• The newly passed CARES Act requires airlines to maintain certain levels of pre-March 2020 air service even as passenger demand dwindles.
• Despite the raging pandemic and stay at home orders, air travel remains the quickest form of transportation and is used by medical professionals and other essential workers to get where they're needed. 
• With non-essential travel limited, airports have become deserted and aircraft are flying with only handfuls of passengers if any. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nowhere has the effect of COVID-19 been more pronounced in the US than the country's transportation system, especially its largest airports and the aircraft still flying.

Once vibrant, bustling centers for the facilitation of travel have been reduced to ghost towns operated by skeleton crews serving the few remaining flights that have yet to be cut by airlines.

Provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, require of the airlines that apply for federal aid maintain minimal air service. 

The law requires that airlines "maintain scheduled air transportation service as the Secretary of Transportation deems necessary to ensure services to any point served by that carrier before March 1, 2020."

Especially in a time of crisis, airlines fly crucially needed cargo and maintain national connectivity, as stated in the newly-adopted law.

"The Secretary of Transportation shall take into consideration the air transportation needs of small and remote communities and the need to maintain well-functioning health care and pharmaceutical supply chains, including for medical devices and supplies," the CARES Act includes. 

Take a closer look at the current state of airports and aircraft amid a pandemic. 

SEE ALSO: Boeing's Washington facilities closed indefinitely due to COVID-19. Take a look at the greatest successes and failures which were built there.

SEE ALSO: The US is using its famous 'Ebola plane' private jet to rescue coronavirus-stricken Americans around the world. Take a look inside the modified Gulfstream.

Normally the third busiest airport in the US, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is now a ghost town as the virus has decimated demand.

The iconic flag concourse at the airport is shown here empty at rush hour.

A major hub for American Airlines and United Airlines, the evening rush in Chicago would typically be when passengers crowd the airport getting ready to board international flights to Europe, now largely restricted by governments on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

With both carriers significantly cutting capacity both on international and domestic routes, their terminals in the Windy City remain stagnant.

Chicago has only seen a fraction of COVID-19 cases compared to other major cities, with cases in the city topping out at around 9,000.

Source: City of Chicago

Nonetheless, travel to, from, and through the city's primary international aircraft continues to dwindle.

In New York, empty roadways are now a common sight as the few airlines left have moved terminals as part of the airport's attempt to consolidate operations in a handful of buildings.

Even with the moves, Terminal 8 at JFK lies largely dormant as international flights have evaporated and only a handful of domestic routes operated by tenant American Airlines remain.

American Airlines has largely shifted to cargo-only flights from its New York gateway.

Read More: Inside the massive effort by US airlines to transport medical supplies and mail on cargo-only flights using passenger jets

The world's largest airline has been reduced to only a handful of flights to the country's most powerful city, which has been one of US' hotspots for the virus.

New York has been among the hardest-hit cities in the country, with around 6,000 deaths due to COVID-19 and nearly 200,000 reported cases statewide.

Source: City of New York

Terminal 8, in particular, has been largely impacted as the terminal primarily sees flights to Europe and Asia, both of which were restricted by presidential travel bans. Some international flights remain as JFK is an approved CDC entry airport.

This is the scene at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport where operations have been largely reduced as tourism numbers have dropped sharply.

Source: Fox News

The main gateway to Sin City remains largely empty despite cases of COVID-19 not yet topping 3,000 in Nevada. The airport's control tower was recently closed after facility personnel tested positive for the virus, leaving aircraft on the ground to fend for themselves when taxiing, arriving, or departing.

Read More: 17 air traffic control centers have been temporarily closed after workers tested positive for coronavirus, highlighting a vulnerability in air travel

The airport's famous gaming machines have also been off-limits per a state mandate against gaming while the pandemic rages.

Source: ABC News

In Denver, the infrastructure remains in place for an empty security checkpoint despite non-existent lines in the normally jam-packed central terminal building.

The airport is the Rocky Mountain hub of United Airlines, which has reduced capacity by over 60% in April.

Source: United Airlines

Even the country's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, is eerily quiet. Its largest carrier, Delta Air Lines, has shifted to cargo-only flights.

With passenger terminals empty, the airport has lent Delta its runways and taxiways to store excess aircraft to ride out the crisis.

Read More: Delta, American, and other airlines are parking planes on closed runways at major airports as carriers struggle to store grounded airliners

Ticket counters remain similarly empty and largely unstaffed as airlines offer voluntary layoffs for employees in an effort to preserve cash flow.

Some empty ticket counters, however, will remain that way as the airlines that once staffed them have collapsed due to the crisis, as was the case for Ravn Alaska.

The regional carrier served small communities in Alaska before its collapse, leaving some areas of the state without their lifeline.

Flight crews remain the few remaining occupants of airport terminals as some flights continue to go, even with little to no passengers.

Passenger-facing crew, however, are donning personal protective equipment as they serve on the frontlines of the pandemic...

Although aircraft load factors have been steadily low as passengers avoid air travel.

Airlines are adopting new cleaning procedures, including fogging, to ensure that aircraft are safe for the passengers that still choose or need to fly.

Read More: Delta, United, and American are 'fogging' their planes to make them safe for travel amid coronavirus — here's what that means

Empty flights are virtually guaranteed but airlines are required to keep flying some services under the CARES Act in order to receive federal funds.

Though airlines are applying for exemptions to the rule, air service in the US remains a necessity and some flights must go to maintain connectivity in the country, even empty ones.

Only 10 passengers took the near-3-hour journey from New York to Miami on this Boeing 777-200 capable of seating around 275.

For many of these flights, it's the cargo under the passenger seats that make them worth flying with wide-body jets offering the greatest cargo capacity.

Social distancing on these flights is more easily achieved with no shortage of empty seats and rows.

On this flight from Washington to New Orleans, only one passenger showed up to fly on this 70-seat regional jet.

Source: Reuters

• Forbes recently released its annual World's Billionaires List.
• There are 2,095 billionaires in the world — and 57 of them are millennials, defined by the Pew Research Center as those born between 1981 and 1996.
• Collectively, the world's millennial billionaires have a fortune worth over $200 billion.

There are 2,095 billionaires— worth a collective $8 trillion — currently roaming the world, according to Forbes' recently released annual World's Billionaires List. 

But for some, it didn't take decades to accumulate their wealth: 57 billionaires on the list are millennials, defined by the Pew Research Center as those born between 1981 and 1996, or those aged 24 to 39 in 2020. Collectively, they're worth over $200 billion.

The Forbes Billionaires List determined the net worths of the world's billionaires by valuing a variety of assets, including private companies, real estate, art, and more. All net worths below are sourced from Forbes and are accurate as of March 18, 2020.

We narrowed that snapshot down to look at the world's richest millennials, according to the Pew Research Center's definition. Note that some billionaires aged 23 were born in the cutoff year of 1996, but have not had birthdays yet this year in which they will turn 24.

From Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to Snapchat's Evan Spiegel, scroll through to see some of the richest young people in the world, arranged in order of ascending net worth. 

SEE ALSO: The richest person at every age

DON'T MISS: Here are the 10 richest people in banking, hedge funds and investing

Ludwig Theodor Braun

Net worth: $1 billion

Age: 30

Country: Germany

Source of wealth: Medical technology

Position: Co-owner, B. Braun Melsungen

According to The Street, Braun owns a 10% stake in medical company B. Braun  Melsungen, which was founded in 1839. The company has since become known for its medical products, and, according to its website, "is committed to eliminating preventable treatment errors and enhancing patient, clinician and environmental safety."

RJ Scaringe

Net worth: $1 billion

Age: 36

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Automotive

Position: Founder of electric car company Rivian Automotive

Scaringe launched Rivian Automotive in 2009 and debuted his first cars in 2019. The models are expected to be produced later this year, Business Insider previously reported.

Brian Armstrong

Net worth: $1 billion

Age: 37

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Cryptocurrency, self-made

Position: Co-founder and CEO, Coinbase

As previously reported by Business Insider, Armstrong is the CEO and cofounder of the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, which launched in 2012. In 2018, it was valued at $8 billion.

Julio Mario Santo Domingo, III

Net worth: $1 billion

Age: 34

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Beer

Position: Founder, Sheik 'N' Beik

Julio Mario Santo Domingo III's late grandfather owned a large stake in SABMiller after it was acquired by his brewer Bavaria, Business Insider previously reported. Anheuser-Bush InBev acquired SABMiller for $100 billion in in 2016. Santo Domingo is an heir to the fortune, as well as a DJ for the NYC-based group Sheik 'N' Beik.

Lisa Draexlmaier

Net worth: $1 billion

Age: 29

Country: Germany

Source of wealth: Automotives

Position: Sole owner of Fritz Draexlmaier Holding GmbH

Draexlmaier's wealth stems from the Draexlmaier automotive company, which supplies auto companies like BMW and Audi with car parts and was founded in 1958. The company now operates across more than 60 countries and employs 75,000 associates, according to its website.

Alexandra Andresen

Net worth: $1.1 billion

Age: 23

Country: Norway

Source of wealth: Investments

Position: Co-owner, Ferd Group

Alexandra and sister Katharina each own 42.2% stakes of the investment company Ferd. Their father manages the day-to-day operations of the company, CNBC reported.

Katharina Andresen

Net worth: $1.1 billion

Age: 24

Country: Norway

Source of wealth: Investments

Position: Co-owner, Ferd Group

Katharina and Alexandra each own 42.2% stakes of the investment company Ferd. Previously, their family owned one of Scandinavia's largest cigarette manufacturers, but sold the company in 2005 for nearly $500 million.

Fahed Hariri

Net worth: $1.1 billion

Age: 39

Country: Lebanon

Source of wealth: Construction & Engineering

Position: Heir, sold assets in family's construction firm Saudi Oger

Forbes reported that Hariri sold his shares in construction company Saudi Oger to his brother, who is now the prime minister of Lebanon. Fahed then took the money he earned from the sale and invested in various banks and real estate around the world. 

Trevor Milton

Net worth: $1.1 billion

Age: 38

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Automotive

Position: Founder of  Nikola Motor

Milton started the company when he was 29 years old and named it after electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. Milton wants Nikola Motor to become one of the top producers of hydrogen in the world, and plans to build over 700 hydrogen stations in the United States by 2028, Trucks reports. 

Pedro de Godoy Bueno

Net worth: $1.1 billion

Age: 29

Country: Brazil

Source of wealth: Heath insurance

Position: Heir and CEO of Brazilian laboratory firm Diagnosticos da America SA

Pedro is the youngest billionaire in Brazil. His father was Edson de Godoy Bueno, the nation's richest healthcare billionaire, Forbes noted. After Edson died, he left much of his fortune to Pedro and his sister, Camilla. 

Franco Bittar Garcia

Net worth: $1.1 billion

Age: 36

Country: Brazil

Source of wealth: Fashion & Retail

Position: Heir to retailer Magazine Luiza 

Franco is a board member of e-commerce platform Magazine Luiza, which has been dubbed "the Amazon of Brazil." The company was founded by his grandfather Luiza Trajano Donato and Pellegrino José Donato in 1957, according to Forbes. 

Binny Bansal

Net worth: $1.1 billion

Age: 37

Country: India

Source of wealth: Flipkart, self-made

Position: Co-founder, Flipkart

In 2018, Binny and his brother Sachin sold a majority stake of shopping site Flipkart to Walmart for $16 billion. The deal valued the company at $22 billion, as reported by CNBC. The deal is the largest e-commerce acquisition in history. 

Nikolay Storonsky

Net worth: $1.1 billion

Age: 35

Country: Russia

Source of wealth: Tech

Position: Cofounder and CEO of financial services firm Revolut

Nik Storonsky is the CEO of Revolut, a financial services company. After raising nearly $336 million in venture capital funding, the company was valued at $1.7 billion, though as of July 2019, it hadn't turned a profit yet, according to CNBC. 

Tom Persson

Net worth: $1.1 billion

Age: 35

Country: Sweden

Source of wealth: H&M

Position: Businessman, film industry

Tom Persson's grandfather founded H&M in 1947. Though his brother is actively involved in the family business, Persson lives in Sweden and works in film, according to Forbes.

Sachin Bansal

Net worth: $1.2 billion

Age: 38

Country: India

Source of wealth: Flipkart, self-made

Position: Cofounder, Flipkart

In 2018, Sachin and his brother Binny sold a majority stake of shopping site Flipkart to Walmart for $16 billion. The deal valued the company at $22 billion, as reported by CNBC and is the largest e-commerce acquisition in history. 

Elisabeth Furtwaengler

Net worth: $1.2 billion

Age: 28

Country: Germany

Source of wealth: Publishing, Media & Entertainment

Position: Heiress and owns 25% of Burda Media Group

Furtwaengler is the daughter of Hubert Burda, a publishing magnate. She owns 25% of her family's company, Burda Media Group, which owns over 600 media assets in 24 different countries. She is a board member, according to Forbes.

Friederike Braun-Luedicke

Net worth: $1.2 billion

Age: 36

Country: Germany

Source of wealth: Medical technology

Position: Co-owner, B. Braun Melsungen

According to Great Big Minds, Friederike and his sister Eva own a 12% stake in their family's medical company B. Braun Melsugen, which was founded in 1839. The company has since become known for its medical products, and, according to its website, "is committed to eliminating preventable treatment errors and enhancing patient, clinician and environmental safety."

Cheng Wei

Net worth: $1.2 billion

Age: 37

Country: China

Source of wealth: Ride-hailing service, self-made

Position: Founder and CEO, Didi Chuxing

Wei is founder of the ride-sharing service Didi Chuxing, which was valued at $35 billion in 2016. His company is noted for having overtaken Uber in the Chinese markets.

Eva Maria Braun-Luedicke

Net worth: $1.2 billion

Age: 33

Country: Germany

Source of wealth: Medical technology

Position: Co-owner, B. Braun Melsungen

According to The Street, Eva and her brother Friederike own a 12% stake in their family's medical company B. Braun Melsungen, which was founded in 1839. The company has since become known for its medical products, and, according to its website, "is committed to eliminating preventable treatment errors and enhancing patient, clinician and environmental safety."

Drew Houston

Net worth: $1.3 billion

Age: 37

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Cloud storage service, self-made

Position: Cofounder and CEO, Dropbox

As previously reported by Business Insider, DropBox has more than 500 million current users. Houston launched the company in 2007 at the age of 24, and brought the company public in 2018. He owns over 20% of the company and is one of the company's largest individual shareholders.

Kevin Systrom

Net worth: $1.3 billion

Age: 36

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Instagram, self-made

Position: Cofounder, Instagram

Systrom cofounded Instagram with Mike Krieger in 2010, Business Insider previously reported. Facebook bought the company in 2012 for $1 billion. At the time, Systrom owned 40% of the company. He stayed on as Instagram's CEO until leaving the company in 2018.

Chris Wanstrath

Net worth: $1.4 billion

Age: 35

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Collaborative software, self-made

Position: Former cofounder and CEO, GitHub; technical fellow, Microsoft

As Business Insider previously reported,Wanstrath cofounded Github in 2008. Microsoft announced it was going to buy the company for $7.5 billion in 2018. Wanstrath, at the time, was the largest individual shareholder.

He now works at Microsoft as a technical fellow, according to Forbes.

Sanjit Biswas

Net worth: $1.4 billion

Age: 38

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Technology

Position: Cofounder of software company Samsara

Samsara has over 10,000 customers worldwide and over 1,300 employees. It has raised over $530 million in funding and was founded in 2015. 

Katarina Martinson

Net worth: $1.5 billion

Age: 38

Country: Sweden

Source of wealth: Investments

Position: Co-owner and board member, L.E. Lundbergforetagen AB

Katarina Martinson and her sister Louise Lindh are the daughters of the industrialist Fredrik Lundberg. Each owns 14% in their family's investment company, Lundbergfoeretagen, according to the Irish Times. 

Edward Kwok

Net worth: $1.5 billion

Age: 39

Country: Hong Kong

Source of wealth: Real estate

Position: Sales and project manager, Sun Hung Kai Properties

Edward is the eldest son of Raymond Kwok, chairman of Hong Kong's largest property development company Sun Hung Kai Properties. Edward joined the company in 2010, according to Forbes. 

Christopher Kwok

Net worth: $1.5 billion

Age: 34

Country: Hong Kong

Source of wealth: Real estate

Position: Executive Director, Sun Hung Kai Properties

Christopher is the youngest son of Raymond Kwok, and has served as the executive director of Sun Hung Kai Properties since 2016, according to Forbes. 

Bill Liu

Net worth: $1.7 billion

Age: 37

Country: China

Source of wealth: Electronics, self-made

Position: Chairman and CEO, Royole Corp.

Fortune reports that Royole, which is valued at $5 billion, is the manufacturer of the first foldable phone screen, launched in 2018. Previously, the company created the thinnest flexible display, which was just .01 millimeters. 

Jihan Wu

Net worth: $1.8 billion

Age: 34

Country: China

Source of wealth: Cryptocurrency mining chips, self-made

Position: Cofounder and co-CEO, Bitmain Technologies

Bitmain was launched in 2013 and used ASIC chip technology to sell bitcoin miners. It also owns various brands including Antpool and Hashnest, as noted by Investopedia. 

Peter Szulczewski

Net worth: $1.8 billion

Age: 38

Country: Canada

Source of wealth: E-commerce, self-made

Position: CEO and chairman, ContextLogix

In 2011, Szulczewski launched the marketplace Wish. In 2019, the company raised $300 million in funding, which valued the company at $11 billion. He still owns 18% of the company and is CEO of software company Context Logix, according to Forbes. 

Byju Raveendran

Net worth: $1.8 billion

Age: 38

Country: India

Source of wealth: Technology

Position: Founder of online educational company Byju's 

Raveendran launched Byju's in 2015 and, as of 2018, was in talk with investors such as SoftBank to raise $200-250 million in funding in efforts to take the company worldwide, Economic Times of India reports.

Bobby Murphy

Net worth: $1.9 billion

Age: 31

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Snapchat, self-made

Position: Cofounder and CTO, Snap Inc.

Bobby Murphy cofounded Snapchat with his Stanford fraternity brother Evan Spiegel, Business Insider previously reported. As Alex Heath reported for Business Insider in 2017, Murphy keeps a relatively low profile and has only given a handful of interviews.

Evan Spiegel

Net worth: $1.9 billion

Age: 29

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Snapchat, self-made

Position: Cofounder and CEO, Snap Inc.

Evan Spiegel cofounded multimedia messaging app Snapchat with Murphy, Business Insider previously reported. Both of them own about 18% of Snap, but have voting shares that give them control over the board.

Forbes deems Spiegel to be only one of three self-made billionaires in the world under the age of 30. As of 2019 had donated nearly $65 million in Snap stock.

Spiegel is married to supermodel Miranda Kerr.

Jonathan Kwok

Net worth: $2 billion

Age: 28

Country: Hong Kong

Source of wealth: Real estate

Position: Director, Empire Group Holdings Limited; Co-owner, Sun Hung Kai Properties

Jonathan and his brother Geoffrey run the property development company Empire Group Holdings. Both brothers also inherited their father's share in Sun Hung Kai Properties, as reported by The Street.

Caroline Hagen Kjos

Net worth: $2 billion

Age: 36

Country: Norway

Source of wealth: Conglomerate

Position: Chairwoman, Canica AS

In 2014, Kjos became the chairwoman of her family's holding company, Canica AS, and received a majority stake in the company, according to Forbes. 

Her father and grandfather are the founders of Rimi, a discount supermarket, which merged with ICA Group in 1998 and then with Dutch retailer Ahold. The family then sold their stake in the supermarket and formed Canica AS. 

Daniel Ek

Net worth: $2 billion

Age: 37

Country: Sweden

Source of wealth: Spotify, self-made

Position: Cofounder and CEO, Spotify

Ek cofounded the music streaming service Spotify in 2006. Ek previously said that he wants his company to be the Nike of audio and thinks experimentation is the way to get there.

Adam Kwok

Net worth: $2.1 billion

Age: 37

Country: Hong Kong

Source of wealth: Real estate

Position: Executive Director, Sun Hung Kai Properties

Adam is the grandson of Raymond Kwok, chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties, according to Forbes. Adam's father Thomas was the company's cochairman for three years until he was sentenced to prison for bribery in 2014. In his absence, Adam has served as executive director. 

Gustav Magnar Witzoe

Net worth: $2.3 billion

Age: 26

Country: Norway

Source of wealth: Fish farming

Position: Co-owner, Salmar ASA

Witzoe is the heir to his family's farming company, Salmar ASA, according to the New Zealand Herald. He is currently a model signed to Next Models Worldwide, and has over 100,000 followers on Instagram.

