• WatchTime New York is the largest luxury watch event in America.
• The event is attended by high-end watch retailers, casual buyers, and collectors alike.
• The timepieces on display can range from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Among the most expensive watches displayed at the event were a Breguet model that Cristiano Ronaldo recently wore and an Armin Strom watch inspired by a medieval European clock tower.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

America's largest luxury watch event took place on October 25 and 26 in New York City.

A total of 37 brands were presenting their high-end timepieces at WatchTime New York 2019, an annual showing hosted by watch magazine WatchTime. These included centuries-old watchmakers like Omega and Breguet, as well as younger independent brands like Romain Gauthier, Armin Strom, and Tulloch, the latter of which made its worldwide debut as a company at the event.

While some of the most inexpensive watches went for $16,500, many were priced well into the six-figure range. To keep prices in context, a vintage Patek Philippe sold at auction on Saturday went for a record-smashing $31 million.

Here's a look at four of the priciest timepieces that were on display at WatchTime's annual event.

SEE ALSO: The woman who found a $250,000 Rolex in her thrift-store couch 'did all the right things,' according to the expert collector who later bought her watch himself

DON'T MISS: One of the world's biggest luxury watch shows is undergoing major changes in 2020

1. Armin Strom Minute Repeater Resonance

Released in a limited collection of just 10 pieces, this watch celebrates the 10th anniversary of Armin Strom.

The company also touts it as the world's first and only resonance chiming wristwatch, offering two complications — resonance and minute repeater — in one timepiece.

According to press materials, the watch was inspired by the Zytglogge, a watch tower that's been standing in Bern's center for more than eight centuries.

The Armin Strom Minute Repeater Resonance is valued at $350,000, a spokesperson for WatchTime told Business Insider.

2. Jaquet Droz Tropical Bird Repeater

Touted by the company as "the only one of its kind in the world," this 2018 model is inspired by a tropical landscape.

It features delicately hand-crafted birds and scenery.

The Jaquet Droz Tropical Bird Repeater is valued at $661,500, a spokesperson for WatchTime told Business Insider.

3. Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Technique

This watch model is being sold in a limited collection.

Only 11 pieces were made.

The Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Technique in Blue Ceramic is valued at $695,000, a spokesperson for WatchTime told Business Insider.

4. Breguet Double Tourbillon

The "Grande Complication" platinum watch has twin rotating tourbillons and a bezel paved with 107 baguette-cut diamonds.

Cristiano Ronaldo was seen wearing this particular timepiece in a September Instagram post, a spokesperson for WatchTime told Business Insider.

Instagram Embed:
//instagram.com/p/B2WHH5Go1jt/embed
Width: 540px

A spokesperson for WatchTime told Business Insider that the Breguet Double Tourbillon is valued at $800,000, making it among the event's priciest watches.

• Disney is launching its highly-anticipated streaming service, Disney Plus, on Tuesday, November 12. 
• The ad-free streaming service will cost $6.99 per month (or $69.99 per year) for access to Disney's large vault of animated films, TV shows, along with offerings from Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Fox, and National Geographic.
• Disney Plus will also roll out original shows and films.
• Insider's entertainment team has reviewed seven of the new shows along with the live-action "Lady and the Tramp" ahead of their debut. 
• You'll anxiously await more short episodes with "Toy Story 4's" Forky, but can pass on the "High School Musical" reboot. Kids will appreciate the "Lady and the Tramp" remake even though it feels like a Disney Channel original movie. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Lady and the Tramp" is a cute update to the original, but ultimately feels like a TV movie.

What it's about: The remake of the 1955 animated movie follows Lady (voiced by Tessa Thompson) as she grapples with the idea of being pushed aside by her owners for a newborn entering the family. After meeting a stray (voiced by Justin Theroux), Lady winds up lost and finds herself on an adventure with the mangy mutt that leads to an unexpected canine romance.

Why you should watch: At its best, "Lady and the Tramp" is reminiscent of another Disney classic, "Homeward Bound." At its worst, it feels like another Disney dog movie, "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

Unlike "The Lion King" remake, the animals in this movie emote a bit more — for better and worse. Some of the CG to make the dogs look like they're talking is quite convincing. Other times, it's jarring. A few singing dogs look cartoonish as they're singing in a dog pound. But it's Aunt Sarah's iconic cats that suffer the most in this department, looking downright hideous. The upside is that the duo get a much-needed update from their racist counterparts in the original with a new song to match.

Thankfully, the cats and other dogs play a small part in comparison to Lady and the Tramp, and Thompson and Theroux have great chemistry. Overall, the remake is a pleasant and fun watch for kids with family. And, let's be honest: If you grew up watching the original, you know you're going to tune into the remake to see what it's all about. You may even get misty-eyed a few times. — Kirsten Acuna

You can read our full review here.

"High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" lacks the fun and lighthearted spirit of the original Disney film.

What it's about: The lengthy-titled new series from Disney Plus focuses on a group of high school students at the mythical East High — notably the setting of Disney's landmark original musical, "High School Musical"— as they stage a production of the show. This being a high school drama production, there's also plenty of drama, scheming, and love triangles to keep things interesting. 

Why you should pass: It's a fun concept for sure, but "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" lacks the earnest charm of the 2006 original (that basically launched the careers of then-unknowns Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens). While "High School Musical" was gloriously campy and unabashedly fun, this spin-off series tends to take itself a little too seriously. Plus, the lead characters — ambitious Nini, tortured Ricky, and self-assured EJ — lack the chemistry and charisma of Efron, Hudgens, and crew. 

The new series is proof that you shouldn't mess with perfection — and if you need a musical fix, just watch the original. — Libby Torres 

You can read our review here.

"Toy Story" fans will enjoy "Forky Asks a Question," but the episode lengths are disappointingly short.

What it's about: The breakout star of "Toy Story 4," voiced by Tony Hale, asks a different question in each of the series' 10 shorts as the curious two-day old spork learns about the world around him. 

Why you should watch: The two episodes we've seen so far, which involve Forky asking about money and friends, are cute and deliver laughs, but will undoubtedly leave kids (and parents alike) asking for more. Quickly. At three minutes apiece, the shorts are far too, well, short. Viewers will fly through the series in a brief half hour.

The bad news? You won't be able to binge them all at once either. Though the first episode will be available at launch (November 12), the second episode won't debut until November 15. — Kirsten Acuna

Watch the trailer here.

"The World According to Jeff Goldblum" is a must-watch for fans of the actor.

What it's about: Much like Anthony Bourdain in "Parts Unknown" and "No Reservations," Jeff Goldblum travels the country exploring new trends in "The World According to Jeff Goldblum." Whether he's attending a sneaker convention in Ohio or meeting Ben and Jerry (of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream), Goldblum highlights a variety of perspectives and lifestyles on the show. 

Why you should watch: If you're a fan of Goldblum, you won't want to miss this show. While I personally found his demeanor and humor off-putting, diehard fans will probably love his witty remarks and commentary. Aside from Goldblum, the show does a pretty good job of exploring the lesser known side of things like denim or tattoos — although it's a bit unclear as to why Goldblum needs to be involved. — Libby Torres

Watch the trailer here.

"The Imagineering Story" is a fascinating 6-hour documentary that gives a look behind the curtain of what it took to create the Disney parks.

What it's about: This six-hour documentary (six one-hour episodes) is an exhaustive look at the creative folks who are responsible for birthing all the amazing attractions at Disneyland and Disney World. This group is known as Walt Disney Imagineering.

Why you should watch: Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks (whose father was a Disney executive and grandfather was the cocreator of Mickey Mouse), she gives us a rarely seen glimpse behind the scenes at Disney to chronicle the Imagineering division, which was created by Walt Disney himself when he began work on Disneyland, and runs all the way through the highs and lows of the division. All smoothly narrated by Angela Bassett.

If you want to know how The Haunted Mansion, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Epcot Center came to life, and look at areas of the park that aren't seen by the general public (like the expansive underground "city" below Disney World), Iwerks mixes interviews with many of the people who were on the front lines with fantastic archival footage to show how it was done. All while intertwining the story of how Disneyland, Disney World, and the other parks around the world were created. — Jason Guerrasio

Watch the trailer here.

The "Marvel's Hero Project" docuseries is sweet and shows a peak of Disney's potential impact on younger generations.

What it's about: Each 30-minute episode of "Marvel's Hero Project" highlights a different young kid who's making an impact on their community and the world. At the end of each mini-documentary, the team at Disney/Marvel surprise the kid with their very own comic book story and "Hero Project" package.

Why you should watch: Though at times the staged brainstorms in New York City's Marvel offices feel a bit too scripted, overall "Marvel's Hero Project" is a heartfelt exploration of the ways upcoming generations are going to change the world. 

From a young designer named Jordan who's changing the way disabilities are seen in the world to an 11-year-old activist fighting against child abuse and injustices, and so many more, the show gives a platform to 20 kids and their passion projects. 

This is a good series for families to watch together, if only to show future generations how activism and creative problem solving will help shape the world around them to be kinder, more inclusive, and just overall better. — Kim Renfro

Watch the trailer here.

"Encore" taps in to some major high school nostalgia, whether or not you were a drama geek.

What it's about:"Encore" reunites the now grown-up casts of high school musicals to re-stage the production years later. Executive produced by "Frozen 2" voice actress and "Veronica Mars" star Kristen Bell, the series provides the cast with everything from a theater director to costumes and sets that exceed anything a high school could afford. The only things left to chance is the offstage drama. The first and second episode feature productions from "Annie" and "Beauty and the Beast," respectively.

Why you should watch: There's definitely a lot to enjoy about this docuseries. The very idea of seeing what happens when you pluck adults out of their lives to come back and perform (when the majority of them hadn't been on a stage since they were teens) is enough reason. Will they rise to the occasion or choke?

But then, you have the added bonus of seeing how life treats the quiet guy, the quirky girl, the girl who always gets the leads, the heartthrob (who only begrudgingly admits he loved the stage), and the goth... You get the idea, we all land in one or more of the high school types that exist. So, at times, it can feel very relatable.

The downside of the show is that you only really get to scratch the surface of the life and feelings of its participants. Things are said and issues arise that the show is unable to really cover in any depth. Between its ensemble cast and all the show preparations, there's just no time. — Jethro Nededog

Watch the trailer here.

Unless you're a huge fan of Anna Kendrick or Bill Hader or a small child, you can skip "Noelle."

What it's about: Nick Kringle (Bill Hader) is supposed to take over the role of Santa Claus. When he gets cold feet and heads to Phoenix, Arizona, his sister Noelle (Anna Kendrick) goes to find him and save Christmas.

Why you should pass: Though Kendrick and Shirley Maclaine are charming, the holiday film is underwhelming with cheesy dialogue, often filled with nods to holiday songs.

"Noelle" was originally supposed to be a theatrical Disney release. It seems like the streaming service was a safer bet for Disney's streaming service. The movie feels pretty generic while Disney tries to engineer its next profitable princess in Noelle. You'll probably spend more time trying to figure out what Noelle's baby reindeer is (a mix between a calf and lamb) than laughing at any of Kendrick's feeble attempts at humor. — Kirsten Acuna

You can read our review of "Noelle" here.

"The Mandalorian" is an exciting and surprising new adventure set in the "Star Wars" universe.

What it's about: "The Mandalorian" follows a bounty hunter, known only as the Mandalorian, on a new mission. The show takes place about five years after the events of "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," and uses the tone of classic Western tales to bring a new take on the space opera universe.

Why you should watch: The series has an incredible cast and creative team, including creator Jon Favreau ("Iron Man,""The Lion King") and director Dave Filoni ("Avatar: The Last Airbender,""Star Wars: The Clone Wars").

With a great score, tons of "Star Wars" references and Easter eggs, and an engaging story line, "The Mandalorian" is definitely worth a watch. The first episode ends with a surprising revelation which sets the series onto an unexpected course, and we can't wait to see more. New episodes will appear each Tuesday on Disney Plus.

Watch the trailer here.

• Read more:
• The opening episode of 'The Mandalorian' ends on a surprising cliffhanger. Here's what you need to know.
• An essential timeline of when every past and upcoming 'Star Wars' movie and TV show takes place
• The 51 best movies you can stream on Disney Plus right now
• Disney has 19 new shows coming exclusively to its streaming service — here they all are

• It's been 25 years since "Friends" first hit television screens, yet the show still remains one of the most popular sitcoms in history.
• A study last year revealed that it was the most binge-watched television show of 2018 with Netflix reportedly paying up to $100 million to stream it for another year. 
• To celebrate the milestone, Insider has rounded up some of the show's best and most candid pictures from on and off set.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Back in the early 90s, writers and producers David Crane and Marta Kauffman delivered a simple one-line pitch to NBC for a feelgood sitcom called "Friends."

"This show is about six people in their 20s who hang out at this coffee house," they wrote. 

After the show got the green light, the director James Burrow had such a "good feeling" about it that he flew the six virtually unknown actors to Las Vegas for what would be their last public outing without being bombarded by paparazzi.

"I took them [the cast] to Vegas ... I had me and six of them and I said: 'This is your last shot at anonymity. Once the show comes on the air, you guys will never be able to go anywhere without being hounded,'"Burrow told The Hollywood Reporter back in 2016.

Burrows was right. Their faces have since been screened in households across all six continents, making it not only a cultural icon but one of the most highly syndicated shows in television history. 

And even 15 years after its final episode in 2004, the enduring success of "Friends" shows no signs of slowing down.

A study last year revealed it was the most binge-watched television show of 2018 with Netflix reportedly paying up to $100 million to stream it for another year.

To mark the 25th anniversary, Insider has rounded up some of the best photos of the "Friends" cast either on set or out and about, ranked in chronological order.

1994: Jennifer Aniston revealed that initially, the girls were 'nervous' to work with Matt LeBlanc due to his modeling history (he used to model for Levis). 'He thinks it's very funny now. And actually, he can sit down and comfort me just like Courteney or Lisa could,' Aniston said.

Source: People.

1995: Coffee size does matter. The archetypal oversized mugs served at the gang's favorite cafe, Central Perk, became a cultural icon. Here's the cast showing them off at an NBC Press Tour party.

1995: Roommates Joey and Chandler were as thick as thieves throughout the series, often going on hilarious but miscalculated adventures together. But sadly according to E!, their real-life bond was 'never as close' as the lead actresses.

Source: E!

1995: The female characters on 'Friends' couldn't be more different but somehow their friendship clicked. The tight-knit trio still remain as close as ever with Cox sharing a "girls night" Instagram for her 55th birthday back in June.

Source: Instagram.

1995: Marlo Thomas played Rachel's blunt and often flighty mom, Sandra Green, for just three episodes but somehow her character had a huge impact with viewers. In this episode, Sandra announced her divorce, much to the surprise of her daughter, and shared her envy for Rachel's independent lifestyle. Thomas later said she received mail from women worldwide who said her character strongly resonated with them.

Source: Television Academy Foundation Website.

1995: Here's Kudrow and Aniston at the Second Annual Rock Honors. Aniston said back in 2015 that she actually wasn't a fan of her famous do dubbed 'The Rachel.' She also wasn't able to style it on her own, often relying on stylists to keep it in shape.

Source: Glamour.

1996: Joey's acting skills may have been debatable, but the struggling actor did end up scoring some pretty cool cameos throughout his career. Below sees him play Dr. Drake Ramoray, a character on a fictional version of 'Days of Our Lives.' Ironically the actor opposite him, Roark Critchlow, played a doctor on the real 'Days of Our Lives.'

1996: While 'Friends' is based in New York City, the show was actually filmed at Warner Brother Studios in Los Angeles, which made creating episodes like 'The One with the Football' particularly difficult. Meant to resemble a Greenwich Village park, set designers had to think on their feet after being told they couldn't film outside due to light and sound issues. They managed to pull it off by quickly creating a whole color model 'for the first time in the history of sitcoms.'

Source: Entertainment Weekly.

1997: While Ross and Rachel's relationship was a huge focal point of 'Friends,' viewers surprised the show's creators when neat freak Monica hooks up with unlucky in love Chandler. Originally, Monica was to end up with Joey but the response for Mondler was so strong, writers re-wrote scripts to keep the pair together.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter.

1997: The 'Friends' supported each other off-screen as well as on it. Below, Aniston, Le Blanc, Perry and Schwimmer at the premiere of 'Scream 2,' in which Cox played a lead role.

1997: Almost 40 famous faces graced the screens of 'Friends' during its 10-year tenure, but the story behind Robin Williams and Billy Crystal's cameo might be the greatest. The pair were filming in a neighboring set and accidentally wandered into the wrong studio. The writers then asked if they wanted to star in the show, they said yes and were written in and filmed that same day.

Source: Comedy Central.

1998: As a 'Friends' fan, the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson was apparently so nervous during filming that Le Blanc and Perry gave her a pep talk and helped her go over her lines.

Source: Comedy Central 

1998: Kudrow was really pregnant when she ballooned with the triplets for the show. Creators wrote in her character's pregnancy with Kudrow later saying the cast always included her 'little feotus' in the pre-show 'group huddle.'

Source: Screen Rant.

1998: Cast members' girlfriends and boyfriends also made their own little cameos throughout the series, which enticed viewers to watch for on-screen chemistry. Supermodel Elle MacPhearson featured in five episodes as Joey's girlfriend Janine Lacroix and later said had she known the show would be such a hit, she would have 'chickened out.'

Source: News.com.au.

1998: David Schwimmer almost turned down the role of Ross. NBC said the character was specifically created with Schwimmer in mind but at the time the actor wanted to be in theater.

Source: Screen Rant.

1999: Monica and Ross's New Years' dance dubbed 'The Routine' may have been was choreographed by the founder of the Pussycat Dolls, Robin Antin. NBC called Antin to help create the routine, which took a week of rehearsals.

2000: 'Friends' hit many milestones but one that's for the history books includes their landmark group pay negotiation. Schwimmer suggested the mini-union where each case member demanded an equal pay rise or they'd walk out. By the end of the series, each cast member was earning $1 million per episode. A far cry from the $20,000 they began with.

Source: Screen Rant.

2001: Brad Pitt finally joined the cast for an episode where his character snubs his real-life wife at the time, Aniston, for bullying him in high school. But despite already being a seasoned actor, Pitt said in September he 'flubbed' his lines.

Source: Express UK.

2002: The girls share a moment of television triumph after winning an Emmy for 'Best Comedy Series.' Over the course of its run, 'Friends' was nominated an astounding 62 times, winning six. Notably, Aniston won 'Outstanding Lead Actress' despite being the last actor cast for the show.

Source: Entertainment Weekly, USA Today

2003: Cox was originally slated to play Rachel but she insisted she was more of a Monica, telling producers the character 'related' to her. Cox even cleaned the cast members' dressing rooms during her downtime.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Screen Rant.

2003: Ross and Rachel's baby Emma was actually played by twins Noelle and Cami Sheldon who told Insider that the cast treated them 'like little princesses.'

Source: Insider.

2004: Coffee-shop worker and Rachel admirer, Gunther, wasn't meant to have any lines on 'Friends,' originally cast as a background extra. But the actor, James Michael Taylor, scored himself the promotion as he was the only extra who knew how to work an espresso machine. Below shows him at the DVD release of the show's final series.

Source: Screen Rant

2007: Aniston and Cox cosied up together at the premiere of Cox's comedy horror film 'The Tripper,' which she starred in with her then-husband David Arquette. Cox later revelaed

2009: Kudrow gave a rendition of 'Smelly Cat' with Cox on-stage at the Rock A Little, Feed A Lot benefit concert in Los Angeles.

2009: Following Aniston's 'Cougar Town' debut in 2012, one 'Friends' cast member cameo clearly wasn't enough as Cox called on Kudrow to play a 'judgemental' dermatologist.

Source: The Independent

2013: If it was up to Perry and Kudrow, they wouldn't have let 'Friends' end. Perry guest-hosted for 'Piers Morgans Tonight' with Kudrow when Perry said: 'If I had a time machine, I would like to go back to 2004 and not have stopped.'

Source: E!

2014: Jimmy Kimmel got the 'Friends' girls together, but this time in a very familiar setting. Looking as comfortable as ever, Kudrow, Aniston, and Cox acted out some fan fiction written by Kimmel to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary that year.

Source: Huffington Post.

2015: Aniston supported Cox a number of times post-'Friends' break up — from a guest appearance in a 2010 episode of Cox's show, 'Cougar Town,' to her directorial debut below for 'Just Before I Go.'

Source: E!

2016: Joey and Chandler got together again in London almost 21 years after the two-part British 'Friends' episodes aired. Le Blanc hung out with Perry backstage at his West End play, 'The End of Longing,' which marked his playwriting debut.

