• Kids' water shoes help keep sensitive little feet safe against sharp rocks and shells and protected from the hot sand, and they dry off after dips in the pool, lake, or ocean.
• Many kids' water shoes are styled to look like regular footwear, so your children can live in them all summer long.
• The Merrell Little Kid's Bare Steps H2O Sneakers are our top choice because they are comfortable without needing breaking in and stay snug even on the littlest feet.

My family lives about a half-mile from a bay on the North Shore of Long Island, New York, and our summers involve frequent trips to the beaches where we kayak, canoe, swim, and explore. North Shore beaches tend to be littered with rocks and shells, and I wince with most steps despite my callused 36-year-old feet; there's no way I'd ever ask my young kids to walk around on such surfaces without their feet protected, thus along with the sunblock, hats, and life jackets, every trip to the water involves kids' water shoes.

But truth be told, my son and daughter (five and one, respectively, at the time of this writing) get the most use out of their water shoes not during our frequent aquatic adventures, but right in our home's backyard. From playing in their water table to tending the garden (which basically means spilling water and making lots of mud) to running around after a rainstorm, everyday play tends to end up pretty messy in this phase of childhood. When the playing is over for the day, my wife or I can simply hose off their water shoes and let them dry, or toss them in the washing machine if things got truly dirty out there.

Good water shoes have to do at least three things well: They need to protect the bottom of the foot, stay on securely (even during swimming, running, or other high-intensity activities), and they need to dry quickly once out of the water. Great water shoes are comfortable from the first use and even look good, too. It's always a relief as we head out for a day of activities with unknown variables, confident my kids' feet will be protected and will dry fast if a soaking occurs. If their outfits look pretty good, too, then that's more icing on the cake.

While Merrell Little Kid's Bare Steps H2O Sneakers are our top pick for the best kids water shoes overall, for the reasons laid out below, you should also consider the L-Run Kids Aqua Socks, the Sperry Little Kid's Spring Tide Sandals, the Plae SAM 2.0 Sandals, and the Native Jefferson Slip-On Sneaker.

Here are the best kids water shoes you can buy:

• Best kids' water shoes overall: Merrell Little Kid's Bare Steps H2O Sneakers
• Best kids' water shoes for sand: L-Run Kids Aqua Socks
• Best stylish kids' water shoes: Sperry Little Kid's Spring Tide Sandal
• Best kids' water shoes for everyday wear: Plae Sam 2.0 Fisherman Sandals
• Best slip-on kids' water shoes: Native Jefferson Slip-On Sneaker

The best overall

A pair of Merrell Little Kid's Bare Steps H2O Sneakers require no breaking-in for comfort, thanks to their flexible mesh upper and soft insole.

Whenever she can, my daughter takes off whatever footwear I put on her — socks included. That's all fine and good when she's playing at home or at a friend's house, but when she's running around outside, especially on a beach with hot sand and sharp rocks and shells, I need that those shoes to stay on her feet.

Which is why I'm thrilled she's been wearing Merrell's Little Kid's Bare Steps H20 Sneakers. Try as she might, she can't pull these snug little water shoes off her feet, especially when they're wet.

But snugness doesn't mean sacrificing comfort: The shoes have a soft, flexible mesh upper that conforms to a little foot from the very first wearing, while the sole offers enough cushioning and support, yet is also highly flexible. The shoes approximate the feel of a barefoot shoe (hence the name). While I'm not personally a fan of barefoot shoes, for a young toddler still mastering her balance, it's a perfect design.

The H2O Sneaker secures with a broad Velcro strap and they dry quickly when wet. The bottom of the sole has decent traction and a wide toe-box makes sure those little digits never feel pinched and have some room to grow.

Pros: Comfortable and snug, wide toe box, barefoot feel promotes balance

Cons: Odor develops with frequent use

Buy Merrell Little Kid's Bare Steps H2O Sneakers from Merrell.com for $35

Buy Merrell Little Kid's Bare Steps H2O Sneakers on Amazon for $34.95 and up (price varies by size)

The best for keeping out sand

Nothing ruins a day at the beach like little feet irritated by itchy, scratchy sand in the shoes. The snug-fitting L-Run Kids Aqua Socks helps keep sand out.

"Daddy, can you empty my shoe again?" is a refrain I used to hear at least a dozen times per visit to any sandy beach. I get it: sand in the shoe is itchy and it can hurt and cause blisters. It's also annoying to constantly have to dump sand, pebbles, dirt, and everything else that work their way into my son's shoes during play at the beach. Thus my deep appreciation for his new L-Run Kids Aqua Socks that wrap around his feet securely and have a tight-enough ankle cuff to keep debris out.

These L-Run Kids Aqua Socks don't have as much protection against big, sharp rocks as I would like, and they don't provide much support. When we take long walks on the beach or play in the water, I usually have my son switch footwear. But for playing on the sand, these are hard to beat. And you can't beat the price: The most expensive pair of L-Run Kids Aqua Socks currently sold on Amazon is priced at just $12.99.

The shoes pack down flat or even roll up, making them perfect for travel, and they come in multiple sizes and dozens of different colors and patterns, so you'll surely find the right pair for any kid.

SnorkelsandFins.com looked at the adult version of the Aqua Socks and appreciates how the footwear creates "a tight seal on the ankle," which is what I find to be the case when my son wears his.

Pros: Snug fit keeps out sand and pebbles, pack down small for travel or storage, available in dozens of colors

Cons: Sizes run small

Buy L-Run Kids Aqua Socks on Amazon for $4.99 and up (price varies by color)

The best for everyday wear

Plae Sam 2.0 Fisherman Sandals provide as much support as a standard sneaker, yet they dry fast after a soaking.

This summer, my son will be wearing his Plae Sam 2.0 Fisherman Sandals even more often than his regular Plae sneakers because these water shoes provide the same support and traction as his other shoes, but with the added benefit of rapid drying. And between the beach, the backyard water table, camp activities, and everything else that comes with summer at this age, getting your shoes soaked is a regular occurrence.

Kids can put on a pair Sam 2.0 Fishermans easily by themselves, thanks to the Velcro straps and heel loops that help a kid tug the shoes into place. The soles are thick enough to provide plenty of support and impact reduction, and a fully covered toe prevents stubbing and scratches. Whether it's hiking on muddy trails, playing in the water, or everyday walks around town, these shoes perform well and look more or less like regular kids' shoes. When my son wears a darker sock under them, you hardly notice all the open space cut into the shoes. And without a sock, they're ready for full submersion.

MommyToMax.com's reviewer says the Plae Sam 2.0 Fisherman shoes are of top quality, and that her own son has yet to ruin the shoes "even after months of continuous wear."

Plae Sam 2.0 Fisherman sandals are comfortable from the first use and they hold up well after many uses. The only real drawback here? At nearly 50 bucks, they are by far the most expensive shoes on the list.

Pros: Great for varied activities, easy for kids to put on their own feet, thick and supportive sole

Cons: Rather expensive

Buy Plae Sam 2.0 Fisherman Sandals from Plae.com for $49.95

The best stylish water shoes

A pair of Sperry Little Kid's Spring Tide Sandals look good enough to be worn to dinner at a seaside restaurant, yet also provide support and traction even when wet.

If your kid is going to be snorkeling around a coral reef or going for a long hike on a path crisscrossed by creeks and streams, then a hardier, closed-toe water shoe is probably in order. For playing poolside at the resort or trips to the boardwalk, a pair of Sperry Little Kid's Spring Tide Sandals is the perfect choice for girls.

While decidedly feminine in style, these are about the best-looking girls' water shoes I've yet to come across. My daughter has these in Tan/Platinum and they're adorable.

These sandals don't look like water shoes, but as the name suggests, they are designed to get wet. The rubber soles provide solid traction in wet or dry conditions, and materials dry out quickly once out of the water. And while all that exposed foot isn't great for rocky environments, the sandals do let little feet air-dry quickly, reducing the likelihood of blisters and irritation.

The Spring Tide Sandals have a large ankle strap that can accommodate feet of various sizes, and their soft EVA footbed absorbs impact and offers decent support.

Pros: Great style, widely adjustable ankle strap, good traction on sole

Cons: Minimal protection against scrapes and scratches

Buy Little Kid's Spring Tide Sandals from Sperry for $34.95

The best slip-on water shoes

Your kid will be able to step into and out of these Native Jefferson Slip-On Sneakers in a matter of seconds, taking away one of children's great frustrations: taking forever to get their shoes on their feet!