Geoffrey Kwok

Net worth: $2.5 billion

Age: 34

Country: Hong Kong

Source of wealth: Real estate

Position: Non-Executive Director, Sun Hung Kai Properties

Geoffrey is the eldest son of Walter Kwok, who was the chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties. After Walter died, Geoffrey and his brother Jonathan inherited his stake in the company, according to Forbes. 

Su Hua

Net worth: $2.9 billion

Age: 38

Country: China

Source of wealth: Video streaming, self-made

Position: Founder, Kuaishou

Su Hua founded Kuai in 2013. Within a year, the platform already had over 200,000 users. It now has over 100 million daily users, as noted by Innovators under 35.

Dmitry Bukhman

Net worth: $3.1 billion

Age: 34

Country: Russia

Source of wealth: Online Games

Position: Cofounder of Playrix

Dmitry founded Playrix with his brother Igor nearly 20 years ago. Now, Bloomberg reports that Playrix has annual sales of nearly $1.2 billion and employs some 1,100 people worldwide.

Igor Bukhman

Net worth: $3.1 billion

Age: 38

Country: Russia

Source of wealth: Online Games

Position: Cofounder of Playrix

Igor founded Playrix with his brother Dmitry nearly 20 years ago. Now, Bloomberg reports that Playrix has annual sales of nearly $1.2 billion and employs some 1,100 people worldwide.

Patrick Collison

Net worth: $3.2 billion

Age: 31

Country: Ireland

Source of wealth: Payments software, self-made

Position: Cofounder and president, Stripe

Patrick cofounded payments software Stripe with his younger brother John in 2010. Patrick is a member of the Stripe Board. He attended MIT but dropped out. 

John Collison

Net worth: $3.2 billion

Age: 29

Country: Ireland

Source of wealth: Payments software, self-made

Position: Cofounder and president, Stripe

John was 19 years old when he cofounded payments software Stripe with his older brother Patrick in 2010. Patrick is a member of the Stripe Board. He attended Harvard University but dropped out. 

Pavel Durov

Net worth: $3.4 billion

Age: 35

Country: UAE

Source of wealth: Messaging app, self-made

Position: Founder and majority owner, Telegram Messenger

Since 2014, Durvov has lived in voluntary exile after refusing to hand over people's private information to authorities, The Independent's Anthony Cuthbertson reported. He is the founder of Telegram, a messaging app that has over 300 million users. He also created Vkontakte, which is noted as being Russia's "Facebook."

Lynsi Snyder

Net worth: $3.6 billion

Age: 37

Country: USA

Source of wealth: In-N-Out Burger

Position: President, In-N-Out Burger

As previously reported by Business Insider, Snyder received her full inheritance to West Coast fast-food chain In-N-Out Burger, founded by her grandparents, on her 35th birthday. In 2010, she became president and has since expanded In-N-Out.

Scott Duncan

Net worth: $3.6 billion

Age: 37

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Pipelines

Position: Co-owner, Enterprise Products Partners

In 2010, Scott Duncan, along with his three siblings, inherited a stake in their father Dan Duncan's pipeline firm, Enterprise Products Partners. The company owns natural gas processing plants, oil and gas storage facilities, and oil and gas pipelines. Duncan isn't actively involved.

In 2018, the family had a collective net worth of $24.8 billion.

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha

Net worth: $3.7 billion

Age: 34

Country: Thailand

Source of wealth: Duty-free

Position: CEO, King Power

Srivaddhanaprabha became CEO of King Power after his father, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, died in 2018. King Power is one of the largest duty-free chains in Thailand, according to Forbes.

Brian Chesky

Net worth: $4.1 billion

Age: 38

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Airbnb, self-made

Position: Cofounder and CEO, Airbnb

As Business Insider previously reported, Brian Chesky cofounded Airbnb with Nathan Blecharczyk and Joe Gebbia. The company now operates in over 100,000 cities and has about seven million listings worldwide

Nathan Blecharczyk

Net worth: $4.1 billion

Age: 36

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Airbnb

Position: Co-founder and CSO, Airbnb

As Business Insider previously reported, Nathan Blecharczyk co-founded Airbnb with Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky. The company now operates in over 100,000 cities and has about 7 million listings worldwide

Joe Gebbia

Net worth: $4.1 billion

Age: 38

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Airbnb, self-made

Position: Co-founder and CPO, Airbnb

As Business Insider previously reported, Joe Gebbia co-founded Airbnb with Nathan Blecharczyk and Brian Chesky. The company now operates in over 100,000 cities and has about 7 million listings worldwide

Agnete Kirk Thinggaard

Net worth: $6.1 billion

Age: 36

Country: Denmark

Source of wealth: Lego

Position: Co-owner, Lego

Thinggaard owns a 75% stake in Lego, along with her father and two siblings. She is also a board member on the Lego Foundation, as noted by Forbes.

Eduardo Saverin

Net worth: $8.4 billion

Age: 38

Country: Brazil

Source of wealth: Facebook, self-made

Position: Cofounder, Facebook; investor

Saverin is one of Facebook's cofounders. He was ousted from the company in 2005, as reported by Business Insider's Nich Carlson. In September 2011, he renounced his US citizenship and has been living in Singapore ever since.

Dustin Moskovitz

Net worth: $9.3 billion

Age: 35

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Facebook, self-made

Position: Cofounder, Facebook; Cofounder, Asana

Dustin Moskovitz cofounded Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, Business Insider previously reported. In 2008, he left Facebook  to launch software company Asana, which earned over $100 million in revenue in 2018. Moskovitz still owns an estimated 2% stake in Facebook.

Zhang Yiming

Net worth: $16.2 billion

Age: 36

Country: China

Source of wealth: Software, self-made

Position: Chairman, Beijing ByteDance

As Business Insider's Taylor Nicole Rogers previously reported, Zhang Yiming is the founder of ByteDance, which is best known as being the parent company of TikTok. He founded ByteDance in 2012, and the company is worth at least $75 billion. 

Lukas Walton

Net worth: $18.4 billion

Age: 33

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Walmart

Position: Chairman, Walton Family Foundation

Lukas Walton is the grandson of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, Business Insider previously reported. After his father, John Walton, died in a plane crash in 2005, Lukas inherited about one-third of his estate. However, he doesn't work for the company. Instead, he devotes time to philanthropic causes.

The Waltons are the richest family in the US: Three of Lukas' relatives are among the top 15 wealthiest billionaires in the world.

Yang Huiyan

Net worth: $20.3 billion

Age: 38

Country: China

Source of wealth: Real estate

Position: Co-owner, Country Garden Holdings

Huiyan owns a majority stake in the real estate company Country Garden Holdings, which was transferred to her in 2007 by her father Yeung Kwok. She is one of the richest women in China, according to the Mirror Review.

Mark Zuckerberg

Net worth: $54.7 billion

Age: 35

Country: USA

Source of wealth: Facebook, self-made

Position: CEO, Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in 2004 and took it public in 2012. Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, pledged to donate 99% of their Facebook stake during their lifetimes.

• Dual-clutch transmissions got their start on race cars, but nowadays, they're common on supercars.
• More recently, DCTs have moved to less-expensive vehicles.
• Typically, they can operate in automatic or manual mode, using paddle shifters on the steering column.
• I driven many DCT-equipped cars — here's a rundown of my favorites.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

As you all know, I love stick-shifts!

But as the manual transmission has faded from the automotive landscape, it's been replaced by a high-end technology that was actually invented in the middle of the 20th century, but that didn't wind up in application until Porsche and Audi started to use it for endurance-racers.

It's called a "dual" or "twin" clutch. In a nutshell, a dual-clutch transmission divides the gears into two sets, odd and even, and enables an interrupted flow of torque from the engine to the driveshaft. This eliminates the need for a clutch pedal and, typically by using paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel, enables the driver to click through gears quite quickly.

Matching engine revs on downshifts isn't necessary, and the transmission can also operate in full automatic mode. (DCTs are part of the overall global automotive supply chain; big makers include ZF, Getrag, and BorgWarner.)

Dual-clutches are their own kind of fun. I most often encounter them in high-horsepower supercars and sports cars, where they offer obvious advantages. But in recent years, "DCTs" have begun to appear more often on cheaper vehicles.

I've driven plenty — here's a ranking of my favorites:

1. The magnificent Ford GT! There's a 647-horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine, mounted amidships. Price? $400,000.

I drove the GT on a track in Utah in 2017, a year after the race-car version won the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans in its class.

Read all about it.

The Ford GT has a seven-speed dual-clutch — and some absolutely gorgeous and purposeful paddle shifters. The shifts are like sledgehammers: bang, bang, bang.

2. The Ferrari 488 GTB rocks a 661-horsepower turbocharged V8. And it cost $360,000 when we tested it several years ago (the 488 nameplate has been replaced by the F8 Tributo).

Read the review.

Check out those LONG carbon-fiber paddles for the 488 GTB's seven-speed transmission. The Ferrari doesn't shift as fast as the McLaren, but it shifts with more drama and aggression. It's feels visceral rather than technical.

3. The McLaren 720S has a new 710-horsepower, 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Price? Call it $300,000.

Read the review.

The 720S's seven-speed DCT is the fastest I've ever used — but that's something it has in common with other McClarens I've driven. These cars almost predict where you want to shift.

4. The all-new Porsche 911 4S is the best 911 I've ever driven. Price? $141,000, as tested. My review car had a twin-turbo boxer six engine, making 443 horsepower.

Read the review.

The Stuttgart company calls its dual-clutch a "Porsche Doppelkupplung," or PDK. It's a marvelous seven-speed that can find abundant torque no matter what the gear.

5. The Acura NSX was Business Insider's Car of the Year in 2016. The NSX has a hybrid-gas-electric drivetrain, making 573 horsepower, with a twin-turbocharged V6. Price? A relative budget friendly $160,000!

Read the review.

Some nice, long, elegant paddles for operating the nine-speed dual clutch. The NSX is impressively easy to operate in both automatic and manual mode — and if you're paddling, the shift are notably smooth.

6. The mighty Nissan GT-R! "Godzilla" has a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter V6 that can be up-tuned to 600 horsepower. The GT-R is a legend for combining performance, reliability, and price — about $120,000.

Watch the Cars Insider Real Review.

Unlike other DCTs on my list, the GT-R has a six-speed unit — and I rather liked not having to worry about flicking into the upper gears.

7. Guess what? DCT's aren't confined to staggeringly expensive supercars. Take for example the VW Golf R. A mere $42,000, with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making 288 horsepower.

Read the review.

The paddles are hiding behind the wheel! The seven-speed sends power smoothly and briskly to the all-wheel-drive system. OK, we're not really in Ferrari territory here, but the VW Golf R is a joy to drive.

8. The Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo is a mega-wagon that stickered at $144,000, as-tested.

Read the review.

The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission pipes the oomph from the 453-horsepower V8 to a stout all-wheel-drive system. It gives the Panamera the capability to smoothly cruise and to effortlessly shift to sporty driving.

9. The Audi R8 is Iron Man's supercar. We've tested a bunch of variations. I find it to be one of the easiest supercars to drive. Pricing is around $200,000.

Read a review.

The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is, as one would expect from Audi, superb. Like the Acura NSX's, the R8's easily switches from easygoing driving to spirited motoring.

10. The Alfa Romeo 4C, at about $75,000, is an incredible value.

Read the review.

A 1.7-liter, 237-horsepower, turbocharged inline-four sends power to a snappy six-speed twin-clutch. If you're looking for a budget, mid-engine Ferrari — minus the prancing horse badge — this is your car.

11. Don't want to spend $75,000? Then how does $67,000 strike you, for the wonderful BMW M2 Competition?

Read the review.

The impressive 405-horsepower, inline six-cylinder engine can be mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that might not be as much fun as the stock six-speed manual, but it is precise and fluid.

11. Business Insider's 2018 Car of the Year, the Kia Stinger, is taking the fight to BMW and Audi as upstart sport sedan. I drove several trims, but I started with the $52,000 all-wheel-drive GT.

Read the review.

An impeccable 3.3-liter, twin-turbo V6 send a tasty 365 horsepower through an eight-speed DCT. For the money, it's hard to beat.

12. How about some Lamborghinis? Let's start with the $320,000 Lamborghini Huracán Performante.

Read the review.

The 5.2-liter, 631-horsepower V10 engine has no supercharger nor turbochargers. Just old-school power. Torque? That's 443 pound-feet of push. The transmission is a banging seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

In case you're wondering why the Lambos aren't ranked higher on my list, it's because I tend to drive these cars for the sounds the engines make, less than for strictly performance reasons. 

13. The $250,000 Lamborghini Urus is the most flamboyant SUV a lot of money can buy.

Read the review ...

... and watch the video of our Real Review.

The 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 makes 641 horsepower with 627 pound-feet of torque, and sends the grunt through an 8-speed DCT. The effect is like driving a rally car from another planet.

14. I've been hugely impressed with Mercedes-Benz of late, and the $48,000 CLA250 was no exception.

Read the review.

The fastback coupé features a punchy, turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 221 horsepower. But the real joy is in the seven-speed automatic transmission, which offers a dual-clutch setup and is extremely fun to use.

DREAM CAR! I haven't yet driven the new mid-engined Corvette, but I'm looking forward to it.

Check out the new Vette.

The new Vette is priced under $60,000 to start, and have an eight-speed DCT, a first for the nameplate.

• Three cybersecurity firms recently released reports showing what virus-related goods are being advertised on the dark web.
• "Medical equipment is in incredibly high demand," says one researcher, who has documented masks listed for sale by the hundreds or thousands, and at a high premium. 
• Other listings hawk serums, supposedly virus-infected blood, and anti-malarial drugs.
• In one of the most unusual finds, researchers found a post claiming to auction off access to a politically themed US website "great for raising panic about the coronavirus."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The global pandemic has sparked a thriving COVID-19 black market on the dark web, the shadowy counterpart to the internet where illegal goods are advertised and sold, researchers say.

Medical masks and other personal protective equipment, ventilators that hospitals badly need, and a bizarre assortment of supposed vaccines and blood-related items line the virtual shelves of underground forums, researchers' show in three recent reports. 

"This is the digital equivalent of walking down the very dark alley in your city where drugs and guns are sold and other illegal activities occur," says Mark Turnage, CEO of the cybersecurity firm DarkOwl, which searches and analyzes dark web content to help companies and law enforcement. "We are seeing a broad spectrum of criminals, from naïve dark net users to sophisticated attackers who are leveraging the virus in heinous ways." In its report, DarkOwl found listings of supposedly infected blood for sale, with sellers suggesting it could be used to infect the buyer's enemies. 

Sixgill, an Israel-based cybersecurity firm, found nearly 2,000 listings of medical masks for sale in one popular dark web marketplace. "Medical equipment is in incredibly high demand," says Dov Lerner, Sixgill's research lead for their report. The masks are often listed in lots of hundreds or thousands, he said, and at a high premium. 

A panoply of fake vaccines and bizarre products supposedly for sale are often just scams to take the buyer's money, says IntSights, a New York firm that helps companies look for threats on the dark web to stop attacks before they happen. "The limited availability of coronavirus testing – especially in countries like the United States – leads to demand for" test kits and vaccines, IntSights says in its report. IntSights also found templates for ransomware and other crimes on the dark web that invoke the virus to frighten victims.    

Researchers say monitoring the dark web provides important insight into crime with a dangerous impact. DarkOwl, for instance, found that after President Trump suggested anti-malarial drugs may have potential use in fighting COVID-19, scammers have also started offering these drugs for sale on the dark web. An Arizona man died after taking the wrong kind of chloroquine. 

"There are a lot of things that are sold on the darknet," says DarkOwl CEO Turnage. "If you don't monitor it, you can't protect people."

Here are nine examples of dark web items for sale and discussions among criminals related to COVID-19. 

Infected blood advertised

While the rest of the world seeks to avoid the virus, there is a demand for it on the dark web.

DarkOwl cites numerous scammers offering samples of the COVID-19 virus via blood samples and saliva. A listing from March 31 "attempted to imbue legitimacy into their listing, stating that they were a 'laboratory doctor in Spanish public health' who successfully obtained "24 blood samples and infected sputum of the new COVID-19'," DarkOwl writes in its new report.

Another ad found by DarkOwl stated the seller's father was infected with COVID-19 and while at the hospital the seller managed to collect blood. DarkOwl says it found a separate listing that pitched the live virus as "great for the coworker you don't like. Or spread it in the ghetto if you're like that or maybe let it loose at the country club."

There is no vaccine yet – except on the black market

News of Israel making progress on a COVID-19 vaccine prompted a slew of postings offering supposed cures early, IntSights reports. The most believable vaccine ads range from detailed listings citing specific Israeli research labs, the origin of the vaccine, and a price of $115. The most questionable, shown here, offers 10 vials for $10. 

In another marketplace, an ad promotes saliva from an infected person that could supposedly help build immunity against the virus.

Meanwhile, IntSights reports ransomware groups targeted HMR, a company helping to develop tests and vaccines for COVID-19. 

Hospital ventilators posted for sale

Researchers have found a booming black market of listings of items related to COVID-19 for sale. "Profiteering and scams include hoarding and selling items in high-demand. Some, presumably, claim to be selling such items and take the money without providing any goods," Sixgill cybersecurity writes in its recent report. "While we could not locate anyone selling truckloads of toilet paper (we searched), we did find, more insidiously, actors seeking to hoard or sell medical items such as ventilators, masks, and testing kits."

Ventilators have been precious items in the life-and-death fight against the virus in hospitals, especially in New York City. The desperation to find more of the machines has driven dark web scams, researchers say. 

Zoom hackers thank each other for access

The cybersecurity company Sixgill found this exchange in a dark web forum in which a hacker was handing out access to real Zoom videoconferencing accounts. Zoom has seen use of its platform skyrocket during the boom of remote work during the virus – but has also seen a spike in security issues. 

In a recent report, Sixgill said there has been a boom in scammers posing as other people during the virus, and found dark web mentions of social engineering within the context of coronavirus rose eightfold in March.

Sixgill says monitoring the criminal underground is important: "We must caution that the dark web is a testing ground of malign ideas; if an actor shares a 'success story' of how he made money, many copycat attacks should be expected in the immediate future." 

Desperately needed N95 masks for sale on the dark web

Researchers found all types of masks are for sale on the dark web, including the N95 respirator type in high demand. DarkOwl's report found this listing for N95 masks in packs of 10 for €80 ($87).

DarkOwl also found groups selling N95 masks and listing their certified expiration dates, and selling designs for 3D printing protective face shields.

In its report on dark web virus postings, Sixgill found a profiteer who wrote: "I'm looking to order huge quantities: 10 million pieces. It's very hard to find direct supplier cause of large demand."  

Medical professionals have been desperate for masks to protect them while they work throughout the virus outbreak. 

Extortion and fear tactics through ransomware

"Threat actors all over the world are exploiting people's fears around COVID-19 in order to make money," the cybersecurity firm Intsights wrote in its report. This ransomware letter tells the victim "I could even infect your whole family with the Coronavirus" if payment wasn't made.

"These types of fear tactics work on a vulnerable population of people during a frightening pandemic," Intsights wrote. "Threat actors use these fear tactics because they work."

Intsights also cited a ransomware attack of HMR, a UK company that has recently taken an active role in developing tests and vaccines for COVID-19. The company was attacked on March 14th, with medical records of over 2,300 patients and employees leaked.

'How do we cut a few slices off' COVID-19 aid?

The economic stimulus package to help businesses and citizens rebound from the virus crisis spells opportunity for fraudsters in the criminal underground, Sixgill found. "In times of crisis, government funding and aid money is readily available, sometimes without the regular procedures and precautions that normally exist to prevent fraud. Malicious actors seek to take advantage of this."

On the dark web, Sixgill has observed several discussions between users regarding how to acquire federal business loan money. The users don't appear to be in the US, due to their conversion of dollars to euros. 

"The Federal Government provides around half a trillion (that's $500 billion) euros for companies and entrepreneurs financially damaged and at risk. Fast and unbureaucratic. It can be assumed that there will be a real flood of applications. So the question is, how do we cut a few slices off it?" 

Political website for sale – and nation-state propaganda

In one of the most unusual finds of recent dark web analysis, researchers from Sixgill found a post in which an actor claims to be auctioning access to the cloud platform of a top-200, politically themed US website. The actor notes that the site would be "great for raising panic about the coronavirus." The auction began at $20,000.

