travelers, I loathe airports.

After avoiding United Airlines for years due to bad reviews, I jumped at a cheap fare this holiday, and the commute to New Jersey's Newark Airport that it required.

Last year, United's Terminal C reopened after a $120 million renovation spearheaded by airport restaurateur OTG. The transformation ditched the usual drab airport food options for an architecturally beautiful selection of 55 celebrity-chef inflected eateries ranging from ramen to Neapolitan-style pizza. 

The ultimate airport skeptic, I came away from Newark's terminal-of-the-future absolutely delighted — both by the cuisines, and some thoughtful touches that make any travelers' lives easier.

Take a look inside to see how it taught me to stop hating, and begin loving the bright future of airports.

SEE ALSO: We ate lunch at United Airlines' secret invitation-only restaurant — and it takes airport food to a whole new level

The new terminal was designed by architect David Rockwell, who has designed numerous high-end restaurants. The Global Bazaar, which has a number of rotating fast-casual eateries and a few fancier sit-down restaurants, is at the heart of the terminal.

It all feels very high-tech. There are no cashiers for any of the fast-casual eateries or convenience stores. Instead, everyone pays at self-check-out kiosks spread across the floor.

There are a lot of options, but some are only open at certain times. While Casciano's Deli serves up fresh Italian sandwiches at dinner time, the signage rotates in the morning to serve breakfast sandwiches at Poppy's Bagels.

• Preliminary results for Wall Street's competitive league-table rankings are in.
• JPMorgan is set to retain bragging rights as the top overall investment bank.
• Races in other lines of business — like equity capital markets — are too close to call.

The year in dealmaking is closing with a bang, with late-arriving megadeals shaking up some of the rankings of Wall Street's top investment banks.

With just under two weeks to go before close of the 2017, Dealogic is out with its preliminary results for the year in investment banking — and it's looking like another big year for JPMorgan.

Some league-table races are all but over: With $6.4 billion, JPMorgan has a healthy lead in overall investment-banking revenue. Goldman Sachs trails by $820 million in second place.

But some lines of business will come down to the wire: In global equity capital markets by revenue, Morgan Stanley leads JPMorgan by just $4 million, $1.270 billion to $1.266 billion.

Across the industry, revenue increased to a three-year high of $78.1 billion, led by the revival in global ECM, which saw a 25% increase in annual revenue to $17.6 billion.

A wave of announced megadeals have made the fourth quarter the sixth-busiest quarter for mergers and acquisitions in the past decade, according to Dealogic. The four largest tie-ups of the year were all announced in Q4, including Broadcom-Qualcomm ($130 billion), CVS-Aetna ($69 billion), Disney-21st Century Fox ($69 billion), and Hochtief-Abertis Infraestructuras ($42 billion).

Still, it's a down year overall for global M&A, falling 9% to $3.52 trillion.

Here's a breakdown of the preliminary results for the major rankings, according to Dealogic. Read on to see who's on pace to win bragging rights this year:

JPMorgan is set to retain its crown as the top overall investment bank. In general, there was very little movement from the overall revenue rankings from 2016.

Goldman Sachs appears a shoo-in to retain bragging rights for revenue from global M&A. The firm had a leading role on the three largest deals of the year: Broadcom-Qualcomm ($130 billion), CVS-Aetna ($69 billion), and Disney-21st Century Fox ($69 billion).

Goldman Sachs also leads global M&A by volume. But the story here is boutiques: Evercore climbs to eighth from 11th, and Centerview Partners — a firm of just 37 senior bankers — jumped to seventh from 12th after landing assignments on both December megadeals: CVS-Aetna and Disney-21st Century Fox.

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.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Life is a journey, not a destination." Yeah, well he never had to take a 10-hour flight in coach.

Vacations are fun (hopefully), but getting to the destination and losing out on some of the creature comforts of home is kind of a drag. Then you have to try to keep yourself entertained, hope your bag doesn't get lost, and make sure you don't fry your favorite gadget when traveling overseas.

The accessories on this list will help you out on all those fronts. They'll also help you drown out travel noise, keep your devices nice and charged, and help your phone survive a dunk in the water.