Kids need to learn to get their own shoes on, but even after the thousandth time they have done it, the process can still be agonizing. It takes seemingly forever, which is frustrating when everyone is trying to make it out to the beach. Enter the Native Jefferson Slip-On Sneaker, a shoe that requires no lacing, Velcro, or any other closure system. Like a loafer, the child steps into the shoe or pulls it on with his hands alone, and that's that.

Plus, these shoes are 100% waterproof, but it comes with a small price to pay: the Jefferson's ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) material will mold to your kid's feet over time, but they're not initially comfortable.

Your child will need to break them in, and that process can rub skin raw and even cause blisters. I recommend having the kid wear socks with the shoes for a while. When I had my son wear Native water shoes last summer, they were great once they were molded to his feet, but getting there was a process. It was worth it, though, as these shoes can be cleaned by dunking them in a bucket of water and wiping them dry with a paper towel, a process that takes about 30 seconds.

Pros: 100% waterproof, easy to slip on and off, easy to clean

Cons: Require breaking-in

Get a pair of Native Jefferson Slip-On Sneakers from Amazon for $30.27 and up (price varies by size and color)

• Philanthropy is the most popular hobby among billionaires, according to Wealth-X's 2019 Billionaire Census.
• Education and the arts are among billionaires' favorite causes to donate to, Wealth-X reports.
• Organizations fighting hunger and homelessness receive fewer donations from the world's wealthiest people.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Philanthropy is billionaires' favorite pastime, but the world's richest people don't support all causes equally, according to Wealth-X's 2019 Billionaire Census.

The causes they choose are influenced by a variety of factors. American billionaires traditionally fund new buildings or departments at their alma maters, Wealth-X reported, while some billionaires prefer to donate to causes that will land them in the public eye, like the arts and public affairs.

Read more:The 10 most common hobbies among the richest people in world, from aviation to real estate

Keep reading to learn the top 10 causes billionaires donate to, ranked from least popular to most popular. Numbers do not add up to 100% because billionaires donate to more than one cause.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most common hobbies among the richest people in world, from aviation to real estate

DON'T MISS: 5 Hollywood celebrities who became billionaires and are vastly more rich than their peers

T10. Housing and shelter

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: .01%

Jeff Bezos is one of only 0.1% of billionaires who make donations to provide shelter for those experiencing homelessness, according to Wealth-X. Business Insider previously reported that Bezos's Day One Fund pledged $2 billion to organizations fighting family homelessness.

Read more: Jeff Bezos is one of the few top US billionaires who haven't signed the Giving Pledge. Here's how much the Amazon CEO has given to charity.

T10. Food, agriculture, and nutrition

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: .01%

Hedge fund billionaire David Tepper is among only 0.1% of billionaires worldwide who financially support organizations focused on feeding the hungry, according to Wealth-X. Tepper set up a donation drive for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in 2010, The Wall Street Journal reported. Tepper personally pledged $2 million.

T8. Public affairs

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: 12.4%

Former hedge-fund manager George Soros is among 12.4% of billionaires worldwide who donate to organizations that focus on public affairs, according to Wealth-X. Soros' nonprofit, Open Society Foundations, aims to on support democracy through grants for projects in human rights and criminal justice, journalism, and other fields, according to its website.

Business Insider previously reported that Soros is also a major donor to liberal politicians, having spent $25 million during the 2016 presidential election to support former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

T8. Religious organizations

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: 12.4%

Wealth-X reports that 12.4% of billionaires donate to religious organizations, but perhaps no one more than the controversial founder and CEO of craft superstore chain Hobby Lobby, David Green. He has made sizeable donations of both cash and property to several Christian colleges including Liberty University, Zion Bible College, and Oral Roberts University, according to Forbes. Green also supports multiple foundations that give out Christian literature and has personally funded the distribution of 1.4 billion texts.

Read more: Hobby Lobby, the craft store that has been at the center of numerous controversies, is growing across America. Here's what it's like to shop there.

6. Children and youth development

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: 31.9%

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is among the 31.9% of billionaires who donate to youth development programs, according to Wealth-X.

Ballmer's foundation, the Ballmer Group, focuses "efforts to improve economic mobility for children and families in the United States who are disproportionately likely to remain in poverty," according to the organization's website.

5. Environment, conservation, and animals

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: 32.6%

Environmental conservation is the fourth-most popular cause among billionaires, receiving donations from 32.6% of the world's billionaires according to Wealth-X. Tesla CEO Elon Musk anonymously donated $6 million to The Sierra Club before asking that the organization's president publicize his contributions, Bloomberg reported.

4. Healthcare and medical research

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: 57.4%

Wealth-X reports that 57.4% of billionaires have made donations in the healthcare sector. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff donated $100 million to the University of California San Francisco in 2010 to build a children's hospital that will be named after him, according to NBC.

3. Arts and culture

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: 57.6%

The controversial family that built a fortune selling OxyContin, the Sacklers, is known for its large donations to museums across the world. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York named a wing after the family following a $3.5 million donation in 1974.

The Tate Modern in London, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, and The Met announced in May 2019 that they would stop accepting donations from the family following public scrutiny over OxyContin's role in the opioid crisis, according to The New York Times.

Read more: Meet the Sacklers, one of the richest families in America, who built their $14 billion fortune off of controversial prescription drug OxyContin

2. Social services

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: 61.7%

Wealth-X found that 61.7% of the world's billionaires donate to organizations that provide social services, a category that it says includes crime prevention, poverty reduction, and unemployment programs.

America's richest family, the Waltons, have made the economic development of their home state of Arkansas one of their three philanthropic goals, according to their foundation's website. Walmart founder Sam Walton's grandchildren plan to spend $2.2 billion between 2016 and 2021 through their foundation on social services in Arkansas, in addition to education and the environment.

1. Education

Percentage of billionaire population donating to cause: 79.5%

More billionaires donate to education than any other cause, according to Wealth-X, with 79.5% supporting the cause.

Education is at the core of the Gates Foundation's work in the United States, according to its website.

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Packing shoes can be a hassle when you're traveling, since they take up so much room in your suitcase. This is especially true when you need to bring a pair of work-appropriate shoes with you.
• Nisolo Travel Derby shoes ($128) offer a perfect solution, with comfortable, stylish shoes that pack down to about an inch thick.
• We tried the men's Travel Derby shoes and found them to be comfortable and durable. Nisolo also makes a version for women.

As a fairly frequent flyer and amateur travel photographer, I've had to get packing down to a science. I may not always pack lightly, but I'm usually able to get exactly what I need to fit into one bag — depending on the length and type of the trip, sometimes I'll bring an extra bag for camera gear, too.

The one thing that continues to vex me when I pack is shoes. In theory, I like to bring just a single pair of shoes for every trip — which I wear in transit — but this is easier said than done. I usually want comfortable, walking-around sneakers — my go-to is Allbirds Wool Runners— but sometimes I need something more supportive (these Merrell trail-to-street shoes do the trick).

An issue I run into is when I have meetings on a trip. While I may not need full dress shoes, I don't usually want to wear sneakers — but I still need something appropriate with jeans or chinos, which are comfortable enough to get me through the day if there's a lot of walking involved. Usually I give up and sacrifice precious suitcase room to a pair of dress shoes.

Recently, though, I found the perfect solution: the Nisolo Travel Derby shoe.

The Travel Derby is a stylish and adaptable shoe that can look equally fitting with a pair of jeans, khakis, or a modern-cut suit. Built around a sole made from XL Extralight — a unique shoe material engineered to be lightweight and flexible, yet supportive and comfortable — the suede uppers are designed to fold down, or essentially collapse, when you aren't wearing them.

This makes for a comfortable, light shoe that's comfortable and stylish enough to wear for a busy day of walking and meetings, and can fold down to a flat, inch-thick slab of rubber and suede to fit in any spare corner of a bag.

Insider Picks' VP of Commerce, Breton Fischetti — another frequent traveler — and I both spent a few weeks wearing the Travel Derby shoes to see if a packable shoe could really be substantial enough. The answer is: yes.

Read on for both of our thoughts.

"Having an easily packable, work-appropriate shoe was hugely helpful."

Nisolo has been on my radar for a while since I've seen the company's Instagram ads a few times. I like their look and was excited to try their travel shoe.

My principal issue with traveling, especially for work, is that the shoes I need for meetings take up the most space in a bag, but I don't want to wear them trekking through the airport. Having an easily packable, work-appropriate shoe was hugely helpful. It's low profile, comfortable, and great because it doesn't draw attention to itself. I can happily cruise around the airport in sneakers without having to sacrifice precious carry-on space for quick work trips.