Another company, Intsight, found other forms of political chaos for sale including the "spread of disinformation by state-sponsored operations to create dissent and disrupt world markets, elections, and authorities. Politicians and militaries alike are employing psychological operations on adversary populations to cause conflict, division, and dissent around this pandemic." Russia, North Korea, China, and Pakistan are the most frequent offenders, Intsight says in its report. 

And DarkOwl found one bad actor who spread misinformation, much of it about COVID-19, to 76,000 different web pages. 

An illegal gun dealer laments the inconvenience of the virus

Many users on the dark web "discuss stockpiling weapons and ammunition," Sixgill says in its report. This listing from a virtual store purported to be selling "guns, military items, and explosives," implied that there is a backlog on orders because of the
coronavirus:

"Please be patient, as the coronavirus is affecting everything," the proprietor says. 

Sixgill noted in its report that many discussions on the dark web "focus on how individuals are preparing for the virus. This includes individuals relating amassing food and other necessities."

• The economic fallout from the novel coronavirus in the US is devastating — some 16.8 million people lost their jobs in a matter of three weeks. 
• Thankfully, many organizations are supporting laid off workers in the service industry, local food banks, veterans, or the elderly who are being told to stay indoors. 
• Feeding America has reported a dramatic increase in demand at local food banks. 
• You can donate to one of these eight nonprofits expanding their efforts in the wake of the pandemic, such as Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, or the Restaurant Employee Fund.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The novel coronavirus pandemic, which causes the disease COVID-19, is unlike any other crisis in modern time. The rising death toll and economic fallout is devastating — and many are seeking help.

The government is beginning to hand out stimulus checks of up to $1,2000 to millions of Americans who qualify by the day. For some, it means the difference between eviction and staying at their homes. For others, it's a drop in the bucket. If you don't need all, or a portion, of your stimulus check, consider donating to one of the many nonprofits stepping up to help those worst hit by the crisis. 

For example, Feeding America, which has seen an uptick in the number of people visiting their local food banks and pantries, has launched an emergency fund to keep its shelves stocked. The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation established a fund to help service industry workers who need help paying for things like groceries, medical bills, or rent. And Meals on Wheels has launched an emergency response fund in the wake of the global outbreak to meet demand as more seniors are told to stay home to avoid getting sick. 

Demand will only likely increase. An incredible 6.6 million jobless claims were filed for the week ending April 4, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, bringing the total number of jobless claims filed over the last three weeks to 16.8 million.

Here are seven nonprofit organizations, listed in alphabetical order, that have launched specific campaigns in the wake of COVID-19.

SEE ALSO: How to file for unemployment benefits if you lose your job during the coronavirus pandemic

Feeding America has established a COVID-19 emergency response fund to keep supplying and funding its network of food banks.

Feeding America, a network of over 200 food banks, has seen a spike in demand as a result of the millions of layoffs that happened in the wake of the pandemic. In response, the nonprofit launched an emergency fund to help stock its food banks and pantries across the country. 

Donate here>>

Meals on Wheels continues to deliver meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own food, especially the elderly who have been told to stay indoors.

Local Meals on Wheels chapter leaders say demand for their services has increased since the spread of COVID-19, with more seniors being asked to stay home to reduce the risk of infection during the outbreak. The nonprofit has launched an emergency response fund in the wake of the global outbreak. 

Donate here>> 

The PenFed Foundation launched a COVID-19 emergency financial relief program for military service members and veterans in need.

The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation, which provides financial assistance to military service members and veterans, has launched an emergency financial relief program in the wake of COVID-19. In just four days, the foundation has received 6,000 applications. The program will offer one month of payment, up to $1500, for rent, a mortgage, an auto loan, or utility bills.

Donate here>>

The Restaurant Employee Fund is giving one-time grants of $500 to eligible restaurant workers who lost their jobs or saw a decrease to their wages.

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation established this fund to help service industry workers who need help paying for things like groceries, medical bills, or rent.

Donate here>>

The Salvation Army is helping care for people most vulnerable to COVID-19 through its support of homeless shelters, food banks, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs.

The Salvation Army helps approximately 23 million Americans each year and operates in 130 countries worldwide. As part of it's COVID-19 response, the nonprofit is seeking to expand its offerings in housing for the homeless, childcare for first responders, food support, and funding for its drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. 
 
Donate here>>

The United States Bartenders Guild is offering bartenders, their spouses, or their children impacted by the pandemic emergency financial assistance.

The United States Bartenders Guild is offering emergency assistance to bartenders and their families, regardless of whether they're part of the guild or not.

Donate here>>

United Way has established the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund to support communities affected by the virus.

The go-to information phone number 211, which United Way funds, is fielding 200-400% more calls than normal, mostly for food, financial assistance, and housing. United Way has set up a recovery fund to help support this growing need, helping fund local nonprofits.

Donate here>>

The National Domestic Workers Alliance has set up an emergency fund for domestic workers.

The National Domestic Workers Alliance, an advocacy organization promoting the rights of domestic workers in the US, has set up a fund to help workers who aren't able to show up to work because of the pandemic. Qualifying applicants who are experiencing financial hardship can receive $400 in emergency assistance from the fund, according to the alliance's website. 

Donate here>>

• The richest ZIP code in the US is Fisher Island, a members-only island off the coast of Miami, where the average income of residents is $2.2 million.
• Fisher Island has bought "thousands" of COVID-19 tests from the University of Miami Health System for all of its residents and staff, The Miami Herald reported on April 13.
• About 800 families live in almost 30 luxury condominium buildings on the 216-acre man-made island. The median home value is $3 million.
• To become a member, you must pay a $250,000 initial fee and $22,256 in annual dues — and that's on top of purchasing a multimillion-dollar condo. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fisher Island, a man-made island off the coast of Miami that turned 100 years old in 2019, is the richest ZIP code in the US, according to Bloomberg. The average income of the island's residents is a whopping $2.2 million. 

Members of the Fisher Island Club get access to amenities like private beaches with sand imported from the Bahamas, a beach club, eight restaurants, a golf course, two deep-water marinas, a spa, and 18 tennis courts.

And now, there's a new perk to add to that list: Fisher Island has bought "thousands" of COVID-19 antibody test kits from the University of Miami Health System, The Miami Herald reported. The test is available to all of the families who live there, as well as the staff, according to the Herald.

As Lisa Worley, University of Miami Health System spokesperson, told the Herald, "It's what the Fisher Island residents wanted."

To become a member of the elite Fisher Island Club, you must pay a one-time $250,000 equity contribution and $22,256 in annual dues. And that's after residents have bought one of the condos on the island, which cost an average of $3.2 million. About 800 families live on Fisher Island in almost 30 luxury condominium buildings.

Residents of the island include real-estate developers, high-power litigation attorneys, CEOs, people in the finance industry, and some who are simply "old money," according to Dora Puig, the top-ranked real estate broker in Miami-Dade County by sales volume in 2018.

In 2019, I got the chance to take a tour of Fisher Island. Here's a look inside the super-exclusive community.

SEE ALSO: Wealthy people are paying limo drivers 'hundreds of dollars' to shuttle their mail from Manhattan to the Hamptons

DON'T MISS: Nantucket has one hospital, 14 beds, and a shortage of doctors — and wealthy city-dwellers are still flocking to their summer homes on the tiny island to wait out the pandemic

Fisher Island, a 216-acre members-only island off the coast of Miami, is the richest ZIP code in the US.

The average income of the island's residents is $2.2 million, according to Bloomberg.

Fisher Island is a man-made island created by the government in 1906, when a canal was dug between South Beach and what is now the island, in order to ease traffic in the area.

My journey started at the Miami Beach Marina, where a small private shuttle boat was waiting to take me to the island.

The boat is a private shuttle for prospective and current residents of Palazzo Del Sol and Palazzo Della Luna, two of the island's newest and most luxurious condominium buildings.

The boat was small yet luxurious, with 11 leather seats in an enclosed interior.

It's only about a seven-minute boat ride from the Miami Beach Marina to Fisher Island.

As we sped out of the marina, I got an up-close view of some massive yachts.

This one is Helios, a 193-foot luxury yacht that belongs to billionaire Lorenzo Fertitta, former owner of the UFC.

As we arrived at Fisher Island, I got my first look at the island's Mediterranean-style residential buildings.

About 800 families live in the island's 30 luxury condominium buildings, where units sell for an average of about $2.9 million.

Residents of the island include real-estate developers, high-power litigation attorneys, CEOs, people in the finance industry, and some who are simply "old money," Dora Puig, the top-ranked real estate broker in Miami-Dade County by sales volume in 2018, told me.

Tech CEOs and hedge-fund managers from New York, Silicon Valley, and other high-tax areas are moving to Miami in droves, and highly amenitized Fisher Island is one of their top picks. 

The island has two deep-water marinas that can accommodate luxury yachts up to 250 feet.

The boat slips are "highly coveted" and will cost you a minimum of $125,000 and potentially well into the millions, publicist Lauren Marks told me. 

I was picked up in a golf cart, which is the preferred mode of transportation on the island.

All the golf carts are individually owned, but at the island's newest and most luxurious residences, Palazzo Del Sol (finished in 2016) and Palazzo Della Luna (expected to be completed in 2019), each resident is given a custom $20,000 Garia golf cart.

As I was driven around the island, I was struck by how perfectly landscaped it was. In some places, the grass almost looked fake, and there didn't seem to be a single palm leaf or flowering shrub out of place.

The speed limit on the island is a respectable 19 miles per hour. Some residents bring their cars on the island via the ferry, but during my tour, I mainly saw people getting around by golf cart.

About 700 families live on Fisher Island, although only about 30% of those are year-round residents.

Notable residents include Hasbro Toys CEO Alan Hassenfield, who bought an $8.2 million condo in Palazzo del Sol, Yard House founder and former CEO Steele Platt, and tennis player Caroline Wozniacki and her fiancé, former NBA player David Lee, who paid $13.5 million for a condo at Palazzo Del Sol.

Oprah Winfrey, Mel Brooks, and tennis star Boris Becker have also owned homes on the island.

Puig told me people move to the island for three main reasons: privacy, security, and the amenities. 

"They have everything on the island: eight places to dine, golf, tennis," she said. "Probably one of the best tennis centers in the city. Two amazing marinas. So we cover a lot of ground."

The island's centerpiece is the historic Vanderbilt Mansion, built in the 1930s by William Vanderbilt, who acquired Fisher Island by trading his 250-foot yacht to Carl Fisher.

Carl Fisher and his Alton Beach Realty Company had bought the island in 1919 from Miami's first black millionaire, Dana Dorsey, and expanded it with four times the land mass and deep-water docks.

The Mediterranean-style mansion, which can be rented out as a wedding venue, includes a 2,250-square-foot ballroom and a 6,800-square-foot terrace.

Vanderbilt built the mansion in the 1930s as his own private retreat, surrounding it with lush landscaping, guest homes, tennis courts, and swimming pools.

In addition to its multimillion-dollar condos, Fisher Island offers luxury hotel accommodations that include four historic cottages, six courtyard villas, and a guest house with five suites. Rates range from about $625 to $3,050 per night.

"If you've been to the island, it's gorgeous," Puig told me back in February. "It feels like you're in the Caribbean, yet you're literally a three-minute boat ride to South Fifth Street to all the restaurants, and a five-minute boat ride to Downtown Miami."

Residents can choose to dine at eight restaurants on the island, including the Garwood Lounge within the Vanderbilt Mansion, a fine-dining establishment that serves grass-fed burgers, steaks, and fresh seafood in an oak-paneled dining room.

The dress code is "casual elegant attire for ladies" and "collared shirts and pants for gentlemen," although "denim in good taste is permitted."

Right next to the mansion is the poolside Beach Club, a collection of outdoor pavilions clustered around a swimming pool. There's a cocktail bar and a sushi bar.

The Beach Club hosts themed events such as French Bistro Night, Full Moon Parties, Seafood Night, Clambakes, and Sunday Jazz Brunch.

Fisher Island's professional tennis courts have been ranked No. 1 in the East Coast region of the US by Tennis Magazine.

The island has 18 courts with three types of playing surfaces: two grass courts, two hard courts, and 14 Har-Tru clay courts.

"A breathtaking location, year-round outdoor play — day and night — and a choice of three surfaces makes Fisher Island popular with players of all levels, including pros seeking pre-tournament practice," Tennis magazine reads.

Fisher Island has its own full-service spa and wellness center for residents called "Spa Internazionale."

The spa's services include personal training, group classes, facials, massages, and various "body excursions," including a cellulite sculpting body treatment and a coconut milk and honey wrap.

For most services on the island, including the restaurants, members don't pay with cash or credit card, but instead just put the expense on their membership tab, according to Marks.

As there are no bridges between the mainland and Fisher Island, residents who want to bring their cars onto the island must do so via a 24-hour vehicle ferry that takes about seven minutes and leaves every 15 minutes.

The ferry is for residents only, but invited guests can board as long as they have pre-arranged security clearance.

The residents of Palazzo Del Sol and Palazzo Della Luna, however, have access to the same private shuttle boat that I took from the Miami Beach Marina. 

"They love it because it's like their own aqua-Uber," Puig told me. "It takes them to South of Fifth, it takes them to Cipriani, it'll take them to restaurants. It'll take them and pick them up from someone's house for dinner." 

Fisher Island has some of the most secluded beaches in Miami, with sand imported from the Bahamas.

I was told the sand is raked every single morning to keep it clean and pristine.

Although only about 30% of Fisher Island's residents live there year-round, the island has its own independent day school with students ranging from age two to seventh grade.

Some students come from off-island to attend the school, Marks told me. 

The island even has its own private aviary full of exotic birds.

The aviary staff adopts, rescues, and rehabilitates exotic birds.

In fact, beyond the aviary, I was surprised to find that I saw more wildlife than people on my tour of the island.

I saw several different types of birds, including geese and what I think was white ibis. 

Most impressive were the free-roaming peacocks, whose calls could be heard echoing across the island.

If I closed my eyes to obscure the golf courts and the grass that was so perfectly manicured it almost looked fake, I could've imagined myself to be in a tropical oasis. 

More than 600 employees work on Fisher Island, including the Club workers and employees of the homeowner association and property management employees. I didn't even notice this workforce: They had what I can only describe as an invisible impact on the perfectly manicured island.

Because most residents don't live on Fisher Island year-round, that means there are often more employees on the island than residents, Marks told me.

On April 13, the Miami Herald reported that Fisher Island had bought enough COVID-19 tests for every person on the island — including staff — to get tested for the coronavirus. The tests were purchased from the University of Miami Health Systems. The news comes as doctors and hospitals across the US continue to experience testing shortages.

As I got back on my private shuttle boat back to the Miami Beach Marina, I tried to imagine what it would be like to live on Fisher Island.

The island felt like a pristine, secluded oasis, but it's also less than 10 minutes by boat from bustling South Beach. 

As such, I can certainly see the appeal for upper-crust businesspeople and families looking for a quiet vacation home where they can golf, play tennis, and relax on private beaches with their fellow millionaires.

• I worked with a career coach, Rebecca Fraser-Thill of the Pivot coaching team, for two months.
• Fraser-Thill was supportive and encouraging, but also made sure I set concrete, measurable career goals.
• Over the course of coaching, I learned that I'd been taking a backseat in my professional development and became more proactive about it.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Right around the 15-minute mark of my first phone call with Rebecca Fraser-Thill, an "aha" moment occurred.

I was describing how I'd behave differently once I had earned the title of senior reporter at Business Insider — I'd feel confident that I was the right person to be tackling the stories I wanted to write, and I'd think more carefully about the stories I pitched to my editor.

"It is interesting," Fraser-Thill said, "because it strikes me that both of these are certainly things you could work into your current life."

Oh.

"I'm not a full believer in 'fake it till you make it,'" she added, "but there's also the piece of sometimes we do have to act as if."

Fraser-Thill is a career coach, and in the summer of 2017, I was one of her clients. I pitched this story to my editor at the time because it had occurred to me that while I use career coaches and leadership coaches as sources for stories somewhat often, I don't know what they do on a daily basis.

Admittedly, I didn't think I needed that much guidance. There have been times in my professional past when I've felt confused or overwhelmed, but when I approached Fraser-Thill, I felt pretty good about both my job and my career more generally. Signing up for coaching was more about getting a firsthand look at how someone with this job works.

Spoiler alert: I did need guidance, or at least more than I thought I did. Working with Fraser-Thill made me realize that for years, I'd been leaving my career development to chance.

SEE ALSO: A career coach and former Googler breaks down the 4 steps to making a change in your career

Weeks 1 and 2

I'd been waiting for a title bump to step up my game at work — but the only way to earn that bump was to step up my game at work.

Fraser-Thill works with the Pivot coaching team, a group led by Jenny Blake, a former Googler whom I interviewed in 2016.

A "jump start" package with Fraser-Thill, which includes two 45-minute phone sessions, costs $497. Pivot comped my registration for two jump start packages, meaning I had a total of three hours with Fraser-Thill — plus I could email her whenever with questions or updates.

Before our first phone call, in May, Fraser-Thill emailed me to ask what I'd most like to discuss. I'd told her I wanted to advance at Business Insider, eventually earning the title of senior reporter.

From the second she answered the phone, Fraser-Thill radiated enthusiasm: There were lots of "yes!"s and "mmm"s and appreciative giggling when I tried to be funny by saying something self-deprecating.

On that first call, I realized I'd been waiting around for a specific job title to step up my game at work — but the only way to earn that title was to step up my game at work. This idea is hardly rocket science, but I'd never really stopped to think about it in the context of my career.

Weeks 3 and 4

Working on my professional development was like taking on an additional set of job responsibilities, and it was tempting to keep putting it off.

There were two weeks between each of my phone sessions with Fraser-Thill, during which I was supposed to be completing the "action work," or challenges that we came up with together.

After our first session, my action work involved brainstorming certain types of story ideas in my beat — something that didn't seem too difficult but that I managed to put off until the afternoon before our second session. It seemed like every day something would come up that was more pressing than whatever challenges I'd been assigned.

I told Fraser-Thill as much during our second phone call. We hit on the idea of setting a calendar reminder to do my action work, which was effective for a few days, after which I ignored it.

There's this trite but true aphorism about job-searching — "Looking for a job is like a second job"— and that's kind of how I felt about career coaching. Working on my professional development was like taking on an additional set of responsibilities at Business Insider, except I couldn't be fired for not completing them, and it was tempting to keep putting it off.

I realized, too, that there would never be a great time for me to launch into what Fraser-Thill calls a professional "sprint." During that second call, Fraser-Thill suggested I sign up for a writing class — but after researching some ideas, I told her I wouldn't have the time or attention to devote to the assignments this summer.

But there will always be some obstacle — an upcoming vacation or simply an already full plate at the office. The best thing, at least for me, is to stop making excuses.

Weeks 5 and 6

I learned there's no shame in being open about my ambitions.

So I threw myself into the rest of the action work — specifically, inviting senior reporters and editors throughout the newsroom to coffee to talk about a) how they got to their current role, and b) what their job is like now. That's when things really started to change.

Up until then, I'd kept my conversations with Fraser-Thill about wanting to become a senior reporter mostly private. My coworkers knew I was working with a career coach, but they didn't know what my specific goals were.

So when I mentioned it to the first senior reporter I had coffee with, I felt like I was admitting to wanting to take over the world. I thought maybe he'd laugh at me because it was obvious I'd never get there. Or maybe when I asked him how he got to that position he'd feel uncomfortable, as though I'd just queried him about his salary history.

To my relief, he seemed happy to share some solid journalism advice based on his experience, and so did the other reporter and editor I met with. I learned there's no shame in being open about your professional ambitions — in fact, it's advisable. If you don't make it clear what you want, how will anyone help you get there?

Weeks 7 and 8

I realized it's OK to be confused about how to advance in my career.

During our last phone session, Fraser-Thill asked me what personality traits I had to draw on to complete the coaching work. I thought it was a weird question, until several answers started popping up — first and foremost, humility.

"It's OK to be confused," I told her, specifically about how to advance in my career. What's more, I learned that it was OK to ask for the advice I needed — from my editor, my coworkers, and, yes, even a career coach.

As far as I could tell, no one saw me as incompetent. Instead, it seemed as though most people remembered what it was like to be in a similar position and could easily relate.

The verdict

Career coaching left me feeling empowered to go for what I want professionally.

Ultimately, career coaching left me feeling more empowered to go for what I want at work. That said, growing professionally is an ongoing process — even though I won't be "sprinting" all the time, I'll still need to be setting goals and making a plan for hitting them.