2016: Five of the six 'Friends' cast members reunited on their former network of NBC in a special tribute to series director, James Burrows.

Source: BBC.

2017: Kudrow bumped into Cox at the UCLA Semel Institute's Open Mind Gala where they shared not only a hug but a table together. Cox watched Kudrow MC the charity event.

Source: PopSugar.

2018: Aniston and Cox paid tribute to one of their cameo stars George Clooney by presenting him with the 46th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in true Rachel and Monica fashion. They sang the 'Friends' theme song. Following the event, the pair were seen talking with Clooney's wife, Amal.

Source: Hello Giggles.

2018 - Monica and Rachel were back at it again as Cox supported Aniston at the premiere of the her new Netflix film 'Dumplin.' The dynamic duo "cuddled" up to each other at the after-party and happily posed for plenty of pictures

Source: The Sun.

2019 - Kudrow, Cox, and Aniston posed for pics with another former 'Friends' cast member, Paul Rudd, who played Kudrow's on-screen boyfriend and later husband, Mike Hannigan. Rudd who joined the show for its final two seasons. He revealed in October that he ran over Aniston's foot on a Segway on his first day of filming.

Source: Insider.

• As the idea of polyamorous relationships becomes mainstream, more celebrities are coming forward about their non-monogamous dating styles.
• YouTube stars and social media influencers like Tana Mongeau, Jake Paul, and Bella Thorne have been vocal about their "open" dating. 
• Here are six celebrities who have spoken out about being polyamorous. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more.

Polyamory is having its moment in the spotlight, with public curiosity about non-monogamy on the rise and more celebrities speaking openly about their non-traditional approaches to love. 

Not to be confused with polygamy, Psychology Today defines polyamory as the "practice of having multiple intimate relationships, whether sexual or just romantic, with the full knowledge and consent of all parties involved." In simpler terms, polyamory involves sustaining a relationship with more than one person in which everyone is aware of the other partners involved. 

While there are a number of prominent celebrities rumored to be engaging in non-monogamous relationships, here are six who have spoken about their polyamorous preferences.

Actress Bella Thorne has been in a number of publicly non-monogamous relationships.

Bella Thorne, actress, model, and adult film director, is far from camera shy when it comes to displaying her non-monogamous dating style. Thorne first publicly confirmed she was in simultaneous relationships with rapper Mod Sun, or Dereck Smith, and YouTuber Tana Mongeau in an interview with Gay Times magazine.

"I don't think anybody will really understand the bonds that I share with Mod or Tana," Thorne told the publication. "Yeah, we joke around about [polyamory], but we aren't in the sense that we don't put a word, a box or label too many things. It is what it is."

Thorne ended her relationships with both Mongeau and Mod Sun earlier this year, but hasn't stopped displaying her open dating preferences on social media. Thorne's current boyfriend, Italian singer Mascolo, expressed his support of Thorne's newest romantic interest, Alex Martini, after Thorne posted a picture of her and Martini on Instagram.

While Thorne has not labeled her simultaneous relationships with Martini and Mascolo as polyamorous, a slew of fans and publications have expressed support for the actress promoting non-monogamous visibility in mainstream media. 

YouTube star and Instagram influencer Tana Mongeau discussed her polyamorous relationship with Thorne in 2019.

Tana Mongeau opened up to her 5 million YouTube subscribers in January 2019 about her relationship with Thorne. Thorne and Mongeau confirmed they were dating in September 2017 while Thorne was in another relationship with Mod Sun.

"It's funny because meeting Bella and going into it, in the beginning, I felt like there was this tension between Mod and I … " Mongeau said in the video. "Here I am just coming in and Bella wants me here but she has a whole a--- boyfriend and he wasn't my boyfriend and I didn't want him to be my boyfriend. He didn't want me to be his girlfriend. It was this weird thing of him and I sharing her. But after time, it became so harmonious and absolutely normal to us." 

Thorne and Mongeau dated for over a year, and announced their split publicly in February 2019.

"Being in that relationship taught me so much about myself and polyamory and openness and how close-minded the world can be — and how open-minded the world can be,"Mongeau said in a video.

Mongeau and YouTuber Jake Paul tied the knot this year. Paul later confirmed the pair’s marriage was an “open” one during an interview with ET Live.

YouTube superstar Jake Paul began his relationship with Mongeau in April 2019. 

Paul and Mongeau got married this past July. 

Paul confirmed in a later interview with ET Live that the couple had always had an "open" arrangement after hosts Denny Directo and Cassie DiLaura questioned Paul about Mongeau and singer Noah Cyrus possibly hooking up.

"Since the start of our relationship it's been, like, an open type of thing because that's just how we both are," Paul said. 

The YouTuber added that he would be more than fine with his wife and Cyrus sleeping together, "especially if I could be there."

‘Grace and Frankie’ actor Baron Vaughn has opened up about past non-monogamous relationships.

As with monogamous relationships, people approach polyamory and non-monogamy in different ways. Actor and comedian Baron Vaughn addressed this when speaking about his own experience in open relationships when he was a guest on the YouTube show Reality Bytes in 2017

"It can be daunting, it depends what you want out of it. And also what style you do, because there are many styles," Vaughn said.  "There've been a couple times where I've been in a triad, which is essentially an equilateral 'throuple,' some people might call it, where everyone was in a relationship with everyone else." 

The actor also touched on the concept of "poly fidelity" in explaining his throuple — the idea that a person engaging in a triad relationship doesn't date anyone aside from the other two people in the relationship. 

Vaugh appeared on an episode of Nicole Byer's podcast "Why Won't You Date Me?" earlier this year where he spoke about a long-distance open relationship he was in. Vaugn said jealousy wasn't an issue for him. 

"Jealousy is a feeling that something you believe is yours is going to be taken from you," Vaughn said. "Jealousy makes your partner an object."

DeRay Davis has been dating more than two people at a time since he was 12-years-old.

DeRay Davis, a comedian and actor known for his appearances in "21 Jumpstreet" and "Empire," publicly displayed his "three-lationship" with his two girlfriends at the time when his Oxygen show "Living with Funny" premiered in 2016.  

Davis went on "The Real" in 2017 to discuss his polyamorous lifestyle further. After being asked how his girlfriends felt about the nature of the relationship, Davis said "They're very comfortable, because I'm very open. I don't make it where it's all, 'Oooh, look what I'm doing!' I'm not a player."

The comedian opened up earlier this year about being poly for basically his entire dating life when he appeared on Nicole Byer's podcast,"Why Won't You Date Me?," stating he has had multiple girlfriends at a time since he was 12-years-old. 

Davis explained that the process of meeting his multiple partners is "more of an organic thing," rather than an intentional search for multiple partners. 

"I brought it upon myself to say 'Hey, this is what my life is like. This is what I need,'" Davis told Byer of his approach to polyamory.

Aubrey Marcus, New York Times bestselling author and CEO of ONNIT, has been in an open relationship with his fiance since 2013 and gives advice on ethical non-monogamy on his website.

Engaging in non-monogamous relationships can teach people about themselves in addition to providing the freedom to explore dating others. 

Lifestyle influencer, CEO, and author Aubrey Marcus speaks publicly about what he's learned from his open relationship with his fiance, Whitney Miller. Marcus provides advice and tips on the complicated parts of non-monogamy like communication and dealing with jealousy. 

"I'm still learning every single day, things that are not trivial … This way is a way to teach me deep deep lessons about myself that I absolutely wouldn't have gotten another way,"Marcus said in a podcast conversation with Miller about what they've learned in their open relationship.

He still believes polyamory is not for everyone. 

"I am not an advocate for anyone being in an open relationship," Marcus wrote on his website. "It is a challenging way to learn about Love, learn about the self, and it is not for everyone. But the rewards have been immense for me. I just try to speak as honestly as I can about the subject and hopefully that helps some people out." 

• You can get pretty much anything on Amazon, but the site may not seem like the most likely place to find unique gifts. 
• Surprisingly, Amazon has a large selection of cool, one-of-a-kind products that make thoughtful gifts for everyone in your life — and the Amazon gift finder will help you discover them. 
• Check out our list of 25 hidden gems on Amazon that make thoughtful and personal gifts. 

Amazon is one of the retailers you can rely on to get you your gifts on time, especially if you're a Prime member. Yet, many people feel that finding a present in Amazon's sea of millions of products can result in gifts that feel lackluster and a little impersonal. I was once in that camp as well, admittedly finding it difficult to pinpoint the hidden gems in my broad searches for "minimalist succulent planters" or "shaggy throw pillows."

I recently discovered Amazon's gift finder, which helps you find curated selections of unique gifts. I was impressed by how in-depth the customization process was and how it yielded such accurate results for what I was looking for. 

You can search by category, interests, price, and more. If anything, this proved to me that you can, in fact, find gifts on Amazon that still feel thoughtful and personal. Using the gift-finder tool, we curated a list of 25 great gifts on Amazon for everyone on your list. 

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2019 here. 

For the musician

Audio-Technica Fully Automatic Stereo Turntable, $99

Musicians and music lovers alike can agree that nothing sounds better than vinyl. If they have a record collection, they'll appreciate this turntable. If they don't have a record collection, start them off with a record or two and introduce them to the unique vinyl sound with this record player — they'll thank you. 

For the 'green thumb'

Back to the Roots Garden-in-a-Can Herb Garden, $14.99

Give them the tools to keep up with their gardening habit all year long. Each garden-in-a-can is super easy to use — just add water and some sunshine — and will have them with fresh cilantro, basil, and mint garnishes in no time. 

For the coffee lover

Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, $499.96

For the hardcore coffee lover, an instant coffee maker might not cut it. If nothing would make them happier in the morning than sipping on an espresso that tastes like the one from their favorite cafe, they need this Breville espresso machine. If you love the idea, but are looking for something a little more affordable, check out our guide to the best espresso machines you can buy. 

For the cat lady

Camilee Designs Sterling Silver Cat Stud Earrings, $24

Even if you don't have a cat yourself, you probably understand that owning one isn't just a choice — it's a lifestyle. Show your favorite cat lover you get it with these adorable silver studs. From afar they look like just another simple silver pair of studs, but a look up close reveals they're actually super-cute kittens. 

For the host

Slate Cheese Board Set, $32.99

Help them amp up their hosting with this slate cheese board. It comes with two ceramic bowls to hold snacks and spreads, four cheese knives, and chalk so they can label their assortment of cheeses, crudite, or charcuterie. This setting will be a sure standout at their next dinner party. 

For the commuter

Audible Subscription, $15/month

Add some excitement to their monotonous, everyday commute with an Audible subscription. For $15 a month, they'll get one audiobook and two Audible Originals that they can listen to anytime and anywhere. Plus, when you gift Audible the recipient will get 30% off any additional audiobooks they want to purchase on their own. You can choose to gift memberships for either one, three, six, or 12 months. 

For the frequent flyer

Trtl Travel Pillow, $29.99

Travel pillows take up valuable carry-on space, yet many don't deliver when it comes to helping you fall asleep. The Trtl Pillow looks like a scarf and provides serious neck support, so they can actually get some sleep and wake up without a sore neck. The soft, lightweight fleece also is really cozy, and it packs down pretty small for flights, road trips, train rides, and more. 

For the serious home chef

ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide, $203.11

If they don't have one yet, any home cook needs this sous vide machine. With little effort, they can make juicy, tender meats of restaurant-level quality. They'll impress themselves and their guests alike with how delicious their dishes turn out. 

For the aspiring mixologist

Foster & Rye Camping Style Speckled Enamel Cocktail Shaker Set, $18.17

Some like to unwind after a long day with a cold beer or a heavy pour of merlot, some would rather shake up a Martini or a Cosmopolitan. If they're the latter, they'll appreciate this stylish and durable shaker set to help them flex their mixology muscles. 

For the photographer

HP Sprocket Select Portable Photo Printer, $149.95

Whether they're a photography pro or have never used a camera besides the one on their iPhone, just about anyone will have fun with this portable printer. It connects to an app on their phone so they can instantly print pictures wherever they are. It's a fun gadget and a great gift for anyone who loves to have tangible photos of their favorite memories. 

For the outdoors enthusiast

Earth Pak Dry Bag, from $18.99

Whether they're hiking, fishing, camping, or doing any outdoor activities with unpredictable weather, they'll appreciate this dry bag to keep all of their belongings safe. With sizes from 10 to 40 liters, you can pick one that's right for their needs. It even comes with a clear, waterproof phone case, so they can document their adventures with pictures, without a broken smartphone at the end of the day.

For the eco-friendly

Baggu Duck Tote, $34

Being sustainable doesn't mean they have to sacrifice style. This tote from Baggu is roomy, adjustable, comes in plenty of fun patterns, and is made from 100% recycled cotton. If you think they'd like something a little smaller, Baggu's nylon bags are really popular, cute, and just $10. 

For the artist

Vigorfun Deluxe Art Set in Wooden Case, $35.99

Help them get their creative juices flowing with this set of art supplies that'll let them create everything from pencil sketches to beautiful watercolors. Inside they'll find 85 pieces, including a range of paints, pencils, brushes and more. Everything comes in a nice wooden box with a handle, so they can easily take this with them wherever they go. 

For the spa regular

KayaSoaps Rose Mini Gift Set, $21

This set of rose products are homemade in small batches and loaded with nourishing organic ingredients. The rose soap, rose lip balm, and rose solid lotion bar make a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves to indulge in some quality "me time." Plus, anyone will love smelling like a fresh bouquet of roses. 

For the football fan

The Northwest Company NFL Handwarmer, $15.99

Football fans are willing to brave the cold for their favorite team, but you can help make game day a little more bearable with this hand warmer. The weatherproof exterior and plush, insulated interior will keep their hands warm and dry, so they can focus on the game — and not the fact that their fingers are freezing. 

For the bookworm

Alice in Wonderland Bookmark, $22

Add some whimsy to their next read with this Alice in Wonderland bookmark. It's sure to catch their attention, and you can be sure they'll never lose their place again. 

For the student

LapGear Designer Lap Desk, $39.99

You don't even have to be a student to appreciate this lap desk — it works for just about anyone who likes to get work done from the comfort of their own bed. While the top surface is flat and sturdy enough to write on, the bottom is a tapered pillow that's comfortable to hold on your lap. It'll also keep your legs from overheating. 

For the fitness enthusiast

NextRoller 3-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller, $99.95

Anyone who exercises often knows that a foam roller is an essential fitness tool. Not only does it relieve muscle and joint pain, a foam roller can improve flexibility, circulation, and even help speed up injury recovery. This vibrating foam roller lets them choose just the right amount of pressure to soothe sore joints and muscles, plus it feels like a massage (which you can be sure they'll appreciate). 

For the traveler

Travelambo Passport Holder Wallet, $9.99

Traveling is exciting and fun, but losing important documents and cards can put a damper on the whole experience. Ensure that doesn't happen by gifting your favorite traveler this wallet. With room for plenty of cards, cash, their passport, and tickets, they can keep everything important consolidated in one place. 

For the pet parent

Enchanted Home Pet Dreamcatcher Dog Sofa, $111.53

For the pet parent whose furry friend is their world, get them a gift that their pet will find useful and comfy. This classy couch has been miniaturized to fit small dogs and cats. It's also a great gift for pet owners who don't want their pets to perch on their real couch, but still want to give them a place to sit in the living room. 

For new homeowners

Primitives by Kathy Striped Throw Pillow, $27.95

Getting settled into a new home takes a lot of time, and a lot of decorating. If you know anyone who just moved in, this throw pillow is a thoughtful way to bring them one step closer to making their new place feel like home. 

For the home decorator

Rivet Modern Ceramic Vase, $39.99

From their statement couch to the art on their walls, their home is impeccably decorated and, frankly, buying them a piece of home decor can be intimidating. If you so choose, go for one of these funky vases. They're simple enough to accentuate all kinds of spaces, but the bright blues and greens make them unique. 

For the foodie

Sabatino Truffles Pasta Night, $50

This set made it into Oprah's exclusive Favorite Things giveaway this year — and if it's one of Oprah's favorite things, you can be sure the foodie in your life will love it too. White truffle oil, truffle zest, and a truffle-infused, gluten-free pasta will make for a deliciously decadent pasta night. 

For the homebody

Warm and Cozy Soy Candle, $17.99

Their favorite winter pastime is curling up by a warm fire wrapped in a fuzzy blanket. Their home smells like hot cocoa, freshly baked cookies, and everything else you want on a cold day. This hand-poured soy candle — with notes of pine, orange, cinnamon, cypress, and fir — is just what they need to make their home feel even homier this holiday season. 

For the techie

Echo Plus (2nd generation) Bundle with Sengled Smart Bulb, $159.98

While there are many Amazon devices to choose from, the Echo Plus is our favorite for anyone who is expanding their smart home. The device centralizes all of their smart home devices, making it easy for Alexa to control everything from smart bulbs to plugs. This set even comes with a smart bulb to get them started — or add to their existing collection of smart appliances. 

• Agora, a free photography app, revealed the top 50 finalists of its annual AGORA Awards, which celebrates the best photos of the year, in October.
• The contest awarded $25,000 to one photographer, Michael Aboya, on November 6 in Barcelona, Spain.
• This year's finalists hail from 21 different countries and were chosen from more than 130,000 submissions.
• Their images were taken across the world, showcasing various landscapes, cultures, and people.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The "biggest photo contest in the world" has announced a winner.

On November 6, photography app Agora celebrated the year's best photos at the annual AGORA Awards in Barcelona, Spain. The nominated images were taken by photographers from 21 countries around the world, after more than 130,000 submissions were received. Finally, Agora awarded photographer Michael Aboya with the top prize.

From a photo showing seals in Antarctica to a portrait of a saint in Pakistan, here are the 50 finalists of this year's contest.

"Alone in the desert" by Carles Alonso

Alonso captured this image of Nomads riding camels across the Sahara desert while standing on the highest dune in Morocco.

The photographer noted that while many assume his photo was taken by a drone, the devices are actually forbidden in Morocco. Instead, he used a telephoto lens.

"Among the white umbrellas" by Aung ThuYa

This nominated photograph shows a woman painting a traditional umbrella while seated inside a factory. ThuYa's entry was taken using his cell phone in Mandalay, Myanmar.

"Ant balancing the earth" by Analiza De Guzman

To get the shot, De Guzman placed a globe in the background, sprinkled water across string, and then placed an ant on top hoping it would walk across and pick up the droplets.

She spent four hours using her smartphone to capture the image.

"Blue eye" by Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra Saiz

While this image might resemble a giant eye, it actually reveals the City of Arts and Science in Valencia, Spain, being reflected on water. 

The photographer's son is also seen running past the building while wearing a yellow coat.

"Boys" by Diego Campomar

Campomar captured this shot in Argentina, employing models to showcase equality between two different people.

"Colors of life" by Pranab Basak

In India, Basak captured seven female fishermen standing in bright blue water as they tried to collect fish to later sell at a market.

"Dancer" by Markellos Plakitsis

Plakitsis photographed his friend, a ballerina named Sofia, while she danced at the Peace and Friendship stadium in Athens, Greece.

"Dark Disneyland" by Tommi Matz

Despite its name, this photograph doesn't actually show a Disney theme park. Instead, Matz photographed the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany.

He used a drone to capture two aerial images, and later patched them together.

"Diamond Ring Total Solar Eclipse" by Edward Panjaitan

Panjaitan photographed the 2017 solar eclipse while in Nebraska. He named the image "Diamond Ring Total Solar Eclipse" because its light resembles the classic jewelry design.

"East Java" by Jonathan Rogers

Rogers photographed this giant waterfall while in East Java, Indonesia. He had to hike down a waterfall to get to the location and soaked most of his equipment on the way.

"Echoes of the Unknown" by Clement Eastwood

Eastwood took this image while in Accra, the capital of Ghana. He aimed to capture a "cordial relationship between man and beast."

"Eid prayer" by Azim Ronnie

Ronnie's image was taken in Bangladesh and shows hundreds of people praying around 8:30 a.m. 

"Expressions" by Asim Ijaz

In Pakistan, Ijaz approached a saint — who dedicates their life to a shrine— and photographed a candid portrait.

"Farming" by Diep Van

Van's image showcases men and women working in rice fields in northern Vietnam.

"Fire Fighter" by Tanveer Rohan

As a fire broke out in Bangladesh, Rohan visited the site and photographed a firefighter working to put out flames. The incident was caused by a power failure.

"Hearts on the sea" by Nguyen Phan Xuan

Phan Xuan was in the right place at the right time. He was able to capture two fishing nets in Vietnam, both of which happened to be placed in the shape of hearts.