SEE ALSO: 5 great tech brands you’ve probably never heard of

DON'T MISS: 50 must-have tech accessories under $50

A high-capacity external battery

External battery chargers have become popular, but because they get bigger in size along with how much power they provide, many folks only have a small one. Do yourself a favor and invest in a slightly larger, but way-higher-capacity battery like this one from Anker. It weighs less than a pound, but has the ability to charge an iPhone 6 seven times. There's nothing worse than thinking you have enough power to get you through a trip, but getting stuck with a nasty layover or missed connection. Plus, this one has two USB ports, so you can help out a friend if you're traveling together.

Anker PowerCore 20100 Portable Charger, $41.99, available at Amazon

A power converter

Don't fry your electronics when you go overseas. This is coming from a well-seasoned traveler who still managed to slip up last summer. It's a little heavy-duty looking, but if you're going abroad for a significant amount of time, it's well worth investing in a power converter like this one from BESTEK.

In addition to its three outlets, this power converter has 4 USB ports, so you don't have to take up any outlets when you need to charge your phone or tablet. If you're picking one of these up you'll be all set for travel to Europe, the US, UK, or Australia. 

BESTEK International Travel Voltage Converter, $39.99, available at Amazon

A waterproof Bluetooth speaker

If you're going on a beach vacation, it's a good idea to bring a waterproof Bluetooth speaker along. You can listen to your favorite tunes without worrying about it getting destroyed if a big wave comes or it gets left in the rain. 

Out of all the durable options I've tested, JBL's Flip 4 has survived my most aggressive water test yet: 10 minutes of full submersion. It's also small enough to fit in a carry-on bag in transit, and a beach bag when it's time to hang out by the water.

JBL Flip 4, $79.99, available at Amazon

• An increasing number of tech executives are speaking up about the harm that social media sites can do to civil society.
• The social psychology research on social media's effects on users is new and limited, but some studies suggest that the sites can lead to behavioral addictions.
• Execs including Snap CEO Evan Spiegel say that social media can also easily sway elections, contribute to depression, and impede civil discourse.

If you're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap, or Reddit, you've likely noticed that those notifications, likes, and upvotes can be quite addicting.

This is on purpose. Social media companies want people to keep coming back to their sites, so developers will often design apps in ways that encourage engagement. Some social psychology research (albeit early and new) suggests that excessive social media use can lead to behavioral addictions, meaning users spend hours tethered to their screens.

And even those behind these apps admit that social media can be bad for people. Earlier this month, former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya said that the site does not promote civil discourse and is "ripping apart the social fabric of how society works."

He also argued that consequences can go past individual addiction to larger issues, like partisan echo chambers and fake news.

Palihapitiya is not the only one who has recently spoken up about the harm that social media can do. The following tech execs also have regrets about the tools they helped create.

SEE ALSO: Former Facebook exec feels 'tremendous guilt' for what he helped make

Drone maker Chris Anderson worries about social media addiction and bullying

Chris Anderson, CEO of the drone maker 3D Robotics, sets limits on social media use (and screen time in general) for his five children.

In a 2014 interview with The New York Times, he said he worries about bullying from other kids and tech addiction.

"My kids accuse me and my wife of being fascists and overly concerned about tech, and they say that none of their friends have the same rules," he told The Times. "That's because we have seen the dangers of technology firsthand. I've seen it in myself, I don't want to see that happen to my kids."

Former Facebook president Sean Parker has said the network 'changes your relationship with society'

In November, Sean Parker, who cofounded Napster before becoming Facebook's president, told Axios that the social network has had unintended consequences on how society functions.

"I don't know if I really understood the consequences of what I was saying, because [of] the unintended consequences of a network when it grows to a billion or 2 billion people and ... It literally changes your relationship with society, with each other ... It probably interferes with productivity in weird ways," Parker said. "God only knows what it's doing to our children's brains."

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel says social media has encouraged fake news to spread

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel recently admitted that he believes social media has fueled the rise of fake news.

"The personalized newsfeed revolutionized the way people share and consume content. But let's be honest: this came at a huge cost to facts, our minds and the entire media industry," he wrote in an op-ed for Axios.

"Social media fueled 'fake news' because content designed to be shared by friends is not necessarily content designed to deliver accurate information," Spiegel continued. "After all, how many times have you shared something you've never bothered to read?"