I suppose I could have skipped the whole career-coaching thing and initiated these challenges on my own. I could have brainstormed story ideas, taken my coworkers to coffee, and started talking to my boss about where I saw myself in a year. These aren't such innovative ideas.

But I wasn't initiating these challenges. Maybe it's the kind of person I am, but when someone experienced tells me something is a good idea — and that they're going to check in with me in two weeks about whether I used it — I'm more inclined to do it.

It helps, too, to have a cheerleader. Over the course of coaching, I learned that, for the most part, no one knew how much "extra" work I was putting in — except Fraser-Thill, who congratulated me at the beginning of every phone call for making inroads on the action work and wrote things like, "You are on fire!" in her follow-up emails.

Obviously, she couldn't see me, but I grinned every time.

• Learning a new skill doesn't have to take forever.
• In a popular TEDx Talk, business expert Josh Kaufman argues that getting a grasp on a new skill only takes 20 hours. 
• If you take a 20-hour block and divide it into two- or three-hour chunks, you can learn a new skill in about a week.
• Here are 13 new skills you can learn in that timeframe: from the basics of coding to how to cook up a new dish.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Some people would have you believe that it takes 10,000 hours to learn a new skill.

But not necessarily. 

In his  TEDx Talk, "The first 20 hours," author and business expert Josh Kaufman busted the myth that learning new skills takes a lot of time. He'd later go on to write a whole book (with the same title) about it. 

Proficiency, Kaufman said, is really only 20 hours away.

Divided into two- or three-hour chunks, that's about a week's worth of practice.

Taking up a new hobby has been linked to gains in well-being, too. Research has found that those who engage in creative hobbies are happier at their jobs than those who don't. Another study found they're less likely to report symptoms of depression.

Here are just a sample of the many hobbies or new skills you could pick from.

SEE ALSO: 11 skills that are hard to learn but will pay off forever

Learn to play a song on a musical instrument

Music theory is highly complex, but a week should be enough time to learn a single song on the ukulele or harmonica.

At the end of his TEDx Talk, Kaufman shows off his ability to play a few chords in a medley of pop songs on his own ukulele, which he spent just 20 hours practicing on.

Learn to drive stick shift

Automatic transmissions are no doubt easier, but the ability to shift gears while driving still turns some heads (outside the U.S. at least). It's also a useful skill to have if you ever need to drive someone else's car.

The actual mechanics of using the clutch and gear shift are straightforward, but you'll probably spend most of your week learning how to time your shifts correctly. Nobody likes to lurch.

Learn to solve a Rubik's cube

Speed-cubers — the people who solve Rubik's cubes as fast as possible, sometimes in less than 10 seconds — will tell you there's nothing all that special about the puzzle.

You just need to know a set of algorithms — or turn patterns — that orient pieces of the cube one at a time. Memorizing the order of those turns can be done surprisingly quickly. 

A beginner could easily solve a Rubik's cube in less than two minutes over the course of a week.

Learn to tell a great story

Storytelling is a skill just like any other: There are rules to follow and mistakes to avoid to do it successfully.

The greatest storytellers captivate audiences by telling authentic stories that deliver on a promise, explains author and entrepreneur Seth Godin. The stories have drama and an arc. They go somewhere. 

Also important: Effective storytellers know when to end.

Learn to parallel park

As Ankush Singhal writes, almost everyone needs to learn to parallel park to get a driver's license, yet many people can't do it well.

A week is plenty of time to get used to positioning the car next to the car in front and learning when (and how much) to turn the steering wheel.

Bonus points if you learn to do it all with one hand.

Learn to cook an amazing dish

Cooking for other people is about as primitive as skills get, so it helps to have at least one dish as your go-to.

Many pasta dishes can be pulled off without much difficulty, provided the sauce is well-seasoned and flavorful. Likewise, cooking the perfect steak doesn't always require weeks-long dry aging. 

Pair both with a complementary wine, and you've got an impressive meal to serve up.

Learn the basics of coding

Jobs that rely on coding continue to be in high demand. Over the past five years, hiring for full-stack engineers, as well as hiring for data scientists, has been much higher than average, according to LinkedIn's 2020 Emerging Jobs Report. Both of these jobs require a proficiency in popular coding languages, like Python.  

There are a number of free online courses on the basics of coding. For example, online class company Coursera offers a free 22-hour class every few weeks, and Udemy offers a few of its own courses you can start anytime. Even Google offers its own web-series on Python. 

Learn the basics of martial arts

Self-defense is one of those skills you hope to never use, but it's handy nonetheless.

Like cooking, protection is a primitive skill that can go a long way toward earning people's respect.

Learn to recite multiple digits of pi

Impressive skills aren't always practical. 

Memory experts remember long strings of words or numbers by "chunking" different batches together. To learn the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter — an irrational number that stretches on forever — spend each day memorizing six or seven numbers after the decimal.

As the days go by, add each new batch to the overall string.

Learn to speak the basics of a new language

People who speak multiple languages are called polyglots. Matthew Youlden and his brother Michael can speak over a dozen, making them "hyperpolyglots."They learned to speak conversational Turkish in a week.

The Youldens credit a language learning app called Babbel, lots of flash cards, and Turkish pop culture as the keys to getting familiar with the new tongue. The language app Duolingo recently saw a 148% spike in sign-ups.

Learn to break an apple with your bare hands

Tough as the fruit may be, there's a trick to splitting an apple with no knives or stomping required. 

First, remove the stem. Then place your fingertips underneath the apple with the fleshy part of both palms on the top of the apple. Pull up with your fingers and roll your hands out. With a few tries, the apple should split clean in half — no super-strength required.

Learn to juggle

Even if you seriously doubt your hand-eye coordination, juggling is probably within reach. 

The easiest way to get the hang of it within a week is to start with two balls. Practice tossing just two up in the air, first with your right hand and then with your left. Work your way up to tossing a third when the first is at its peak.

Soon you'll be able to put separate tosses into one fluid juggling motion.

Learn the basics of tailoring

People spend their whole lives becoming master tailors, but the fundamentals can come pretty quickly.

A week should be plenty of time to learn a basic sewing stitch or two, which kinds of fabrics are used in which garments, how to use a sewing machine, and how to take measurements.

You can also learn how to make alterations — just in case things don't go exactly right the first time.

Chris Weller contributed to an earlier version of this post.

• A number of retailers and restaurant companies have already filed for bankruptcy in 2020.
• Papyrus and Modell's are two major names that are slated to shut down all remaining stores.
• Not all bankruptcies result in outright liquidation, however. Companies can also use bankruptcy as an opportunity to turn things around financially.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

2020 is not yet halfway through, but bankruptcies have already begun for the retail industry. 

The previous year saw a number of well-known national and regional retailers file for both Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This resulted in everything from outright liquidation to financial reshuffling.

But either way, the retail business being what it is, it's not unreasonable to expect to see more shuttered stores on the horizon. More than 2,200 stores are already expected to close across the country this year.

Here's a list of the retail companies and restaurant chains that have filed for bankruptcy so far in 2020:

SEE ALSO: These 19 retailers have filed for bankruptcy or liquidation in 2019

ALSO READ: We visited Barneys as the iconic department store prepares to close and found a bleak scene in total disarray

The entire fleet of Papyrus stores was slated to shut down when the chain's parent company, The Schurman Retail Group, filed for bankruptcy in January.

Source: Business Insider

After Kroger announced it would divest its stake in Lucky's Market in December, grocery industry observers wondered whether the regional chain might be in jeopardy. The following month, Lucky's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Source: Business Insider, CNN

Organic grocer Earth Fare filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 4. The chain's 50 natural foods stores were set to shut down, but some locations have been acquired by new owners.

Source: Associated Press, Business Insider, Supermarket News

Noah's Event Venue, a chain offering spaces for various gatherings, technically filed for bankruptcy in May 2019. However, in February 2020, a federal judge ordered the remaining Noah's locations closed, leaving engaged couples around the country scrambling.

Source: WBIR, Fox 23

Home goods retailer Pier 1 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 17. The Texas-based company is seeking prospective buyers after announcing that it would shut down 450 stores.

Source: Business Insider

Michigan-based chain Art Van Furniture filed for Chapter 11 on March 8.

Source: Click on Detroit

Send tips to acain@businessinsider.com.

Modell's Sporting Goods filed for Chapter 11 on March 11. The family-owned sporting goods chain will liquidate its remaining stores after failing to find a buyer, Bloomberg reported.

Source: Bloomberg

FoodFirst Global Restaurants, the parent company of the Brio Italian Mediterranean and Bravo Fresh Italian restaurant chains, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 10. The company said that 71 of its 92 restaurants had temporarily closed amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Source: Restaurant Business

True Religion filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 13. It had previously filed for bankruptcy in 2017 but emerged from proceedings four months later.

Source: Bloomberg

• The spread of the coronavirus has led to millions of layoffs, and over 10 million Americans filed for unemployment in March.
• The pandemic has also put more than a third of the population under a social distancing restriction to prevent further spread of the virus where they are either required to or encouraged to stay home.
• FlexJobs, an online service specializing in telecommuting and remote work, recently sifted through its listings for high-paying remote jobs.
• Each of the below positions pay at least $40,000 a year — and often much more — according to median annual salary data from PayScale, and allow you to work from the comfort of your home.
• Here are 18 high-paying jobs you can do from home.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SEE ALSO: 8 high-paying work-from-home jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree

DON'T MISS: The 11 highest-paying jobs that are disappearing in the US

18. Business development managers build businesses up. They typically make between $44,000–$122,000 a year.

Business development managers find clients, make business plans, manage accounts, and increase revenue by meeting sales goals and maintaining business relationships.

17. Front-end developers design the visuals of websites and apps. They typically make between $47,000-$108,000 a year.

Front-end developers produce code that makes up the visual and navigation elements of a website or app. The role typically requires back-end or visual design experience, such as SQL, Java, PHP, Ruby, or .NET.

16. Marketing directors lead marketing projects. They typically make between $47,000-$149,000 a year.

Marketing directors lead marketing departments. They research and analyze trends to develop marketing plans and campaigns. Marketing director roles typically require a bachelor's degree and marketing experience.

15. Clinical psychologists help people manage their mental health. They typically make between $48,000-$113,000 a year.

Clinical psychologists use therapy to help people manage addiction and mental health issues.  The role typically requires a research-based doctorate in a related field.

14. Senior account managers deal with customer relationships. They typically make between $49,000–$110,000 a year.

Account managers create and maintain customer relationships by handling client communications and understanding client needs, generating sales. The role typically requires at least 10 years of experience.

13. PR directors manage a company's public image. They typically make between $49,000-$140,000 a year.

Public relations directors lead a team that manages the public's perception of a company by writing press releases, creating media kits, and overseeing public events. The role typically requires a bachelor's degree and at least 10 years of experience.

12. Mobile developers make apps and typically make between $50,000-$113,000 a year.

Mobile developers make and fix apps. The role typically requires an understanding of both smartphone and computer operating systems. 

11. Technical support managers run tech support teams. They typically make between $50,000-$119,000 a year.

Technical support managers resolve technical issues and manage tech support employees. They are typically responsible for installing hardware and software and providing on-call support, as well as staying updated on the newest technologies. 

10. Privacy officers audit companies to ensure they're following privacy practices. They typically make between $50,000-$138,000 a year.

Privacy officers make sure companies are following privacy practices and procedures by auditing them, conducting risk assessments and reduction strategies, and handling any breaches or privacy issues. The role typically requires a degree in a technical field.

9. Cybersecurity analysts guard information on computers. They typically make between $51,000–$117,000 a year.

Cybersecurity analysts protect a company's computer networks and systems. They research IT information technology (IT) trends, look for security breaches, and plan for potential security issues. The position typically requires experience with IT work.

8. Medical writers convert scientific data into consumable articles and documents. They typically make between $53,000-$103,000 a year.

Medical writers write articles and documents that clearly present technical and scientific data. They typically work for biotech companies, pharmaceuticals, and universities to present information about a product or study to health officials. The job requires knowledge of medical terms and processes. 

Certification with the American Medical Writers Association is not required of all medical writers, but it's seen as a bonus. The certification means one has two years of experience in the medical communications field and passed the Medical Writing Certification Examination.

The certification was a collaborative effort by the Medical Writing Certification Commission and the American Medical Writers Association. It shows that one has proven their competence and knowledge to both organizations. 

7. Product managers run product development processes. They typically make between $54,000-$121,000 a year.

Product managers lead product development by setting strategies and defining product features. They are responsible for guiding a product's development from concept to completion based on their analysis of market conditions. 

6. Research engineers make research-backed products for various industries. They typically make between $58,000-$120,000 a year.

Research engineers make new products using information and data they gather for electrical, medical, mechanical, aerospace, or software companies. The role requires an engineering degree.

5. Finance directors manage company departments that handle money. They typically make between $61,000–$161,000 a year.

Finance directors oversee a company's finance department. They asses finances and establish budgets and other financial strategies. Finance directors typically need a master's degree in business administration, finance, or economics.

4. Clinical trial managers oversee clinical trials. They typically make between $65,000–$131,000 a year.

Clinical trial managers are responsible for making sure clinical trials are safe and run smoothly. They recruit patients for trials, review results, and adjust the structure when necessary.  Clinical trial managers must have strong medical knowledge along with a bachelor's degree in a related field.

3. Art directors oversee the visual aspects of products and publications. They typically make between $66,000–$101,000 a year.

Art directors come up with and present visual ideas for magazines, newspapers, websites, and product packaging. They also manage designers and other staff members that work on visuals. Art directors need a bachelor's degree in art or a related field as well as previous work experience.

2. A cloud designer creates cloud apps. They typically make between $71,000–$160,000 a year.

Cloud architects design cloud apps and manage cloud computing strategies for companies. Cloud apps are apps that store data on internet servers. They need knowledge of operating systems, networking, programming languages, and cloud security.

1. Medical directors run health organizations. They typically make between $130,000-$270,000 a year.

Medical directors make rules and lead staff members within a healthcare organization. The role typically requires a medical degree. It's one of the highest-paying remote jobs, since it's a physician-level role that oversees the operations of an entire organization. 

• The US will likely see a shortage of meat in grocery stores soon.
• Meat processing plants have been forced to close unexpectedly as workers contract COVID-19.
• Even though grocery store meat shelves may become sparse, there will still be plenty of ways to get large quantities of high-quality meats.
• Restaurant suppliers, local farms, rancher coalitions, and direct-to-consumer meat websites are less likely to be affected by supply chain issues than conventional grocery store meat brands.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult to acquire many grocery basics, and meat might be next on the chopping block.

Despite early assurances that the food supply chain would not be disrupted, slaughterhouses and meat processing plants are being forced to close due to workers being diagnosed with COVID-19. This means that grocery stores' meat cases aren't likely to stay fully stocked in the near future.

That being said, there are plenty of ways consumers can still buy meat. Independent farmers and ranchers who process their own meat will likely be less affected by pandemic-related shutdowns. This meat is typically both of higher quality and more expensive than most meat sold in your average grocery stores.

Unfortunately, that means that buying from these sources won't be feasible for everyone. However, a good bargain can still be found if you look hard enough. And splitting the cost of large orders with friends or neighbors is a good way to take advantage of cheap bulk offers.

If your grocery store runs out of meat, check out these options to see one of them meets your needs.

SEE ALSO: Amazon and Walmart are facing shortages and delays of essentials like toilet paper and cleaning supplies, but you might find them on one of these alternative websites Irene Jiang Apr 8, 2020, 12:06 PM amazon truck worker mask

Restaurant suppliers

Since a lot of restaurants have closed down due to the pandemic, their suppliers have scrambled to figure out what to do with the ingredients those restaurants would have bought.

Food Service Direct sells bulk orders of food service ingredients. In addition to nonperishables and kitchen supplies, you can buy large orders of meat ranging from low-grade to high-grade. Some of the mass-produced meat on this site is likely to be affected by shortages, but other items likely will not.

The Chef's Warehouse is a website that used to be targeted toward restaurants and gourmet stores and has served the likes of Eric Ripert and Jose Andrés. However, Chef's Warehouse also does home delivery for consumers. Its offerings, which are all local, all fall into the gourmet foods (and up) category, but prices are reasonable for what you're getting.

Also notable are meat supplier Rastelli's and luxury goods purveyor D'Artagnan, among many, many more. 

Direct-to-consumer wholesale meat companies

Companies have been selling meat directly to consumers for a long time, and Omaha Steaks is one of those companies. Omaha Steaks' products aren't cheap, but they're cheaper if you buy in bulk. Chicago Steaks is another classic consumer-targeted fine meats purveyor, and similar to Omaha Steaks, has a specialized selection. And US Wellness Meats offers free delivery on orders of $75, with a weight minimum of seven pounds.

More recent entries into the direct-to-consumer meat market include Crowd Cow, The Savory Butcher, and Porter Road. Some of the newer DTC companies offer subscription box services similar to that of Butcher Box, which currently has a waitlist to join.

Ranchers, farmers, and their coalitions

Ranchers that process and sell their own meat are more likely to have meat in stock. There are countless small or independent ranchers across the US, as well as their collectives. To find a local farmer near you, you can search on farming directories Local Harvest or Eat Wild. There are plenty of farmers looking to reach consumers online as well as in-person.

For example, Farmfoods is a collective of 14 farms and ranches where you can buy beef, pork, poultry, or seafood à la carte as well as portions of a cow. The collective offers free shipping on orders of over 10 pounds.

Farmer's Fresh Meats is a Texas-based meat manufacturing company that sources all of its meat locally. However, it only delivers bulk orders. For smaller orders, you have to use in-store pickup. Northwest-based Snake River Farms sells everything from $12/pound ground beef to $200 aged Wagyu steaks. However, it charges a flat delivery fee of $50. 

• TikTok has become the hottest social platform among Generation Z and influencers are using it as a springboard to social-media stardom.
• Business Insider is recognizing the 19 top talent agencies and management companies that are helping to shape the careers of TikTok stars in 2020.
• These agents and managers come from a variety of backgrounds, with some having experience working with other social-media creators or Hollywood talent, and others entering the talent management space for the first time with the arrival of TikTok. 
• Send your influencer industry tips to the authors at dwhateley@businessinsider.com and aperelli@businessinsider.com.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

TikTok has become a serious contender in the battle for social-media attention, with billions of downloads globally. And talent managers and agents are fighting to sign TikTok's roster of up-and-coming stars. 

With the help of their reps, the app's most popular creators have scored Super Bowl ads, lucrative brand sponsorships, and have crossed over into traditional media with talk-show appearances and animated voiceover work.

As with TikTok's top talent — which includes YouTube-famous creators like David Dobrik and Emma Chamberlain and newcomers like Charli D'Amelio — the list of power players in TikTok talent management is a hodgepodge of incumbents and upstart agencies who capitalized on the app's popularity at the right moment.

Some influencers have both a talent manager and an agent to help build their digital brand. In those cases, a manager will often help with day-to-day work of crafting the creator's brand, while an agent will work bringing in deals and on broader business strategy. There's also some overlap.

The most popular TikTok creator is 15-year-old Charli D'Amelio, who posts dance videos with friends or from her bedroom in Connecticut. She has 48 million followers on TikTok.

D'Amelio, her sister, and her two parents are all comanaged by the firms Outshine Talent and Manncom Creative Partners, and represented by United Talent Agency for larger business ventures like going on tour or launching a reality TV show.

Agents and managers earn revenue by receiving a cut of the influencer's earnings, which typically ranges from 10% to 20%, depending on how much the agent they do for the client, according to industry insiders.

After highlighting the top talent managers and agents in the YouTube influencer space last year, Business Insider is now putting a spotlight on the top agents and managers for TikTok talent. These power players are helping shape the careers of TikTok stars in 2020.

Agencies that have worked with traditional Hollywood stars for decades like WME and UTA have been scooping up TikTok talent in recent months. And they're not the only players in the game.

Talent management upstarts like The Fuel Injector, Amp Studios, and Sadowski Enterprises were some of the first to see TikTok's potential and set up management deals with its stars.

"I think TikTok is super interesting," Jad Dayeh, a partner and the cohead of digital at WME, told Business Insider in January. "It's undeniably connecting with youth culture on a global level."

As with other social-media platforms, TikTok's prominence in the cultural zeitgeist has seen a bump in recent weeks as more people spend time online while sheltered at home. TikTok creators have seen video engagement spike and follower counts jump as the app's user base grows to new heights.

In the months ahead, TikTok stars will lean on their managers and agents to discover how to leverage near-term fame into a long-term career.