"In retrospect" by Patricia Soon

Soon captured her nominated image while in Kobe, Japan. She now hopes it will bring "peace and calm" to viewers.

"Incense work" by Khánh Phan

In Phan's vibrant photo, a woman is seen drying red incense sticks. According to the photographer, the products are believed in Vietnamese culture to connect people to their ancestors.

"L’espurna que fa que tot comenci" by Albert Castañe

Castañe's image depicts people dressed as devils during the traditional Catalan festival in Spain.

"La mujer que espera" by Paula Aranoa

Aranoa took her award-nominated image outside a salami shop in Rome. It shows a working man dressed in an apron, as well as a seated woman who was then waiting for her food.

"Mother's goodness" by Phyo Moe

Moe took this photo at the perfect time: while a baby bird sat inside a tree, its parent flew straight towards its open mouth with a bug to eat.

"Motherly love" by Santiago López

López spent two hours at the Loro Parque zoo in Tenerife, Spain, to capture his image. It shows a mother chimpanzee holding her child, which appears to be falling asleep.

"Nature always wins" by Charlie Berthaume

In Berthaume's photo, seven shipwrecks are seen sprawled along a shore in France. After waiting hours for low tide, she was able to capture the image of boats that have been there for more than a century.

"Oeil de zèbre" by Sara Pinto Marin

The photographer captured this close-up shot of a zebra in Madrid to showcase the "beautiful contrast between black and white."

"Out at sea - MSC Orchestra" by Cameron Aird

Aird, who is 18 years old, is the youngest finalist featured in the AGORA Awards. His image was taken on the Jersey Channel islands between England and France and shows a cruise visiting a local harbor.

"Preparing for 1000 Takjil Iftar Ramadan Kareem" by Dharma Kurniawan

Kurniawan's image shows three volunteers serving 1,000 plates of chicken and rice at the end of a Ramadan fast.

"Rain" by Perry Wunderlich

Wunderlich photographed his father during a storm to create this nominated portrait.

"Rainbow Reine" by Paal Lund

While driving over a bridge on Norway's Lofoten islands, Lund noticed a double rainbow in the sky. He parked his car, took a few images, and then had to leave quickly, as others were driving behind him.

"Rainy day" by Hendy MP

This red-eyed tree frog was spotted by the photographer during a rainstorm in West Java, Indonesia.

"Reaching for Heaven" by Konrad Paruch

Paruch photographed the Mont Saint Michel island in France when it was practically covered with clouds. He used a drone to capture the image.

"Reitdiephaven" by Anskar Lenzen

Lenzen used a long-exposure technique to photograph the sunset and its reflection in Groningen, Netherlands.

"Run and fun" by Ling Ling

While in Myanmar, Ling captured three young monks having fun along the Hsinbyume Pagoda.

Aside from showcasing the contrast between the white structure and red clothes, the photographer said they also wanted to show that the photo's subjects are still children despite their lifestyle.

"Sand wasp with prey" by Imam Primahardy

Whereas some bugs eat their prey immediately, the sand wasp seen in Primahardy's photo appears to have been saving its food to eat at another location.

"Sea of Ice" by Florian Ledoux

Ledoux's photo, taken in Antarctica, showcases crab-eater seals resting on ice after eating. He used an aerial technique to avoid disturbing the animals and now hopes his photo will connect viewers to nature.

"Six feet under" by David Carbonell

Carbonell took this shot in Ukraine while witnessing a man digging a grave with his bare hands and a shovel. He used a drone to capture the image.

"Snow Horseman" by Zay Yar Lin

This photo, which depicts a woman behind a herd of horses, was taken in Mongolia. At the time, temperatures reached -20 degrees, according to the photographer.

"Songs Of Freedom" by Michael Aboya

This photograph, which shows four children listening to another play the violin, was named the best photo of the year by Agora. Its photographer, Michael Aboya, was also awarded $25,000 as a result.

Aboya says he was inspired to take this photograph while listening to a Bob Marley song. He hoped to represent freedom and belonging with his image, while also inspiring "a change in the way people perceive Ghana and the African continent in general," according to Agora.

"Strawberry greenhouses" by Leyla Emektar

This image shows a young girl working at a strawberry greenhouse located in the Aegean region of Turkey.

"Striving" by Bastian AS

The island of Nias, found off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, is known to attract surfers. It also attracted A.S., who visited and photographed a man swimming as a wave began to crash in front of him.

"The Best Friends" by Andi Halil

Halil, who is based in Indonesia, photographed this fleeting moment between a lizard and snail with a single shot.

"The lights of life" by Dikye Ariani

Ariani woke up early to take her award-nominated shot. She photographed the Cirahong Bridge around 4:30 a.m. and was able to capture a person walking ahead of her.

"The most beautiful roundabout in the world" by Henry Do

Do, a Nevada-based photographer, found inspiration in France's Arc de Triomphe. He used an aerial camera and then stitched multiple photos together to create his final image.

"The road and the farm have been flooded" by Mohammad Moheimani

Moheimani's image shows flooded roads in the Gorgan city of northern Iran.

"Throwing Nets" by Glenn Valentino

Valentino found this fisherman and his colorful net at the Situ Patenggang lake in Indonesia.

He had to wait until the fisherman threw his net into the water, and then took the photo at the exact moment it spread in the air.

"Undefined" by Jordi Sark

While roadtripping in California, Sark stopped at a beach and noticed two whales in the water. He sent his camera drone up into the air and captured his award-nominated image.

"Under the light making batik crafts" by Bimo Pradityo

According to the photographer, Batik art is made by applying wax-resistant dye to whole cloth. His photograph shows a 65-year-old craft maker creating a Batik piece in Indonesia.

"Veins of Earth" by Hugo Healy

In England, Healy used a drone camera to capture this aerial image of the Cuckmere River.

"Water is life" by Froi Rivera

According to Rivera, his image showcases children in the Philippines worshiping water, despite the fact that the nation commonly faces dangerous typhoons.

"When the buffalo comes back" by Hoang Quocvinh

Quocvinh took his nominated image using a drone in Pleiku, Vietnam.

It shows buffaloes trekking through water in the afternoon, and was taken to showcase the "pure environment" where the photographer lives.

"Wild look" by Sergio Saavedra

Saavedra spotted this lynx while visiting the Cábarceno Natural Park in Spain.

To learn more about the 2019 AGORA Awards, visit the company's website.

• Read more:
• 30 nature photos that will change the way you see the world
• Striking National Geographic photos show animals that could disappear from the face of the Earth
• 55 photos that capture the beauty of the world from the air
• 30 award-winning nature photos that will make you fall in love with the world

• Carlos Brito is the CEO of the brewery group Anheuser-Busch InBev, which produces popular beers like Budweiser, Bud Light, Corona, and Stella Artois.
• AB InBev announced Tuesday that it is acquiring Kona Brewing Co. parent Craft Brew Alliance, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• Brito convinced former Brazil tennis star Jorge Paulo Lemann to fund his time at Stanford, according to the Financial Times.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The world's largest brewer is about to get even bigger.

The brewery titan Anheuser-Busch InBev is said to be acquiring Craft Brew Alliance, according to the Wall Street Journal. The deal will add Kona Brewing Co., Omission Brewing Co., Redhook Brewery and Cisco Brewers., into AB InBev's already extensive portfolio of beers.

Despite the ubiquity of the company, AB InBev's Brazilian-born CEO is known to be extremely private. Keep reading to take a look into the life of Carlos Brito.

SEE ALSO: What George Soros' life is really like: How the former hedge-fund manager built his $8.3 billion fortune, purchased a sprawling network of New York homes, and became the topic of international conspiracy theories

DON'T MISS: French billionaires have made more money this year than their ultrawealthy counterparts in any other country — and they partially have China to thank

Carlos Alves De Brito, 59, was born in Brazil. He has said he uses his heritage to guide his business decisions.

Brito has cited Brazil's business culture as a reason for AB InBev's success, according to the BBC.

The Brazil-based InBev leadership team was known for its tendency to implement sharp cost-cutting measures without hesitation, the BBC reported. According to the Financial Times, Brito showed up at Anheuser-Busch's St. Louis headquarters to start making changes just 24 hours after its acquisition by InBev was announced.

Brito now lives in New York, according to Fortune.

Brito has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Brito earned a bachelor's degree from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, according to Bloomberg. Before getting his master's at Stanford, he was an executive at Shell. Brito persuaded the former Brazil tennis star Jorge Paulo Lemann to fund his time at Stanford, according to the Financial Times.

He has since returned to Stanford to speak with MBA students, NBC News reported.

Brito is a private person.

The AB InBev leader rarely gives interviews, and not much is known about his personal life.

NBC News reported that the company even declined to confirm that Brito was married and had four children, saying "We don't give details on his private life."

Brito doesn't have a lot of hobbies.

"My life is the company and my family," Brito told the Financial Times.

He also said his only pastime was taking a daily 30-minute walk on a treadmill.

Most of his time is dedicated to Anheuser-Busch InBev, which he has run since 2008.

Brito first came to AmBev in 1989 and worked in finance, operations, and sales before becoming its chief executive in 2004.

InBev was formed in 2004, and Brito became the CEO of the company in 2005. In 2008, InBev acquired Anheuser-Busch, and Brito became the CEO of the larger group, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Brito was paid 1.48 million euros, or $1.6 million, by AB InBev in 2017, according to the Financial Times, in addition to his ownership of an options grant that was worth 250 million euros, or about $469 million in today's dollars, at the time.

Brito isn't a fan of company perks, including free beer.

Brito doesn't use a company car to get around or have a dedicated desk at AB InBev's headquarters, NBC News reported. According to the Financial Times, he asks to be called "Brito," not "Mr. Brito."

He doesn't even take advantage of one of the more basic perks of running the world's largest brewer: free beer.

"I don't want the company to give me free beer," Brito told Stanford MBA students in 2008, according to NBC News. "I can buy my own beer."

Brito is known for his tough management style.

Brito asks that all employees' performance be monitored constantly and formally reviewed each year, according to the Financial Times. He reportedly doesn't hesitate to let go of employees who aren't up to par if they don't improve in six to nine months.

"Great people attract more great people," Brito said, according to the BBC. "That's obvious, but the opposite is even more dangerous. Mediocre people attract more of the same."

AB InBev hasn't always flourished under Brito's leadership.

Brito and CFO Felipe Dutra lost their annual bonuses in 2017 after the brewer saw its first decline in core earnings since its formation, according to the St. Louis Business Journal.

Even so, AB InBev calls itself the world's largest brewer.

AB InBev makes Budweiser, Bud Light, Corona, Stella Artois, and numerous other beers, according to its website.

The company held the world's second-largest IPO of 2019 in Hong Kong on September 23, raising $5 billion in a single day, Reuters reported. Only Uber's May IPO was worth more.

Now, it's getting even bigger. The company announced Tuesday that it is acquiring Kona Brewing Co. parent Craft Brew Alliance, according to the Wall Street Journal.

AB InBev already owns 31.2% of Craft Brew, and will close its $321 million purchase of the rest of the company in fiscal year 2020, the Journal reported.

The move comes at a time when the company's beer sales by volume in the US are seeing a decline. Part of that can be attributed, as Business Insider's Kate Taylor previously reported, to millennials' shifting interests: They are simply not drinking as much beer as past generations did.

• Host gifts are never really necessary, but they are a nice way to show your appreciation that someone invited you over, be it for holidays or casual hangouts. 
• Below are 20 thoughtful host gifts you can give on almost any occasion, from a useful cookbook to a beautiful candle.
• Check out all of our holiday gift guides for 2019.

A friend or family member has invited you over to spend time in their home. A dinner, a weekend stay, a holiday — maybe even just for a cup of coffee on the porch. Regardless of the occasion, it's a nice gesture to bring a small token of appreciation. 

At a bare minimum, a host gift is a small but generous way to say "Thank you for having me." At its full potential, it's a way to make someone feel valued and recognized for all the time and effort they've spent to give you a welcoming and warm place to be. These host gifts are ones they'll remember and enjoy even after the party is over — once they're over the stress of holiday or dinner-party cleanup (for which your voluntary help is probably the best host gift of all).

Most of these items are available with expedited shipping, and some should arrive within a few days' time, so don't stress too hard if you're last-minute shopping for an invite you just received.

This list includes a Sponsored Product that has been suggested by Naked Wines; it also meets our editorial criteria in terms of quality and value.*

SEE ALSO: 32 kitchen gifts from Williams Sonoma for the cook and foodie in your life

A trio of chai tea that made it onto Oprah's Favorite Things list

Vahdam Chai Tea Trio, available on Amazon, $34.99

This tea trio made Oprah's Favorite Things list for 2019 for the second year in a row, so if it's good enough for her, it's good enough for your host. We've actually tried some of Vahdam's teas and were particularly impressed by its beautiful packaging.

A wine tote and a nice bottle to go with it

Wine Tote Carrier Bag, available on Amazon, $9.99

Wine is a classic host gift, but sometimes it doesn't quite feel like enough. Wrap a bottle in one of these neoprene totes and you've got a complete gift for your party host.

And if you're looking for an easy way to order wine online for an upcoming party or the holidays, we've got you covered with this list.

A bottle of wine from an independent winemaker

Gift a bottle of wine from Naked Wines, starting at $9.65

Remember the wine tote we just mentioned? We recommend filling it with a bottle from Naked Wines. Every winemaker on the platform has been "funded" by "Angel" customers, meaning you feel like you have a more direct stake in the wine you gift — and they're all affordable and high-quality. 

*Sponsored by Naked Wines 

A never-fail candle from our favorite candle company

Candles, available at Otherland, from $36

Otherland's candles offer the most beautiful unboxing and gifting experience. They're both a joy to give and a joy to get. You can choose candles from the newest limited-edition collection called Gilded Holiday, or go for the company's five base candles that are carried year-round.

Read our full review of Otherland candles here.

A classic bottle of lotion for the bathroom

Kiehl's Creme de Corps (8.4 oz.), available at Nordstrom, $25.50

If you ask me, Kiehl's makes the best body lotion out there. It's a classic gift for their bathroom — who could say no to softer skin?

A beautiful pie tin for the baker

Rifle Paper Co. Winter Pie Dish, available at Anthropologie, $44

If baking is kind of their thing, they won't be able to contain their excitement when you hand them this ornate pie dish. You can probably guess what they'll be serving next time you come over. 

A tin of everyone's favorite peppermint bark

Peppermint Bark, available at Williams Sonoma, from $29.95

Williams Sonoma's peppermint bark is so good it has its own section of the website's homepage. Give the treat they can't get enough of around the holidays, complete with a reusable tin they can pack with goodies to gift someone else.

A recipe tin for the home chef

Rifle Paper Co. Recipe Tin, available at Anthropologie, $38

This recipe tin was one of the sweetest gifts I've ever received. If your host loves to cook or bake, give them a special place to store the recipes they keep closest to their hearts.

A set of flavored salt to enhance all their dishes

Jacobsen Salt Vials, available on Amazon, $39.95

Jacobsen's flaky salt is prized by Michelin-starred chefs the world over, and we're positive your host will love to cook with them. This set includes flavored finishing salt they can use to elevate any dish.

Ina Garten's newest cookbooks for her devotees

"Cook Like a Pro: Recipes and Tips for Home Cooks" by Ina Garten, available on Amazon, from $18.40

If they host or entertain frequently, chances are they've used an Ina Garten recipe before. Known for her elegant but laid-back style, Ina's new cookbook is full of the tips and tricks that bring a professional touch to simple, home-cooked dishes.

A puppy plate for the dog person

Dog-a-Day Dessert Plate, available at Anthropologie, $14

With quite a few options to choose from, you can gift them one or a whole set of these dessert plates by artist Sally Muir. 

A house plant that's hard to kill

Philodendron Green, available at The Sill, $36

The Sill is a relatively new startup that's making the process of choosing and buying house plants much easier. This philodendron is just one of many plant and planter options you can choose from — and you can even shop based on which ones are pet-safe. Your order will be delivered straight to them, so you won't have to worry about stopping to pick up flowers on your way there. 

A serving platter with a pop of color

Perasima Platter, available at Anthropologie, $58

Serving platters are one thing a host can never have too many of (unless they have a very small kitchen). This one is uniquely shaped, but would make a beautiful presentation for everything from salads to main dishes.

A wine aerator that doesn't take up a ton of space

Vinetto Wine Aerator, available on Amazon, $9.99

Wine drinkers will almost certainly enjoy the benefits of this inexpensive tool that can improve the taste of even the cheapest bottle. All they need to do is pop the gadget into the top of the bottle and pour themselves a glass, then they can put the cork or a bottle stop back in to preserve it.

A handwoven towel set for the kitchen

Maker Minna Handwoven Tea Towel, available at Food52, $28

A nice dish towel for the kitchen is one thing they'll probably never buy for themselves, but will love seeing hanging elegantly from their oven door. 

A custom map of a place they hold near and dear

Grafomaps, starting at $49

If your host is someone you know well or have lots of memories with, this gift will speak volumes to them. Map out the place you went to college together, the most memorable vacation you took together, the place you met — even a place you have no connection to but know they feel strongly about. The options are pretty much endless. 

A blanket they'll never want to crawl out from underneath

The Leesa Blanket, available at Leesa, $149

It may not look like much, but Leesa's blanket is one of the comfiest, coziest, warmest throws you'll ever come across. Skip the decorative throw they'll be sick of by next year and opt for a truly high-quality version they'll love to curl up with.

Read our full review of the Leesa Blanket here.

Non-stick muffin molds that they'll love to bake with

Silpat Silicon Muffin Mold, available at Williams Sonoma, $59.95

I personally use this muffin mold, and I love it so much that I threw out my metal one. Muffins and cupcakes come out perfectly every time with absolutely no sticking — and cleanup in the dishwasher is an absolute breeze.

Read our review on Silpat's baking molds here.

A baking sheet set for the cookie fiend

Copper Goldtouch Non-Stick Baking Sheet Set, available at Williams Sonoma, $49.95

If baking cookies is their respite from the world's chaos, they'll be thrilled to have a fancy new set of non-stick pans and a cooling rack to play with. 

A beautiful coffee table book for the world traveler

"Escape" by Gray Malin, available on Amazon, $28.94

Coffee table books are a clever idea if you know about your host's passions. For the one with constant wanderlust (or not enough vacation time at their job), this book features the gorgeous photography of Gray Malin in some unimaginably beautiful locations around the world. 

Looking for more gift ideas? We've got you covered.

• Our master list of every gift guide you'll ever need
• 50 creative gift ideas under $25
• 50 thoughtful gift ideas under $50
• 76 clever gift ideas under $100
• 44 cool stocking stuffers on Amazon
• 26 affordable tech gifts under $25
• 51 thoughtful gifts for her, all under $50
• 65 cool gifts for him on Amazon

• American malls are closing all over the US as the retail apocalypse continues. 
• A report from Credit Suisse in 2017 estimated that 20-25% of malls would shutter between 2017 and 2022, largely because of store closures.
• Retailers have announced more than 8,600 store closings in 2019 so far. 
• These haunting photos show how some malls have fallen into ruin after being forced to shutter. 
• Sign up for Business Insider's retail newsletter, The Drive-Thru, to get more stories like this in your inbox. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

American malls are dying out and, as the online retail industry grows, the future of brick-and-mortar establishments continues to hang in the balance.

Retail complexes all over the US are being clobbered by store closures sweeping the country. In the past decade, online retailers like Amazon have flourished, while stores and shopping malls continue to close their doors or report a decrease in foot traffic.

On multiple occasions, Amazon has bought up former shopping malls and converted them into their own fulfillment centers, adding another level of intrigue to the decline of in-store retail in favor of online retailers.

At the start of the 2008 recession, 90 million square feet of retail space had closed. Then, retail closures steadily returned to the status quo in 2010. However, by 2016, the number of retail closures began increasing rapidly again, and as of August 2018, the U.S. hit a 10-year high in the amount of retail square footage officially closed down. 

Retailers have announced more than 8,600 closings so far in 2019 and, according to a report done by Credit Suisse in 2017, between 20% to 25% of malls will close by 2022. 

A national retail apocalypse has crippled US malls as anchor stores such as Macy's and Sears, which take up large retail spaces and drive foot traffic, have shuttered stores and left malls with enormous gaps to fill. For many malls, this is an impossible task. 

Take a look at some of these haunting photos below that show how badly America's malls have been hit over the last decade.

SEE ALSO: These haunting photos of the retail apocalypse reveal a new normal in America as Sears clings on after closing hundreds of stores

This is the Carousel Mall in San Bernardino, California, which closed in 2017.