$128 is a bit of a steep price to pay for a nice-to-have shoe, but it's well made, high quality, and adaptable; and it is made at Nisolo's ethical factory in Peru, so for me, I still feel it presents a really solid value for the price. — Breton Fischetti, VP of Insider Picks

"I found that they actually offer plenty of support."

When I first saw the shoes, both online and in person, I was worried that they wouldn't be supportive enough. I love soft, flexible shoes like Allbirds for office days or walking around the city, but those have more padding, structure, and arch support than the Nisolos seemed to offer at a quick glance.

However, when I actually wore them I found that they actually offer plenty of support. Sure, I wouldn't want to wear them hiking in the woods, but for a day of standing, heading into meetings, walking, and exploring, they're perfect when I tie them nice and snug.

I really can't overstate how packable they are. They fold down almost instantly, and I can stuff them in any corner of a full roller bag or put them at the bottom of my carry-on backpack.

I treated them with some stain and weather-resistant spray, and while they aren't waterproof, they compare well to any other similar shoe. They've also held up well so far, which makes me feel better about the $128 pricetag.

I got my usual size, and found that they fit true — they might have been a tad snug, but they molded to my foot almost right away. — David Slotnick, senior reporter

Click here to buy the men's Nisolo Travel Derby for $128 in three colors.

Click here to buy the women's Nisolo Sedona Travel Derby for $128 in four colors.

SEE ALSO: I'm an amateur travel photographer — and I can unequivocally say that this Kickstarter backpack is the best camera bag I've tried

Join the conversation about this story »

• "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" is coming to Android and iOS devices on Friday June 21.
• Developed by the creators of "Pokémon Go," the new game will let players encounter Harry Potter characters and other signs of magic in the real world using augmented reality technology.
• Niantic announced the official launch of "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" during a special event hosted by comedian Tiffany Haddish on June 18. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Harry Potter: Wizards Unite," a new mobile augmented reality game from the creators of "Pokémon Go," is coming to Android and iOS devices on Friday June 21. 

Niantic announced that it was partnering with WB Games to work on "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" in November 2017. The game is Niantic's follow-up to "Pokémon Go," which became a global phenomenon when it launched back in July 2016.

In "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite," players will be able to explore the real world, searching for signs of magic and encountering iconic Harry Potter characters along the way, much like "Pokémon Go." Players will take on the role of a new wizard recruit working with the Statute of Secrecy Task Force — the group responsible for solving the mystery of the Calamity, a major event that scattered magical artifacts and creatures all over the world.

Niantic has teased the pending release of "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" for months, but the launch date was officially confirmed at an event hosted by comedian Tiffany Haddish on June 18. You can find the game on June 21 in the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store.

SEE ALSO: The creators of 'Pokémon Go' are launching a Harry Potter game later this year. Here's everything we know so far.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We compared the $200 Scuf Vantage PlayStation controller to the $25 EasySMX controller — and the winner was clear

• Some superyacht owners consider their yacht their fifth or sixth vacation home, Heesen Yachts' CEO told The New York Times.
• Heesen's yachts sell anywhere from $39 million to over $112 million.
• But the purchase price is just the first cost of superyacht ownership — owners also pay millions for maintenance, fuel, dockage, and yacht crew.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Forget Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in the French Riviera or Kauai island in Hawaii— the best kind of vacation home floats on the sea.

At least, it may be for billionaires who already own other vacation homes on land. Arthur Brouwer, CEO of superyacht builder Heesen Yachts, recently told Shivani Vora of The New York Times that most of Heesen's clients consider their superyachts their fifth or sixth vacation home. 

These clients are typically from the US, Europe, or the Middle East, he said. They either buy custom-built superyachts or pre-build yachts — yachts built "on spec," Brouwer added. And while some live on their yacht for 30 weeks out of the year, others use their yacht only a few weeks out of the year. 

Generally, yachts over 100 feet cost $1 million per 3.3 feet, according to Forbes. Heesen's yachts sell for anywhere from $39 million to over $112 million, reported Vora, but superyachts can easily exceed $1 billion.

Read more: I spent 3 years writing about yachts, and owning one takes way more money than you think

But that's just the beginning of the costs involved in owning a superyacht — owners can expect to spend about 10% of the purchase price annually on operating and maintaining a yacht. That's $1 million a year for a $10 million superyacht, although the exact maintenance costs vary.

Maintenance is just one of the big four costs involved in owning a superyacht, along with fuel, dockage, and yacht crew to run the yacht.

The bigger the boat, the more crew — and salaries — you need. A 130-foot boat with five crew members can cost $32,500 a month. Deckhands, at the bottom of the totem pole, earn an average of $3,083 to $3,574 a month, depending on the boat size. Captains get paid more, earning an average of $7,750 to $19,961 a month.

Dockage can cost as much as $350,000 annually, and fuel as much as $400,000 annually, including fuel for toys like Jet Skis.

SEE ALSO: Millennial superyacht owners are on the rise — and their preference for experiences over things may be turning yachting into a ride-sharing service

DON'T MISS: What a $1 million vacation looks like in Mykonos, Greece, where you'll fly in on a private jet, sleep in an ocean-view villa, and cruise the seas in a yacht

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How $100,000 custom pool tables are made for celebrities like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift

• The new Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof, holds thousands of ebooks, and costs just $130, making it the best ebook reader for most people's needs.
• I read dozens of ebooks on the Kindle Paperwhite to put it to the test, and it's a wonderful reading experience.
• The small size makes it easy to travel with and it's waterproof enough to take a spill into the bathtub or pool without sustaining damage.
• If you've been on the fence about ebook readers, this is the one that will push you over the edge and convince you to give ebooks a try. Once you go digital, you never go back.

Amazon's Kindles are the most popular ebook readers by far, and they just keep getting better. For years, Kindles stayed largely the same: They were essentially 6-inch tablets with black-and-white E Ink screens encased in chubby, black plastic borders.

The first Kindle Oasis shook things up with its slim, sleek design, and the second-generation Oasis did one better by being the first "waterproof" Kindle ever made. For ebook lovers everywhere, a Kindle that was water resistant enough to survive a two-hour dunk in a tub of water was a prayer finally answered.

There was just one problem: The price.

The Kindle Oasis cost $250 while the Kindle Paperwhite cost $130, and the entry-level Kindle cost just $80. Although a waterproof Kindle was nice to have, a lot of people balked at the big price jump.

Amazon seems to have heard the protests of Kindle owners everywhere, and in 2018, the company answered with the water-resistant Kindle Paperwhite.

I've tested many Kindles and ebook readers over my past six years as a tech-product reviewer, including the $80 Kindle, the older Paperwhite, the high-end Oasis, and several ebook readers from Kobo, Amazon's main competitor in the space. Although I'm a firm believer that the Oasis is actually worth its high price and it's my ebook reader of choice, I know not everyone has that kind of money to spend on an ebook reader.

I've been testing the 2018 Kindle Paperwhite for several months, and I can confidently say that it's the best Kindle for your money, and arguably the best ebook reader as well.

Here's my full review.

Finally — a water-resistant Kindle you can take to the beach

Let's start with the design and key specs.

The biggest improvement to the new Kindle Paperwhite is that it is finally water resistant. Thanks to its IPX68 water-resistance rating, you can drop this Kindle in fresh water for up to 30 minutes without destroying your ebook reader. That means you can finally take it to the beach, pool, or bath and read in peace.

The 2018 Paperwhite has the same 6-inch E Ink screen in black and white as the previous version. The text looks crisp and clear, thanks to the sharp resolution of 300 pixels per inch. Like all other Kindles, it has fairly chunky black bezels and a nice grippy feel to it. There are no page-turning buttons, so all you have is the power button and Micro-USB charging port.

The ebook reader also has a built-in backlight so you can read in the dark without turning a light on. I find this feature especially useful when I'm reading at night, because I don't have to worry about disturbing my partner. It's also great for reading on flights when they turn off the overhead lights. The backlight is the reason I've never really liked the basic, entry-level Kindle — its lack of a backlight means no reading in the dark, which makes it more or less like a physical book.

Beyond the screen, the most important specs are battery life and storage, and the Paperwhite has both — in spades.

With the 8GB model, you can have thousands of ebooks on your Kindle, so most people won't even need the 32GB version. You can also connect the Paperwhite to a pair of wireless headphones or a wireless speaker and listen to Audible audiobooks, thanks to its new Bluetooth connectivity.