To narrow down a list of finalists, Business Insider relied on a mix of our own reporting, nominations from readers, and industry experts who helped us assess each individual's impact on the influencer business.

The top talent managers and agents for TikTok are listed in alphabetical order by company: 

Sign up for Business Insider's influencer newsletter, Influencer Dashboard, to get more stories like this in your inbox.

Check out our other influencer industry power lists on Business Insider Prime: 

• The top 18 talent agents for YouTube creators and influencers

• The top 14 talent managers for YouTube creators and influencers

A3 Artists Agency

Maxwell Mitcheson (agent), Adam Loria (agent), Marienor Madrilejo (agent), and Keith Bielory (senior agent)

A3 Artists Agency was founded in 1977 and represents clients across the entertainment industry including actors, dancers, YouTube stars, professional gamers, and TikTok creators.

A3 has four agents who specialize in representing TikTok talent. They are a part of the alternative programming, digital media, licensing, and branding team at A3. In addition to their direct digital clients, they also help the TV/film talent team get their clients onto TikTok, like singer Jordan Fisher who has over 3 million TikTok followers.

Keith Bielory, senior agent 

Bielory works in brand marketing, endorsements, licensing, and event sponsorship. He is based in New York and has built a roster of talent in the health, wellness, family, lifestyle, and beauty spaces. Bielory was hired to build the team out on the East Coast. 

Marienor Madrilejo, agent 

Madrilejo works to develop her clients' brands into IP and 360-degree businesses.

She has worked with global brands like Apple, Amazon, Estee Lauder, General Mills, L'Oreal, NFL, Samsung, Sephora, Sony, and Viacom. 

Maxwell Mitcheson, agent

Mitcheson represents a variety of talent and specializes in helping his digital clients cross over into traditional mediums like music, acting, hosting, and endorsements.

Adam Loria, agent

Loria signed TikTok stars Demi Bagby and Tayler Holder. He helps clients develop areas of their brands outside of TikTok like partnership deals and podcasts. He is involved in building the agency's podcast initiative that works with clients to develop new podcasts and help existing ones grow and monetize.

Talent includes: Avani Gregg (16 million TikTok followers), Tayler Holder (9 million TikTok followers), Andre Swilley (7 million TikTok followers), Jordyn Jones (6 million TikTok followers), and Kouvr Annon (5 million TikTok followers).

Amp Studios

Max Levine (chief operating officer)

Max Levine is the COO of Amp Studios, a talent management firm with ten digital clients that collectively generate one billion monthly views across social media. 

Levine's top client, Brent Rivera, has 25 million followers on TikTok and millions more on other social-media platforms. In addition to being managed by Levine, Rivera serves as CEO at Amp Studios and helps direct the 10-creator team. 

Levine told Business Insider:"A lot of groups of creators kind of look at it from, 'Hey, we're going to add influencers or talent.' We kind of look at it from a perspective where it's like, we're a content company, so we want to add more channels to our network." 

Levine previously cofounded the social-engagement platform Shimmur (currently Community.com).

Talent includes: Brent Rivera (25 million TikTok followers), The Stokes Twins (21 million TikTok followers), Lexi Rivera (8 million TikTok followers), Ben Azelart (7 million TikTok followers), Lexi Hensler (2 million TikTok followers), Jeremy Hutchins (4 million TikTok followers), Andrew Davila (2 million TikTok followers), and Pierson Wodzynski (1 million TikTok followers).

Collab

Eric Jacks (chief strategy officer), Angela Rylander (director of talent partnerships), and partner managers: Matt Maguire, Rocio Ramirez, Cassie Banaszek, and Vanessa Beals

Collab is a digital talent network and entertainment studio helping rising social-video creators land brand and business opportunities. 

Collab was started by a brother trio of former creators (James, Tyler, and Will McFadden) and former Fullscreen Executive Soung Kang, to provide software, sales, and services to independent creators. 

The company first supported creators on Vine and then Musical.ly, and has been supporting TikTok creators and executing brand campaigns. Now its talent services include content and audience growth strategy, digital rights management, media sales, brand integrations, and creator development.  

Chief strategy officer Eric Jacks, along with director of talent partnerships Angela Rylander, lead the Collab talent team that includes partner managers Matt Maguire, Rocio Ramirez, Cassie Banaszek, and Vanessa Beals.

Collab helps connect their clients with brands like Nike, Chipotle, Eos, Bliss, L'Oreal, Mattel, and Nickelodeon.

Talent includes: Spencer X (27 million TikTok followers), Baby Ariel (32 million TikTok followers), AdamRayOkay (5 million TikTok followers), and the Eh Bee Family (2 million TikTok followers).

Digital Brand Architects

Ali Itri (senior talent manager) and Shannon Wachtell (talent coordinator)

Digital Brand Architects is a talent management firm representing creators and publishers that was acquired by United Talent Agency last year. DBA has a products division, Digital Brand Products; a podcasting studio, Dear Media; and is partners with the conference series and platform Create and Cultivate.

Ali Itri, senior talent manager

Itri specializes in managing TikTok talent and brokering deals with top brands. 

Her recent accomplishments include signing native TikTok creators Riley Hubatka (3 million TikTok followers), Seth Obrien (2 million TikTok followers), Sterling Myers (1 million TikTok), and Amelie Zilber (1 million TikTok followers). She also helps brands like Sephora and H&M's League, and agencies, understand the platform.

She helped YouTube client Team 2 Moms launch on TikTok, where it quickly gained over 750,000 followers. 

Shannon Wachtell, talent coordinator

Wachtell spearheads DBA's TikTok initiative. She works across the entire company educating her colleagues, brands, and agencies on all things TikTok.

She worked closely with Itri to sign clients, and has landed TikTok deals with brands such as Bliss, Taco Bell, Aussie Hair, and Urban Decay.

Talent includes: Riley Hubatka (3 million TikTok followers), Seth Obrien (2 million TikTok followers), Sterling Myers (1 million TikTok), and Amelie Zilber (1 million TikTok followers).

Fanbytes

Timothy Armoo (CEO)

Timothy Armoo is the CEO of Fanbytes, an influencer marketing agency based in the UK. 

Fanbytes helps brands reach a Gen Z audience on social media and is the parent company of Bytesized Talent, a UK-based TikTok agency that manages around 40 TikTok stars.

Armoo, 25, launched Bytesized Talent around a year ago, and under him, Bytesized has helped launch a lip gloss line with TikTok stars Shanae and Ranae; cast talent into shows with the BBC; and built the show ByteHouse, which documents the lives of TikTok stars amid the coronavirus.

Talent includes: Steve McKell (2 million TikTok followers), Kyran (2.9 million TikTok followers), Bobbie (5.8 million TikTok followers), and Bytesquad (which includes creators, Lily Rose, Seb, Monty, KT, Shauni and Surface).

Fullscreen

Mahzad Babayan (VP, talent management and partnerships), Nick Coffey (senior manager, talent management), Scarlett Perlman (senior manager, talent management) and Mason Frank (manager, talent management)

Mahzad Babayan, the VP of talent at Fullscreen, has helped source and onboard TikTok talent for the entertainment company's roster of social-content creators.

Under Babayan's leadership, Fullscreen's talent management division has nearly tripled in size, representing over 50 clients today.

Fullscreen's talent management team includes Scarlett Perlman (formerly Red Light Management), Nick Coffey, and Mason Frank (formerly Primary Wave).

Talent includes: Arii (8 million TikTok followers), Champagne Mike (630,000 TikTok followers), Mitchell Crawford (2.8 million TikTok followers), Sara Echeagaray (886,000 TikTok followers), and SwagboyQ (3 million TikTok followers).

Gleam Futures

Liana Mitteldorf (senior talent manager) and Cheyenne Brink (talent manager)

Gleam Futures is a talent management firm behind popular UK vloggers like the beauty and lifestyle influencer Zoe Sugg, known as Zoella online (11.6 million subscribers), and the lifestyle mommy vlogger Louise Pentland (2 million subscribers). 

The firm has recently signed talent native to TikTok, and works with clients to secure brand deals, develop podcasts, publishing, licensing, and other entrepreneurial ventures.

In June, the firm launched an influencer marketing service, Gleam Solutions, which connects brands with creators.

Liana Mitteldorf, senior talent manager 

Mitteldorf has been representing talent at Gleam for over three years. She's helped her YouTube creator clients expand their businesses off the platform, like Claudia Sulewski's capsule collection at Nordstrom, or Claire Marshall's jewelry line with Mejuri.

She was an early adopter of TikTok at Gleam and helped her YouTube clients establish a presence on the app.

Cheyenne Brink, talent manager

Brink started an influencer division at Bella Agency and joined Gleam a year ago. Since then, she has worked to build a roster of emerging talent on TikTok and is focused on signing diverse creators. 

She signed Gabby Morrison (2 million followers), a TikTok creator known for her popular dance videos, last year. 

Gleam helped Morrison build a career off TikTok, and she was recently cast to play a role in the Brat series "Attaway General."

Talent includes: Gabby Morrison (2 million TikTok followers), Miah Griffith (721,000 TikTok followers), and Raimi Reyes (167,000 TikTok followers).

ICM Partners

Chris Sawtelle (agent)

Chris Sawtelle is an agent at ICM Partners, a talent and literary agency representing clients in TV, music, publishing, and other areas of new media like TikTok. 

Sawtelle recently signed the TikTok collab group TalentX.

TalentX Entertainment includes top TikTok creators Joey Klaasen (15 million TikTok followers), Mark Anastasio (7 million TikTok followers), and Nessa Barrett (6 million TikTok followers). 

TalentX is also home to the social collective Sway LA, which consists of TikTok stars Josh Richards (16 million TikTok followers), Griffin Johnson (4 million TikTok followers), and Jaden Hossler (5 million TikTok followers), among others. 

ICM represents TalentX clients in all areas. 

Talent includes: TalentX Entertainment roster and Sway LA.

Manncom Creative Partners and The Well

Billy Mann (founder)

Billy Mann sold his first talent agency, Stealth, in 2007 and later served in C-level roles at EMI Music and BMG. Mann has worked as a consultant or facilitated campaigns with companies like Red Bull Media House, Sony Music, and Sony Pictures TV.

In partnership with Barbara Jones, Mann currently serves as a manager for TikTok's biggest star, Charli D'Amelio, and her family members Dixie D'Amelio, Marc D'Amelio, and Heidi D'Amelio. 

Mann is also a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer who has worked with artists like P!nk, John Legend, David Guetta, and Cher.​

Talent includes: The D'Amelio family: Charli (48 million TikTok followers), Dixie (20 million TikTok followers), Heidi (3 million TikTok followers), and Marc (4 million TikTok followers).

Moxie

Erika Monroe-Williams (founder)

Erika Monroe-Williams recently started her own management and production company, Moxie, after working as a producer and talent manager at The Green Room. 

She began her career in entertainment working with the publicists Stephen Huvane, Robin Baum and Simon Halls.

Monroe-Williams represents some of TikTok's top creators, including the Hype House's Avani Gregg, Chase Hudson, and Kouvr Annon. She also represents the Hype House alongside the talent agency WME. As a manager, she has helped guide her clients' careers beyond the digital space into television, film, music, fashion, and licensing.

Talent includes: Avani Gregg (16.6 million TikTok followers), Chase Hudson (18.4 million TikTok followers), Madi Monroe (4.8 million TikTok followers), Tayler Holder (9.3 million TikTok followers), and Kouvr Annon (5.9 million TikTok followers).

Outshine Talent

Barbara Jones (founder)

In partnership with Billy Mann, Barbara Jones manages Charli D'Amelio and her family.

She spent the first part of her career in the music industry, including her role as the head of marketing at Columbia Records. 

She founded an influencer marketing agency, Blissful Media Group, and has worked in the industry for over a decade.  

Jones recently founded Outshine Talent to help social creators manage their careers and build their personal brands. She is on the advisory board of the Influencer Marketing Association and lives in Greenwich, Connecticut. 

Talent includes: The D'Amelio family: Charli (48 million TikTok followers), Dixie (20 million TikTok followers), Heidi (3 million TikTok followers), and Marc (4 million TikTok followers), along with Parker James (5.4 million TikTok followers), Jay Sage (5.3 million TikTok followers), Madison Vanderveen (2.4 million TikTok followers), and Nikko Zingus (1.4 million TikTok followers). 

Sadowski Enterprises

Josh Sadowski (founder and CEO)

Josh Sadowski is a TikTok star with 4 million followers and a manager to 11 other TikTok creators. 

Sadowski, 20, began filming videos for TikTok when he was a senior in high school. After his videos went viral, he became known for the intricate characters in his comedy skits.

He's also built long-term relationships with brands like Chipotle and Bumble for himself and the creators he manages, and he plans to launch a TikTok creator collab house once it's safe to do so. 

The TikTok creators that will be moving into the house are Sadowski, Garrison Irwin (who is the group's content producer and director), Hope Schwing (7 million TikTok followers), AceCrossCrook (2 million TikTok followers), Sam Vicchiollo (951,000 TikTok followers), and two others. 

Talent includes: Hope Schwing (7 million TikTok followers), AceCrossCrook (2 million TikTok followers), Sam Vicchiollo (951,000 TikTok followers), and Alex Kawaguchi (2 million TikTok followers).

Spark Media

Charlie Buffin (founder and CEO)

Spark Media is an influencer marketing and talent management company based in Los Angeles. Buffin has worked in the digital industry for seven years, recently managing and collaborating with top creators like Jayden and Gilmher Croes, Madison Lewis, and Shantale Collins on TikTok. 

Prior to founding Spark, Buffin was the cofounder and COO of Shimmur (now Community.com). 

Talent includes: Gilmher Croes (26 million TikTok followers), Jayden Croes (21.7 million TikTok followers), Madison Lewis (7 million TikTok followers), and Shantale Collins (2 million TikTok followers).

TalentX Entertainment

Michael Gruen (cofounder)

TalentX Entertainment is a talent management firm led by CEO Warren Lentz (formerly of Fullscreen), and YouTubers Tal Fishman and Jason Wilhelm.

TalentX, which launched in 2019, works with social-media stars like Josh Richards, Anthony Reeves, Griffin Johnson, and Ava Rose. The company runs one of Los Angeles' popular TikTok "collab houses,"Sway LA.

A former NBA and FIBA sports agent, Gruen kicked off his talent management career when he started a sports management company at the age of 15. In 2017, Gruen teamed up with the Nickelodeon star Jace Norman to launch Creator Edge Media, an influencer marketing agency focused solely on representing social-media creators.

Gruen said he often relies on intuition to identify talent on TikTok.

"A lot of it is going through their social and seeing what other talent are doing," he told Business Insider. "We obviously have an algorithmic formula as well, but a big part of it's also a gut feeling. I'm a big believer in seeing it more than just the statistics."

Talent includes: Josh Richards (16 million TikTok followers), Joe Albanese (15 million TikTok followers), Anthony Reeves (8 million TikTok followers), Nessa Barrett (6 million TikTok followers), Bryce Hall (5 million TikTok followers), Jaden Hossler (5 million TikTok followers), Kio Cyr (4.9 million TikTok followers), Griffin Johnson (4.8 million TikTok followers), and Ava Rose (2 million TikTok followers).

The Fuel Injector

Devain Doolaramani (founder and CEO)

Devain Doolaramani is a 21-year old college student who founded his TikTok-focused talent management agency, The Fuel Injector, while studying finance at Chapman University. 

In addition to managing a client roster of TikTok creators with millions of followers, Doolaramani recently worked with the musical artist Rontae Don't Play to help get their song placed in 40,000 videos on the app.

Talent includes: The Bailey Bakery (5 million TikTok followers), Shaun Duenas (1.9 million TikTok followers), Ryan Manick (1 million TikTok followers), Alyssa McKay (1.6 million TikTok followers), Anthony Cervantes (2.8 million TikTok followers), and Ryan Cea (342,000 TikTok followers).

United Talent Agency

Ali Berman and Greg Goodfried (coheads of digital talent) and agents: Ty Flynn, Austin Mayster, Rebecca Bibb, and Samantha Schoenberg

United Talent Agency represents artists and other professionals in the entertainment industry, from Ali Wong to Timothée Chalamet. Established in 1991, UTA is among the major Hollywood talent agencies and has developed a digital talent department focused on building businesses for top creators. 

Ali Berman and Greg Goodfried, coheads of digital talent 

Berman and Goodfried signed the most popular family on TikTok, the D'Amelios, early this year.

Berman and Goodfried introduced Charli D'Amelio to Prada, making her the first TikTok talent to partner alongside a designer fashion brand and marking Prada's first-ever partnership with an influencer. 

Her sister Dixie recently partnered with Ralph Lauren and will continue to work with several major brands later this year. Their parents Marc and Heidi have also established strong TikTok fan bases each with millions of followers. 

Berman has also helped talent who began their careers on traditional media elevate their profiles on TikTok. She represents actress and recording artist Sofia Wylie, who now has 6.2 million followers on TikTok. She is currently starring in the Disney Plus show, "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series."

Goodfried also represents Jalaiah Harmon, who is known online for creating the popular TikTok dance, the "Renegade." Recently, Harmon performed at the 2020 NBA All-Star game.

Ty Flynn, agent

Flynn represents Maggie Thurmon (1 million TikTok followers), who he recently signed over Zoom. 

Austin Mayster, agent

Mayster represents a variety of TikTok creators including Lauren Godwin (18.9 million TikTok followers), Sebastian Bails (10.4 million TikTok followers), and Benji Krol (8 million TikTok followers).

He recently signed Godwin, who is known for her comedic videos and skits. Mayster closed a deal for Godwin to partner with LG Electronics for TikTok campaigns such as the LG Dual Screen Challenge in support of the LG V60 ThinQ Dual Screen smartphone. 

Rebecca Bibb, agent 

Bibb represents TikTok creators like Alex French (3 million TikTok followers).

Bibb worked with Goodfried and agent Samantha Schoenberg to close a deal for French to partner with beauty brand e.l.f. Cosmetics for a makeup tutorial video and helped French translate her following to Instagram, where she now has over 425,000 followers.

Samantha Schoenberg, agent

Schoenberg recently worked to land French a deal to participate in J.C. Penney's prom 2020 TikTok campaign.

Additionally, Schoenberg and Bibb signed TikTok creator Alyssa Shreeve (883,000 TikTok followers), who is known for her viral story time videos, often told with voiceovers about her everyday life adventures. Shreeve previously partnered with brands including Walmart Beauty, Reebok, and Roxy.

Talent includes: The D'Amelio family (80 million combined TikTok followers), Jacob Sartorius (23 million TikTok followers), Lauren Godwin (18.9 million TikTok followers), Sebastian Bails (10 million TikTok followers), Benji Krol (8 million TikTok followers), Brittany Broski (3.6 million TikTok followers), Alex French (3 million TikTok followers), Jalaiah Harmon (2 million TikTok followers), Maggie Thurmon (1 million TikTok followers), and Alyssa Shreeve (883,000 TikTok followers).

Viral Nation

Ray Ligaya (head of talent relations)

Ray Ligaya is the head of talent relations at the influencer marketing agency, Viral Nation. In his role, Ligaya manages a team of six talent managers, agents, and coordinators who work with dozens of TikTok creators. 

Ligaya's talent relations team supports creators in many areas of business, including brand partnerships, merchandising, acting, and media opportunities. He told Business Insider that his team has driven millions in revenue for Viral Nation in the past few years. 

Ligaya is a Shorty Award nominee and an influencer himself, with 110,000 followers on Instagram. He had over a million followers on Vine before the app shut down. 

Talent includes: Isabella Avila (5.9 million TikTok followers), Letícia Gomes (3.5 million TikTok followers), Jake Maldonado (4 million TikTok followers), and Cole Walliser (5 million TikTok followers).

Whalar Stars

David White (head of influencer management)

David White leads influencer management for Whalar Stars, the in-house talent management division of the influencer marketing firm Whalar. 

White previously served as a senior influencer brand partnership manager at Pulse Advertising and Talent Management. 

In his role as talent management lead, White helped Whalar client Anna O'Brien secure a partnership with the luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana. He also brokered a deal for O'Brien to serve as a brand "ambassador" for Dove.

White recently signed the special effects creator Caleb Natale, who got his start on TikTok creating videos for the movie star Will Smith.

Talent includes: Anna O'Brien (5 million TikTok followers), Caleb Natale (731,000 TikTok followers), Geordi La Corgi (256,000 TikTok followers), and UR Mom Ashley (217,000 TikTok followers).