The mall had been hanging on by a thread after it lost its two main anchors, Montgomery Ward and JCPenney, several years earlier.

Source: Business Insider

San Bernardino is now considering 11 different offers for the redevelopment of the abandoned shopping center.

Source: The San Bernardino Sun

Euclid Square Mall in Ohio, pictured in 2013, had a similar fate and shuttered in 2016.

It was temporarily used by religious congregations who held services in old stores.

Source: Cleveland

In September 2017, Amazon announced plans to build a 1.7-million-square-foot fulfillment center in its place. That fulfillment center has since opened.

Source: Crain's, Scene

Photographer Seph Lawless has become famous for his photos of abandoned malls. In 2016, he captured Chicago's Lincoln Mall, which closed in January 2015.

Source: Seph Lawless

In its heyday, the 700,000-square-foot mall had the capacity to host four anchor stores and 100 smaller shops.

Source: Business Insider

But in the months before it closed, it was home to just 40 businesses.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

In 2013, the mall's owner told The Chicago Tribune that the mall was losing $2 million a year. The same year, a court-ordered receiver was appointed to force the location to pay taxes and fines, as well as make necessary repairs.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

The mall's tenants did not generate enough in rent to pay for the improvements or repairs, according to an attorney for the owner.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

The mall reportedly failed to make these changes, which included creating new exits to comply with fire codes and replacing electrical and air-conditioning systems.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

In November 2014, a Cook County judge ordered the closure of the mall following the holiday shopping season. The mall was demolished in 2017.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

Lawless also captured the Metro North Shopping Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The mall opened in 1976 and covered over 1.2 million square feet, housing more than 150 retailers.

Source: Kansas City Star

The mall was shut down in 2014, but the decaying interior makes it appear as if it's been deserted for decades.

The once-bustling mall is now completely run down.

Lawless said it was "by far the creepiest mall I've been in."

Source: The Daily Mail

Developers had planned to renovate the mall, but the makeover was estimated to cost $200 million. The plan was ditched in 2015.

Source: Kansas City Star

The mall was finally demolished in 2017 to make way for a golf and entertainment complex. The developer also hopes to build a new hotel, health club, and specialty grocer in the area.

Source: KSHB

Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio, was once packed with visitors but faced a similar fate as many other malls when it closed its doors in 2008.

Lawless visited in 2012 to capture these haunting photographs that show how the complex was left to rot.

Source: Seph Lawless

The inside of the mall was crumbling and covered with snow, left exposed to the Ohio elements.

In June 2016, the city deemed it unsafe for locals, issued warnings for people to stay away, and increased police presence after it gained a reputation for being a crime hotspot.

Source: Business Insider

Multiple deaths occurred on the property after the mall was abandoned. Perhaps most horrifyingly, the body of a likely murder victim was found in the woods behind the building.

Source: Business Insider

After several rounds through the bankruptcy courts, the property was acquired by the city of Akron.

Source: Cleveland

In 2016, the Rolling Acres Mall was demolished. In 2018, Amazon purchased the property for $600,000 from the city of Akron with plans to build a new 700,000-square-foot fulfillment center.

Source: News 5 Cleveland, Business Insider

These eerie photos were taken of Cloverleaf Mall in Chesterfield, Virginia, in 2011.

It was the area's first large-scale, regional shopping center, but the mall officially closed in 2008.

Source: Chesterfield Observer

Once a buzzing hub, the inside looked completely barren and was littered with decaying plants and debris.

In 2011, the building was demolished and replaced with a Kroger supermarket.

Source: KLTV

Hawthorne Plaza in Los Angeles, California, closed its doors in 1999. In July 2011, Chris Cognac took these photos while performing a security check with workers working on partial demolition inside.

Since the mall closed, it has been used as an appropriately spooky spot for filming some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters, including "Gone Girl,""The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift," and "Minority Report."

Source: Business Insider

Today, it is just a shell that's covered in graffiti and crumbling away.

In 2016, drone enthusiasts transformed the space into a drone-racing track, where people could race their remote-control drones around the building while it was lit up in fluorescent lights.

Source: Business Insider

However, these pop-ups were short-lived. Later that year, the city of Hawthorne agreed to demolish the building and replace it with a $500 million open-air development, but that still hasn't happened.

Sources: Curbed, Daily Breeze

• Read more:
• These photos of abandoned malls and golf courses reveal a new era for the American suburb
• A filmmaker who's traveled to more than 70 dead malls across America reveals the craziest things he's seen, from an eerily foggy food court to a rainstorm indoors
• Here's how many stores need to close across the US before the retail apocalypse ends, according to analysts
• The retail apocalypse is far from over as analysts predict 75,000 more store closures

• A record number of candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination to take on President Donald Trump in 2020. 
• On November 7, The New York Times reported that former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is filing preliminary paperwork to run for president as he considers entering the Democratic primary field.
• The most recent candidates to drop out are Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City, who quit the race on September 20, and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who ended his campaign on November 1. 
• Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, and former GOP congressman Joe Walsh are also challenging Trump in the Republican primary.
• Here's a list of the major party 2020 presidential candidates. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Soon after assuming the office of the presidency in January 2017, President Donald Trumpfiled preliminary paperwork that laid the groundwork for re-election in 2020.

Currently, 16 Democratic contenders are lined up to challenge Trump — making for one of the largest and most diverse primary fields in recent history. So far, several Democrats have also dropped out of the race.

On November 7, The New York Times reported that former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is filing preliminary paperwork to run for president as he considers entering the crowded Democratic primary field.

The most recent candidates to drop out are Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City, who quit the race on September 20, and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who ended his campaign on November 1. 

Former Vice President Joe Biden, six current and former US Senators, three current and former members of the House of Representatives, two mayors (three if Bloomberg runs), one governor, two businessmen, and one prominent author are now in the race.

Trump is also facing opposition within his own party. Former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, and former GOP congressman and conservative radio host Joe Walsh are both challenging Trump in the Republican primary. Former South Carolina governor and Rep. Mark Sanford, who was also challenging Trump in the GOP primary, also ended his bid on November 12. 

Here are all the major party candidates running for president in 2020: 

SEE ALSO: POWER RANKING: Here's who has the best chance of becoming the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

On November 7, The New York Times reported that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is possibly making a late entrance in the 2020 Democratic primary and planning to file to run in the Democratic primary presidential primary in Alabama.

Bloomberg will have to work quickly to get his campaign off the ground just three months out from the Iowa caucus on February 2, and New Hampshire primary on February 9, but he has the luxury of being able to self-fund his campaign.

Citing sources close to Bloomberg, The Times reported that in recent months, he's become increasingly concerned over former Vice President Joe Biden's lackluster fundraising and slipping performance in the polls.

He's also worried about the rise of Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, two leading Democratic candidates who have both proposed hefty taxes on billionaires Bloomberg and greater regulation on big business.

Former Tea Party congressman and conservative radio show host Joe Walsh.

Walsh, who served one term in Congress from 2011 to 2013, announced he would launch a primary challenge against Trump on August 25.

Speaking to ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Walsh said, "We've got a guy in the White House who is unfit, completely unfit to be president and it stuns me that nobody stepped up, nobody in the Republican party stepped up."

While Walsh initially voted for and supported Trump, he has since become one of Trump's most vocal critics, calling Trump's behavior "narcissistic" and "childish." 

Read more about Joe Walsh's campaign.

Billionaire financier and liberal activist Tom Steyer

Steyer, who is 62 and based in San Francisco, made his fortune as an investor and hedge fund manager — but has since focused his efforts on advancing progressive causes with two organizations: Need To Impeach, and NextGen America, the latter of which is focused on combating climate change. 

In January 2019, Steyer said he did not plan to run for president and would be "dedicating 100% of my time and effort in 2019 towards Mr. Trump's impeachment and removal from office."

But Steyer since changed his mind, making a late entrance into the 2020 field with a video announcement on July 9 and planning to spend at least $100 million of his own money on his campaign. 

Read more about Tom Steyer's campaign.

Former Rep. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania

Sestak, a former two-term congressman from Pennsylvania and Navy admiral, became the 25th candidate to join the 2020 field on June 22, missing the deadline to qualify for the first Democratic debates. 

After retiring from the House in 2010, Sestak unsuccessfully ran for US Senate in Pennsylvania both in 2010 and 2016, famously walking over 400 miles across Pennsylvania during his second Senate run. 

In his announcement video, Sestak emphasized his 31 years of military service as an important qualification to serve as president, saying, "when faced with the decision on whether to use our military, our commander in chief will know how it will end before deciding if it is wise to begin."

Read more about Joe Sestak's campaign.

Governor Steve Bullock of Montana

Bullock, the Democratic governor of Montana, announced he's running for a president on May 14th, the 22nd Democratic contender and the third governor to join the field.

In an announcement video posted online Tuesday morning, Bullock highlighted his work passing bipartisan legislation to ban corporate money in Montana's elections as governor.

Bullock argues he brings unique strength to the table as a Democratic governor who was re-elected the same year Trump won his state by 20 points — and has since achieved progressive victories including expanding Medicaid and freezing university tuition in the spring 2019 Montana legislative session.

Read more about Steve Bullock's campaign.

Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado

Bennet, the 21st Democrat and seventh US senator to announce a 2020 presidential campaign, is currently serving his second elected term as Colorado's senior senator.

"I think this country faces two enormous challenges,"Bennet said about his decision to run on "CBS This Morning".

"One is a lack of economic opportunity and mobility for most Americans and the need to restore integrity to our government."

As a senator, Bennet has mainly been known for his quiet intellect, bipartisan legislative achievements, and affable demeanor. 

But this January the usually demure Bennet went viral for an uncharacteristically fiery and passionate speech on the Senate floor slamming Sen. Ted Cruz for shedding "crocodile tears" over the then-ongoing government shutdown.

Read more about Michael Bennet's campaign.

Former Vice President and Senator Joe Biden of Delaware

After months of teasing a presidential run, Biden officially entered the race with a video announcement on April 25, the 20th Democratic candidate to join the Democratic field.

"...if we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation, who we are, and I cannot stand by and watch that happen,"Biden said in his announcement. 

Biden, 77, enters the race as a frontrunner with unparalleled name recognition among Democratic primary voters, leading nearly every single pre-primary poll conducted before he officially declared his candidacy.

Biden, who served as President Barack Obama's Vice President for eight years and a US Senator for 36, is drawing on his blue-collar roots and close ties to organized labor to directly challenge Trump in Rust Belt states he carried in 2016.

The former vice president, who has been in politics for almost 50 years, will still have to contend with some of the more controversial aspects of his record, and make the case for his candidacy in the largest and most diverse Democratic presidential primary field in recent history.

Read more about Joe Biden's campaign.

Former Governor Bill Weld of Massachusetts

Weld, who served as Massachusetts' governor in the 1990s and was more recently on the Libertarian Party ticket in 2016 as presidential candidate Gary Johnson's running mate, announced his campaign on April 15.

"It is time for patriotic men and women across our great nation to stand and plant a flag. It is time to return to the principles of Lincoln — equality, dignity, and opportunity for all," he said in his announcement statement. 

"There is no greater cause on earth than to preserve what truly makes America great. I am ready to lead that fight."

Read more about Bill Weld's campaign. 

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont

Bernie Sanders will be competing for the Democratic nomination for the second time, he announced on February 19.

The 77 year-old Vermont senator, who is officially an independent but caucuses with Democrats in Congress, and former Burlington mayor has been a progressive stalwart for decades and built up a strong base of support for his platform in 2016 despite falling short to Hillary Clinton in the primary.

"Our campaign is about more than beating Donald Trump," he said in his announcement video. "It's about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial, and environmental justice."

This time around, Sanders will face much stiffer competition in a Democratic field that could hold over 20 candidates — many of whom are running on platforms that emphasize his signature issues of reducing income inequality and the power of big corporations in America. 

Read more about Bernie Sanders' campaign.

Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota

On February 10, three-term US Senator from Minnesota Amy Klobuchar became the 12th Democratic candidate and 6th woman to jump into the 2020 field. 

In true Minnesota fashion, Klobuchar announced her candidacy at an outdoor event during a blizzard, giving her speech without a hat, gloves, or a teleprompter. 

Klobuchar is counting on her reputation as a measured, pragmatic moderate with a "Minnesota nice" demeanor to dominate among Midwestern voters — and pose a stark contrast to President Donald Trump. 

Her campaign rollout may be hampered, however, by recent reports published in BuzzFeed News and the Huffington Post detailing alleged mistreatment and humiliation of her staff. According to one report, three people turned down the job of running her campaign over those allegations. 

Read more about Amy Klobuchar's campaign.

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey

Cory Booker, the 11th Democrat to jump into the race, officially announced his candidacy for President on February 1. 

Booker has served in the US Senate since 2013, and is known for his liberal voting record and emphasis on social and criminal justice issues. He played a key role in passing a large bipartisan criminal justice bill, the First Step Act, in December. 

Before being elected to the Senate, booker served two terms as Mayor of Newark, New Jersey  where he still resides. He holds a degree from Stanford University, where he played on the football team, and a law degree from Yale University. 

Read more about Cory Booker's campaign.

Motivational speaker, author, and friend of Oprah Winfrey Marianne Williamson

Marianne Williamson, a motivational speaker, New York Times best-selling author, and one-time congressional candidate with a substantial following announced her candidacy for president on Monday night.

Williamson, the 10th Democratic candidate to jump into the race, began speaking and writing self-help books rooted in New Age spirituality in Los Angeles in the 1980s. She's also been heavily involved in AIDS awareness and advocacy efforts. 

A 1992 appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show helped launch her into Hollywood's elite class as the preferred spiritual guide for many in the entertainment world. 

Her first foray in politics was an independent run for Congress in California's 33rd congressional district in 2014. She ended up losing to current Rep. Ted Lieu, but is now launching a bid for the highest office in the land.

Read more about Marianne Williamson's campaign.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana

Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination on January 23, 2019 via a video and email sent to his supporters. 

The mayor just turned 37, making him the youngest entrant (so far) in the battle for the Democratic nomination. Buttigieg is also the only openly gay candidate to date in the running.

Along with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Buttigieg is one of three military combat veterans running for the Democratic nod, having served with the US Naval Reserve in Afghanistan in 2013.

In the video, Buttigieg, who is making the jump from city to national politics, said he belongs to "a generation that is stepping forward right now." 

"We're the generation that lived through school shootings, that served in the wars after 9/11, and we're the generation that stands to be the first to make less than our parents unless we do something different," he said in his announcement video.

Read more about Pete Buttigieg's campaign.

Senator Kamala Harris of California

Harris made her announcement on Martin Luther King Day, or January 21, via Twitter and her campaign website.

The Democratic senator for California is currently serving her first term in the Senate, similar to former President Barack Obama, who was initially criticized for his inexperience after he announced his 2008 presidential campaign as a first-term senator.

Prior to her role in the Senate, Harris was California's attorney general and served as the district attorney of San Francisco.

Read more about Kamala Harris' campaign.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro

Julian Castro declared his candidacy on January 12 in a widely publicized announcement event in San Antonio, Texas, his hometown and where he served as mayor for five years. 

Castro's official announcement came weeks after his brother had revealed the news during an interview with Stephen Colbert in December.

Under Castro's tenure, HUD expanded lead safety protections in federally assisted housing, worked to reconstruct communities affected by natural disasters under a $1 billion National Disaster Resilience Competition, and fulfilled the Fair Housing Act.

Read more about Julian Castro's campaign.

Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii

Gabbard announced her candidacy on January 11 in an interview with CNN's Van Jones.

The Hawaii representative has been in Congress since 2012, and has been at times a rising star for progressives but also sometimes challenging to the rest of her party. Her positions on foreign policy, in particular, have at times put her at odds with many on the left over the past year or two.

Read more about Tulsi Gabbard's campaign.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

On a video posted to her website on December 31, 2018, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warrenannounced that she was launching an exploratory committee for a presidential run in 2020. In the video, Warren — who has long been expected to run – described her vision of defending the middle class, which she said was "under attack."

Warren quickly began recruiting top staff in key primary states including New Hampshire and Iowa, and has campaigned in those states, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico. 

Read more about Elizabeth Warren's campaign.

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang, an American entrepreneur and founder of Venture for America, announced his presidential candidacy on November 6, 2017.

Yang's campaign prominently features giving all Americans a basic $1,000 monthly income. 

Read more about Andrew Yang's campaign.

Former Representative John Delaney of Maryland

Former Maryland Representative John Delaney was the first major Democrat to declare a presidential bid.

Delaney, who was a US representative from 2013 to 2019, announced his decision to run on July 28, 2017.

In a Washington Post op-ed announcing his candidacy, Delaney said "The current administration is making us less prosperous and less secure. I'm running because I have an original approach to governing and an economic policy that can put us on a different course." 

Read more about John Delaney's campaign.

President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump is seeking reelection in 2020. He announced his intentions to do so just days into his first term, on January 20, 2017. 

Dropped out: former South Carolina governor and Rep. Mark Sanford

Sanford announced on September 8, 2019 that he would launch a primary challenge to Trump, which marked the third challenge from within the president's party. 

The former congressman lost a primary in 2018 after emerging as a vocal critic of Trump, who in turn encouraged voters to vote against him. 

In a "Fox News Sunday" interview announcing the challenge, Sanford said he thinks "we need to have a conversation on what it means to be a Republican."

"I think that as a Republican Party we have lost our way," he added. After Stanford's long-shot bid failed to gain any traction, he dropped out of the race on November 12.

Read more about Mark Sanford's campaign.

Dropped out: Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke of Texas

Beto O'Rourke formally announced his candidacy for president on March 14, ending months of speculation over his presidential plans.

"The only way for us to live up to the promise of America is to give it our all and to give it for all of us,"he said in a video announcing his candidacy alongside his wife Amy. 

"The interconnected crises in our economy, our democracy, and our climate have never been greater," O'Rourke added. "And they will either consume us, or they will afford us the greatest opportunity to unleash the genius of the United States of America."

The three-term congressman from El Paso broke fundraising records and became a national sensation in the fall of 2018 when he came within three points of defeating Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas, a traditionally red state. 

O'Rourke announced he was ending his campaign on November 1, after failing to break through the crowded field. In a Medium post, he cited that the campaign did "not have the means to move forward successfully."

Read more about Beto O'Rourke's campaign.

Dropped out: Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio

Ryan, who represents Ohio's 13th congressional district in eastern Ohio, announced he's running for president during an April 4 appearance on "The View."

A moderate Democrat who has served in the House since 2003, Ryan is best known for his passionate advocacy on behalf of Midwesterners who have suffered from the decline in manufacturing jobs in the region.

On his campaign website, Ryan says that "failed leadership and broken promises have destroyed the middle-class, forcing our economy into crisis and pushing the American Dream out of reach."

Ryan was also one of the key leaders of an unsuccessful effort spearheaded by moderate Democrats to block Nancy Pelosi from becoming Speaker of the House after Democrats took back control of the chamber in 2018. 

After failing to gain any traction in the polls or qualify for the DNC fall Democratic debates, Ryan finally quit the race on October 24. 

Read more about Tim Ryan's campaign.

Dropped out: Mayor Bill De Blasio of New York City

De Blasio announced his presidential run on "Good Morning America" and with a video posted to social media. 

De Blasio is best known for his ambitious progressive policy proposals aimed at reducing income inequality and increasing the amount of affordable housing in New York by taxing the city's wealthiest residents.

His gruff and often blustery approach, however, has made him highly unpopular both among New Yorkers and the Democratic primary electorate. 

A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in April found he has an underwater approval rating within his own city, and a Monmouth University poll released in March found that of 12 declared and potential Democratic presidential candidates, De Blasio was the only one to receive a negative favorability rating.

De Blasio dropped out of the race on September 20 after failing to qualify for the fall debates or gain any momentum in the polls. 

Read more about Bill de Blasio's campaign.

Dropped out: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York

Gillibrand began her political career as a moderate, blue-dog Democrat representing a conservative district in upstate New York.

She has made a name for herself as a strong progressive voice in the US Senate, in which she has served since 2009. Gillibrand has advocated for stronger policies around addressing sexual assault in the military, lowering healthcare costs, and decreasing economic and gender inequality.

Gillibrand ran a campaign centered around women's empowerment with a focus on issues like paid family leave and reproductive rights, but failed to break out in the field or crack more than 1% to 2% in the polls.

She announced she would leave the race on August 28 after failing to qualify for the September primary debate. 

Read more about Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign.