As for the battery, if you read half an hour a day with wireless off and the light setting at 13, the battery should last for six weeks. In testing, I found Amazon's battery-life claim to be entirely accurate. The Paperwhite's battery lasts a long time with normal use, and I've rarely had to charge it.

If you jack up the brightness or read more hours a day, battery life gets shorter, of course. If you don't turn the Wi-Fi off by hitting the little Airplane icon, you will lose battery much faster and have to recharge sooner, so definitely turn Airplane mode on whenever you're not browsing for ebooks to buy on the Kindle store or downloading new ebooks.

The Bluetooth feature will also drain the battery because it requires Airplane mode to be turned off so your Kindle can connect to headphones or the speaker, so if you're listening to audiobooks with your Kindle, you'll have to charge it more often.

Here are all the specs and dimensions

• Screen: 6-inch E Ink Carta, built-in light, 300ppi, optimized font technology, 16-level gray scale
• Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.6 x 0.3 inches (167 x 116 x 8.18 mm)
• Weight: 6.4 ounces (Wi-Fi) or 6.8 oz (LTE version)
• Storage: 8 GB or 32 GB — holds thousands of books
• Battery Life: 6 weeks, based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 13
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi with LTE; Bluetooth
• Supported ebook formats: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX)
• Waterproofing: IPX8 water resistance rating, can withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes

What it's like to read on the Kindle Paperwhite

I never thought that I'd enjoy reading on an ebook reader. I was completely a physical paper book person until I became a tech reporter and found myself traveling all the time and always running out of room for books in my carry-on bag. I started reviewing ebook readers, and I simply fell in love.

The ebook reader that converted me was the Kindle Oasis, mainly because of its page-turning buttons and slim design, which make it easy to hold and read one-handed. It's still my go-to ebook reader, but the new Kindle Paperwhite is the one I'd recommend to most people. I fully admit that the $250 price tag of the Oasis is too much for most people, and the Paperwhite has nearly all the same features for just $130.

Although I miss the page-turning buttons, the Paperwhite makes it a pleasure to read. It's comfortable to hold, thanks to its thicker, rubbery bezels and grippy plastic back. Turning pages is easy with a simple tap of my finger, and I can easily adjust the brightness, font, and text size to suit my preferences. I also love to highlight quotations from the books I'm reading and share them on Goodreads, the social network for readers, which is built right into the all Kindles.

Because I already use a Kindle, all my ebooks from my Amazon account automatically appeared on the Paperwhite when I signed in with my email address. I then chose which ones to download, waited for them to finish, and then turned on Airplane mode to save battery.

Amazon has tons of ebooks available, so you should be able to find most titles easily. If you want to get deals on ebooks, you can subscribe to BookBub, a free service that sends you a daily email with ebook deals and discounts.

You can also get a lot of ebooks for free from a variety fo sources. Prime subscribers can read a selection of ebooks for free with Prime Reading, and anyone can browse all the free Kindle ebooks on Amazon or check out Project Gutenberg's collection of free classics.

I also like to get ebooks from my local library, which is super easy to do with the Libby or Overdrive apps. You simply sign into your library with your card number and PIN and search for Amazon-friendly ebooks that are available to borrow. When you go to borrow the ebook, you can ask it to send to your Kindle once you sign in with your Amazon account. The next time you connect to Wi-Fi with the Kindle, the library ebook will download.

You can learn how to get library ebooks on your Kindle and other great tips and tricks in my full guide to how to use a Kindle.

The bottom line

Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite still has many of the same specifications as older Kindle Paperwhite ebook readers. The biggest changes come from the addition of waterproofing, which allows you to safely take your Kindle to the beach or in the bath without worrying about it getting wet; and Bluetooth technology, which allows you to listen to Audible ebooks when you pair your Kindle with Bluetooth headphones or a speaker. 

Both of these changes are very welcome and make the new Paperwhite a worthwhile upgrade for those of you who have older Kindles from several years ago. It's also the most fully-featured Kindle you can buy for $130, though if you want to get a slimmer design and the benefit of page-turning buttons, you'll have to spend $120 more to get the Kindle Oasis, Amazon's most high-end ebook reader.

• Should you buy it? Yes. Unless you want to spend $120 more to get the slim design and page-turning buttons of the Kindle Oasis, the Paperwhite is the best ebook reader you can buy.
• Which model should you get? We recommend the 8GB model, because it holds thousands of ebooks and if you ever exceed the onboard storage, you can keep all your other ebooks in the cloud. If you really hate ads on your lockscreen, you may want to pay extra for the ad-free version, but it's not necessary, as the ads aren't really intrusive.
• What are your alternatives? The other Kindle we recommend is the Oasis, but again, it will cost you $120 more. If you don't want to get an Amazon-based ebook reader, we recommend the Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2. Kobo is Amazon's main competitor, and it supports more ebook formats, including EPUB files. The Aura H2O Edition 2 is just as water resistant as the Kindle Paperwhite and it holds just as many ebooks.

The Kindle Paperwhite is a great buy, and we highly recommend it. If you do decide to buy the Paperwhite, I also have a full guide on how to use your Kindle, including how to get free ebooks and more. 

Pros: Water resistant enough to take to the beach, holds thousands of ebooks, has a backlight, supports many ebook formats, easy to use, huge library of ebooks available, comfortable to hold, long battery life

Cons: Not as cheap as the entry-level Kindle, not as slim as the Kindle Oasis, no page-turning buttons, Amazon ebook format locks you in

Buy the Kindle Paperwhite on Amazon for $129.99

SEE ALSO: How to get ebooks on your Kindle — and other expert tips and tricks

Join the conversation about this story »

• Millennials are financially behind: They're plagued with student-loan debt, increased living costs, and the fallout from the recession.
• But not all millennials are working, and some are actively not seeking work. We want to know why.
• Are you an unemployed millennial actively not looking for work? Please share your story with Business Insider in the survey below.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Millennials are the catch-up generation.

While millennials have benefited from a 67% rise in wages since 1970, this increase hasn't kept up with inflating living costs, according to research conducted by Student Loan Hero.

Coupled with the fallout from the Great Recession, which the oldest millennials bore the brunt of, and record levels of student loan debt, a national total of $1.5 trillion, millennials are facing the Great American Affordability Crisis.

They're financially behind and struggling to save when plagued with rising costs for college tuition, housing, healthcare, and childcare.

But not all millennials are working. Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that an overwhelming number of American millennials aren't employed and are actively not seeking work. We need your help in understanding why that is, and who these millennials are.

Are you a millennial not working and not seeking work? We want to talk to you. Please share your story with us in the survey below.

Do you know of a millennial who isn't working and is not seeking work? Or are you an economist or researcher with information to share? Please email hhoffower@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: 2019 is the final class of millennial college graduates. Next stop: The Great American Affordability Crisis.

DON'T MISS: Millennials have been called the 'brokest' and the 'richest' generation, and experts say both of those are true

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This giant 1950s town replica in California is a new kind of treatment center for people with Alzheimer's

• Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a key compound in cannabis plants, though it doesn't cause marijuana's high.
• CBD is being added to foods, drinks and creams. The evidence for many wellness claims about CBD is thin, though it is a key ingredient in one prescription drug.
• Business Insider reports regularly on the growing business of CBD. You can read all our stories by subscribing to BI Prime.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is popping up everywhere, from creams to coffee to prescriptions. CBD is one of the key compounds in cannabis plants, though it doesn't cause marijuana's characteristic high. It's being touted as a treatment for all kinds of ailments, but the evidence for some uses is thin.

Meanwhile, CBD is already a $1 billion industry, and some on Wall Street think it could reach $16 billion, aided in part by a recent change in US law that made some CBD legal. 

The CBD boom on Wall Street

• Square has started working with a select group of CBD startups while other payments rivals shy away from the trendy substance
• CBD companies were courted hard by a unit of US Bank — but they got ghosted despite having a 100% legal business
• A top venture investor that's backed companies like Bird and TheRealReal explains why CBD is primed to explode

Food and Science:

• Wall Street thinks CBD could be a $16 billion industry by 2025. Here's what the cannabis compound does to your brain and body.
• Ben & Jerry's commits to launching a CBD-infused ice cream as soon as it is legalized
• Parents gave their 6-month-old son CBD oil while he was going through chemo. They say 'a drop the size of a grain of rice' stopped his vomiting almost instantly.
• A California company tested 20 popular CBD products and found 'insanely high levels' of dangerous chemicals and misleading labels
• The CEO of Whole Foods just dropped a hint it could soon start carrying marijuana products. It's a sign the biggest consumer companies are 'looming' over the industry.
• Congress quietly passed a hemp law that has people wondering about the difference between CBD and THC. Here's what you need to know.