WME

Agents: Alex Devlin, Joe Izzi, and Justin Greenberg

WME is among the top Hollywood talent agencies, serving clients like Ben Affleck and Amy Adams. The current company was formed in 2009 after William Morris Agency and the Endeavor Agency merged.

In January, WME signed the 17-year-old TikTok star Chase Hudson (who is known online as Lilhuddy and has 18 million followers) and Addison Easterling (who is known as Addison Rae online and has 33 million TikTok followers) and her parents. The agency also represents the Hype House, a popular TikTok "collab house" that Easterling and Hudson are both a part of, alongside Moxie's Erika Monroe-Williams.

WME has begun placing Hudson and Easterling at events, and as seen on Instagram, they have each started to promote brands like Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, and Reebok to their millions of followers.

Joe Izzi and Justin Greenberg, digital talent agents at WME, work to diversify and expand their clients businesses globally across all categories of entertainment. 

Alex Devlin, who is a digicomm agent, works in the intersection of digital and commercials and she brings brand deals to TikTok talent. 

Talent includes: Chase Hudson (18 million followers) and Addison Easterling (33 million TikTok followers) and her parents.

• Apple and Google are working together on a digital contact tracing system that would use Bluetooth technology to alert users when they've been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19.
• The system is opt-in only, meaning users must give their explicit consent and choose to participate in the program.
• Apple and Google are giving public health authorities access to its APIs so that smartphone owners will eventually be able to use the system without downloading an app.
• Both companies say the system was designed with privacy in mind.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In a rare move, Apple and Google will partner on a new technology intended to curb the coronavirus' spread, the companies announced on Friday.

The tech giants are creating a digital contact tracing system powered by a network of smartphones to better help the public understand when they may have been exposed to the virus. The system will enable both iPhones and Android devices to anonymously broadcast signals to other nearby devices using Bluetooth and scan for beacons from other phones in proximity.

Through this technology, Apple and Google aim to implement a system that would make it so that your smartphone can notify you if you've recently been in contact with a potentially contagious person, while trying to avoid compromising user privacy.

Here's a closer look at everything we know about Apple and Google's contact tracing system so far.

SEE ALSO: Zoom could be the next great video chat app, but rampant security concerns have left room for Microsoft to swoop in

The project is being rolled out in two phases.

The first will require that those who want to opt into the program download an app distributed by a public health authority. Apple and Google are making their application programming interfaces, or tools that enable apps to use certain aspects of an operating system, available for public health authorities in May. 

The second phase will involve Apple and Google building the ability to participate in the program directly into their respective smartphone operating systems, eliminating the need to download an app. This stage is expected to arrive in the coming months.

Both steps will roll out to iOS and Android devices through software updates.

But users will have to provide their explicit consent by opting into the program when it launches if they wish to participate. 

Apple and Google have shared some clarity on how they plan to address older devices that may not be supported by future software updates. Google has said that it will be distributing these updates through Google Play Services updates rather than traditional operating system updates, which should allow it to address a broad swath of Android devices. 

Apple has said it hopes to address as many devices as it possibly can, although it has an advantage in the fact that iOS is far less fragmented and many iPhones in use already run on the same software. As of January 2020, 77% of devices introduced in the last four years were running on iOS 13, Apple's latest software, according to the company. 

The idea of contact tracing through smartphones isn't new.

Contact tracing is the process of monitoring the people that an infected person may have come into contact with so that those people can take the appropriate steps should they develop symptoms.

This is typically done manually, but there's been a growing interest in utilizing smartphones for this purpose recently as the coronavirus has spread. Singapore recently launched a contact tracing app called TraceTogether that also uses Bluetooth signals, and the French government also said its working on an app to warn users if they've come into contact with an infected individual. 

The nonprofit Pan-European Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing project, which was developed by 130 European technologists and scientists and unveiled earlier this month, also  uses Bluetooth low energy signals to enable smartphones to anonymously communicate and alert users when they may have been exposed to the virus.

With their system, Apple and Google hope to encourage widespread adoption by making one large network that works across iOS and Android and doesn't require the user to download an app. 

Here's how Apple and Google's system will work.

Apple and Google's contact tracing system will use Bluetooth low energy signals to enable smartphones to simultaneously broadcast and scan for beacons coming from nearby devices.

That means the system would never use location data since it relies on these anonymous keys being sent out from nearby smartphones to determine your proximity to a potentially contagious person.

Here's an example of what a scenario in which the system is used could look like. A man and a woman are sitting on a park bench and have a brief, 10-minute conversation. Their phones exchange anonymous keys via Bluetooth that don't include any identifiable information. 

The man is later diagnosed with COVID-19 after testing positive, and he enters this information into the app he's downloaded from a public health authority. The man gives the app permission to send the last 14 days worth of keys for his broadcast beacons to a server, where they're stored for 14 days.

Meanwhile, the woman's phone periodically checks keys from the server and downloads them to her phone. That list of keys from the server is then checked against the keys that the woman's phone has collected while in proximity to other devices. 

Since she was recently in proximity to the man who tested positive who chose to share his keys to the server, the system would then find a match in the list of keys her phone collected and the list of keys from downloaded from the server. This matching process is done locally on her device.

The woman would then receive a notification from a public health authority alerting her that she's been  in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. That notification would include  a link directing her to a health authority app or website where she can find more information. 

The companies say the system has been built with privacy in mind.

Apple and Google say the system has many protections in place to ensure that privacy isn't compromised. 

First, the user will have to opt in to use the service, even when the second phase rolls out and it's baked into the operating system. Both companies say the system is designed to be opt-in only, and governments won't be able to mandate use of the technology.

The keys being broadcast from the user's device do not contain any identifiable information; they're just a string of numbers. The identities of people who have tested positive would not be revealed to other users or to Apple and Google.

These keys also change every 15 minutes, so it wouldn't be possible to track a device for an extended period of time. And again, the system doesn't use any location data. 

There also isn't a centralized server where the keys are stored long-term, and the key-matching process also occurs on the user's device locally. 

Apple and Google are only offering these APIs to public health authorities, and the companies can disable the beacon broadcasting system when it's no longer needed.

They've also thought about how to prevent false positives, although it's not entirely clear how the system will do so in practice.

Namely, what's to stop someone from saying they have COVID-19 when they in fact don't.

A Google representative said the team has considered using a system in which some external verification from a healthcare professional is required. For example, one idea could involve scanning a QR code from your doctor after testing positive for COVID-19 in order to verify this within the app.  

But this will only work if a lot of people adopt it and widespread testing becomes available.

For Apple and Google's system to meaningfully help in slowing the spread of COVID-19, two key things need to happen: The system must be widely-used, and there must be widespread testing. 

The former point is a big part of the reason why Apple and Google have stressed in their joint announcement that the system was built with privacy in mind. The latter will likely be a significant challenge in getting the system to work to its full potential, as the United States has struggled to make COVID-19 testing available broadly.

• Silicon Valley might be competitive, but it also appears to be a breeding ground for friendships among its famous execs.
• It makes sense: the tech world is home to some of the richest people in the world, and life can probably get a little lonely at the top. 
• Elon Musk, for example, is close friends with Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, as well as Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey. 
• Larry Ellison gave a eulogy at Steve Jobs' funeral, and he also has a love/hate relationship with cloud rival Marc Benioff. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Elon Musk and Larry Ellison. Jeff Bezos and Barry Diller. 

What do all these high-profile pairings have in common? They're all close friendships within the world of tech. 

Silicon Valley may be known for its competitive spirit, but it's also fostered several years-long friendships among some of its most famous executives. Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett, for example, have been buddies for nearly 30 years. And Larry Ellison and Marc Benioff have been friends for decades, even though their respective enterprise software companies are technically rivals.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has several close pals in tech, including friends he's defended online or taken for Tesla test drives. 

Here's a closer look at some of the friendships among tech CEOs. 

SEE ALSO: From Facebook to Tesla, here are the lesser-known cofounders of some of the biggest tech companies in the world

Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey

While it's not clear if Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey actually hang out in real life, they do seem to have a solid virtual friendship. 

As far back as 2016, Dorsey said Musk was "a really good model" for how to use Twitter. More recently, Dorsey said in an interview that Musk is his favorite Twitter follow, to which Musk responded, "Thanks Jack, Twitter rocks!"

Then, in January, Dorsey and Musk spoke over video chat in front of Twitter employees and Musk gave Dorsey advice on how to improve the platform. 

In March, as Dorsey faces a possible ouster at the hands of an activist hedge fund, Musk publicly tweeted his support of the CEO. 

"Just want to say that I support @jack as Twitter CEO," Musk tweeted. "He has a good <3." 

Jeff Bezos and Barry Diller

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and IAC Chairman Barry Diller appear to have been friends for years. 

In January 2016, Diller correctly predicted that Bezos would become the richest person in the world.

And in the last few years, as Bezos has gone through changes in his personal life, he's been spotted hanging out with Diller and his wife, designer Diane von Furstenberg, more often. Diller and von Furstenberg have reportedly attended multipleparties hosted by Bezos, and Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, have sailed aboard von Furstenberg's yacht. The two couples were also reportedly spotted exploring Venice together.

Larry Ellison and Steve Jobs

Oracle founder Larry Ellison and late Apple CEO Steve Jobs were friends for 25 years before Jobs' death in 2011. 

Ellison and Jobs used to be neighbors in Woodside, California, and the pair often went hiking together. It was during one of those hikes that Ellison helped Jobs plot how to regain control of Apple after he was ousted — Ellison even suggested buying Apple himself and installing Jobs as CEO.

It was Jobs who came up with the idea that Apple should acquire his company, Next, instead. When Ellison questioned how the pair would make money, Jobs said to him, "Larry, this is why it's so important that I'm your friend. You don't need any more money," Ellison said in a commencement speech in 2016. 

Ellison said he spent time with Jobs in his final days, taking shorter walks around the block with him as he became weaker. Ellison gave a eulogy at Jobs' funeral. 

Elon Musk, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin

Elon Musk has been friends with the cofounders of Google for a long time.

In the early days of Musk's tenure at the electric car maker, he took Brin and Page on a test drive. Unfortunately, a software bug prevented the car from going any faster than 10 miles per hour, Musk recounted at a company shareholder meeting in 2016. Despite "the world's worst demo," however, the duo ended up investing in Tesla anyway, Musk said. 

Over the years, Musk and Page especially have become close friends — Musk even sometimes sleeps at Page's house when he's in town, and Page once said he'd rather leave his money to Musk than give it away to charity.

Brin, Page, and Musk also reportedly used to hang out in a Google-owned apartment and brainstorm ideas. 

"It's fun for the three of us [including Google cofounder Sergey Brin] to talk about kind of crazy things, and we find stuff that eventually turns out to be real," Page told Ashlee Vance, who wrote a 2015 biography about Musk.

Larry Ellison and Marc Benioff

Ellison and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff met when Benioff began working at Oracle when he was 23. He was a star early on, earning a "rookie of the year" award that same year and becoming Oracle's youngest VP by age 26. He spent 13 years at Oracle, during which he became a trusted lieutenant to Ellison. 

The pair became such close friends that rumors swirled about their relationship's backstory — people wondered if they were related, or if Ellison had been Benioff's childhood babysitter. Ellison and Benioff took trips together, sailed on Ellison's yacht, and went on double dates. 

Benioff began working on Salesforce with Ellison's blessing, and Ellison became an investor, putting in $2 million early on. 

The duo has publiclyfeuded over the years — including when Benioff fired Ellison from Salesforce's board — but Benioff has also described Ellison as his mentor. 

"There is no one I've learned more from than Larry Ellison," Benioff said in 2013.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates met in 1991 when Buffett was invited over to Gates' mother's house. Neither man was very interested in meeting the other, but they ended up hitting it off. Soon after, Gates asked Buffett for a business book recommendation, and Buffett loaned him his copy of "Business Adventures" by John Brookes — Gates still has it today. 

Since then, the duo has done everything from play table tennis together to participate in Berkshire Hathaway's annual newspaper toss competition. And Gates, his wife Melinda, and Buffett launched the Giving Pledge together in 2010, vowing to give away the majority of their wealth in their lifetimes or in their wills. 

While Buffett owns a major stake in Apple, he's said that he'll never invest in Microsoft due to his friendship with Gates. 

Larry Ellison and Elon Musk

Ellison and Musk appear to be two of the friendliest CEOs in tech, if their relationships with Benioff and Jobs, and Page, Brin, and Dorsey are any indication. So it's not much of a surprise that the two moguls are "very close" friends with each other, too. 

Back in 2018, when Ellison was named to Tesla's board of directions, he highlighted his relationship with Musk. 

"I think Tesla has a lot of upside," Ellison said at the time. "I am not sure how many people know, but I'm very close friends with Elon Musk, and I'm a big investor in Tesla."

It makes sense that Ellison and Musk would get along well, as they're two of the most colorful personalities in tech. Ellison owns an entire $300 million island in Hawaii, likes to race yachts, and doesn't mind trash-talking his competitors. Musk spends his money on rare cars, has had multiple high-profile relationships, and is often outspoken on Twitter. 

Mark Zuckerberg and Drew Houston

Dropbox CEO Drew Houston and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg have apparently been friends for years, with the former often turning to the latter for advice. 

"[Zuckerberg's] given me a lot of advice just on company scaling, how do you organize people, how do you set up these systems," Houston told Bloomberg in 2015.

That same year, a Fast Company profile on Dropbox described Houston as a "close friend" of Zuckerberg's. The pair has been photographed together everywhere from Houston's birthday party at a ping-pong club to the prestigious Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. 

This past February, Houston was appointed to Facebook's board of directors. 

"Drew brings valuable perspective to our board as a leader of a technology company with services used by millions of people and businesses," Zuckerberg said in a statement at the time. "He thinks deeply about where technology is going and how to build a culture that delivers services that always work well."

Kevin Systrom and Jack Dorsey

Instagram founder Kevin Systrom and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey started out as close friends, but it's hard to tell where they stand these days.  

According to the book "No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram" by Sarah Frier, the pair met when they were early employees at Odeo, the audio and video site created by eventual Twitter cofounders Ev Williams and Noah Glass. Dorsey expected to dislike Systrom when he joined as a summer intern in the mid-2000s, but the pair ended up bonding over photography and expensive coffee. 

Systrom and Dorsey stayed in touch even after Systrom got a full-time job at Google — he was an early proponent of Twitter (then known as Twttr) and when Systrom was working on Burbn, the precursor to Instagram, he reached out to Dorsey for guidance. Dorsey ended up becoming an early investor, putting in $25,000. When Burbn pivoted to Instagram, Dorsey became one of the app's biggest fans, cross-posting his Instagrams to Twitter and helping the app go viral soon after it launched. Dorsey eventually attempted to buy Instagram, but Systrom declined, saying he wanted to make Instagram too expensive to be acquired, according to Frier. 

But the Dorsey-Systrom relationship appeared to have soured in 2012, when Dorsey found out through the grapevine that Instagram had signed a deal to be acquired by Facebook, Twitter's biggest rival. According to Frier, Dorsey was hurt that Systrom hadn't called him to discuss the deal, or to negotiate one with Twitter instead.

Dorsey hasn't posted to his Instagram account since April 9, 2012, when he snapped a photo of an unusually empty San Francisco city bus — according to Frier, it was taken the morning he found out Instagram had sold. 

• New cruises could be banned from sailing in US-controlled waters until July.
• But some ships are still at sea.
• Do you work in the cruise industry? Do you have an opinion on how your company or the industry as a whole has handled the coronavirus? Email this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The novel coronavirus has put much of the cruise industry on hold as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have banned new sailings in US-controlled waters until as late as July. But some ships will remain at sea in the coming days as they finish their itineraries.

A representative for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a trade association for the cruise industry, said on March 31 that 3.6% of the 277 ships operated by its member cruise lines had not yet completed their itineraries, as of March 30. The CLIA did not immediately respond to a request for an update on that number.

These six cruise ships are still at sea as the industry deals with the fallout from the coronavirus.

Do you work in the cruise industry? Do you have an opinion on how your company or the industry as a whole has handled the coronavirus? Email this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: Working on a cruise ship can be brutal — but 2 lawyers who represent cruise workers explain why even terrible cruise-ship jobs can be attractive

Pacific Princess

Cruise line: Princess Cruises

The Pacific Princess is headed to Los Angeles with a planned arrival of date near April 20, Princess said on April 6. Those plans have not changed, a Princess representative said on Monday.

Queen Mary 2

Cruise line: Cunard Line

After a significant majority of its passengers left the ship in mid-March, the Queen Mary 2 was heading to Southampton, England, with 264 passengers on board, a Cunard Line representative said on March 30. The company did not immediately respond to a request for an update on the ship's status, though Newsweek reported on April 3 that the Queen May 2 was set to dock in Southampton around the middle of April.

MSC Magnifica

Cruise line: MSC Cruises

After stopping in Sri Lanka, the MSC Magnifica is heading to Europe, an MSC Cruises representative said on Tuesday. None of the ship's passengers or crew members are sick, the representative added.

Columbus

Cruise line: Cruise & Maritime Voyages

The Columbus will arrive in Tilbury, England, on Tuesday, a Cruise & Maritime Voyages representative said. No one on the Columbus has tested positive for COVID-19, the representative added.

Hanseatic Nature

Cruise line: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

The Hanseatic Nature's guests have left the ship, though crew members are still on board as it heads to Hamburg, Germany, for a scheduled April 20 arrival, a Hapag-Lloyd Cruises representative said on Tuesday.

Costa Deliziosa

Cruise line: Costa Cruises

The Costa Deliziosa is planning to disembark 168 of its 1,815 passengers in Spain on April 19 or 20, a Costa Cruises representative said on Tuesday, and the company is in discussions with authorities in France and Italy to allow other passengers to leave the ship.

The ship "does not present any public health concerns," the representative said.

• Read more:
• All the cruise ships that have had confirmed cases of COVID-19 onboard
• Cruise lines told ship workers to carry on as normal as the coronavirus spread. Now, many crew members are infected or unemployed.
• Leaked memo reveals cruise industry giant MSC will not be paying some crew members stuck onboard its ships
• Inside the deadly voyage of 2 Holland America cruises stricken with coronavirus and stranded at sea for weeks with hundreds of sick passengers

• Mott & Bow is a direct-to-consumer basics startup that makes affordable premium denim for men and women, starting at $96.
• The jeans feature a small amount of elastane for stretch, making them more comfortable and easy to move in than traditional raw denim options, but not so fitted that they're skin-tight.
• We asked four guys on the Insider Reviews team to test different styles, and everyone was impressed by the extreme comfort that a little bit of stretch offered.
• Mott & Bow also offers a unique home try-on program that lets you choose a second pair of jeans in a different size to try for free. Send the pair you don't want back for free with a pre-paid label.

A good pair of jeans is one of, if not the most, quintessential wardrobe staple.

Whether worn for style or comfort, at least one pair can be found in almost anyone's closet. But as common as jeans are, not all denim is created equally. 

Founded in 2013 with the goal of making luxury-grade jeans at reasonable prices, Mott & Bow has been leading the way in the world of denim with its easy-to-wear, relatively affordable styles (nearly all under $125).

To get the most comfortable fit possible, Mott & Bow's denim is blended with a small amount of elastane for stretch. Adding a little bit of stretch to denim isn't revolutionary by any means, but Mott & Bow just managed to do it incredibly well with fits that don't look too tight. I asked four guys who are new to Mott & Bow's jeans to try a pair, we all found the elastane to make a huge difference. You can read our first-hand reviews below, but suffice it to say that if you're looking for comfortable denim, Mott & Bow's are worth the cost. 

And, rather than letting heavy machinery do all the work, Mott & Bow uses artisan techniques to make its denim, like hand-scraping the material for distressed looks. The company also sources denim from the best mills in the world and pays close attention to the often-overlooked details of the production process.No corners are cut when it comes to textiles or production, but it's the company's direct-to-consumer business model that allows them to maintain fair prices.

It goes without saying that buying jeans without trying them on can be a bit tricky. We've all gone through the trouble of having to return and re-order jeans or preemptively buy multiple pairs with the intention of returning some later. Luckily, Mott & Bow is helping you avoid that with its home try-on program.

The way it works is when you buy a pair of jeans, you can choose a second waist size for free. Mott & Bow will send you both pairs so that you can decide which one fits you best from the comfort of your home. Once you've made a decision, you can send the second pair back for free using the pre-paid label included in the box. This is a great service for first-time buyers or people who've changed in size since the last time they've bought jeans.

Mott & Bow sent us some jeans to try out — and they definitely stand up to the hype. Starting at $96, Mott & Bow does cost more than classics like Levi's or Gap, but we've found them to be an overall better buy, and not unreasonably priced for the quality. 