Dropped out: Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts

Moulton, who has represented Massachusetts' 6th congressional district since 2015, became the 19th Democrat to join the 2020 presidential field on April 22. 

"I am running because I am a patriot, because I believe in this country and because I have never wanted to sit on the sidelines when it comes to serving it,"Moulton told ABC's George Stephanopoulos. 

Before running for Congress, Moulton served in the Marine Corps and completed four tours of duty in Iraq. A relatively moderate Democrat, he focused his presidential campaign on issues of foreign policy and national security. 

Moulton dropped out of the race on August 23 to run for re-election in the House after he failed to qualify for any Democratic primary debates.

Read more about Seth Moulton's campaign.

Dropped out: Washington Governor Jay Inslee

Inslee, who has served as governor of Washington since 2012, has held some form of public office for most of the past 30 years. The long-time lawmaker is billing himself as the "climate candidate."

"I'm Jay Inslee and I'm running for president because I am the only candidate who will make defeating climate change our nation's number one priority," Inslee said in a video released March 1.

While governor, Inslee has made reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy a top priority.

The video also shows Inslee in the aftermath of wildfires as he says in a voiceover: "We are the first generation to feel the sting of climate change. And we're the last that can do something about it."

After participating in the first two debates and putting climate change on the agenda as a crucial campaign issue, Inslee announced he would drop out of the race on August 21. 

Read more about Jay Inslee's campaign.

Dropped out: former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper

Hickenlooper launched his 2020 presidential campaign on March 4, making the former Colorado governor the 14th Democratic candidate to enter the field.

Hickenlooper, 66, was highly popular as governor for two terms before being succeeded by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis. Before that, he served as mayor of Denver (a nonpartisan position) and was a successful businessman who founded Colorado's first brewery pub, helping bring jobs and economic development to Denver.

Hickenlooper struggled to stand out as a viable centrist candidate in the shadow of Biden, however and dropped out of the presidential race on August 15, 2019.

A week later on August 22, Hickenlooper jumped into Colorado's US Senate race to challenge vulnerable GOP. Sen Cory Gardner in 2020. 

Read more about John Hickenlooper's campaign.

Dropped out: former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel

Gravel, now 89, officially filed to run for president on April 2. His leftist, anti-war presidential campaign was originally a protest campaign with the goal of simply raising enough money for Gravel to qualify for the first Democratic debates, but he's now running to win.

The Gravel campaign is running on a platform of anti-imperialist and leftist principles, and is being managed by three teenagers from New York, who are innovative-ly using Twitter to get out the former senator's message.

After failing to make any of the debates, Gravel dropped out of the race and endorsed Sanders on August 6, 2019.

Read more about Mike Gravel's campaign. 

Dropped out: California Congressman Eric Swalwell

Swalwell, who has represented California's 15th Congressional district since 2013, announced the launch of his presidential campaign on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on April 8. 

The 18th Democrat to jump into the race, Swalwell ran a campaign largely focused on reducing gun violence in America and directly taking on the National Rifle Association, an organization he sees as directly contributing to gun violence. 

Swalwell currently serves on the high-profile House Select Committee on Intelligence and the Judiciary Committee and has been actively involved in those committees' investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. 

On July 8, Swalwell dropped out of the 2020 presidential race to run for re-election in the House after failing to break through 1% in the polls and disappointing second-quarter fundraising performance. 

Read more about Eric Swalwell's campaign. 

Dropped out: West Virginia State Senator Richard Ojeda

Richard Ojeda, a member of the West Virginia Senate, announced he was running for the presidency on November 11, 2018. He ran for Congress in West Virginia's third congressional district in 2018, losing to Republican Carol Miller. 

However, on January 25, 2019, Ojeda dropped out of the presidential race after resigning from the State Senate. 

Mariana Alfaro contributed to a previous version of this report. 

Read more: 

Trump has implemented much of his conservative agenda through executive power — and it could be easily undone if a Democrat wins in 2020

• Subscription boxes are gifts that keep on giving. 
• There's one for nearly every interest and hobby you can think of: books, designer fashion, pets, and even flavored water.
• Conveniently, you don't even need to wrap them yourself. They'll be sent directly to your recipient so they can immediately start discovering new products or automating an everyday routine. 
• Looking for more gift ideas? We've got you covered with the ultimate list of holiday gift guides.

By now, the idea of a subscription box service is far from new. It remains, however, an excellent gift choice because there's one for pretty much every interest and hobby you can think of. It's also easy to purchase online and send — no pesky gift-wrapping necessary. 

The best subscription services provide unique discovery opportunities, curate high-quality brands, and automate everyday routines to make life easier. We think the following subscriptions fit the bill and should be on your gifting list this year.

With some, you can buy a gift card to apply toward a plan of their choice, while with others you can designate the subscription duration and details yourself.

The top 5 subscription gifts:

1. Beauty and grooming samples tailored to their style and needs from Birchbox
2. Designer clothing rentals for less from Rent the Runway 
3. Authentic Japanese snacks from Bokksu
4. Unique, high-quality face masks from Facetory
5. Handpicked books by up-and-coming authors from Book of the Month Club

Find a subscription service gift they'll love, below. 

This list includes a Sponsored Product that has been suggested by Trade Coffee; it also meets our editorial criteria in terms of quality and value.*

Birchbox: beauty and grooming samples tailored to their style and needs

Gift a Birchbox subscription for her, $45/3 months

Gift a Birchbox subscription for him, $30/3 months

The grooming, skincare, and beauty industries couldn't be more packed with products for all types of needs and concerns. Birchbox digs through the clutter for them and picks out five samples each month that they should use. At $15 a month, the value of the service is unparalleled. 

Harry's: the razors and accessories needed for a close and comfortable shave

Gift a Harry's custom shave plan here

The gift of a clean, smooth shave is more cherished than you might think. Harry's full line of shaving products work together seamlessly, and you can customize this combination of blades, creams, foaming gels, and post-shave balms to send to your recipient. 

Trade Coffee: coffee from the best specialty roasters in the country

Gift a Trade Coffee subscription, $60/3 months

If your recipient is the type of traveler to beeline straight to the city's most famous specialty coffee roaster, they'll love this subscription. Trade Coffee is like a marketplace for coveted beans from roasters like Stumptown, Verve, Metric, and Irving Farm. It also offers subscription bundles that include a Trade-exclusive tumbler, in case they're in need of a new piece of drinkware, too. 

*Sponsored by Trade Coffee 

Scentbird: generous perfume and cologne samples from designer brands

Gift a Scentbird subscription, $44/3 months

Scentbird essentially offers 30-day perfume and cologne trial runs through its subscription. It holds over 450 perfumes and 100 colognes in its collection, and your recipient has the power to try whichever one they want. Instead of being stuck with a full bottle of a fragrance they hate, they can figure out which one they really love. 

Robb Vices: luxury goods that fulfill the most indulgent desires

Gift a Robb Vices subscription, $389.95/3 months

When past boxes have included bottle-opening sabers and rare spirits, you know this service doesn't hold back on presenting the most extravagant vices to its subscribers. It'll always keep them guessing what interesting or conversation-starting products will fill the next box. 

BarkBox: toys and treats for their best animal friend

Gift a BarkBox subscription, $89/3 months

The best way to please a dog owner is to gift not them but their dog. Bark Box's adorable toys and all-natural treats are the highlight of the month for more than two million dogs nationwide. 

KitNipBox: toys and treats for their other best animal friend

Gift a KitNipBox subscription, $29.99/3 months

Of course, cats also deserve to be spoiled. The toys will entertain them for hours and the treats will keep their bellies full through lazy afternoon naps. KitNipBox supports more than 100 animal welfare organizations by donating a portion of proceeds and products every month. 

Atlas Coffee Club: the ability to travel the world, one cup of coffee at a time

Gift an Atlas Coffee Club subscription, $60/3 months

More than one area of the globe boasts amazing coffee, and around-the-world subscription Atlas Coffee Club is out to prove that by sending coffee from a different region every month. Each order includes tailored brewing recommendations and a postcard with information about the country's coffee growing methods so they'll fully appreciate the flavor and history of each cup. 

Vinebox: glasses of wine to help them wind down at the end of the day

Gift a Vinebox subscription, $158/6 months

Rather than sending full-sized bottles of wine, Vinebox adopts the unique approach of bottling up nine single glass servings of wine they'll love. This personalized wine flight arrives on a quarterly schedule. Your recipient also receives a $15 credit to buy the full-sized bottle of their favorite sample. 

Winc: full-sized bottles of wine to enjoy and share with friends

Gift a Winc gift card, $60-$600

The other wine subscription option, better suited to gift to frequent party hosts, is Winc. The California-based company both creates its own wine and curates bottles from top vineyards, and it sends three full bottles of wine based on their "Palate Profile." Its community rating system also points them to new names to try. 

Book of the Month: the perfect gift for people who appreciate the feel of a physical book

Gift a Book of the Month subscription, $49.99/3 months

This national book club is still going strong after more than 90 years. Every month, the bookworm in your life can choose a hardcover from five new titles and settle into a story that, more often than not, goes on to gain national attention and win major literary awards. 

Cairn: outdoor products to get them prepared and excited to explore

Gift a Cairn subscription, $89.85/3 months

A group of outdoor enthusiasts came together to start Cairn, a subscription box of up to six products to gear anyone up for hikes, camping, and other outdoor activities. Whether they are just starting a new outdoor hobby or have conquered trails across the country, they'll be inspired by the food, gear, and apparel in the box to stop wasting time and get outside. 

FabFitFun: the seasonal subscription box filled with the best full-sized products

Gift a FabFitFun gift card, $25-$300

Curating eight to 10 full-sized, premium products across beauty, wellness, and fitness for only $49.99, FabFitFun sounds almost too good to be true. Members can customize their boxes and add on other products, enjoy exclusive offers and discounts from brand partners, and access workouts through FabFitFunTV. 

KiwiCo: activity-filled boxes that make kids forget they're even learning

Gift a Kiwi Crate subscription, $60/3 months (scroll down for a gift card option)

This kids' subscription is divided into different types of "crates" based on age group. The Tadpole Crate (0-2 years old), for example, helps develop their imagination and fine motor skills; the Kiwi Crate (5-8 years old) blends art, science, and engineering into hands-on projects; and the Atlas Crate (6-11 years old) explores world geography and cultures. 

Stance: socks worn by NBA players, skateboarders, and musicians alike

Gift a Stance subscription, $57/3 months

As a kid, no one was ever excited to receive socks, but it's a different story for adults — especially when the socks are as stylish and comfortable as Stance's. With celebrity investors like Will Smith, Dwayne Wade, Nas, and Jay-Z, Stance definitely has an aura of cool that translates into its socks. 

Hint: delicious, healthy waters that kick their soda habit

Gift the Hint Flavor of the Month Bundle Subscription, $46.99/month

Fans of this flavored water stock it in their pantries by the caseful. The calorie-, sugar-, and GMO-free water comes in refreshing flavors like mango-grapefruit and blood orange, which they can rotate through with this drink subscription. Anyone who's bored with regular water but wants to stay hydrated and healthy will look forward to each month's delivery. 

Causebox: products for the socially and environmentally conscious

Gift a Causebox membership, $199.80/year

Causebox curates ethically made, vegan, and charitable products from the top socially conscious brands in beauty, fashion, wellness, home, and art. Each quarterly box has a retail value of more than $200 but only costs $49.95 and has the added benefit of doing good — for artisans, the environment, and your body. 

My Garden Box: low-maintenance plants for budding green thumbs

Gift a My Garden Box subscription, $35.50/month

Through My Garden Box, even those with terrible histories of tending to plants can build a thriving garden. The My Monthly Plant subscription includes one living plant or bulb, a special house-blend soil, and a decorative planter. 

Rent the Runway: designer clothing rentals for less

Gift a Rent the Runway membership, $99/month, or a gift card, $50-$250

Buying a pricey dress doesn't make sense for special events like weddings where she'll only wear it once. Rent the Runway's innovative model means she no longer has to waste money in order to look good at the reception or in the office. Other clothing subscriptions to consider are competing rental service Le Tote ($69/month) and Stitch Fix, which caters to personal styles and budgets. 

Vinyl Me, Please: exclusive vinyl records to build their collection

Gift a Vinyl Me, Please membership, $99/3 months

Adding to their vinyl collection isn't difficult when they can choose one exclusive LP each month from a collection of Essentials, Classics, and Rap and Hip Hop. The three-month gift membership includes one bonus record, while the six- and 12-month ones include two bonus records.

ArtSnacks: supplies for artists of all levels

Gift an ArtSnacks subscription, $24/month

Part of the fun of being an artist is trying out new products and techniques. ArtSnacks' collection of four to five premium, limited-edition art products (brushes, pens, paint, paper) encourages artists to incorporate supplies and techniques they might not use otherwise. They can join in on the #artsnackschallenge by using only that month's products to create and share a work of art. 

Mouth: gourmet treats from makers you've never heard of

Gift a Mouth subscription, $54/month

Gourmet PopTarts, single-origin chocolate, and unusual chips made in small batches by independent American makers fill the boxes from this elevated snack company. There are six different subscriptions to choose from, including a Best of Mouth tasting sampler and the hyper-specific Pickles assortment. 

Carnivore Club: cured meats to snack on

Gift a Carnivore Club gift card, $10-$100 

Hopefully they'll invite you to the picnic after they receive a box of delicious, handcrafted cured meats from Carnivore Club. The local salami, prosciutto, pancetta, and other cured meats taste far better than the kind they get from the grocery store. The price is $39.99 per box, and each contains four to six meats. 

Goby: the first electric toothbrush they'll be excited to receive

Gift a Goby gift card, $50-$100

The gift of good oral care is both thoughtful and useful. The Goby electric toothbrush is vigorously thorough, with the ability to be switched between sensitive and standard modes. Choose the eye-catching monochrome or metallic style, and throw in the brush head subscription so they always have an effective brush head. 

Next Big Idea Club: the best nonfiction books, as recommended by bestselling authors

Gift a Next Big Idea Club subscription, $249/year

The book selections from Next Big Idea Club are curated by some of the biggest names in business and psychology non-fiction. Your recipient will read only the books that really matter, receive course materials that delve deeper into the content, access exclusive interviews, and discuss learnings with fellow members. 

Frank And Oak: stylish yet composed closet basics

Gift a Frank And Oak Style Plan gift card, $25-$500

Canadian clothing startup Frank And Oak offers Style Plans for both men and women who are looking to build the foundation of their closet with long-lasting, versatile basics. The box contains items like simple crew necks and button-downs they can't go wrong with, plus they're all ethically sourced and sustainably made. 

Gentleman's Box: men's accessories to make him a true gentleman

Gift a Gentleman's Box subscription, $140/1 box

Once he's outfitted in stylish clothes from head to toe, he can't forget the details to pull it all together. Gentleman's Box supplies the premium accessories like pocket squares and watches to complete the look. He can make the most of the contents by consulting the accompanying issue of "The Gentleman's Post." 

Teabox: fresh, hand-selected tea leaves from India

Gift a Teabox subscription, $108/3 months

Teabox sends enough tea (and in five varieties) that they can enjoy two to three cups every day of the month. The themed boxes will make them appreciate the diverse types of tea more than ever. Past boxes include the Assam box, a range of black teas, and the Diwali box, a tribute to the flavors of India. 

The Bouqs Co.: flower bouquets every week or every month, just because

Gift a Bouqs Co. subscription, $36-$60/month

We would never turn down a regular shipment of beautiful flowers to adorn our desks or tabletops. With a subscription, you can save 20% on bouquets, enjoy free delivery, and set customizable dates for your lucky recipient. 

HelloFresh: convenient, easy-to-cook, and delicious meal kits

Gift a HelloFresh subscription, from $59.94

HelloFresh is one of our top meal kit subscription choices because of its tasty dishes, creative features like "Dinner-to-Lunch" recipes, and accompanying wine club. There are plans and menus to suit all types of cooks and family sizes, from vegetarian couples to omnivore families of four. If HelloFresh doesn't look like it'll suit your recipient, check out the gift options from one of these services. 

Daily Harvest: the easiest way to eat and drink healthy

Gift a Daily Harvest gift card, $25-$250

From breakfast to dinner, Daily Harvest is the purveyor of all things healthy. Its pre-portioned smoothies, harvest bowls, lattes, soups, parfaits, and overnight oats are far from rabbit food and will actually fill them up with the nutrients to attack the day. 

Bokksu: authentic snacks from Japanese makers

Gift a Bokksu subscription, $116.97/3 months

Experience the creative snack culture of Japan through Bokksu, the subscription where they won't know which treat to tear open first. Think: Kit Kat flavors they can't find in the US, shiitake mushroom chips, kabocha bread, and citrus shortbread cookies. The themed boxes contain 20 to 25 snacks and a tea pairing. 

Care/Of: a personalized supply of daily vitamins

Gift a Care/Of subscription, $90/3 months

Vitamins were never so giftable before Care/Of. Its business centers around personalization, down to the name and message printed on the vitamin pack. Your purchase also provides mothers in need with prenatal vitamins. 

Facetory: the best Korean sheet masks

Gift a Facetory subscription, $59.70/3 months

Soothing sheet masks are essential to an at-home spa day. Facetory sends high-quality Korean sheet masks for half their retail price. Made from unique ingredients like banana milk, yogurt, marine collagen, and 24 karat gold extract, they address a range of skin concerns and simply feel great on their skin. 

Breo Box: high-end and boutique brand name products

Gift a Breo Box subscription, $309/2 seasons

Past boxes from Breo Box have included TRX fitness accessories, smart home devices and smartwatches, and Bluetooth headphones. The high-end products aren't geared toward any gender — as long as they appreciate quality everyday essentials, fitness and health gear, and tech, they'll love Breo Box. 

Stitch Fix: an inclusive and personalized styling experience

Gift a Stitch Fix gift card, $20-$1,000

Stitch Fix offers the most styling options for different ages and body types: men, women, kids, plus size, maternity, and petite. The average price for men's and women's items is $55, but they can set their own budget to receive clothes they're comfortable with, and you can give a gift card in amounts up to $1,000. 

Tippsy: premium Japanese sake from top breweries

Gift a Tippsy subscription, $168/3 months

While you have plenty of wine clubs to choose from, other types of alcohol are quietly waiting in the background for their moment to shine. Sake is one example — it's harder and more expensive to find, and it lacks the mainstream education afforded to beer and wine. Tippsy sources its sake directly from the best Japanese breweries for a more affordable price and teaches your recipient everything they need to know to become a sake expert. 

Looking for more gift ideas? We've got you covered.

• Our ultimate list of every gift guide you'll ever need
• 50 creative gift ideas under $25
• 50 thoughtful gift ideas under $50
• 76 clever gift ideas under $100
• 44 cool stocking stuffers on Amazon
• 26 affordable tech gifts under $25
• 51 thoughtful gifts for her, all under $50
• 65 cool gifts for him on Amazon

• Today, Disney released its long-anticipated streaming service, Disney Plus.
• With Disney titles removed from other streaming services, you might be wondering how Disney Plus compares to other options on the market.
• Here's how Disney Plus stands in comparison to Netflix.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Disney Plus was just released this morning, and it has already received a lot of buzz. Many have already signed up, or got a free month through Verizon. 

If you're thinking about buying Disney Plus, you're probably wondering if that means you should cancel your Netflix subscription. Here, we compared all the major factors to help you decide:

SEE ALSO: These 3 subtle changes in Apple's latest iPhone update have made my life way easier

Disney Plus costs $7 per month, or $70 for the year.

One account will allow 4 simultaneous screens to stream content, and up to 7 user profiles, CNET reported.

In comparison, Netflix costs $9 per month for a basic plan with one device streaming at a time, or up to $16 per month for 4 screens at a time.

Netflix allows you to create up to 5 individual profiles, which allow personalized recommendations and watchlists separate from other users on the account.

Disney Plus allows up to 7 profiles.

Opening Disney Plus, you'll see a particular show highlighted at the top, with tabs of different brands, plus rows of recommendations and categories.

Netflix has a very similar homepage, highlighting a Netflix original at the top with other categories as you scroll lower.

One minor difference in user experience is that Disney Plus doesn't automatically start playing a title if you stay on it for more than a few seconds, something Netflix does.

In Disney Plus, the controls lets viewers skip foreword or backwards by 10 seconds, pause, adjust volume, and make the video fullscreen.

Netflix gives more options. In addition to the buttons that Disney Plus has, Netflix lets you jump to the next episode, or read information about any episode.

Disney Plus will drop new episodes of original shows, like "The Mandalorian," on a traditional weekly schedule.

Netflix usually releases new original shows in batches, dropping a full season at a time.