Startups, venture capital and private equity

• Top cannabis investors reveal where they're placing bets, but say there's 'pain to come' in the crowded CBD space
• A New York private equity firm founded by JPMorgan and Guggenheim veterans is raising the largest-ever fund dedicated to the booming marijuana industry
• Biotech, CBD drinks, and a hot vape company: Here's where all the top marijuana VCs are looking to write checks this year

Policy

• Illinois is poised to become the first state to legalize marijuana sales through the legislature — here are all the states where marijuana is legal
• Regulators just gave some legal hope to food and drink makers using cannabis extract CBD
• The FDA is putting together a group of experts to figure out how to handle the $1 billion CBD industry
• Lawmakers just took a huge step toward passing a critical bill that could pave the way for banks to work with marijuana companies
• Trump just signed a law that could spark a boom for the $1 billion marijuana-linked CBD industry

Lists

• Top venture investors say these 11 tech startups in the red-hot cannabis sector are set to blow up this year
• Top investors say these 11 buzzy, under-the-radar consumer cannabis startups are set to raise fresh rounds and blow up this year
• The top 12 venture-capital firms making deals in the booming cannabis industry that's set to skyrocket to $75 billion
• Meet the bigshot lawyers who are turning weed into a $194 billion industry

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Amazon recently launched two private-label furniture brands, Rivet and Stone & Beam.
• Rivet's look is more mid-century modern, while Stone & Beam's is more farmhouse chic — but both are relatively affordable compared to the big-name competitors. 
• I tested out some of the furniture in my apartment to see if the quality was comparable, and I came away wondering if I'll ever buy investment pieces from West Elm again. 

I remember the days when Amazon only sold books. I was little a kid, knee high to my mother. She loved ordering from the site, which offered an inexpensive way to supplement our weekly family nights at Books-A-Million (and general addiction to reading).

At the time, Amazon was not, by any stretch, a household name.

Fast forward about 22 years as I walk into my apartment and set my Amazon Kindle on the Amazon-made console while my cat slept soundly in the cardboard Amazon box that once contained her food. It was a somewhat weird reminder of how ubiquitous and all-encompassing the site has become. 

That said, it hasn't gotten to where it is because people don't like its products. In fact, it's grown to become such a powerhouse precisely because people desire the convenience it provides — fast shipping, useful services, and great tech that makes life easier and more connected.

That success was why the company chose to launch so many more private-label brands beyond its familiar tech accessories like the Echo Dot and Kindle Paperwhite. Over the past few years, it's invested heavily in its in-house fashion brands like Ella Moon and Goodthreads, and launched quite a few brands that offer household basics.

Now, it's on to a new venture: home furniture. 

Last year, Amazon announced the launch of Rivet and Stone & Beam, two new furniture brands dedicated to making stylish mid-century modern and rustic furniture accessible and affordable to its customers. 

By the looks of it, you'd think that West Elm or Crate & Barrel had suddenly been made available on Amazon.com. In reality, the designs are developed and manufactured exclusively for the site, and they actually look comparable to brand-name furniture in person.

Rivet, with its up-to-date designs based on the popular mid-century modern style, offers more affordable takes inspired by the classic Hans Wegner and George Nelson originals we all wish we could afford. The aesthetic is slightly industrial, featuring bold brass finishes, walnut wood, black steel accents, and lots of cognac leather, plus gentle grays and navy blues. Many of the individual pieces are still warm enough to fit seamlessly into essentially any sort of decorative theme, but the shapes and lines tend to skew more angular and masculine. 

Stone & Beam's style is a bit more upscale, with warmer pieces and lighter finishes. The aesthetic leans toward clean, cozy, and slightly rustic — like a farmhouse that's as comfortable and livable as it is picturesque. The price points are a little higher than Rivet, but not so much that they render the furniture unreasonable by any means. 

Both collections offer a full suite of designs, with items for every room of the house — from sofas and accent chairs to night stands and bed frames. 

Since so many of us at Insider Picks were curious about the quality of Amazon's private-label furniture, I checked some of the styles out myself and tested them in my own apartment.

My home is full of a combination of CB2, West Elm, IKEA, and vintage mid-century modern furniture, so I was curious how Amazon's furniture would fit in among the rest. I love to collect quirky, cool pieces that stand out (that green glow in the picture is from a vintage green Lucite ghost chair I bought from an antique dealer), but when it came to the new furniture I picked out, I opted to go for styles I thought would elevate the star pieces and stay relatively low-key.

That's exactly what Amazon's pieces did. 

What I tested:

The Stone & Beam console ($499) you see above created a place for me to set up additional barware that we might want to access while sitting at the dining table, while the Rivet nightstand ($99.99, currently unavailable, find similar here) below offered an extra bit of storage in my small Brooklyn apartment (I'd use the top to store more items, but my cat decided this would be her new chill spot so I put a sheepskin over the top for her). The glass and brass globe lamp ($59.99) on the console was also from Rivet, and it offered a fun, mod touch to the space. It even came with the bulb, which was a nice bonus.

The assembly process:

The furniture was also easy to assemble, though I recommend having a friend help you out if you're opting for a larger item. I didn't spend more than 20 minutes on either piece of furniture, and all the tools needed to assemble them came with the box (though I used a power drill on the console for lack of patience with those dinky Allen wrenches). 

The one kink was with the metal parts on the console that hold the wood top into place — one of them was slightly bent when we received it, but that was fixed easily by bending it back into place by hand. Other than that, everything fit together smoothly and assembled to feel sturdy and complete. 

Overall impressions:

Overall, the pieces were sturdy, well-constructed, and easy to assemble. The styles I chose really helped to ground my space — plus, they looked just as nice next to furniture from CB2 as they did mixed in with some of my antique pieces. 

Though Amazon certainly does offer some standout styles that can really serve as accent pieces in your home, I was really happy with my simple picks. The quality of the pieces was exactly what I'd expect from more expensive stores, which actually made me kick myself for ordering a set of dining chairs from West Elm when I could have gotten a near-identical style from Rivet for a lot cheaper. 

There's so much variety from both labels, and the prices are almost always less than the equivalent or similar styles from competitors. You'd be hard-pressed to find such a large selection of quality designs at a similar cost (not to mention the addition of free Prime shipping). 

I definitely recommend checking out Amazon's private-label furniture brands if you're looking to spruce up your place or start from scratch. Your guests won't be able to tell that you didn't spend thousands of dollars at a big name store, but your wallet sure will. 

Shop all furniture from Rivet here>>

Shop all furniture from Stone & Beam here>>

Join the conversation about this story »

• Hope Hicks, 30, was one of President Donald Trump's most trusted advisers.
• Hicks had been with the Trump campaign — to use his words — "from the beginning." She left her job as White House communications director in February 2018.
• Now, congressional investigators want to ask Hicks about Russian interference in the 2016 election. She'll testify behind closed doors before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, June 19.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Hope Hicks was the youngest White House communications director in history. But before joining the 2016 Trump campaign, she had no political experience.

Hicks, now 30, was born in Greenwich, a town of 60,000 on the southwest tip of Connecticut that's a favorite spot for hedge-fund headquarters.

She was a model, actress, and lacrosse player as a child, before getting her English degree at Southern Methodist University.

Hicks didn't intend on playing such a large role in a presidential campaign, instead falling into the gig through a job at the Trump Organization.

In her time at the White House, Hicks became ensnared in two high-profile White House controversies: the special counsel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and her role in crafting the White House's response to abuse allegations against staff secretary Rob Porter.

In February 2018, Hicks announced she was resigning one day after she said in testimony she had occasionally told white lies for the president but never lied about anything consequential related to the Russia investigation.

After laying low in New York and Connecticut for several months, it was announced that Hicks would head to 21st Century Fox as executive vice president and chief communications officer.

Here's what we know about Hicks.

SEE ALSO: Inside the strange relationship between Trump and Hope Hicks, his right-hand woman and the youngest White House communications director in history

DON'T MISS: Hope Hicks' fashion strategy reveals how she survived in the White House

Hicks and her sister, Mary Grace, were successful teen models. Hicks posed for Ralph Lauren and appeared on the cover of "It Girl," a spin-off of the best-selling "Gossip Girl" book and TV series.