If you're looking for jeans that are comfortable, require no break-in time, and are fairly priced, we highly recommend giving Mott & Bow a try.

Read on to see our full thoughts below or click here to start shopping for jeans at Mott & Bow.

Mott & Bow Skinny Warren in Medium Blue

Skinny Warren in Medium Blue, $128

It's been about a year and a half since I first learned about Mott & Bow. Ever since I reviewed its dress shirts and T-shirts— two products outside of its main product offering — I've had the inclination that the jeans would be were great, too. After trying them out for myself, I completely understand why my colleagues have raved about its denim in the past. 

What I like best about them is that they're comfortable on the first wear. I love Selvedge denim, but they usually take a lot of wears to truly become comfortable. Mott & Bow, on the other hand, feels more like soft cotton than hard denim.

I ordered my normal denim size and the sizing was spot on. While I was happy with the fit of the Skinny Warren, it is worth noting that these aren't the skinniest skinny jeans I've worn. If you have a slim build like me and you're going for a skin-tight fit, Mott & Bow probably doesn't have much for you.

I used to never spend more than $50 or $60 on denim, probably because of my own frugal-ness, but I've come to appreciate better-made denim and understand the value you get when paying more. Mott & Bow, without a doubt, is one of those brands where your dollar goes a long way in terms of quality and comfort — you're not just paying for the logo of a legacy or designer denim brand. — Amir Ismael, Insider Reviews reporter

Mott & Bow Slim Wooster in Dark Blue

Slim Wooster in Dark Blue, $118

I tried Mott and Bow's Slim Wooster at first, but ended up going for the Skinny Wooster instead. They both have a tremendous amount of stretch but manage to (mostly) retain their shape. This was my first time trying them, and they'll likely be my go-to this summer for bike commuting.

That said, there are a few things you should know before you buy. Mott & Bow's slim jeans fit more like straight, and the skinny fit is closer to slim. If you're deciding between the two, I suggest going for skinny.

I also found that ordering an inch smaller than my normal waist size was best for me. When I tried my normal waist size, they were too loose — especially because even though they hold their shape, they may stretch out a quarter to a half of an inch over the course of a day. Granted, that may not be the case for you, but that's where the home try-on program is most useful.

I typically wear a 30" inseam, but Mott and Bow only offers the Skinny Wooster with a 32" length, so I needed to get the jeans hemmed at my local tailor.

To be frank, even after I found the right size and style, I wasn't crazy about the fit of these, but the phenomenal stretch makes up for that. On days when I'm riding my bike and need the additional range of motion and comfort, I'll likely choose these over anything else in my closet. On other days, I'll go with Everlane's Slim Denim— they're a little more than half the price, and while they aren't as stretchy, they're far and away my favorite jeans, especially given the $68 price. — David Slotnick, senior transportation reporter

Mott & Bow Slim Benson in Light Blue

Slim Benson in Light Blue, $118

Mott & Bow undoubtedly makes high-quality jeans, but the sizing can be a little tricky. I typically avoid skinny jeans, and stick to standard or straight cuts because I don't like to feel constrained. I tried the middle-ground Slim Benson option in a light blue, and coming from someone who's closet is stocked with jeans from the Gap and Costco, these were clearly a superior cut of denim.

However, if you are like me and avoid unnecessarily tight jeans, I'd recommend sizing up and sticking to the straight cut for peak comfortability. If you're willing to put in the time to try out a few different sizes and styles, Mott & Bow is an excellent option. — Danny Bakst, Insider Reviews senior content producer

Mott & Bow Skinny Oliver in Raw

Skinny Oliver in Raw, $108

I don't tend to be a fan of elastane (stretchy) jeans. Call me old school, or whatever you will, but I like good old-fashioned 100% denim. Or at least I thought that was all I wanted to wear, until I tried a pair from Mott & Bow.

I'm not tossing my raw Cone Mills denim away, but I will say that the 1% of elastane that Mott & Bow tosses into their Oliver jeans makes a huge difference. I'm undoubtedly much more comfortable in them, and the inside has a brushed-cotton-like finish that reminds me of the coziest blankets I've ever slept in.

I found sizing to be fairly spot on for me, but I have a scarecrow-like figure that only disagrees with jeans that tend to be on the baggier side of what's promised. I've had skinnier jeans in the "skinny" department, but these fit my cadaverous frame just right, more or less. I've had them a month or so, and they seem to be holding up pretty well. — Owen Burke, Insider Reviews senior reporter

• The coronavirus crisis forced startups to scramble for ways to cut costs, including drastic headcount reductions.
• But some startup CEOs and founders have opted to make layoffs a last option as they try to survive the crash. Some have even vowed not to cut anyone. We talked to 6 CEOs and founders who have made protecting their employees' jobs a priority in navigating the downturn.
• Emil Mikhailov, CEO of XIX, a San Francisco visual AI startup, told his employees: "Think about the pay cut you can comfortably take without compromising the needs of your families. There are no right or wrong numbers - whatever decision you'll take is the right one."
• Gleb Budman, CEO of Backblaze, also told his employees that "things are fine" and that there will be no layoffs. A key reason, he said, is that the data storage startup strived to be a "cockroach," a resilient, financial robust startup. "It doesn't sound as flattering as a unicorn, but it survives a nuclear war," he told Business Insider.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

As the coronavirus crisis escalated in March, Emil Mikhailov, CEO of the AI startup XIX, sent an email to his employees, warning them to prepare for a recession when their top priority will be to "to survive the storm." 

"It's not clear what is going to happen," he wrote.

Then he made a vow: "We as a team will not lose anyone. We will sacrifice short-term to make sure everyone is OK."

The downturn has upended the world of startups, many of which are scrambling for ways to cut expenses, including layoffs. But some startups are stressing the need to protect their employees' jobs as they figured out ways to survive the downturn. 

Some CEOs and founders, like Mikhailov, have even promised not to cut anyone.

Cutting headcount to survive this crisis has become a controversial subject in the startup world.  Sequoia Capital, one of the most prominent venture capital firms in the world, drew criticism for its "Black Swan letter," which cited headcount as one of the areas that startups could "evaluate critically whether you can do more with less and raise productivity."

One startup CEO argued that the letter created a "herd mentality" that prompted some startups to prioritize job cuts in responding to the crisis.

Another VC firm, Sapphire Ventues, shared its tips in "Considerations For When Letting People Go" which encouraged startups to consider other cost-cutting strategies "before taking the unpleasant step of letting people go," such as company wide pay cuts and reducing the salaries of CEOs and top executives.

These 6 startup CEOs shared their strategies for avoiding laying people off as they navigate the downturn:

XIX CEO Emil Mikhailov: 'DM me the pay cut you can comfortably take.'

Emil Mikhailov, CEO and founder of XIX, sent a grim email to his employees last month as the coronavirus crisis was intensifying.

"People are losing their jobs, companies go bust, the economy is going into the recession and it's not clear what is going to happen," he said.

He then laid out the game plan for the 9-person San Francisco visual AI startup. There will have to be deep cuts in their operating expenses and salaries. But Mikhailov made one vow: no layoffs.

In an offbeat move, he asked his employees to "think about the pay cut you can comfortably take without compromising the needs of your families."

"DM me once you come up with the number," he said, asking his team to send their recommended cut via direct message. "There are no right or wrong numbers - whatever decision you'll take is the right one."

XIX has only 9 employees which made the adjustments more manageable, he said. Mikhailov, whose startup has worked pro bono with a nonprofit group battling human trafficking, said he took a pay cut of at least 50%. Most of his employees took at least a 15% cut each.

His message to his team was to specify a pay reduction that's manageable so they don't have to be stressed out about "putting food on the table," he told Business Insider.

"There are things that we can control, and things that you cannot," he said. "We'll focus on things that we can control to weather the storm and go through it."

Still, it is a time of uncertainty, Mikhailov said. "All my personal insecurities sort of come up," he said. "You're always worried about the fact that you know despite the best effort and how hard you work and how well your intentions are, some things will just not work out, even if you  give 110%. That is my biggest fear."

Celonis CEO Alexander Rinke: 'We are in the right boat to weather the storm.'

Celonis CEO Alexander Rike said he knew the startup's nearly 900 employees had many worries about the pandemic, including their jobs.

So he quickly made it clear to them: "We are in the right boat to weather the storm. We are not going to do any layoffs here."

The Munich-based startup, which uses AI to help businesses analyze and improve their networks, just raised $290 million in Series C funding in November, boosting the startup's valuation to $2.5 billion.

That's certainly helping them stay afloat in the crisis, but Rinke said Celonis has long been careful about its finances. The startup has been cash flow positive (which is different than profitable) every year since it launched in 2011.

He said other Silicon Valley startups became "reckless" and "didn't care about managing resources in a stable way."

"We're in a very different spot because we have a solid business model that we can sustain through good and bad times," he told Business Insider.

Backblaze CEO Gleb Budman: 'A cockroach, not a unicorn.'

Gleb Budman, CEO and co-founder of Backblaze, knows what economic downturns are like. The coronavirus crisis is his third.

He was one of the thousands who got laid off at Excite during the dot-com crash when the iconic dot-com startup "vaporized," as he put it. He launched Backblaze, a cloud storage startup, in 2007, at possibly the worst possible time — just as the Great Recession was starting.

But when the COVID-19 crisis hit, Budman and his team were prepared.  "We've told people, 'things are fine,'" he told Business Insider. There will be no layoffs, he announced to the Silicon Valley startup's 150 employees.

One reason is that the data storage startup's business model is based on recurring subscription revenue. Budman cited another factor: instead of aiming to become a unicorn, a startup valued at $1 billion or more, he and his team aspired to be a cockroach, a resilient, financially robust startup.

"It doesn't sound as flattering as a unicorn, but it survives a nuclear war," he said.

Budman said his past experiences taught him to pay close attention to the financial health of his company and to have a clear idea where it was headed. 

"Unless the business itself completely falls off a cliff, there's no reason for us to cut costs," he said. "We always wanted visibility to make sure we didn't have to lay anyone off because we didn't have enough money."

That made Budman cautious of the exuberance caused by an environment where startups were raising tens and even hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital investments.

"Sometimes it causes this idea that money will always be free and available," he said. "And that's risky."

Freshworks CEO Girish Mathrubootham: 'No one left behind strategy.'

Freshworks CEO Girish Mathrubootham said his team moved quickly to rein in expenses to adapt to the crisis.

They drafted a game plan to "conserve cash," paused hiring, and postponed merit increases. But he said the customer engagement startup adopted a "no-one-left-behind" strategy.

"We have pledged a no-layoff policy," he told Business Insider. The company is even paying the salaries of house-keeping, food delivery and other staff "even if they are employed by outside vendors."

Mathrubootham is worried about how the crisis will unfold. He is a veteran of both the dot-com crash and the Great Recession. These were devastating for startups, but "the entire world did not shut down."

That's his biggest concern with the current downturn. "Nobody really knows how bad this is going to be for the economy," he said.

Gnowbe CEO So-Young Kang: 'Cuts in pay, not headcount.'

So-Young Kang, CEO of Gnowbe, said the Singapore e-learning platform drafted several plans to deal with the coronavirus crisis. One of their key goals is to minimize headcount reductions.

She said their hope is that the startup, which offers businesses to short online courses, can push forward with their plans for the year. That's Plan A, she said. 

But if there is a slowdown in their business, the company, which has 26 employees, is prepared for possibly two rounds of salary reductions. A first round, or Plan B, would affect members of the executive team. If that is not enough, Gnowbe will go to Plan C where the startup's rank-and-file staff will also take a hit.

So far, the startup is focused on Plan A, Kang said. She said her team is looking to raise more financing to avoid pay cuts.

"We are currently raising to minimize the need to go to Plans B and C," she told Business Insider.

Wisy CEO Min Chen: 'The whole team is taking a hit.'

Wisy CEO Min Chen said she and her three cofounders took a pay cut early this year as the coronavirus crisis was starting. Eventually, everyone in the Silicon Valley data analytics startup, which has 10 employees, took a cut.

"The whole team is taking a hit because no one wants to leave anyone out," she told Business insider. 

Chen was born in China but grew up in Panama, where she lived through the turmoil of the 1989 US invasion. She said she and her co-founders are "wartime survivors" who endured the violence and the disruption of that period.

"That experience, somehow, has prepared us for this crisis," she told Business Insider. "We come from places where there was nothing, even in times of prosperity."

• Walmart, Target, CVS, and Rite Aid updated Business Insider on the status of their efforts with the White House to set up coronavirus test sites. 
• Fewer than 25 testing sites are now open, but retailers say more are planned in the coming weeks.
• The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump announced plans in mid-March to launch more coronavirus testing sites with the help of major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, and CVS.

One month later, fewer than 20 of these sites are operating. But retailers say more test sites are in the works. 

Here's an update on where things stand from each company partnering with the White House to expand coronavirus testing.

SEE ALSO: Walmart is making it easier for at-risk shoppers to access groceries without ever having to enter a store

Walmart

Walmart currently has three coronavirus test sites open.

The company plans to have more than 20 coronavirus testing sites operating in at least 10 states by the end of April, the company told Business Insider on Monday.

"We currently have three sites open, and we have plans to expand testing to multiple sites next week with the goal of having more than 20 sites in more than 10 states by the end of the month," a Walmart spokesperson said. "We have been learning a lot from our initial sites so that we can get the model right and are working hard to help expand testing in areas of need as quickly as possible."

The spokesperson added: "We remain committed to supporting government efforts to expand COVID-19 drive-thru testing during this critical time, and we are working closely with Quest Diagnostics, HHS, and several states to open sites in areas of need."

The sites are staffed by the US Department of Health and Human Services, as well as Walmart pharmacists who volunteered to support the locations.

Rite Aid

Rite Aid said Tuesday that it's planning to open drive-up coronavirus testing sites in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut, and Virginia. The new sites will open in the next several weeks, the company said. 

Rite Aid is currently operating just two testing sites in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

These sites offer self-swab nasal tests — meaning patients obtain their own nasal samples with a swab — which are overseen by Rite Aid pharmacists.

"Through our partnership with the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and with tremendous support from state and local officials, we will significantly expand COVID-19 testing to more than 5,000 tests daily in our country's key hot spots when fully operational," Heyward Donigan, Rite Aid president and CEO, said in a statement.

To receive a test, people must pre-register online and schedule an appointment. The tests are free for people who meet criteria for testing laid out by the Centers for Disease Control. 

Walgreens

Walgreens recently said it was planning to open 15 drive-thru testing locations across seven states. 

The company said it would be able to test up to 3,000 people per day across these additional sites, which were expected to begin operating last week. 

The company did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the status of the sites.

"We have learned a tremendous amount since opening our first government-run drive through testing location on March 21, including the amount of tests we can perform in our parking lots, which we expect to increase by using Abbott's new ID NOW COVID-19 test," the company said in a press release. 

Target

Target said in March that it planned to partner with the federal government to facilitate public access to coronavirus testing centers.

In response to Business Insider's request for comment, Target shared a statement from the company's coronavirus hub on its website.

"Since then, we continue to work with federal, state and local officials and task force partners to identify parking lot locations to serve as temporary testing sites," the company's statement said.

The statement also confirmed that there is currently one open coronavirus testing site in the parking lot of a Chula Vista, California store, which is being operated by the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

"We stand committed to offering our parking lot locations and supporting the efforts of federal, state and local officials, as needed," Target added in its statement.

CVS

CVS has opened three rapid drive-thru testing locations in Georgia, Massachusetts and Rhode Island in collaboration with federal and state officials, a company spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider.

The tests are conducted using the new Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test, which can detect positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in as little as 13 minutes, a CVS press release explained.

"We're in discussions with numerous other states about the potential to open additional sites and we will share more details when they are available," the spokesperson added.

• The Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, a luxury hotel on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, plays on its rich history, gothic architecture, and curated design to offer unique personality without feeling kitschy.
• There are multiple excellent on-site bars and restaurants (including what I consider Chicago's best rooftop bar), which makes the hotel a worthy attraction before you even consider the wide variety of rooms.
• I've stayed at this hotel multiple times and paid rates ranging from $175 to $500 for both standard rooms and suites. Here's why I keep going back, and why it's my top pick to recommend to friends.
• Read all Business Insider hotel reviews here.

A note from your Insider Reviews travel editor: Coronavirus has interrupted travel on a global scale forcing travelers to cancel and reassess plans in the coming weeks and months. We understand that right now is a challenging time to plan travel. But when this time passes and things return to normal, we know you'll be eager to explore the world again.

Whenever that happens for you, and we know it will, we hope our travel content helps you make informed, useful, and inspiring choices on the best places and hotels to book. So whether you use our reviews now, bookmark them for the future, or simply need an escape from the news, we'll continue to share the world with you. In the meantime, we encourage all travelers to stay safe, follow guidelines from the CDC website, and take precautions.

All hotels want to create a "gasp" moment when a guest walks into the lobby.

We've all seen the huge spaces, large hunks of corporate art, and deep crème-colored carpet. We've seen them so often in fact, that for the experienced traveler, they just don't do the trick anymore.

The Chicago Athletic Association, however, from World of Hyatt's Unbound Collection, is the rare hotel that not only creates a sense of wonder when you first enter but manages to deliver it every single time you return.

The hotel is a top-to-bottom rehab of the classic Chicago Athletic Association building, built in the year of the World's Columbian Exposition (1893) in epic gothic style. If you are an architecture fan (likely, as many who come to Chicago are), staying here provides a rare occasion to sleep in an icon.

A flawless 2015 renovation preserved all of the original character but chased away the dust. The rooms, far from standard rectangular boxes, are each wildly unique, paying homage to the hotel's athletic club roots, but in a way that feels sincere.

However, it's the on-site venues that make this hotel my favorite. From a postcard-perfect rooftop bar overlooking Millennium Park to a tiny hidden cocktail lounge serving vintage spirits, this hotel does not take its amenities for
granted.

I've visited on a variety of dates, and have paid both full-price and discounted media rates. Prices tend to be lowest when I've booked just a few days out, as low as $135 for a last-minute King, or as high as $1,000 for an extraordinary suite.

Typically, expect to pay around $250 a night, with prices a bit higher during the summer tourist rush, and lower in winter. But keep an eye out for suites, which are sometimes difficult to fill. I've had surprising success booking a suite that normally sells for $1,200 a night for just $500.

In downtown Chicago, that's an incredible bargain.

Need more Chicago hotel suggestions? Read our list of the best hotels in Chicago.

• The first impression
• The room
• On-site amenities
• What's nearby
• What others say
• What you need to know
• The bottom line
• Book the Chicago Athletic Association starting at $249 per night

Keep reading to see why I was so impressed by the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel 

SEE ALSO: Hotel review: The consistently hip Ace Hotel in NoMad is a go-to base for creative types

SEE ALSO: Hotel review: I spent a night in one of New York's coolest hotels, The William Vale — here's why the Williamsburg hotel is worth the splurge

SEE ALSO: Hotel review: The V Palm Springs is a design-forward boutique hotel you can book for under $100 a night — even on a holiday

Walking into the lobby of the Chicago Athletic Association is like walking into a scene straight out of Harry Potter, minus the children and wand-waving.

The original 1893 lobby is breathtaking, with hand-carved details and beautiful wood everywhere. Huge stone fireplaces are tucked into corners, and old Chicago artifacts hide in plain sight.

Best of all, the lobby serves as one of the property's many bars, so you can hang out and have an great cocktail.

I've found the staff to be professional and eager to assist, but occasionally things get muddled at check-in. If you arrive early, don't expect to be able to get into your room, as there are often communication difficulties between housekeeping and the front desk.

The standard guest rooms are small but well-appointed, with an athletic theme meant to match the hotel's history. But not to worry, by athletic theme, I don't mean sweaty gym socks and low-calorie snacks; but rather, soft leather pommel horses at the end of the beds, bathrobes that look made for boxers, and a subtle masculine vibe that pervades the decor.

This is a hotel that feels high-end without smacking you over the head with "luxury" trimmings, and even small rooms feel carefully thought out and worth the price. Rooms are still relatively new, so nothing has ever seemed overly worn.

The standard King Room I've stayed in most often was exceptionally cozy — and no, that doesn't mean tiny. I was worried upon first glance that the old-fashioned brass bed frame, meant to match the theme, would be horribly squeaky and uncomfortable, but I've always slept well.

However, if you're committed to having a view, you'll want to upgrade. Nearly all standard rooms have interior or light well views, and natural light can be lacking.