In its first year, Disney Plus will have 500 movies and 7,500 TV episodes, compared to Netflix's 4,000 movies and 47,000 TV episodes.

Source: Variety

But, Disney Plus may win out with more desirable titles and less filler content than Netflix.

Most of the marquee Disney movies, like "Toy Story,""The Little Mermaid," and "Avengers: Endgame," are on Disney Plus but not on Netflix.

You can try Disney Plus for 7 days free, and Netflix for 30 days.

Check out Disney Plus here.

Check out Netflix here.

• Since 2010, being a teen has turned into a gradually more online existence that has spawned an entirely new generation of activists, idols, and pressures. 
• Along with unprecedented connectivity, teens have faced turbulent political environments alongside widespread violence and tragedy. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Teens in 2010 were some of the first to be fully steeped in a digitally forward culture of reality television, Apple devices, and social networking. Ten years later, it seems that the hold of technology and popular culture has only gotten stronger. 

As the decade winds down, influencers have replaced movie stars, parents can track their kid's every move, and some of the most well-known political activists spurring international movements aren't old enough to drink. 

See how being a teen has changed over the past decade. 

Memories aren't captured on a digital camera, but taken and immediately shared on a smartphone.

The population of teens who owned smartphones skyrocketed through the decade, and the devices became critical to teenage life as social networks hosted most of the content teens were sharing with the world.

By 2018, 80% of teens got their first smartphone between the ages of 11 and 13 and spent as many as seven hours on the phone each day.

Burning CD mixes became a thing of the past as digital and streaming formats became the norm.

Digital streaming service Spotify exploded with regular users into the 2010s, gathering more than 230 million users by 2019 and effectively sealing the fate of CDs among teenagers.

Talking about mental health has become easier and more valued online and in school.

A quarter of Gen Z, or those born after 1997, responded to a 2018 Business Insider survey that they would cast their generation's mood as "stressed," and 17% pointed to feeling "depressed."

A cultural shift to embracing open conversations on mental health emerged through the 2010s, popping up in teens' daily life in the form of memes on social media and efforts from high schools seeking to develop mental health education and support programs.

Partying continued to fall down the list of teens' top priorities.

By the middle of the decade, some studies found that partying for teens had reached a record-low, with drinking and the use of illicit drugs having reportedly been replaced with staying in and watching Netflix.

School shootings are a bigger part of middle school, high school, and college reality.

Teenagers have increasingly faced national-scale violence and tragedy. Older teens grew up in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and mass shootings have seemingly increased in frequency since the turn of the 21st century, plaguing younger teens' high school and college years with record-breaking violence.

Teenage activists became key figures in several high-profile movements that stirred action among their peers.

In the wake of violence's bigger presence in teens' worldview, high school and college-age teens have been notably involved in gun control awareness protests, sparking activist idols like Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students who survived a February 2018 massacre and flung themselves into leading a youth-powered gun-control movement.

As more Americans than ever believe that climate change is happening due to human activity, teens have pushed the changing tide of opinion and emerged as key figures in protests pushing back on lawmakers and demanding action on climate change.

Social media influencers eclipsed celebrities as voices of lifestyle authority.

Teens are drawn to platforms like YouTube and Instagram because they are free and play directly into their individual interests. As a result, teens' dedication to the sites gave rise to influencers and content creators who are authorities in beauty, fashion, gaming, and a world of content on a scale that didn't exist in any previous decade.

With the rise of influencers came a new teen dream of success and a glamorous and lucrative career path.

In July 2019, a survey found that 30% of kids ages 8 to 12 chose vlogger/YouTuber as their ideal career, but some social media stars have since spoken out about the unique pressures and troubles that come with the non-traditional career.

The pressure on teenagers' online personas kept growing

As social media use grew throughout the decade across all ages and demographics, teens are among the most frequent users, posting huge amounts of photos and information to document their lives and show off a curated sense of self to the world.

However, different metrics unique to social platforms present a stressor for teens who feel pressured to keep up "streaks" of photo dialogues on Snapchat, or hit a certain amount of followers and likes on Instagram.

Parents have more ways, and more reasons, than ever to keep a firm grip on what their kids are doing.

Technology that has become ubiquitous changed the lives of both teens and parents, with customizable features on computers and smartphones that can limit screen time or apps like Life360. The surveillance app that can track a teen's location and activities has 18 million monthly users by the end of 2018.

What hasn't changed is teenagers' willingness to skirt these tools that many find overly restrictive, even to the point of spawning Tik Tok memes for teens to share hacks that disable the apps.

A new struggle for the teens that are leaving for college and turning into adults comes in the form of breaking the technology ties, which the Washington Post reported is a nearly unprecedented source of strife between worried parents and frustrated kids.

Read more: 

We surveyed 1,800 teens and 20-somethings. Here's how they view the world.

Teens girls who sext may be more likely to be depressed and anxious

21 gifts for teen girls that you can find on Amazon

From David Dobrik to The Rock, these are teens' favorite people to follow on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter

• McDonald's is testing a new Beyond Meat"PLT" plant-based burger.
• The burger is only available at 28 McDonald's locations in southern Ontario, Canada.
• I tried the burger, and found it wasn't as special as I had hoped.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Burger King has the Impossible Whopper. Dunkin' has the Beyond Sausage breakfast sandwich. Taco Bell, White Castle, Qdoba, and others have their own offerings, too.

And now, McDonald's has joined the plant-based craze taking over fast food.

Select McDonald's locations in Canada are now test-driving the "PLT" burger— that is, "plant, lettuce, and tomato"— using a Beyond Meat plant-based patty instead of traditional beef. The sandwiches, which debuted in late September, are available at 28 McDonald's restaurants in southern Ontario.

I happen to live in London, Ontario, home of many of the franchises offering the PLT. I recently decided to try the burger for myself, being an avid McDonald's eater and burger enthusiast. 

Although McDonald's is heavily promoting the burger, I found it to be a big disappointment. Read on to see what it was like.

SEE ALSO: I compared the meatless Beyond Burger with a beef burger from Shake Shack — and I know which burger I'd rather eat

DON'T MISS: It requires 22 ingredients for the Beyond Burger to replicate the taste and texture of a classic hamburger — here's what they are

McDonald's recently debuted its PLT burger at 28 locations in Ontario, Canada, including the one I visited in the city of London.

Everywhere I turned, I saw signs promoting the burger.

Given the hype, my expectations were high. The burger is made with a pea-based patty from Beyond Meat, and is topped with cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles, a mayo-based sauce, ketchup, mustard, and the quarter-pounder bun.

Sitting at $6.49 in Canadian dollars (or $4.93 in US dollars), it's comparable price-wise to most of the other burgers on the menu.

Although the burgers are plant-based, it's important to note they're not vegan — not only do they come with cheese and a mayo-based sauce, they're cooked on the same grill as meat-based menu items.

While the classic McDonald's meal features a burger and a side of fries, I ordered poutine — a Canadian staple.

The first thing I noticed was that the burger was extremely saucy. Before I had even taken my first bite, I had made a mess on my tray. Simply attempting to take the burger out of its box left me with ketchup, mustard, and mayo dripping onto my fingers and hands.

In fact, there were so many toppings I could hardly discern the taste of the patty.

Once I got past the sauce, it tasted pretty much like what you'd expect a vegan patty to taste like. Sampling a bare bite, I was able to really taste the savory flavor in the patty. It felt like eating protein, but definitely not a beef burger.

The patty itself tasted somewhat burnt, and the flavor was considerably muted compared to a beef burger. Similar to other plant-based burgers, the vegetable toppings made the burger feel heartier, although the taste of protein seemed more prominent in this patty.

Ultimately, the PLT is a run-of-the-mill plant-based burger. It's great to have on the menu, and it will likely attract some curious customers who might not otherwise eat at McDonald's. But considering that McDonald's is late to the game, it wasn't as special as I would have hoped.

• New York City is home to at least 27,000 restaurants.
• Business Insider surveyed New York City-based executives in various industries to find out which NYC restaurants they go to if they're looking to woo clients and close deals.
• Dozens of real-estate agents and executives told us their ideal restaurants for impressing a client.
• Their answers included trendy spots such as Avra, Balthazar, and Carbone, as well as an exclusive members-only club.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

New York City is home to at least 27,000 restaurants.

But even the city's most popular restaurants aren't safe from scathing New York Times reviews. The Michelin-starred Peter Luger Steak House in Brooklyn recently received a devastating zero-star review from the Times' restaurant critic, Pete Wells.

That left us wondering: If not Peter Luger, what are the best restaurants in New York City right now?

Business Insider surveyed New York City-based real-estate agents and executives to find out the one restaurant they would take a client to impress them or close a deal. (Spoiler: none of them said Peter Luger, but another Manhattan steakhouse made the list.)

Here, in alphabetical order, is what they told us.

SEE ALSO: An iconic bodega in the East Village is at risk of shuttering — here's why they hope a traditional NYC drink will help them survive

DON'T MISS: The penthouse of NYC's Woolworth Building just got a $31 million price cut. Check out 'The Pinnacle,' which occupies the top 5 floors of the iconic, green-roofed skyscraper.

Avra Estiatorio

Cuisine: Greek

Location: 141 East 48th Street (Midtown), 14 East 60th Street (Lenox Hill)

Dinner price range: ~ $21.95 - $59.95

"I love Avra," Bonnie Lindenbaum, a broker at Warburg Realty with 21 years of experience, told Business Insider. "The food is excellent and the 'scene' is very NYC chic. The decor speaks to my sensibility in both fashion and real estate."

Balthazar

Cuisine: French

Location: 80 Spring Street (Soho)

Dinner entree price range: ~ $23 - $76

Deborah Ribner, an agent at Warburg Realty with eight years experience, said Balthazar is her top place to take clients.

"The food is solid, the vibe is buzzing and it has people of all ages, both American and international," she told Business Insider.

Carbone

Cuisine: Italian

Location: 181 Thompson Street (West Village)

Dinner entree price range: ~ $21 - $58

"The food is just incredible and it's a great atmosphere," Adam Henick, cofounder of Current Real Estate Advisors, said of Carbone.

Gramercy Tavern

Cuisine: American

Location: 42 East 20th Street (Flatiron District)

Dinner entree price range: $134 three-course prix fixe

Alan Levy, a Warburg agent with 12 years of real-estate experience, named Gramercy Tavern near Union Square.

"I usually take a client to the tavern room where it's a wonderful ambiance and the service is impeccable," Levy said. "The food is awesome and I usually have success after that experience." 

Harry Cipriani, Sherry-Netherland hotel

Cuisine: Italian

Location: 781 5th Avenue (Midtown)

Dinner entree price range: ~ $31 - $50

"Cipriani at the Sherry Netherland is up and always happening," said Arlene Reed, an associate broker at Warburg with 28 years of experience. "Atmosphere is great, as is the food and the service."

Keen's Steakhouse

Cuisine: American

Location: 72 West 36th Street (Midtown)

Dinner entree price range: ~ $31 - $158

"My favorite underrated classic is Keen's Steakhouse," Warburg agent Zach Sutton told Business Insider. "With expansive, round tables for discussion and a traditional but keen (pun intended) selection of steaks and hearty favorites, this spot is nestled in Midtown but feels like home."

Le Coucou

Cuisine: French

Location: 138 Lafayette Street (Soho)

Dinner entree price range: $28 - $110

Rebecca Blacker, an agent at Warburg with 10 years of experience, said that if she wanted to impress a client, she'd take them to Le Coucou.

"The setting is stunning, the neighborhood is unexpected, and the service is exceptional but not stuffy," she said.

Norwood Club

Cuisine: American

Location: 241 West 14th Street (Chelsea)

Dinner entree price range: $70 prix fixe

Martin Eiden, a Compass broker with 20 years of experience, told Business Insider he'd take clients to Norwood, an exclusive members-only club for the city's creative elite.

"It offers exclusivity and allows me to bypass who has which private phone number to which restaurant," he said.

Raoul's

Cuisine: French

Location: 180 Prince Street (Soho)

Dinner entree price range: ~ $28 - $155

Claire Groome, an associate broker at Warburg Realty with 17 years' experience, said she impresses clients by taking them to Raoul's, because "it is everything New York."

"It is small but has the best clubby feel with incredible people-watching and the best art," Groome said. "I've been going for years so they know me and my clients are always impressed with the location, vibe and of course, the food!"

Sushi Kaito

Cuisine: Japanese

Location: 244 West 72nd Street (Upper West Side)

Dinner entree price range: ~ $50 and up

Michael Bello, a broker at REAL New York, said he'd take a client to Sushi Kaito on the Upper West Side.

"[It's] a 12-seat sushi bar with some of the best Omakase in the city, but still relatively unknown and discreet," Bello said. "They fly the fish in directly from Japan each morning. The sushi and sashimi are amazing. Everyone knows about Nobu. This is better and much more intimate and low key."

Zagara

Cuisine: Italian

Location: 216 7th Avenue (Chelsea)

Dinner entree price range: ~ $14 - $39

Craig Levine, the vice president of development at Quest Builders Group, said Zagara is his top place to take clients.

"Great food, awesome intimate atmosphere and not too pricey," he said. "Good clients shouldn't be impressed by a high tab." 

• There are great rewards credit cards from many different issuers, but American Express remains a popular and prestigious company, offering some of the most competitive products.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express is the best card offered, thanks to generous benefits like lounge access and statement credits almost fully offset the annual fee. Plus, it has useful perks and solid rewards on flights. 
• For example, you can get more than $2,000 of value from the card in your first year.
• If the Platinum Card's annual fee is a deal-breaker, you may want to consider the American Express® Gold Card or the American Express® Green Card instead.
• Read more personal finance coverage.

No matter your lifestyle and your priorities, American Express has a credit or charge card to match. Amex is most famous for its travel connections and premium "experiential" offerings like concierge service, but it also offers credit cards with other perks and lower annual fees. 

Whether you want a cash-back card or one that earns frequent flyer miles or hotel points, Amex has you covered. Its cards also offer various benefits like travel insurance and purchase protection. 

If you're looking for the best Amex card for you, here are the ones you should consider.

Keep in mind that we're focusing on the rewards and perks that make these credit cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which will far outweigh the value of any points or miles. It's important to practice financial discipline when using credit cards by paying your balances in full each month, making payments on time, and only spending what you can afford to pay back. 

Here are the best Amex cards in 2019:

• Platinum Card from American Express: Best Amex card overall, if you travel
• American Express Gold Card: Best Amex card for dining rewards
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best cash-back Amex card
• American Express Green Card: Best Amex travel card with a moderate annual fee
• Best Amex card for families: Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express
• Best no-annual-fee Amex card: Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express
• Best Amex card with a low intro APR: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

SEE ALSO: All our credit card reviews — from cash-back to travel rewards to business cards — in one place

The best Amex card overall

Why you'll love it: The Platinum Card offers incredibly valuable benefits, perks, and rewards, and is a must-have for any frequent traveler.

Welcome offer: 60,000 points (after you spend $5,000 in the first three months)

At $550, the Platinum Card has one of the highest annual fees of any mainstream card. However, as long as you're willing to float it up front, you can get way more value back from the card — for instance, it's possible to get more than $2,000 in value from it during your first year.

The Platinum Card earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or more. However, the best option is to transfer them to a frequent flyer partner.

The card offers 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline, as well as flights and pre-paid hotels booked through Amex Travel. It earns 1x point on everything else. It also offers up to $200 in Uber credits each cardmember year, as well as up to $200 in airline credits each calendar year — if you open the card mid-year, it's possible to earn that twice in your first cardmember year.

The card comes with a number of perks, including access to more than 1,200 airport lounges within the Priority Pass network, as well as Delta Sky Clubs and proprietary American Express Centurion Lounges. It also offers complimentary Gold elite status with Marriott and Hilton hotels, as well as up to $100 per year in shopping credits at Saks Fifth Avenue, access to special events, and other perks at hotels.

The annual fee may turn a lot of people off from this card, but if you can get past that, the return it offers is tough to beat.

Pros: Valuable perks, useful benefits, possible to get outsized value

Cons: High annual fee — even though you can make it back, and more, you'll still have to float that at first

Click here to learn more about the Platinum Card.

The best Amex card for dining rewards

Why you'll love it: The Amex Gold Card has a lower annual fee than the Platinum Card, but it offers stellar rewards on dining and groceries and solid benefits. 

Welcome offer: 35,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. 

American Express recently launched a massive reboot of its Premier Rewards Gold card, or "PRG," rebranding it as the American Express Gold Card, releasing a new metal design, and totally overhauling the rewards and benefits on the card. 

Right now, this is one of best cards available for dining, unless you're only interested in cash back, rather than potentially more valuable rewards points, and unless you find yourself abroad at restaurants often.

The Gold Card earns 4x points at restaurants worldwide and on up to $25,000 per year at US supermarkets (and 1x point after that), 3x points on flights booked directly with the airline, and 1x point on everything else. Based on the fact that you can easily redeem Membership Rewards points for more than 1 cent of value each, that makes this the highest-earning card for everything food-related.

The Gold Card offers up to a $100 airline fee credit each calendar year, and adds up to $120 of dining credits — split into $10 each month — at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Steak House, or participating Shake Shack locations.

New card members — those who haven't previously had the Premier Rewards Gold — can earn a welcome bonus of 35,000 points when they spend $4,000 in the first three months.

While it's difficult to assign an exact value to Membership Rewards points, The Points Guy subjectively estimates each point as worth 2 cents. That makes the welcome bonus worth $700. Even without factoring in the annual credit benefits, that's more than enough to make up for the card's $250 annual fee.

Check out our full review of the Amex Gold card for more details.

Pros: Stellar rewards on dining and groceries, useful benefits, lower annual fee than the Platinum Card.

Cons: High annual fee compared to some other cards.

Click here to learn more about the Amex Gold card.

The best cash-back Amex card

Why you'll love it: The Blue Cash Preferred earns cash back quickly at a great rate.

Welcome offer: $250 statement credit (after you spend $1,000 in the first three months)

If you're less excited about earning Membership Rewards points — which can be valuable, but also tricky to redeem — and want to stick with cash back, the Blue Cash Preferred is the best option, despite its $95 annual fee.

Amex recently announced a refresh to the card. New and existing cardholders can now earn 6% cash back on select US streaming services and 3% back on all transit. That's in addition to the existing categories of 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year (and 1% after that), 3% back at US gas stations, and 1% cash back on everything else.

Like the EveryDay cards, the Blue Cash Preferred offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months, before switching to a variable 14.49–25.49% APR. 

The Blue Cash Preferred comes with a handful of travel and purchase protections as well. Cash back comes in the form of a statement credit, so effectively you can use it to "erase" purchases.

Pros: Bonus cash back on useful categories, easy to earn enough cash back to offset the annual fee, introductory APR

Cons: High annual fee for a cash-back card

Click here to learn more about the Blue Cash Preferred card.

The best Amex card for travel with a moderate annual fee

Why you'll love it: The Amex Green card earns bonus points on travel and dining — two very popular spending categories — and offers up to $200 in annual statement credits.

Welcome offer: 30,000 points (after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months). Plus, if you apply by January 15, 2020, get up to $100 in statement credits toward any eligible purchase made with Away luggage in the first three months.

The Amex Green card recently got a complete makeover, which saw it go from a card with very limited bonus categories to a top option for earning Membership Rewards points on travel and dining. 

Now, you'll earn 3 points per dollar on all eligible travel, which includes everything from subway fare to hotels to flights. You'll also earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants worlwide. In terms of points-earning, this puts the Amex Green card on par with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which also offers 3x points in these spending categories.

Other new benefits include up to $100 in statement credits toward CLEAR membership each year, and up to $100 in statement credits per year toward LoungeBuddy purchases (for airport lounge access).

The Amex Green card now has a $150 annual fee, but that's still relatively moderate, especially if you factor in those two annual statement credits (and three — if you apply by January 15, 2020, to get up to $100 toward an eligible Away luggage purchase).

Pros: Great rewards for travel and dining, generous annual statement credits considering the annual fee

Cons: Annual fee recently increased, annual statement credit for CLEAR doesn't cover the full cost of membership

The best Amex card for families

Why you'll love it: The EveryDay Preferred earns bonus points at US grocery stores and gas stations, making it a strong product for families and others who spend a lot in these categories.

Welcome offer: 15,000 points (after you spend $1,000 in the first three months)

The EveryDay Preferred is a strong option for anyone looking for a Membership Rewards card, but who's not interested in a premium card like the Platinum or the Amex Gold. It also has a strong points-earning scheme and a lower annual fee of $95.