Source: The New York Times

Hicks' first brush with the Trumps came in 2012 when she was at the public-relations firm Hiltzik Strategies working on Ivanka Trump's fashion line. Trump's eldest daughter hired Hicks away in 2014 and she became an employee of the Trump Organization.

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/816768567517581312
Congrats to my brilliant, kind & wickedly funny friend Hope Hicks on being named to the @Forbes#30Under30 list! https://t.co/s3YO9Eq83Z

Sources: New York Times, GQ, NYMag

Hicks met patriarch Trump and quickly "earned his trust," Ivanka Trump told The New York Times for a June 2016 profile on the spokeswoman.

Source: New York Times

In January 2015, Trump called Hicks into his office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower and told her she was joining his presidential campaign. "I think it’s 'the year of the outsider.' It helps to have people with outsider perspective," Hicks said Trump told her.

Source: NYMag

Hicks didn't have any political experience, but her public-relations roots run deep. Both grandfathers worked in PR, and her father, Paul, was the NFL's executive vice president for communications and public relations. He was also a town selectman from 1987 to 1991. Greenwich proclaimed April 23, 2016, as Paul B. Hicks III Day.

Source: Town of Greenwich, GQ

Hicks started working on what would become Trump's campaign five months before Trump announced his presidency, after he famously rode a golden escalator down to the lobby of his tower on June 16, 2015.

That made Hicks the campaign staffer who lasted in Trump's inner circle the longest. She outlasted his first campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, and several senior advisers.

People close to her describe Hicks as a friendly, loyal fighter. Trump has called her a "natural" and "outstanding."

While reporters who have worked with Hicks say she's polite, they have expressed frustration that she was often unreachable on the campaign trail, not responding to requests for comment, or denying access to the candidate.

She said her mom, Caye, told her to write a book about her experience with Trump, like "Primary Colors," the fictional novel depicting President Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign. "You don't even know," she said she told her mother.

Source: NYMag, Primary Colors

During the campaign, Hicks spent most of her days fielding reporters' requests and questions — even reportedly taking dictation from Trump to post his tweets.

Sources: NYMag, NYT

During the campaign, Hicks stayed in a free apartment in a Trump building, though she'd often go home to her parents' house in Connecticut when she could.

She followed Trump to DC. He named her assistant to the president and director of strategic communications in December 2017.

Source: Trump administration

She still flew below the radar, directing the spotlight back on Trump. The then president-elect called her up to the microphone to speak at a "Thank You" rally in December 2017.

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/810245601224982529
i think i can honestly say this is the first time i've heard hope hicks speak pic.twitter.com/HuidZhCNVk

It's been said she can act as a sort of Trump whisperer, understanding his many moods and professionally executing what needs to be done. She still only calls him "Sir" or "Mr. Trump."

Sources: New York Times, GQ, NYMag

"If the acting thing doesn’t work out, I could really see myself in politics," Hicks told Greenwich Magazine when she was 13. "Who knows."

Sources: New York Times

In June 2017, the White House released salary info for 377 top staffers. Hicks got paid the maximum amount that any of Trump's aides received: $179,700.

Source: The White House

Hicks made as much as Trump's former chief of staff Reince Priebus, former chief strategist Steve Bannon, former press secretary Sean Spicer, senior counselor Kellyanne Conway, and policy adviser Stephen Miller.

Source: The White House

Some family members and friends have expressed concern that Hicks is so closely tied to a president whose policies and statements are unpopular with a significant number of Americans, but are confident that she'll come through unscathed.

Sources: New York Times, GQ

"There is just no way that a camera or an episode or a documentary could capture what has gone on. There is nothing like it," Hicks told Marie Claire in June 2016. "It is the most unbelievable, awe-inspiring thing."

Source: Marie Claire

In August 2017, Trump asked Hicks to be the new interim White House director of communications, a job that Michael Dubke, Sean Spicer, and Anthony Scaramucci held and left in Trump's first six months in office.

Sources: Daily Caller, New York Times, CNN

The White House said it would announce the permanent choice for the position "at the appropriate time." In September 2017, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said it would be Hicks.

Source: Business Insider

That made 29-year-old Hicks the youngest White House communications director in history.

Sources: Daily Caller, New York Times, CNN

But she's became ensnared in the investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Special counsel Robert Mueller's team interviewed her in December 2017, and she reportedly hinted at concealing explosive emails about the Trump Tower Russia meeting during a conference call with Trump in July 2016.

Sources: The New York Times, Business Insider

In February 2018, Hicks came under scrutiny for reportedly playing a key role in drafting a statement expressing vehement support for staff secretary Rob Porter after his two ex-wives accused him of physically and emotionally abusing them. Hicks and Porter were rumored to be dating.

Sources: CNN, Business Insider

In February 2018, she testified behind closed doors before the House Intelligence Committee on Trump's ties to Russia, and key incidents that she witnessed during the campaign and in the White House. She reportedly said she has told "white lies" for Trump.

Sources: Business Insider, The New York Times

Though she was front and center in the White House's scandals, Hicks remains a private person, revealing very little about her personal life, and remaining a mystery to many.

On February 28, 2018, news broke that she would resign in the coming weeks. Many in the White House were dismayed.

Source: Business Insider

"She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person," Trump said in a statement. "I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood."

Source: Business Insider

"There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump," Hicks said in a statement. "I wish the President and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country."

After leaving the White House, Hicks returned to her family home in Greenwich, Connecticut before being spotted in New York City, where she was reportedly on the job hunt.

Source: Page Six

Hicks made a rare public appearance when she boarded Air Force One in August 2018 to travel to an Ohio rally. Reportedly on Trump's invitation, Hicks talked off the record to reporters, even joking about her career prospects.

Source: Business Insider

After months of staying out of the spotlight, Hicks was confirmed to be heading to a spinoff of 21st Century Fox as executive vice president and chief communications officer in October 2018.

Source: Business Insider

On June 19, Hicks is scheduled to testify behind closed doors before the House Judiciary Committee. Mueller's final report on the Russia investigation mentioned her name 184 times, so congressional investigators have a lot to talk to her about.

Source: Politico

• Brickell is Miami's famed financial district, nicknamed "Wall Street South."
• Real-estate agents in the area say young people are flocking to live in the up-and-coming neighborhood as new luxury condos, bars, and restaurants open up. 
• I spent an afternoon walking around Brickell, and I didn't see what all the hype was about.
• The neighborhood isn't very pedestrian friendly, it's dominated by high-rise towers, and there didn't seem to be many options for dining and drinking.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Move aside, Wall Street. The country's most exciting financial district is Brickell in Miami, according to real-estate agents in the area.

Nicknamed "Wall Street South," the city's financial hub is situated just south of downtown Miami. Real-estate agents say it's an increasingly popular place for young people to live, and it's seen a huge amount of development in recent years, from luxury condos to shopping centers and dining destinations.

"It's the second-largest financial hub outside of New York, and it has the hottest retail real-estate market in the US," Karen Elmir, a luxury realtor who sells homes in Brickell, told me in a phone conversation.

Scott Beyer wrote for Forbes that Brickell "personifies the new Miami: it is rich, multicultural, and intensive, having become an 'overnight neighborhood' of gleaming skyscrapers whose designs and coloration reflect the coral blue waters of Biscayne Bay."

On a recent trip to Miami, I spent an afternoon in the city's famed financial district. But after all the hype I'd heard, I wasn't too impressed by the neighborhood. 

Brickell in an afternoon

Undeniably, part of it comes down to personal taste, as a district of brand-new, "gleaming skyscrapers" doesn't fit my idea of where I'd like to live.

I started my walking tour of the neighborhood at Brickell City Centre, the 500,000-square-foot "vertical shopping experience" with four levels of shops including Sephora, Coach, Sandro, Zara, and All Saints, as well as bars, restaurants, and a movie theater. There's also an Apple store and a 107,000-square-foot Saks Fifth Avenue.

While I appreciated that the shopping center was outdoors — the better to enjoy the balmy Miami weather — I didn't see any anything that I couldn't have found in New York City, where I live. 

After a tour of the shopping center, I spent a few hours wandering through Brickell. I passed towering skyscrapers, banks and other financial institutions, and quite a bit of construction. 

Elmir told me most of the people moving to Brickell are young professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 who work in industries like finance and law.

These young professionals buy condominiums in luxury high-rises such as Echo Brickell, according to Elmir, where a four-bedroom penthouse is asking $37 million.

The median sale price of homes in Brickell is $356,800, and the median monthly rent is $2,500 — both higher than the numbers for Miami as a whole, according to Zillow.

In Brickell, Elmir says the average price of the apartments she sells is $1 million.

