Minority partners in the Mavericks basketball team sue Mark Cuban

Minority partners in the Dallas Mavericks basketball (Hillwood Investment Properties, Ross Perot Jr., etc) have sued majority owner Mark Cuban, alleging that he spent too much money on the team, among other items.

Cuban responded to this idiocy and lawsuit by using a photo of the team winning the 2011 NBA Championship (see above).

Glasgow hairdresser defeats Ralph Lauren

In a defeat for the global brand that has largely gone unnoticed, Lord Glennie of the Court of Session decided that a Glasgow hairdresser was entitled to lease the space in a shopping district, which had been empty for ten years.

Lawyers for Ralph Lauren attempted to bully the court and bully the hairdresser into not allowing this. Lawyers for Ralph Lauren lost this one.




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Gisele Bundchen: The hottest next future supermodel billionaire

We all know Gisele Bundchen (aka Mrs. Brady) is a little on the HOT side, right?

But her personal balance sheet is on fire. Five alarm financial fire.

Her bod made her a multi-millionaire - she has been the highest-paid supermodel since 2004. Now her brain and business savy could make Bundchen the world’s first billionaire supermodel (by the time she turns 32 next summer).

The Brazilian bombshell is branding herself so effectively, via licensing agreements and her own lingerie company, that Forbes estimates she could very well be worth more than a billion dollars in the very future.

Bundchen has been the top-earning model in the world for seven consecutive years, thanks in part to endorsements for labels such as Versace and Dior.

Now you can help her to earn more by buying products from her new eco-friendly cosmetics company (Sejaa Pure Skincare) and also Gisele Bundchen Brazilian Intimates.

Forbes estimates her cumulative earnings over the past ten years at more than $250 million. Bundchen and husband NFL player Tom Brady also have a number of significant real estate investments.

If all of this happens according to Gisele's strategic plan, Bundchen would be Brazil’s first female self-made billionaire.

Where was Warren Buffett?

As readers of Think Billions know and realize, we think Warren Buffett (yes, that Warren Buffett) has been given a completely free pass when it comes to Moody's, the credit scandal and the recent financial meltdown.

Well, now the SEC might not be giving away those free passes away any longer. Statute of limitations nonewithstanding.

Today's Wall Street Journal headline on page c1 reports: Raters Drawing SEC Scrutiny.

"U.S. securities regulators are weighing civil fraud charges against some credit-rating companies [Moody's] for their role in developing the mortgage-bond deals that helped unleash the financial crisis..."

Now, we don't think Uncle Warren will be called in front of a congressional sub-committee anytime soon. Our continued bet is on another appearance on MSNBC with his friends explaining it was really no big deal.

Really.

As part owner of Moody's [via Berkshire Hathaway] the question will remain until the end of time: Where was Warren Buffett?

Congratulations Dallas Mavericks!

Congratulations Dallas Mavericks on winning the 2011 NBA World Championship!


As readers of the Think Billions blog know, we have been frequent critics over the years of Dallas owner Mark Cuban. But because we feel that he did a great job of keeping this team together and keeping them focused, we can easily say.......


Congratulations Dallas Mavericks!!!

The Nice Billionaire That Saves You Money

Yes, there are nice billionaires out there and Eric Lefkofsky is one of them.

It just so happens that this 41-year old family man living in suburban Chicago will be worth $4 billion or so after his start-up company goes public (IPO) later this year.

That company is Groupon of course.

Enjoy the savings North America.

Enjoy the financial rewards, Mr. Lefkofsky.


WSJ article

Should You Short Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) ?

Update On Ralph Lauren (RL) Short

via Serge Berger, Head Trader at Blue Oak Advisors LLC

Billionaires that back "The Weiner"

According to a Forbes blog post, billionaires that have financially supported and/or currently back U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner include:

Sumner Redstone: Net Worth $3.8 billion; Beverly Hills, CA.
Alex Rovt: Net Worth $1.7 billion; Brooklyn, NY

This list is still under development and further research is pending.

Why Does Everybody Love Ralph Lauren?

Everybody loves Ralph Lauren.

Excepting, the Think Billions blog, we suppose.

For some particular reason, there have been an incredible recent flury of articles from Barron's, Forbes, and elsewhere on Ralph Lauren Inc. It is like the Ralph Lauren public relations department is compensated solely by direct article placements these days.

Now, everybody loves Ralph's daughter. There she is on another magazine.

“When your dad is worth $5.8 billion, it’s not like you need to work for a living. But Dylan Lauren, 36, daughter of fashion mogul Ralph Lauren, devotes round-the-clock energy to her ten-year-old retail sweets business, Dylan’s Candy Bar.” (Forbes)

How sweet and touching, Dylan.

Again, we applaud the Lauren public relations department (wherever they are). Really. Here's Dylan, doing her best to increase blood sugar levels and maximize diabetes victims worldwide and nothing but admiration and praise are sent her way. Sweet. Very sweet.

What we at Think Billions don't get is why some enterprising business writer or blogger hasn't looked into Ralph Lauren's business practices over the years. (see Ralph Lauren: Engine of Style )

Yes, we get the part that there are huge advertising budgets at play here. But still, some writer somewhere should consider looking into his business practices and looking into how his business was formed.

It would be a great article, book or even movie.

Best of luck.