The card earns 3 points per dollar spent at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 each year — 1 point per dollar after that), 2x points at US gas stations, and 1x point on everything else. You can also get 2x points on reservations made through Amex Travel.

Best of all, if you make 30 or more purchases in a billing period, you'll earn a 50% bonus. That means that those little $3 and $4 charges for things like coffee or a snack can help you get a ton of points quickly.

The card also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months, before switching to a variable 14.49–24.49% APR. If you have a big purchase coming up and want some time to pay it off, but don't want to pay interest fees, this is a great option.

Pros: Low annual fee, strong rewards structure, earns valuable points, 50% bonus when you make at least 30 transactions in a billing period

Cons: Relatively low welcome offer

The best no-annual-fee Amex card

Why you'll love it: The Amex EveryDay has no annual fee, but still earns valuable bonus points.

Welcome offer: 10,000 points (after spending $1,000 in the first three months)

The Amex EveryDay is a no-annual-fee version, which still offers solid rewards. It earns 2x points at US supermarkets (again up to $6,000 of purchases per year, then 1x after that) and at AmexTravel.com, and 1x on everything else. It also offers 20% more points when you make 20 or more purchases in a billing period.

Like most Amex cards, it features a few travel and purchase protections, as well as access to the Amex Offers program.

While most people will be better off with the Preferred, the regular EveryDay is still a strong option — especially since there's no annual fee.

Pros: No annual fee, bonus points available.

Cons: Earns points slower than most cards with annual fees.

The best Amex card with a 0% intro APR

Why you'll love it: With cash back, no annual fee, and an introductory APR, the Blue Cash Everyday is the best option for paying off a big purchase over time.

Welcome offer: $150 statement credit (after spending $1,000 in the first three months)

The Blue Cash Everyday is similar to the Blue Cash Preferred, with a different earning structure and no annual fee.

The card earns a lower 3% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 each year — and 1% after that — 2% back at US gas stations and select department stores, and 1% cash back on everything else. While many people spend enough in the bonus categories to make the Blue Cash Preferred the better option, this remains a decent card for anyone who's strictly opposed to paying an annual fee.

If you're looking to make a major purchase and pay it off over time, like an appliance or an engagement ring, you can take advantage of the 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months (after that, it reverts to a variable 14.49–25.49% APR). You'll earn cash back on the purchase, which you can put right towards paying it off.

Pros: No annual fee, introductory APR, solid cash-back earning rates

Cons: Lower cash-back earning rate than annual fee cards

Click here to learn more about the Blue Cash Everyday card.

Check out our guide to the best rewards credit cards

The best rewards credit cards in 2019

Credit cards with good rewards programs and great new member offers make it easier than ever to rack up a lot of points.

Since the 2016 launch of the Chase Sapphire Reserve by J.P. Morgan Chase, rewards credit cards have exploded into a mainstream obsession.

This was particularly evident among Millennials and Gen X-ers, as they jumped into the once-obscure world of credit card rewards and bonuses, drawn by the lure of high sign-up bonuses, special perks, and the opportunity to use points for free flights, hotel stays, and even first class tickets.

Now, more than two years after the debut of the Sapphire Reserve, what's the best move for someone seeking to boost their stock of credit card points and frequent flyer miles? Here are some of the top credit cards currently available, based on sign-up bonuses, rewards earned on everyday spending, benefits, and overall value.

Here are our top picks for the best rewards credit cards in 2019:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best overall rewards credit card
• Platinum Card® from American Express: Best luxury travel benefits
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Best beginner travel rewards card
• Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card: Simplest to use
• American Express Gold Card: Best for rewards on dining and groceries
• Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Best cash-back rewards
• Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best no-annual-fee rewards credit card

• More credit card coverage
• What's the best airline credit card?
• The best cash-back credit cards
• Southwest credit card review
• Best rewards credit cards

• Venice, Italy, is facing its annual flooding season. Water levels peaked at 4 feet, 3 inches (1.27 meters) on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. 
• It's high-water season in Venice, meaning that heavy rains and high tides cause the lower parts of the city, including the tourist area of St. Mark's Square, to flood. 
• Many hotels carry rain boots for tourists as preparation during high-water season, which usually lasts from autumn through early spring.
• City officials also put up wooden catwalks so people can still get across Venice without walking through the floods.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

High-water season is back in Venice, Italy, where tourists and Venetians donned rubber boots and walked on catwalks to avoid being soaked in the historical city's flooded streets on Tuesday.

Venice's tide forecast office told the Associated Press that water levels peaked at 4 feet, 3 inches (1.27 meters) on Tuesday morning, but the tides were expected to rise overnight.

The city's high water season usually lasts from autumn through early spring. Flooding is most likely to affect the lowest parts of the city, including the tourist area of St. Mark's Square.

When the city floods, water invades homes, businesses, cafes and more. On Tuesday, nursery schools were closed by officials as a precaution.

Forecasts in the region suggest that rain is expected to continue for the next several days, which could mean more floods for the city.

In the meantime, Venice officials have erected wooden catwalks in severely flooded areas to provide safety for people trying to get from place to place.

Here are photos of Tuesday's flooding, and how residents and tourists alike faced the high tides.

Residents and tourists donned rain boots and carried umbrellas as they walked through the city on catwalks raised on high stilts.

The sea level around Venice has risen by a little more than 10 inches since 1870. At the same time, the land has continued to sink at a rate of 2 to 3 millimeters per year. 

Source: Associated Press

The phenomenon of high water, locally known as "acqua alta," happens annually in Venice, most often in late autumn through early spring.

Source: Associated Press

Water levels peaked at 4 feet, 3 inches (1.27 meters) in some parts of the city on Tuesday morning.

Source: Associated Press

Many hotels provide disposable rain boots to tourists so they can still enjoy the city.

Source: Associated Press

Venice authorities warn people of rising water with a siren that sounds across the city.

Source: Associated Press

St. Mark's Square was closed to the public while the area faced flooding on Tuesday.

When it's dry, the square is a gathering ground for pigeons, who feast on scraps from tourists. 

Source: Associated Press

Despite St. Mark's Square being closed, some people braved the flood waters to get across the city in places without raised catwalks.

Source: Associated Press

Ducal Palace, a tourist hotspot just off St. Mark's Square, remained open "despite exceptional tide." It urged visitors to use rickety raised walkways to reach it.

Source: Associated Press

Tourists visit Venice year-round, even during the "acqua alta" floods.

Source: Associated Press

And Venice is used to the flooding. Many businesses continue their day-to-day activities despite the water.

Source: Associated Press

But the saltwater that's been flooding Venice is eroding the foundations of buildings across the historical city.

Source: Associated Press

Forecasters said more water is expected overnight on Tuesday. In 2018, 75% of the city was under water because of the annual floods.

Source: Associated Press, Insider

The highest "acqua alta" Venice has ever recorded was in November 1966, when floods hit 6 feet, 4 inches (1.94 meters).

Source: Associated Press

Venice has been trying to stop the flooding for more than a decade with a $6.5 billion infrastructure project that has been plagued with scandal and criticism.

Source: Business Insider

The infrastructure plan, called Mose, includes creating a series of underwater barriers that would prevent flooding when the tide hits 43 inches.

In 2014, Venice's former mayor Giorgio Orsoni was arrested following a corruption scandal over the development of the project. The project is intended to act as a barrier to prevent high waters from encroaching on the city, Corruption and bribery have caused the project to stall out. 

Source: Insider

• Now until November 17, 2019, you can save up to 40% on men's and women's apparel, home goods, accessories, and more during Nordstrom's Fall Sale.
• Discounts aren't as staggering as what we saw during Nordstrom's Annual Sale, but there are definitely tons of deals worth checking out.
• We've selected 53 great deals to shop before prices go back up on November 17.

Nordstrom is giving us one last hurrah before Black Friday begins with discounts up to 40% during its Fall Sale now through November 17.

There are savings on clothes and shoes for men, women, and kids; home goods; accessories; beauty, and more from our favorite brands like Madewell, Eileen Fisher, and Boss.  

The 2019 Nordstrom Fall Sale is ending soon — you can shop deals through November 17.

There are a ton of deals, and while the discounts aren't as impressive as what we saw during Nordstrom's Annual Sale, they're still worth checking out. To help you sort through the (literal) thousands of items, here are the 53 best deals from Nordstrom's Fall Sale.

If you want to shop all deals at once, you can go directly here: 

• Women's deals
• Men's deals
• Home deals

Women's clothing

Shop all women's clothing deals here

Nordstrom's Fall Sale offers a huge selection of women's clothing deals to help transition your wardrobe from fall to winter from brands such as Eileen Fisher, The North Face, and Barbour. 

1. 1. The North Face Venture Waterproof Rain Jacket, $74.49 (after sale $149) [You save $74.49]
   2. Chelsea28 Turtleneck Sweater, $47.40 (after sale $79) [You save $31.60] 
   3. Eileen Fisher Scoop Neck Cap Sleeve Tee, $47.20 (after sale $118) [You save $70.80] 
   4. Joe's 'Flawless' Icon Skinny Jeans, $99.90 (after sale $169) [You save $69.10]
   5. Something Navy Shirred Slip Skirt, $41.40 (after sale $69) [You save $27.60]
   6. AFRM Logan Daisy Ditsy Plunge Neck Dress, $47.40 (after sale $79) [You save $31.60]
   7. Natori Bliss Perfection Bikini, $11.98 (after sale $20) [You save $8.02] 
   8. Barbour Oakland Quilted Jacket, $124.98 (after sale $250) [You save $125.02] 
   9. Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Cardigan, $67 (after sale $134) [You save $67]

Women's shoes

Shop all women's shoe deals here

It's also a great opportunity to find your ideal fall boots from Hunter, Cole Haan and Sam Edelman, or, prep for the spring with sandals from Pelle Moda.

1. 1. Nike Air Max 200 Sneaker, $80.40 (after sale $120) [You save $39.60]
   2. Vince Camuto Nestel Knee High Boot $139.90 (after sale $239.95) [You save $100.05] 
   3. Sam Edelman Winona Bootie, $99.90 (after sale $159.95) [You save $60.05] 
   4. Tory Burch 'Minnie' Ballet Flat, $152.76 (after sale $228) [You save $75.24] 
   5. Pelle Moda Maja Halo Strap Sandal, $96.90 (after sale $159.95) [You save $63.05] 
   6. Hunter Tour Packable Waterproof Rainboot, $99.90 (after sale $149.95) [You save $50.05]

Women's bags and accessories

Shop all women's bag and accessory deals here

Update your bags and accessories with help from Madewell, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, and more.

1. 1. Madewell The Zip-Top Transport Corduroy Suede Crossbody Bag, $88.80 (after sale $148.00) [You save $59.20] 
   2. Kate Spade Medium Margaux Leather Satchel, $148.98 (after sale $298) [You save $149.02]
   3. Tory Burch Mini McGraw Leather Wallet, $92.46 (after sale $138) [You save $45.54] 
      
   4. Herschel Supply Co. Small Trade 34-Inch Large Wheeled Packing Case, $137.98 (after sale $230) [You save $92.02] 
   5. Nordstrom Cashmere Lined Leather Touchscreen Gloves, $74.25 (after sale $99) [You save $24.75] 
   6. Topshop Metallic Mesh Belt, $25.98 (after sale $52) [You save $26.02]

Beauty and skin care

Shop all women's beauty and skin-care deals here

Though Nordstrom's current sale doesn't have as many beauty deals as its previous Anniversary Sale, there are still picks from brands such as MAC, Clinique, and RMS Beauty.

1. 1. MAC Up Close and Personal Travel Size Brush Set, $31.88 (after sale $42.50) [You save $10.62] 
   2. Clinique Moisture Surge Deluxe Set, $39 (valued at $49) [You save $10] 
   3. RMS Beauty Luminizer Set, $57.62 (valued at $86) [You save $28.38] 
   4. Dermaflash Glow in a Flash Set, $128 (after sale $225) [You save $97]

Men's clothing

Shop all men's clothing deals here

Nordstrom's Fall Sale has a wide range of clothing and brand options for men from Andrew Marc to Ted Baker London.

1. 1. Andrew Marc Quilted Leather Moto Jacket, $375 (after sale $595) [You save $220] 
   2. Vineyard Vines Lighthouse Long Sleeve T-Shirt, $28.80 (after sale $42) [You save $13.20] 
   3. Madewell Rugby Stripe Allday Crewneck T-Shirt, $20.98 (after sale $35) [You save $14.02] 
   4. Nordstrom Tech-Smart Trim Fit Check Button-Down Sport Shirt, $41.70 (after sale $69.50) [You save $27.80] 
   5. AG Everett Slim Straight Leg Jeans, $144.05 (after sale $215) [You save $70.95] 
   6. Fidelity Denim Jimmy Slim Straight Leg Pants, $118.80 (after sale $198) [You save $79.20] 
   7. Tommy Bahama Naples Coast Swim Trunks, $41.70 (after sale $69.50) [You save $27.80] 
   8. Ted Baker London Trim Fit Wool Blend Blazer, $293.40 (after sale $489) [You save $195.60] 
   9. Polo Ralph Lauren Cotton Pajama Pants, $26.40 (after sale $44) [You save$17.60] 
   10. Nike Transcend Dry Yoga Training Shorts, $24.98 (after sale $50) [You save $25.02]
   11. Calvin Klein Steel 3-Pack Trunks, $22.50 (after sale $42.50) [You save $20]

Men's shoes

Shop all men's shoes here

Footwear from brands including Cole Haan, Sperry, and Calvin Klein will keep your feet protected as the weather changes.  

1. 1. Cole Haan 2.ZeroGrand Stitchlite Water Resistant Wingtip, $149.90 (after sale $230) [You save $80.10] 
   2. Nike Air Max2 Light Sneaker, $83.98 (after sale $140) [You save $56.02] 
   3. Sperry II CVO Sneaker, $42.90 (after sale $64.95) [You save $22.05] 
   4. Reaction Kenneth Cole Crespo Loafer, $80.40 (after sale $120) [You save $39.60] 
   5. Adidas Terrex Speed LD Trail Running Shoe, $99.95 (after sale $119.95) [You save $20]
   6. Calvin Klein Fuego Sneaker, $109.99 (after sale $129) [You save $19.01] 

Men's accessories

Shop all men's accessory deals here

From card cases to leather belts and silk ties, this sale is a great way to stock up on essential accessories.

1. Rag & Bone 51mm Polarized Sunglasses, $152.98 (after sale $255) [You save $102.02]
2. BOSS Celie Leather Belt, $48.98 (after sale $98) [You save $49.02]
3. Title of Work Stripe Silk Tie, $89.98 (after sale $150) [You save $60.02]
4. Salvatore Ferragamo Revival Leather Card Case, $206.49 (after sale $295) [You save $88.51]
5. Champion Big C Flat Brim Cap, $14.98 (after sale $25) [You save $10.02]

Home goods

Shop all home goods deals here

Nordstrom's sale includes a huge selection of home goods from brands like Anthropologie, All-Clad, and Michael Aram.  

1. 1. BP Reversible High Pile Fleece Throw Blanket, $24.49 (after sale $49) [You save $24.51]
   2. All-Clad 10-Inch & 12-Inch Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Fry Pan Set, $99.99 (after sale $150) [You save $50.01]
   3. Anthropologie Morocco Nut Bowl, $5.98 (after sale $10) [You save $4.02] 
   4. Michael Aram Dip Dye Sheepskin Accent Pillow, $159.99 (after sale $199.99) [You save $40]
   5. Anthropologie Petunia Duvet Cover, $143.98 (after sale $288) [You save $144.02]
   6. MATOUK Milagro Bath Towel, $37.50 (after sale $49) [You save $11.50]  

• From smartphones to cameras and gaming devices, microSD cards are the go-to for external storage.
• But not all microSD cards are the same, and picking one can be complicated. The letters and numbers found on microSD cards can be incredibly confusing, and you need to consider the speed or capacity (or both) depending on how your device will use the card.
• Overall, the Samsung EVO Plus microSD card does the best job in speed and capacity options for the best price, although you should also consider the SanDisk Extreme microSD UHS-3 Card and the SanDisk Ultra microSD card.

Sometimes, the storage that's built into a device just doesn't cut it (and sometimes there is no built-in storage option) — that's where microSD cards come in to expand your device's storage.

Many Android smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and LG V50 ThinQ 5G, support microSD cards — a minuscule version of the larger SD format — as do all GoPro Hero action cameras and small cameras like it; consumer drones, like those from DJI; and mobile gaming devices, like the Nintendo Switch.

Before we get into our top picks, let's go over those aforementioned confusing numbers and letters so you know what they mean and why they're important for your device.

Card type and capacity

When it comes to the card type, the two main kinds you'll want to consider are SD HC (Secure Digital High Capacity) and SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity). The only real difference between the two is how much storage they offer. SDHC cards contain 4GB to 32GB, while SDXC starts with at least 64GB of capacity and extends up to 2TB (and beyond, in the near future). 

Although most newer devices accept the SDXC standard, some older gadgets, like the GoPro Hero4 and Nintendo 3DS, will only support lower-capacity SDHC microSD cards of 32GB or less. Consult your product's user manual to see what it recommends before purchasing any card.

In general, you should get as much capacity as your budget allows. And depending on what you plan to do with the card, you will also need to consider the speed class, which we'll explain below. The card speed and capacity will determine pricing.

Speed class

Speed class is where things get complicated. The chart from the SD Association below breaks it down visually, but we also will explain below.

MicroSD cards are measured in six speed classes: 2, 4, 6, 10, U1, and U3 (this also applies to standard SD cards, if you were wondering). The class number refers to the write speeds (how fast it can record onto the card) in megabytes per second (MB/s), so Class 2 = 2MB/s, Class 4 = 4MB/s, Class 6 = 6MB/s, and Class 10 = 10MB/s. U1 supports at least a 10MB/s write speed, and U3 cards offer at least a 30MB/s write speed, but there's something to keep in mind with U1/U3.

Most new cards support Class 10 or higher; from our observation, you're less likely to see new cards being sold that are Class 6 or lower. But you may also see a card with both Class 10 and U1 or U3 designations. This means the card is also compatible with the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus (in computing, a bus is the system that transfers data between components). MicroSDXC cards will always carry a Class 10 and either U1 or U3, as well as higher-end microSDHC cards.

For example, a microSDHC or microSDXC card with both Class 10 and U1 classifications will support faster transfers (U1) when used in devices that support UHS, but will throttle down to the slower transfer speed (Class 10) in most other devices. (Note: If an older device supports Class 6 or lower, you can still use the faster card we mentioned in our example, but you won't achieve the higher write speeds.)

A high-end card will also list either UHS-I or UHS-II. This is in reference to the theoretical top bus speed and is not to be confused with the write speeds mentioned above. UHS-I Cards have a maximum speed of 104 MB/s, while UHS-II cards have a maximum speed of 312 MB/s — compare them to non-UHS cards, which have a theoretical speed of 25 MB/s. Cards that support UHS-II offer even better performance, naturally.

Lastly, as the above image shows, there's a classification called Video Speed Class. With the increase in devices that can capture very high-resolution video, the SD Association — the governing board that created all these designations — created the Video Speed Class for cards that support these higher video resolutions, like 4K, 8K, virtual reality, 360-degree, and 3D. This classification is denoted with a V and followed by a number, which represents the speed in MB/s. For example, a V30 card will support a minimum write speed of 30 MB/s. Video Speed Class is rated as V6, V10, V30, V60, and V90. Cards labeled with a Video Speed Class are designed to support those aforementioned resolutions, according to the manufacturer.

App Performance Class for smartphones and tablets

The App Performance Class denotes which MicroSD cards are best for smartphones and tablets. An A1 rating means that the card can open apps and process apps quickly, because it can handle a random read input-output access per second (IOPS) of 1,500 and write IOPS of 500. A1 cards are new, and anyone who wants to use Google's "Adoptable Storage" feature, which formats your card as internal storage in an Android device, should look for the new rating.

The right microSD card for your device

Depending on what you're using your microSD card for, you'll want the right amount of capacity.

For smartphone users: Because the photo and video capabilities of modern smartphones have dramatically increased in quality, we recommend avoiding SDHC cards entirely, and starting at the 64GB capacities found in SDXC cards. The price of microSD cards, even at high capacities, has plummeted in recent years, so price should not be nearly the inhibitor it once was. With that said, although modern phones can support cards up to 1TB, unless you're taking a lot of photos and videos, you are unlikely to ever need that much capacity. If you like to shoot 4K video on your phone, then you should buy an SDXC microSD card that has a U3 speed class rating, with 128GB or 256GB capacity. Many phones, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and LG V50 ThinQ, support SDXC microSD cards with up to at least 1TB of storage (the LG V50 actually supports up to a whopping 2 TB).