As I walked through Brickell, I expected a lively neighborhood bustling with bars and restaurants. Instead, the few cafés and eateries I passed seemed to be outliers. Most of the time, I found myself walking beneath skyscrapers with few other pedestrians around, apart from right around Brickell City Centre.

And apart from Brickell City Centre, I didn't see many retail establishments, either.

Millennials may be moving to Brickell — but aside from its proximity to offices, I just don't see the draw

As I walked around, I found myself getting increasingly bored, with very little to look at besides the facades of skyscrapers. The lack of street-level retail, bars and restaurants — not to mention green space — made the neighborhood feel unfriendly to pedestrians. 

While financial districts in general aren't known for being the most culturally vibrant neighborhoods, walking through the streets of New York City's Financial District, where I work, is a completely different experience than the one I had in Brickell.

In Manhattan's Financial District, the bustling streets are overflowing with restaurants and fast casual dining options, bars (often mediocre, but they are there), and shopping. 

Like most of my millennial peers, I'm partial to lively, walkable neighborhoods, and from what I saw, while Brickell may be on the way to being one, it's just not there yet. I found Miami Beach's South of Fifth neighborhood to be much more appealing and walkable, with its 17-acre waterfront park, cafés, bars, and restaurants.

SEE ALSO: Rich New Yorkers are fleeing to Miami to escape high taxes. I spent 3 days there, and it was immediately clear why so many people are making the move.

DON'T MISS: I got access to the richest zip code in the US, an island off Miami where the average income is $2.2 million, the beaches have sand imported from the Bahamas, and the preferred mode of transportation is golf carts. Here's what it looks like.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• There are two ways to turn off the flashlight on an iPhone once you're done using it. 
• You can turn off your iPhone flashlight with a swipe to the phone's Control Center and a tap of the flashlight button.
• With even less effort, you can also turn off an iPhone's flashlight by swiping partially or fully left onto the Camera app from your iPhone's lock screen. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When you're caught in a dark or dimly lit place, the iPhone's built-in flashlight can definitely come in handy.

Whether you're trying to find your keys at the bottom of your purse after a night out, or trying to see under the couch when you can't find the remote, it's a feature that most of us use pretty regularly.

You likely know how to turn your iPhone's flashlight on, but how do you turn it off when you're done using it? Thankfully, it's just as simple. Here's what you need to know (along with a nifty trick to make going dark again even quicker).

How to turn off the flashlight on an iPhone with Control Center

1. Wake up your iPhone's screen by tapping the screen, pressing the lock button, or pressing the home button. Note that you do not need to unlock it or go to the home screen where all of your apps are visible in order to use the flashlight app.

2. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (for iPhone 8 or earlier) or down from the top-right (for iPhone X or later) to bring up the iPhone's Control Center.

3. Tap the flashlight icon, which will be highlighted when in use, so that it's no longer highlighted and becomes dark gray. Your flashlight is now turned off.

How to turn off an iPhone by swiping to the Camera app

If the above, very straightforward method of turning off your iPhone's flashlight isn't simple enough for you, there's an even easier trick you can use to get the job done.

Simply wake up your iPhone's screen and swipe very slightly left as if you were going to open the iPhone's camera (which will also turn off the flashlight).  

Swiping fully left on your screen opens the iPhone's camera. In this case, you're not swiping far enough to open the camera, but your phone doesn't know that, so it turns off the LED flashlight anyway. Pretty cool, huh?

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to hide apps on your iPhone's home screen and search function

• How to turn off the Find My iPhone feature on your iPhone

• How you can easily delete all the photos on your iPhone at once

• How to record the screen on your iPhone

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone cases for every model

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Picking an interview outfit might be one of the more stressful parts of preparing for a job interview.
• An ideal interview look shows the employer that you're a good cultural fit for the company.
• Above all, interview outfits should be unwrinkled, clean, and not revealing.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Your interview outfit should be professional and put-together. It won't necessarily be the most stylish outfit you'll ever wear, but it should communicate confidence and a good work ethic.

But the days of absolutely having to wear a suit or dress to a job interview are over, said Marc Cenedella, CEO of Ladders, a careers site for six-figure jobs.

Cenedella suggested reaching out to your recruiter, company contact, or the HR team to get a sense for what people at the company typically wear to work.

"You can always be direct and ask 'Will I feel out of place in formal business attire?'" Cenedella told Business Insider. "If they answer 'not at all,' you know it's expected."

Regardless of the typical level of dress in the office, some decorum during the interview is still necessary — yoga pants, wrinkled shirts, or ripped denim shouldn't be in your interview wardrobe even for the most casual workplaces.

Here are the 17 things you definitely shouldn't wear to a job interview:

SEE ALSO: LinkedIn just launched a tool that helps job seekers prep for interviews. I gave it a test run, and it was really awkward — but it showed me 2 major mistakes I've been making.

DON'T MISS: Bosses, take note: Workers say lack of engagement is a top reason they'd quit their jobs

SEE ALSO: 34 brilliant questions to ask at the end of every job interview

Anything that's wrinkled or wrinkle-prone

Ironing your interview clothes the night before is non-negotiable.

"Make sure it's clean, unwrinkled, and that you feel that it presents you in the best possible light," Betsy Aimee, a digital content producer who writes on workplace fashion and entrepreneurship, told Business Insider. "People make an assumption about you before you sit down in the seat and start talking."

Something that doesn't quite fit you or is stained

That dress that's just a little too tight? Those shoes that have salt stains?

You want to wear your best, most-polished clothing to the interview so you can feel confident from the get-go. Don't start off on the wrong foot with clothing that doesn't feel comfortable or look presentable.

In fact, rolling up to the office in a suit or skirt suit when everyone else is wearing jeans could hurt you in the interview process. It shows you're not a cultural fit for the company.

"Some of the most common mistakes people make when dressing for an interview are following old and outdated advice or not taking the time to do their research and ask questions about the company culture ahead of time," Cenedella told Business Insider.

Avoid light colors

If you're taking public transportation or have a tendency to spill coffee on yourself, avoid wearing light colors, Barbara Pachter, author of "The Essentials of Business Etiquette" and business communications coach, told Business Insider.

Stained clothing is the ultimate no-go for job-interview looks. Dark colors are the least likely to show stains, and are the safest bet. 

Anything that's too trendy

Unless you're interviewing for a job in the fashion industry, you're probably going to want to keep your outfit on the conservative side.

Opt for neutral or earth tones, simple makeup and jewelry, and quiet patterns, the experts advise.

Your interview look is probably not going to put you on a street style blog, but you want to be remembered for your confidence and abilities, not your clothes. 

Jeans and a T-shirt

Even if you're interviewing with Mark Zuckerberg, you shouldn't wear jeans and a T-shirt.

Granted, if you know the whole office is ultra-casual, you shouldn't show up in a suit. But you also shouldn't be quite as low-key as the rest of them.

"You go in the middle," Aimee said. "You're not as casual as everyone else is, but you're also not too formal."

If you know everyone is in flip-flops, opt for baseline casual — dark denim and a nice blouse or shirt. 

Yoga pants or other gym clothes

Yes, athleisure is trendy, and it's crossed over into workwear. But athleisure is still considered inappropriate in most conservative offices — and it definitely shouldn't be worn to a job interview.

Outlandish make-up or jewelry

Pachter suggested a light touch with your hair, nails, and makeup. It's not the time to rock your purple lipstick and super-long acrylics.

She said men might consider a nice watch and simple cufflinks. 

Loud patterns or crazy colors

The experts suggest leaning toward quiet colors — navy, black, gray, or brown work well.

Sandals are a major no

Even if it's a casual office, you will want to go a notch or two above what everyone else is wearing, Aimee said.

Opt for fancy sneakers, loafers, or flats if you think dress shoes aren't right for the company.

A crazy tie or a black tie

Navy, red, gray, or a pattern of these shades are safer options, the experts say.

Black ties should only be worn for black-tie events. 

Earbuds or headphones

Store these in your bag before you get to the reception area. Your future boss is going to be annoyed with you if it looks like you can't hear him or her, even if your podcast is switched off. 

Visible underwear

A lot of perfume or cologne

One spray is fine. But your interviewer might be allergic to your perfume and get a sneeze attack. 

For men, shoes and belts that aren't made of leather

Now is not the time for your coolest sneakers or your D-ring cloth belt.

Even if it's a super casual office, men should stick to a leather belt or more upscale sneakers. Don't look like you could go for a jog. 