Rooms are quiet unless you're on the third floor (closest to street level), or the floor right below the rooftop bar. But even in these locations, sleep was never difficult for me.

With more than a dozen room types, including many different suites, it's possible to stay here multiple times and always have a different experience.

A two-bed junior suite (which I've gotten for as little as $300 a night) has a full living room, entry foyer, huge bathroom, and two large beds.

Compare room types and prices for Chicago Athletic Association on Booking.com

If you're looking for luxury (and willing to pay for it), the Founders Suites are each unique, made from the original club bedrooms. They've got multiple levels, and feel like apartments with windows that open onto the park, fireplaces, and original tile floors.

Bathrooms are a mixed bag, though the products (custom-created by C.O. Bigelow) are delicious.

While the bathrooms are beautifully-tiled, some have walk-in showers that, while comfortable, are not perfectly designed and flood the room.

During one recent stay with a large group of friends, by the third shower, the floors were noticeably wet. Upgraded rooms with bathtubs help solve this problem and are, of course, also quite relaxing.

There can be an unfortunate lack of storage in rooms without built-in closets or large wardrobes. I've never viewed it as a deal-breaker, but if you are a traveler with a large haul or on an extended stay, you might feel frustrated.

I, like many Chicago locals, would put Chicago Athletic Association's on-site dining and drinking up against any other leading venue in Chicago.

The lobby bar is the perfect place for a cocktail and a book, while the busy Game Room bar (which serves a full menu) has vintage pool tables, shuffleboard, and a full indoor sand bocce court.

Cindy's, the expansive rooftop, is always jammed but hotel guests get a cut-the-line pass. Pro-tip, go in colder weather. It's open year-round with large fireplaces outside and servers will bring blankets and hot drinks for an awesome winter moment.

The main restaurant is the Cherry Circle Room, which is one of my favorite spots in Chicago. It's a restored version of the original club dining room and feels like you're having an epic dinner in a 1930s movie. A huge bar winds around the room, and the cocktails, designed by famed Chicago bartender Paul McGee, are pitch-perfect.

For something more casual, there's also Shake Shack in the lobby, and they've partnered with the hotel to offer room service. 

For a really special experience, ask for tickets to the Milk Room, an eight-seat bar in a hidden nook off the lobby. This is one of the most over-the-top cocktail experiences in the world, as the single bartender crafts drinks made with impossible to get spirits — think pre-embargo Cuban rum, bourbon from the 1950s, and liqueurs from the 1930s, all mixed into wonderfully balanced cocktails. You'll pay for it (cocktails run as much as $50) but the experience, along with the time with the engaging and knowledgeable bartenders, is worth the price.

Surprisingly for its identity as an athletic club, Chicago Athletic Association does not have an on-site spa or a particularly impressive fitness facility. But the location across from Millennium Park in the heart of the loop cannot be beaten.

Speaking of what's nearby, the Magnificent Mile is an easy walk to the north, and the museum campus, a quick walk to the south.

And, as previously mentioned, Millennium Park is across the street. The El train is steps from the hotel entrance, and the brand new Riverwalk is only about five blocks out, which is a fantastic place to spend a nice day. 

I'm not the only one who loves this place; Chicago Athletic Association has an 8.9 rating on Booking.com, and a 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor, ranked 55 out of 205 hotels in Chicago.

The only negative feedback matches my experience, which is that check-in can sometimes be delayed, and hotel staff members are occasionally under-trained, in addition to rooms lacking amenities such as dressers of coffee makers.

Otherwise, guests similarly praised the eclectic atmosphere, wonderful food and drink, and excellent location.

Read reviews, compare prices, and book the Chicago Athletic Association on Trip Advisor

Who stays here: Tourists, couples, business travelers and locals looking for a great staycation that's different from standard hotel offerings.

We like: The vintage charm found throughout the property is a delight and never compromises quality.

We love (don't miss this feature!): There is an incredible variety of on-site drinking venues; you could not go to any other Chicago bar during your entire trip and come out ahead.

We think you should know: The hotel charges a $25 per night "Founders Fee," but unlike many other resort fees, this actually offers useful stuff, like skip the line passes to the Art Institute, discounts at cultural institutions, bike borrowing, and the chance to use the historic, restored basketball court.

We'd do this differently next time: Inexplicably for a hotel with such great dining, their in-room dining (and especially in-room drinking) is mediocre. That's because the restaurant group running their great spots doesn't operate in-room dining. Skip it; order a cocktail or two in the lobby and bring it upstairs instead.

If you're looking for a charming, quirky, and relaxing spot that's dripping in Chicago architecture and history, at a comparable price to other well-appointed Chicago hotels, you should strongly consider the Chicago Athletic Association.

It's perfectly located to explore downtown but is also great for a quiet moment in front of the fire with a martini. I would know, it's why I keep going back.

Book Chicago Athletic Association Hotel currently starting at $249 per night

• Historic architecture, a buzzing culinary scene, and close proximity to great coastal scenery all make Charleston, South Carolina a popular year-round destination.
• The city's hotel portfolio is also attractive and showcases small, independent hotels and historic properties, as well as niche offerings from some bigger international brands. 
• Outside of high season and specific festivals, entry-level rooms can be found at four-star hotels between $199 and $349 per night. Our top hotels have been chosen based on recent stays, desirable amenities, as well as reviews from trusted traveler sites.
• Read all Business Insider hotel reviews here.

A note from your Insider Reviews travel editor: Coronavirus has interrupted travel on a global scale forcing travelers to cancel and reassess plans in the coming weeks and months. We understand that right now is a challenging time to plan travel. But when this time passes and things return to normal, we know you'll be eager to explore the world again.

Whenever that happens for you, and we know it will, we hope our travel content helps you make informed, useful, and inspiring choices on the best places and hotels to book. So whether you use our reviews now, bookmark them for the future, or simply need an escape from the news, we'll continue to share the world with you. In the meantime, we encourage all travelers to stay safe, follow guidelines from the CDC website, and take precautions.

Despite a turbulent historic onslaught of hurricanes, fires, and military bombardment, Charleston, South Carolina remains one of the United States' best-preserved historic cities. Tens of buildings date back to the city's earliest colonial days in the mid 17th century, and hundreds of others originate in the early 19th century. 

Modern-day Charleston is relatively low-rise, bereft of skyscrapers or any large-scale, glass and steel business district. There are lots of chic boutiques and galleries, often with historic-looking facades and many visitors come here to step back in time with a romantic vision of the deep south. There's ample wrought ironwork, palmetto palms, elegant mansions, and mint juleps to be enjoyed on a picturesque porch. A scenic harbor, aromas of night-blooming jasmine, and bistros selling local delicacy she-crab soup all add to the charm. 

An increase in tourism has also sparked a rise in hotel development. Most recently, the total for the metro area was around 18,000 total hotel rooms, which is significant for a small city such as Charleston. 

I've been visiting Charleston for over a decade to edit and update guidebooks and have personally visited and stayed in every hotel on this list. These hotels offer the best value and most memorable hospitality experiences in the city. 

In addition to an impressive range of historic properties with preserved features, there also new, contemporary builds to consider. Most of the best hotels in Charleston are located in and around the downtown historic district. 

Traveling elsewhere in the South? Read our list of the best hotels in other popular cities:

• The best hotels in Miami
• The best hotels in New Orleans
• The best hotels in Fort Lauderdale
• The best hotels in Key West

The city is host to some large-scale events that raise accommodation prices across the board, and Charleston is a relatively expensive destination in general, however entry-level rooms at four-star properties can be found between $199 and $349 per night. All choices on this list are based on my own experience reviewing each property, are centrally located with desirable amenities, and incorporate feedback from ratings found on trusted traveler sites such as Trip Advisor and Booking.com. 

These are the best Charleston hotels, sorted by price from low to high.

The Vendue Charleston's Art Hotel

Book The Vendue Charleston's Art Hotel starting at $199

A collection of 18th-century, red-brick warehouses were converted into the two buildings that make up this dynamic, combined boutique hotel and art space. 

Large abstract paintings and sculptures loom over the bright lobby with its marble floor and modernist teal furniture, which gives way to a large gallery space with reclaimed wooden floors, and some 300 pieces of art comparable to any local museum. 

The 84 rooms are evenly split between the two buildings, with many layout variations due to the vagaries of the historic building. However, all boast tastefully-curated period and reproduction furniture, and original artwork adorns evocative exposed brick walls. 

Flagship restaurant, The Drawing Room, is a much-loved local eatery with a tempting new American menu. The rooftop bar is always abuzz and has some of the best views of the Cooper River in town. The hotel also offers free bikes for local exploration 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 25 out of 66 hotels in Charleston

Booking.com Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Pros: The Vendue Charleston's Art Hotel is an excellent boutique hotel with its own art gallery, making it a truly unusual but unique local property.

Cons: Some of the entry-level rooms do not have windows, which make them feel quite small.

The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina

Book The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina starting at $222 per night

Located across the water from downtown Charleston and looking back over its skyline, this upscale resort brings much-welcomed coastal appeal to the city's hotel portfolio. 

A grove of palmetto trees leads up to the property, which basks in maritime-themed luxury. The mahogany-floored lobby sets a ship-shape standard that is maintained throughout the property with white wood accents and a strong boating aesthetic. All but eight of the 92 rooms face the harbor, most with private balconies that are a real boon come sunset. The interiors reflect a high-end seaside cottage, with periwinkle and sea-grass color schemes and polished marble bathrooms. 

Enjoy an evening cocktail on the spectacular poolside veranda, which spans the length of the hotel with classy blue and white sofas where guests recline with drinks from the Tiki Bar. There's also a quiet adults-only pool and a hot tub, as well as the large family pool. A spa and small movie theater complete the main amenities. Seafood stars at the hotel's Charleston Harbor Fish House, while drinks can be had at its sister bar, the Topsail Lounge. Free water taxis and shuttles connect guests to downtown Charleston. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 9 out of 30 hotels in Mount Pleasant (across the harbor from downtown Charleston)

Booking.com Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Pros: Tastefully set across the harbor from downtown Charleston for elevated levels of tranquility and exclusivity, with resort perks like multiple pools, a spa, and a movie theater. 

Cons: The harbor location might seem idyllic at first, but quickly feel inconvenient for nightlife and downtown dining, which are accessible only via water taxi or a relatively long drive.

The Restoration

Book The Restoration starting at $231 per night

In many ways, The Restoration is emblematic of the kind of hotel that best represents the 'New South,' with a look that is design-forward and unmistakably modern but sincerely honors its heritage. 

The hotel is built across a collection of superficially disconnected historic buildings but bridges them in a thoughtful, convenient way. Contemporary and period design flourishes are matched creatively with exposed original brickwork and reclaimed wooden beams.

The hotel has a plum central location, and 54 suites overlook King Street and its environs. It's the only hotel that offers kitchenettes with granite work surfaces and high-end additions such as a coffee bean grinder. There's upscale liquor and ice cream to be consumed, and the indigo blue motif of public spaces carries throughout the hotel. Wooden floors and luxury linens enhance the spacious, chic living and sleeping areas. 

The rooftop pool and terrace are both tranquil escapes, as is the hotel's Amethyst Spa with its organic body scrubs. Complimentary bikes and a happy hour with free wine are both welcome perks. The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Bar attracts as many locals as it does guests, while coffee shop The Rise, and the hotel's library room (complete with ping pong table), are relaxing venues. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 18 out of 66 hotels in Charleston

Booking.com Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Pros: The Restoration is a rare all-suite hotel with a prime location in the heart of Charleston's historic district. The free wine and cheese happy hour each evening is a welcome perk.

Cons: Booking availability can be difficult.

Planters Inn

Book Planters Inn starting at $259 per night

The corner of Market Street and Meeting Street is one of the city's busiest tourist spots, and Planters Inn is a necessary respite. Located in a converted building dating back to 1844, the hotel is Charleston's only esteemed Relais and Chateaux luxury property. 

The exterior is misleadingly modern, but dipping into the lobby, guests are immediately welcomed by Victorian portraits, period fireplaces, and antique rugs.

Four-poster beds and reproductions of wooden furniture await in guest rooms in the main building, which are custom-made by Baker Furniture Company's Historic Charleston Collection. Luxuriously thick drapes, neutral pastel tones, and the hotel's mascot, a thread worn teddy bear, appear in each room. For a more contemporary aesthetic, upgrade to rooms in the attached Piazza Building. All guests are treated to nightly turndown macarons.

Those vintage portraits, as well as studies of horses and bucolic scenes, also adorn the hotel restaurant, The Peninsula Grill, which is famed for its decadent coconut cake. Beyond an atmospheric courtyard, the hotel is otherwise bereft of amenities, focused instead on the undeniably comfortable accommodations. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 9 out of 66 hotels in Charleston

Booking.com Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Pros: Planters Inn is home to Peninsula Grill, one of the city's best restaurants, and rooms are quite plush.

Cons: The hotel does not offer a fitness center or a pool, despite the mid-tier price tag.

The Dewberry

Book The Dewberry starting at $273 per night

Another 're-imagination' of southern hospitality, this time with striking midcentury modern flair, these marble and brick former government offices were transformed into a distinctly stylish retreat. 

The renovation took eight years, with owner John Dewberry actively bucking the trend to contrast the hotel with the contemporary/Antebellum flavors of its peers. Here, tasteful, abstract art from local artists mixes with hand-crafted furniture and light fittings, and every piece was painstakingly collected and combined into a coherent design statement. 

The results add a notably residential feel to guest rooms, with light pouring through floor-to-ceiling windows, alongside various shades of wood grain and warm brass accents, and views of the city and harbor. 

On-site, there is a fitness room, plus the Dewberry Spa, with cypress-paneled treatment rooms. Leisure time is also well spent with complimentary bicycle rentals or cocktails in the commodious Living Room. There's also the full-service restaurant, Henrietta's, which features lovely, dark-wood booths bathed in light for most of the day. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 13 out of 66 hotels in Charleston

Booking.com Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Pros: The Dewberry is a very satisfying stay for guests who value design and aesthetic flourishes.

Cons: Rooms do not have coffee machines and the in-room dining menu is somewhat limited.

Hotel Bennett

Book Hotel Bennett starting at $276 per night

Hotel Bennett is a grand recent arrival to the city's hotel scene that appears outwardly European but skews southern inside. The architectural style is Palladian, with some Venetian symmetry visible in large arched windows. The interior is more elaborate, with regal staircases and murals around the rotunda that serve as the height of Antebellum sophistication. 

Elements of the building's former life as the city library are apparent in the rooms, with small bookshelves peppered among the otherwise modern but traditional decor. Think light blue and cream overtones, floral-patterned carpets, and comfortably large oval bathtubs that epitomize a sense of elegant languor. A high-tech lighting system hands over control of the ambiance to guests. 

Four dining and nightlife options are available at the hotel. High-end New Orleanian cuisine is served at flagship restaurant Gabrielle, which has a standout romantic plaza for outside dining. Fiat Lux offers a Mediterranean menu with rooftop views, and champagne bar Camellia's is a pink-hued delight. Finally, La Patisserie is a cute bakery with pastries and coffees. 

A small spa and fitness room are worth visiting, as is the ninth floor roof terrace with its welcoming heated pool and day cabanas. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 11 of 66 hotels in Charleston

Booking.com Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Pros: Hotel Bennett is one of the larger, full-service hotels in the city, with lots of amenities and dining options, including a roof terrace and heated pool.

Cons: Although the hotel welcomes dogs in theory, the pet policy is somewhat vague about the size.

Zero George Street

Book Zero George Street starting at $299 per night

The three properties that make up this boutique hotel date back to 1804 and sit in a lovely residential neighborhood close to Gadsdenboro Park. Although modern in design, the 16 rooms and public areas incorporate timeless Lowcountry features such as shady piazzas, airy high ceilings, and polished heart of pine floors. 

The hotel also oozes intimacy and romance, with an evocative reception area and carriage house kitchen, as well as a dining room and cozy bar aglow with candlelight. 

As with most historic properties, the rooms differ in size and layout thanks to the respect paid to the original building. Though, they all come with period features including fireplaces, tall ceilings, and those alluring wooden floors. 

For dining, Chef Vinson Petrillo's on-site demonstration kitchen is the heart of the hotel in many ways, and his tasting menu is a treat guests should lean into. When the weather permits, eat outside in the courtyard on fresh-baked breakfast biscuits or delectable seafood; dining here is sure to become a sensuous memory. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 5 out of 66 hotels in Charleston

Booking.com Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Pros: Genuinely memorable dining experiences on-site, and a location close to the downtown culinary scene. 

Cons: Zero Garage Street offers relatively few amenities. For example, guests have to check into a nearby health club for the use of a gym, and only 16 rooms means bookings can fill up quickly.

The Spectator Hotel

Book The Spectator Hotel starting at $319 per night

The roaring twenties is an era less generally explored by hotel interior designers, but that time period's inherent glamour and bonhomie are evoked to no little effect at The Spectator, one of the city's newer properties. 

The lobby-adjacent living room doubles as the hotel bar with low-lit dark wood bookcases, leather sofas, and dark green accents. There's a vague, Art Deco undercurrent too, thanks to contemporary artwork additions from a local collective. 

The guest rooms have a similar feel. I like the teal velvet trimmings on the bed and headboards that give off a strong vintage flavor, all backed by retro light fittings and marble bathrooms with double vanities and walk-in rain showers. 

Food and beverage offerings are limited aside from a somewhat elevated continental breakfast with local pastries. Otherwise, the bar is only set up for (albeit very tasty) craft cocktails. Luckily, the dining options of Market Street and beyond are right outside the doorstep. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 3 of 66 hotels  in Charleston

Booking.com Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Pros: The Spectator Hotel is the only hotel in the city to offer personalized butler service, and the design is truly remarkable.

Cons: The  limited dining options on-site may be disappointing, though many local choices are within easy walking distance.

Belmond Charleston Place

Book the Belmond Charleston Place starting at $329 per night

This hotel, constructed in 1986, is commonly believed to have kickstarted Charleston's hospitality revival. The brickwork facade is relatively modern in looks, but the interior goes full tilt towards an homage to old Charleston opulence, most obviously in the sweeping twin staircases, chandeliers, and decorous floral displays. 

Even entry-level Deluxe Rooms are sizeable and handsome, showcasing a traditional, high-end style with plush paisley-patterned fabrics, heavy curtains, and sturdy, dark wood-framed beds. The bathrooms have a striking herringbone motif and modern rain showers. There's also a Club Level for VIP guests for complimentary beer, wine, and snacks.

The hotel's Charleston Place Spa is one of the most upmarket in town and offers exotic body wraps and private yoga classes. There's also a small gym and bijoux saltwater relaxation pool.

For dining, the hotel's Charleston Grill set culinary standards in town long before the recent arrival of a new wave of world-class eateries. It also offers live jazz, though it serves dinner only. Breakfast and lunch are both available across the courtyard at Palmetto Café. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 14 of 66 hotels in Charleston

Booking.com Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Pros: Belmond Charleston Place is one of the most upscale hotels in the region, and pays true homage to southern hospitality and tradition.

Cons: Prices can rise very high during peak seasons and festivals.

Wentworth Mansion

Book Wentworth Mansion starting at $349 per night

From the exterior alone — an unusual example of the Second Empire's eclectic mix of architectural styles — it's clear that Wentworth Mansion is one of the city's grandest buildings. Inside, the hotel is a monument to stately elegance with original Italian crystal chandeliers and Tiffany glass doors. 

The lobby and library are picture-perfect examples of relaxed sophistication with dark green leather-backed armchairs, decanters of port and brandy, and period bookcases. The most popular public space, though, is the 360-degree cupola, where cocktails can be clinked as the sun sets over the city skyline. 

The rooms (of which there are just 21) are immediately striking with 14-foot ceilings, marble fireplaces, and Victorian furniture. Other lovely additions include window seats and window shutters, walk-in marble showers, and whirlpool baths with artisanal bath salts.

The Wentworth Spa is suitably luxurious, but true indulgence is found at the award-winning restaurant, Circa 1866, in a former carriage house. Chef Marc Collins has been there since its inception almost 20 years ago, serving an immaculate seasonal menu complemented by a 300+ bottle wine cellar. It's a relatively expensive choice, but worth the investment. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 2 out of 66 hotels in Charleston

Booking.com Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Pros: Wentworth Mansion is probably the most upscale hotel in the city, with outstanding interior design, period furniture, and excellent on-site restaurant.

Cons: An upscale reputation can often mean expensive prices. The hotel welcomes dogs, which is a huge plus if you wish to bring one, but some guests have complained about the accompanying noise.