For the Nintendo Switch and 3DS: The Nintendo Switch accepts SDXC microSD cards with up to 2TB of capacity. Since games take up a lot of storage, we recommend you get the highest-capacity card for your Switch that you can afford. The older Nintendo 3DS only supports SDHC cards (32GB or less), so don't waste money on high-capacity SDXC cards.

For GoPro and similar small cameras: If you need a microSD card for your GoPro, consult the company's list of recommended cards. The site says that GoPros require a minimum of Class 10, but U1 or U3 are better speed classifications. The Hero8 supports SDXC microSD cards with up to 128GB of capacity, as does the DJI Osmo Action. We have been testing the Hero8 with a SanDisk 32GB SDHC U1 card and have not had any issues

Avoid poor quality cards made by less scrupulous manufacturers by sticking with tested and verified brands and clicking on our links.

Here are the best microSD cards for your phone, GoPro, or Nintendo Switch:

• Best microSD card overall: Samsung EVO Plus microSD card
• Best microSD card for action cams or drones: SanDisk Extreme microSD U3 Card
• Best microSD card for the Nintendo Switch: SanDisk Ultra microSD card

Updated on 11/12/2019 by Jaron Schneider: Updated recommendations and copy. Added new version of the SanDisk Ultra microSD cards and the new SanDisk Extreme microSD card. We are currently testing new options for our next update.

SEE ALSO: The best SD cards you can buy for your DSLR camera

The best microSD card overall

The Samsung EVO Plus microSD card is a jack of all trades — you can use it to expand your smartphone, shoot photos and videos with your action cam, or expand the storage of your mobile gaming console.

Samsung makes the best microSD card you can buy. The EVO Plus is available in a wide range of capacities from 32GB up to 256GB, in both SDHC and SDXC card types. You can use it in any device that supports a microSD card, whether it be your smartphone, tablet, action camera, or mobile gaming console. 

The card offers fast read and write speeds, which is just what you need when you're using a microSD card to expand storage in your smartphone or tablet. The EVO Plus' fast sequential speeds are ideal for recording Full HD video with your phone, but it can also handle 4K. 

Although it's not the fastest microSD card you can buy, it is very close to matching those top-end UHS-I cards and its price is much lower.

In case you're still on the fence, both Digital Trends and Android Central recommend the Samsung EVO Plus as one of (if not the) best microSD cards available. Samsung is one of the largest makers of solid-state memory cards, and in our experience, we have found them to be very reliable.

Pros: Extremely affordable, at least 80MB/s transfer speed, records Full HD video and even 4K, stores high-resolution pictures, waterproof, resistant to extreme temperature, X-ray proof, magnetic proof, compatible with microSDHC and microSDXC slots

Cons: No UHS-II offerings (although you probably don't need that anyway)

The best microSD card for the GoPro

The SanDisk Extreme microSD U3 Card is perfect for GoPro, Osmo Action, or drone users who need a fast card with high capacity that handles 4K video.

If you have a GoPro Hero8 or a DJI Osmo Action, you need a high-performance microSD card that can handle 4K video recording. The SanDisk 64GB Extreme microSD card is our recommendation.

The UHS-I/U3-rated SanDisk Extreme card offers read speeds of up to 160 MB/s and write speeds of up to 60 MB/s, so your footage can be captured, stored, and transferred quickly. It also comes with recovery software, so if you lose your footage, you may be able to get it back.

A reason why we recommend a U3-rated microSD card is because the card can sustain a higher reading and writing speed that U1 cards can't. And while you may think that a more expensive UHS-II offers better performance, you should know that the Hero8, Osmo Action, and many consumer drones, like the DJI Mavic Pro 2, can only support up to the top-end of UHS-I speeds.

For the price, the SanDisk 64GB Extreme microSD card is a great balance of performance and capacity. Besides 4K video, this card is great for time-lapse footage (or GoPro's new TimeWarp feature that speeds up video) or long-duration shooting. Having that ample storage also means you can shoot longer with a drone — we found 16GB to be far too little for drone flying. And because it's affordable, you can buy a few and swap them out when a card becomes full.  

The card is also protected against shock, water, and X-ray. SanDisk is a reliable brand we've used and trusted, and the Extreme series is one of the company's best.

You can also use this card with your smartphone, tablet, or mobile gaming console — just make sure your device supports SDXC cards. In addition, the card is rated A2 for compatible smartphones and V30 for video.

Note that SanDisk makes an Extreme version of a 32GB microSDHC, which we've also successfully used in the Hero8 without issues. Also, older Hero cameras (prior to the Hero5) won't support SDXC cards to their full capabilities.

Pros: Ideal for Full HD and 4K video, UHS-I/U3, A2, V30, transfer speed up to 160 MB/s, includes SD card adapter

Cons: Higher capacities see a quick jump in price and can be quite expensive

The best microSD card for the Nintendo Switch

The SanDisk Ultra microSD card is the one to buy if you own a Nintendo Switch.

If you have a Nintendo Switch, you're going to want to prioritize capacity over speed, since the Switch uses the microSD card just to store game data, not actively transfer content. The 128GB SanDisk Ultra microSD card, then, is a perfect choice.

Although 128GB may sound like a lot of space, if when you consider games like "Breath of the Wild," which takes up 13.4GB, it will add up as you build your game library and install updates; the 32GB of internal storage that comes with the Nintendo Switch isn't enough. Speaking from experience, just buying two games from the Switch's online E-Store pushed me beyond the built-in capacity. I opted for a 128GB card after that, so I wouldn't have to think about storage again for a long time.

If you're really into downloading games and you have deep pockets, you can even get a card with 200GB, 256GB, 400GB, or even as high as 512GB. Even at the highest capacity, you won't spend more than $100. You can, of course, get a lower-capacity version of this card, since it comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB sizes, but we don't recommend it. Given that the 128GB card costs about $20, it is already a great deal for considerably more storage capacity.

As with most high-end cards like this one, you can also use it in a smartphone or tablet for storage purposes, but it's not the best option for GoPro users because it isn't rated for 4K recording.

Pros: Up to 512GB available, affordable at all storage levels, Class 10, UHS-I, included SD adapter, 10-year limited warranty, durable design

Cons: Slower write speeds means it isn't ideal for 4K recording

Check out our other great tech accessory guides

The best iPhone accessories from cases to lightning cables

Whether you just bought yourself a shiny new iPhone X or you have an iPhone 8, 7, or 6S at home, these are the best accessories you can buy. We rounded up great cases, wireless chargers, lightning cords, headphones, and more.

The best wireless chargers for your iPhone or Android device

Apple's new iPhone models have joined the dozens of Android phones that already support wireless charging. 

We've rounded up the very best wireless chargers you can buy that will juice up any smartphone that supports the Qi standard. This includes the new iPhones and many Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Google Pixel 4. 

• Best overall: Belkin Boost UP 7.5 Watt wireless charging pad 
• Best for thick cases: Anker PowerWave 7.5 Pad and PowerWave 7.5 Stand
• Best for travel: Fuse Chicken Universal All-in-One World Travel Charger
• Best for iPhone: Mophie wireless charging pad
• Best for quick charging: RAVPower Fast wireless charger
• Best travel charger: Mophie Charge Stream Kit
• Best affordable charger: TechMatte Wireless Charging Stand
• Best luxurious charger: Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Convertible Stand
• Best charging lamp: TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp
• Best charging table: Fonesalesman FurniQi wireless charging table
• Best quick charge stand: Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Stand

The best lightning cables you can buy for your iPhone

We've charged our iPhones with dozens of lightning cables over the years to find the best ones. You should always buy MFi-certified lightning cords for your own safety, so we've rounded up the very best Apple-approved lightning cables we've tested over the years. 

• Best lightning cable overall: Anker PowerLine cables
• Best cheap lightning cable: AmazonBasics cable
• Best long lightning cable: Native Union Night cable
• Best tough lightning cable: Fuse Chicken Titan cable
• Best light-up cable: Monoprice Luxe Series Lightning Charge & Sync cable
• Best universal lightning cable: Nomad Universal Cable

• Week 10 was the week of upsets in the NFL, causing a rearrangement of our NFL Power Rankings.
• As we head into Week 11, we have a brand-new top three.
• See where all 32 teams stand below.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Week 10 looks like it was the week of upsets in the NFL.

The Seahawks handed the 49ers their first loss, leaving the NFL without any undefeated teams while cemeing the NFC West as the toughest division in football. Elsewhere, the Falcons stunned the Saints, the Steelers upset the Rams, the Dolphins won a second straight with a win over the Colts, the Raiders topped the Chargers, and well, the Bengals continued to lose.

As we head into Week 11, the top of our power rankings has never looked different. See where all 32 teams stand below.

32. Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 0-9

Last week: 31st

Week 10 result: Lost to the Ravens, 49-13

Week 11 opponent: at Oakland Raiders

One thing to know: The only winless team left in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals will have to figure out something in their final seven games of the season if they want first-year head coach Zac Taylor to secure his first win before 2020.

31. New York Giants

Record: 2-8

Last week: 27th

Week 10 result: Lost to the Jets, 34-27

Week 11 opponent: Bye

One thing to know: Saquon Barkley had the worst game of his NFL career in Week 11, rushing 13 times for just one yard and missing a few key blocks. Head coach Pat Shurmur said Barkley is "banged up" but fine. The Giants have lost six in a row.

30. Washington Redskins

Record: 1-8

Last week: 29th

Week 10 result: Bye

Week 11 opponent: vs. New York Jets

One thing to know: Washington announced this week that the team would be backing Dwayne Haskins as their starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, giving the rookie a chance to turn his team's dismal fortunes around. We wish him luck.

29. New York Jets

Record: 2-7

Last week: 32nd

Week 10 result: Beat the Giants, 34-27

Week 11 opponent: at Washington Redskins

One thing to know: The decision not to trade safety Jamal Adams has looked good for the Jets. On Sunday, Adams had two sacks and two forced fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

28. Miami Dolphins

Record: 2-7

Last week: 28th

Week 10 result: Beat the Colts, 16-12

Week 11 opponent: vs. Buffalo Bills

One thing to know: The Miami Dolphins are on a winning streak! That's a sentence I certainly didn't think I'd be writing at any point during the 2019 NFL season. And yet, here we are. Credit to head coach Brian Flores for rallying his team to keep fighting, and for the players for pulling off two straight impressive performances.

27. Atlanta Falcons

Record: 2-7

Last week: 30th

Week 10 result: Beat the Saints, 26-9

Week 11 opponent: at Carolina Panthers

One thing to know: Instead of keeling over, the Falcons showed some fight and pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year over the Saints. It was the first time all season the defense allowed fewer than 20 points.

26. Denver Broncos

Record: 3-6

Last week: 24th

Week 10 result: Bye

Week 11 opponent: at Minnesota Vikings

One thing to know: The Denver Broncos will face yet another decision at quarterback soon, as rookie Drew Lock could return from the IR in the next two weeks. As things stand, journeyman Brandon Allen is off to a 1-0 start with the team after getting the first NFL start of his career in Week 9 against the Browns.

25. Arizona Cardinals

Record: 3-6-1

Last week: 22nd

Week 10 result: Lost to the Buccaneers, 30-27

Week 11 opponent: at San Francisco 49ers

One thing to know: Kyler Murray set a new rookie record for most pass attempts without an interception at 211. The streak ended in the 4th quarter against the Bucs. With six games remaining, can Murray throw 15 more touchdowns to break Baker Mayfield's rookie record for touchdowns?

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record: 3-6

Last week: 26th

Week 10 result: Beat the Cardinals, 30-27

Week 11 opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints

One thing to know: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the proud owners of possibly the most confounding stat in the NFL, ranking 1st in rushing defense but 32nd in passing defense. Against Drew Brees and the Saints this week, that could be a problem.

23. Cleveland Browns

Record: 3-6

Last week: 25th

Week 10 result: Beat the Bills, 19-16

Week 11 opponent: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

One thing to know: The Browns finally picked up a win in Week 10, their first since Week 4. However, there are still major issues, particularly on offense, like when they were stopped eight times on the goal line on one possession.

22. Detroit Lions

Record: 3-5-1

Last week: 21st

Week 10 result: Lost to the Bears, 20-13

Week 11 opponent: vs. Dallas Cowboys

One thing to know: Matthew Stafford was out on Sunday for the Lions, ending a 136-game starting streak that had been the second-longest active streak among quarterbacks in the NFL. Making matters worse, the NFL is now looking into how the team handled the reporting of his injury, as it's unclear when exactly the Detroit front office knew that Stafford would not be able to play.

21. Chicago Bears

Record: 4-5

Last week: 23rd

Week 10 result: Beat the Lions, 20-13

Week 11 opponent: at Los Angeles Rams

One thing to know: Mitchell Trubisky might have saved his job for another game with his best performance in weeks: 173 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 interceptions, with a 131 passer rating.

20. Los Angeles Chargers

Record: 4-6

Last week: 17th

Week 10 result: Lost to the Raiders, 26-24

Week 11 opponent: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

One thing to know: After a confounding lockout to start his season and a slow start once he took the field, Melvin Gordon finally looked like his old self on Thursday night against the Raiders, rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries for the Chargers.

19. Jacksonville Jaguars

Record: 4-5

Last week: 19th

Week 10 result: Bye

Week 11 opponent: at Indianapolis Colts

One thing to know: Nick Foles returns to the field in Week 11 for his first action since the opening game. Can the Jaguars $88 million man lead the team on a playoff push?

18. Tennessee Titans

Record: 5-5

Last week: 20th

Week 10 result: Beat the Chiefs, 35-32

Week 11 opponent: Bye

One thing to know: The Tennessee Titans held on against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, blocking a potential game-tying field goal attempt in the final seconds to secure their most impressive win of the season. Derrick Henry averaged 8.2 yards per carry, showing both what an asset he is to the Tennessee offense and how vulnerable the Chiefs defense is to a power rusher.

17. Los Angeles Rams

Record: 5-4

Last week: 11th

Week 10 result: Lost to the Steelers, 17-12

Week 11 opponent: vs. Chicago Bears

One thing to know: This Rams team is not the same as last year, as their offense is playing well below last year's level. An important factor in that: in his last 16 games, Jared Goff has 17 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, and just a 79 passer rating.

16. Oakland Raiders

Record: 5-4

Last week: 18th

Week 10 result: Beat the Chargers, 26-24

Week 11 opponent: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

One thing to know: Derek Carr led the Raiders on an impressive game-winning drive on Thursday night against the Chargers, marching Oakland 75 yards down the field to score the go-ahead touchdown with just a minute left in the game. Barring a game getting flexed later in the season, it was the last night game that the Raiders will ever play in Oakland.

15. Philadelphia Eagles

Record: 5-4

Last week: 14th

Week 10 result: Bye

Week 11 opponent: vs. New England Patriots

One thing to know: Coming off the bye, the Eagles will look to make a playoff push. They're tied for the best record in the NFC East, but with games against the Patriots and Seahawks over the next two weeks, they have little margin for error.

14. Dallas Cowboys

Record: 5-4

Last week: 15th

Week 10 result: Lost to the Vikings, 28-24

Week 11 opponent: at Detroit Lions

One thing to know: Ezekiel Elliott was stifled on Sunday against the Vikings, taking 20 carries for just 47 yards. It was the first time in his career that he was held under 50 yards rushing at home.

13. Carolina Panthers

Record: 5-4

Last week: 12th

Week 10 result: Lost to the Packers, 24-16

Week 11 opponent: vs. Atlanta Falcons

One thing to know: With Cam Newton on the IR, Kyle Allen is officially The Man for the Panthers this season. Unfortunately, Allen's play has slipped considerably over the last three games after a hot start: he's completing 56.5% of his passes and has 3 TDs to 5 INTs the previous three weeks.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers

Record: 5-4

Last week: 16th

Week 10 result: Beat the Rams, 17-12

Week 11 opponent: at Cleveland Browns

One thing to know: The Pittsburgh Steelers have now won four straight games thanks in large part to a stout defense led by mid-season acquisition Minkah Fitzpatrick. While many questioned the Steelers' decision to trade away a first-round pick for him, Fitzpatrick has proven well worth the investment.

11. Indianapolis Colts

Record: 5-4

Last week: 13th

Week 10 result: Lost to the Dolphins, 16-12

Week 11 opponent: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

One thing to know: That's two bad losses in a row for the Colts. Once again, Adam Vinatieri deserves some blame, as he missed another crucial extra-point in this one. The future Hall of Famer has missed six field goals and six extra points this year.

10. Buffalo Bills

Record: 6-3

Last week: 10th

Week 10 result: Lost to the Browns, 19-16

Week 11 opponent: at Miami Dolphins

One thing to know: The Buffalo Bills still control their own destiny en route to a potential spot in the postseason, but as losers in two of their past three games, will have to pull out of this burgeoning tailspin before it's too late.

9. Kansas City Chiefs

Record: 6-4

Last week: 7th

Week 10 result: Lost to the Titans, 35-32

Week 11 opponent: at Los Angeles Chargers

One thing to know: Patrick Mahomes' brilliant return (446 yards, 3 TDs) couldn't help the Chiefs get a needed win over the Titans. Kansas City's run problem continues to be a huge problem — they allowed 225 rushing yards on 8.7 yards per carry to Tennessee.

8. Houston Texans

Record: 6-3

Last week: 8th

Week 10 result: Bye

Week 11 opponent: at Baltimore Ravens

One thing to know: The Houston Texans are currently in first place in the AFC South, but the division will likely come down to some wildly important games in the final weeks of the season, with two matchups against the Titans still on the schedule.

7. Minnesota Vikings

Record: 7-3

Last week: 9th

Week 10 result: Beat the Cowboys, 28-24

Week 11 opponent: vs. Denver Broncos

One thing to know: Kirk Cousins is quietly making an MVP run. Over his last six games, he's completed 73% of his passes for 1,702 yards, 15 TDs, and 1 INT, and the Vikings are 5-1.

6. New Orleans Saints

Record: 7-2

Last week: 2nd

Week 10 result: Lost to the Falcons, 26-9

Week 11 opponent: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

One thing to know: Drew Brees and the Saints came out flat against the Falcons on Sunday, failing to score a touchdown despite facing one of the worst defenses in the league. With New Orleans entering the day as 13.5-point favorites, it was the biggest upset of the NFL season thus far.

5. Green Bay Packers

Record: 8-2

Last week: 6th

Week 10 result: Beat the Panthers, 24-16

Week 11 opponent: Bye

One thing to know: Aaron Jones is proving to be one of the best weapons Aaron Rodgers has had in Green Bay. The third-year running back logged another three rushing touchdowns in Week 10, giving him three multi-touchdown games on the year. He now leads the league in TDs.

4. New England Patriots

Record: 8-1

Last week: 5th

Week 10 result: Bye

Week 11 opponent: at Philadelphia Eagles

One thing to know: After something of a cupcake schedule to start the season, the Patriots face a much more formidable stretch coming out of their bye week, with games at Philadelphia, vs. Dallas, and at Houston next on the slate. While most teams might worry about such a tough three-game stretch, with a two-game lead on the division, the Patriots have little to fret.

3. San Francisco 49ers

Record: 8-1

Last week: 1st

Week 10 result: Lost to the Seahawks, 27-24

Week 11 opponent: vs. Arizona Cardinals

One thing to know: Should the 49ers feel positive that they had the chance to beat the Seahawks despite a poor game from Jimmy Garoppolo or nervous that he couldn't deliver for them down the stretch? Garoppolo's turnovers and near-turnovers are alarming — he had a pick and two lost fumbles in Week 10 and nearly threw several other interceptions.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Record: 8-2

Last week: 3rd

Week 10 result: Beat the 49ers, 27-24

Week 11 opponent: Bye

One thing to know: After Lamar Jackson made his case for NFL MVP on Sunday, Russell Wilson played an masterful game on Monday night to remind the football world why he is the current favorite to win the award.

1. Baltimore Ravens

Record: 7-2

Last week: 4th

Week 10 result: Beat the Bengals, 49-13

Week 11 opponent: vs. Houston Texans

One thing to know: Lamar Jackson continued his case for MVP with an incredible, spinning, 47-yard touchdown run. In Jackson's first 16 starts, he has a better passer rating than Tom Brady did, a better completion percentage than Drew Brees did, and more wins than Patrick Mahomes did. Not bad for a running back.

Now check out who you need to add to your fantasy team for the playoff push...

Top 14 waiver-wire pickups for Week 11 of fantasy football