Your flashiest nose piercing

Again, err towards the conservative. While many companies these days allow piercings of all kinds, stick to as few as possible during the interview if you're not sure of the policy.

Ripped or light-wash jeans

Jeans are common in casual offices, but usually black jeans are the most acceptable.

Don't go with the most casual wash and cut for the job interview, or you'll appear unprofessional.

Something that doesn't make you feel awesome, confident, and ready for anything

If you feel stifled by having to wear a suit for a job interview, it might be a sign that the company's environment isn't a fit for you.

"Let your personality shine through," Aimee said. "If you're interviewing for a job and you feel the attire is off-putting to you, that's a signifier that the job is not a good cultural fit for you."

• A method for minimizing acne breakouts that has gained momentum in recent years is the hydrocolloid patch. 
• These sticky patches absorb pus from pimples, resulting in noticeably smaller and less inflamed blemishes. 
• I tried hydrocolloid patches for the first time from a relative newcomer to the scene, Mighty Patch, and they worked much better than those from a popular competitor. 
• As someone who has struggled with acne-prone skin for years, I'm often skeptical of supposed quick-fix solutions, but the effectiveness of the Mighty Patch stickers have made me a convert. 

From extraction facials and laser treatments to special face washes and oral antibiotics, I've tried many tactics in my decade-old battle with acne. Some, like acne extractions, work very well over the long term, but are quite expensive. Others have dried out my skin or even resulted in more breakouts. The only solution that really works for short-term relief — and that I wish I had tried way earlier — is the hydrocolloid patch. 

Hydrocolloid patches are originally designed for wounds but turn out to also be perfect for those painful (both physically and emotionally) breakouts that erupt the night before a big event like an interview or a date. 

They work by attracting water and absorbing fluids such as pus so that by the next day, you can literally see everything they've sucked up from your pimples. COSRX is the most popular hydrocolloid patch brand, earning rave reviews from other media sites like Buzzfeed and Refinery29 and a 4-star rating from 2,700+ Amazon reviews, but I'm a stronger believer in a new brand's hydrocolloid product: Hero Cosmetics' Mighty Patch. 

Mighty Patch hydrocolloid patches come in 36- or 72-count packs, and each one measures 12mm across — smaller than a penny. They work best on pimples with fluid or pus in them, meaning there's a visible whitehead.

After showering and drying my face, I stuck the patches directly on the blemishes that fit this description, then let them work their magic. Sometimes, depending on the pimple, I could see and feel results in as quickly as a few hours. Other times, they took longer to take effect, and I slept with them overnight.

The results are somewhat gross, but oddly satisfying: The sticker turns white with the pus it has absorbed.

The difference after applying a sticker is clear, and not only visually. Each time, my pimples dramatically reduced in both size and pain. I was amazed at how well they worked, and quickly became very comfortable with slapping them all over my face every night. 

I also bought myself the COSRX patches to compare their performance, and considering their high reviews and cult status, I was surprised to find they were much less effective than Mighty Patch. The COSRX hydrocolloid patches come in multiple sizes while Mighty Patch's are all one size, and they're cheaper than Mighty Patch. However, they were prone to falling off my face as I slept, and rarely absorbed as much fluid as the Mighty Patch stickers. While Mighty Patch may be more expensive, I'd much rather opt for the product that actually works. 

A side benefit of these hydrocolloid patches is that they prevent bored, wandering fingers from touching and picking pimples. Every person who has acne hears over and over again and knows from personal experience that picking leads to irritation and scarring, but it's much easier said than done not to do it. As the patches work to minimize your blemish, they also protect the affected area from exposure to unclean pillows and hands. 

Having dealt with acne since I was a teen, I regret not trying these gentle, non-invasive, and non-drying hydrocolloid patches earlier, but am now a serious proponent of using them for banishing acne. They're easy to slip into your bag to take on the go, and as simple stickers, they're low maintenance.

I'm stocking up on the Mighty Patch ones in particular because they've shown time after time that they're the best in the market. 

Shop Mighty Patch Hydrocolloid Patches (36-Count) from $12.50 here: Amazon, Anthropologie

Shop Mighty Patch Hydrocolloid Patches (72-Count) for $20.89 here: Amazon

SEE ALSO: A dermatologist shares her 6 go-to anti-aging products to stop wrinkles before they appear

Join the conversation about this story »

• You can turn off iCloud storage on your iPhone altogether or for specific apps.
• Enabling Apple's iCloud storage allows you to upload photos, documents, calendars, and more to the company's cloud storage servers, but you can turn the feature off easily with these steps.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

While smartphones are much more generous when it comes to storage space these days, if you keep what feels like your whole life on your phone — work and social calendars, photos, apps, emails, texts, etc. — it's easy to run out of room sooner rather than later.

That's why Apple's iCloud storage comes in handy. The company offers all users 5 GB of free storage space in their cloud servers, and you can buy up to 2 terabytes for a monthly subscription fee.

It can be a comfort to know all of your data is being backed up to iCloud, but there may come a time when you no longer want to use the feature on your iPhone.

Perhaps you're not necessarily comfortable the idea of your private photos or documents being shared with Apple, or you're trying to prevent iCloud data from syncing from one device to another.

Thankfully, turning off iCloud on your iPhone is a simple process.

How to turn off iCloud storage on iPhone

1. From your iPhone's home screen, tap the Settings app to open it.

2. At the top of the Settings screen, tap your name.

3. On the next screen, scroll to the bottom and tap "Sign Out." You will be asked to enter your Apple ID password at this stage, which you should enter before tapping "Turn Off." Note that tapping "Turn Off" will disable Find My iPhone, which is necessary in order to disable iCloud.

4. On the next screen, you'll be asked to confirm which iCloud data you want to keep stored as a copy on your phone. You can toggle between the options by tapping the colored bar next to each item. Leave it green to save or white to disable.

5. You'll be asked to confirm again that you want to sign out, so tap "Sign Out" one more time and you're good to go.

How to turn off iCloud storage for specific apps on an iPhone

1. At the top of the Settings screen, tap your name.

2. Tap on "iCloud" on the following screen.

3. This will bring you to your "Apps Using iCloud" screen, where you can choose which apps are allowed to store data in iCloud. The first three sections are reserved for Apple apps, while the last section contains third-party apps.

4. To turn off an app's access to iCloud, just tap the toggle next to its name. When the toggle is white, it's been turned off, and is not allowed to store data.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to change your Apple ID on an iPhone

• How to restore your iPhone from a backup after taking the 'nuclear option' of a factory reset

• How to transfer all of your contacts from one iPhone to another using iCloud

• How to backup your iPhone to iCloud, your computer, or an external hard drive

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 23 useful iPhone tricks and hidden features to make your life easier

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• High-quality bike lights are bright enough to guide the way wherever you may roam, will last you for hours of riding, and you can easily release the light to take it with you.
• The Cygolite Streak 450 Hotshot SL Bike Light Combo Set is our top pick because you get a headlight and taillight that are easy to install, have several lighting modes, and are affordable.

For about a decade, my main mode of transportation to school and to work was my bicycle. During the summer months, the sun would stay out long enough to make a bike light unnecessary, but as the days grew shorter, a light was indispensable.

These days, I mainly cycle for exercise and for trips within a few miles of my house. Proper lighting is still a must to compensate for my terrible night vision and to make it clear to drivers that I'm on the road. 

When choosing a bike light, look at the number of lumens it's capable of producing. This tells you how bright the light is. Many models give you this number right in their name, and from our research, the advertised lumens rating is accurate for the best units, though the brightness may dwindle as the battery loses juice.

For headlights, the number of lumens you need depends on where you will be cycling. For riding trails at night, you need at least 1,000 lumens. For urban roads where there are streetlights, 200 lumens will do. And, taillights should produce between 40 and 100 lumens of output since they are mainly there so others can see you.

Experts warn against using bright flashing headlights while cycling. This can disorient drivers and make it hard for you to see. Also, anything above 300 lumens could potentially blind oncoming traffic. So, consider dropping down to a dimmer setting when cars are coming — much like you might use the high beams on your car. If you are concerned about drivers seeing you from behind, consider installing two rear lights: one that flashes and one that remains steady.

While researching the best bike lights, we examined thousands of expert and buyer reviews and ratings of dozens of models. Our guide features lights that have demonstrated their durability, user-friendliness, and usefulness in a variety of situations.

Here are our picks for the best bike lights you can buy:

• Best bike light overall: Cygolite Streak 450 Hotshot SL Bike Light Combo Set
• Best affordable bike light: TeamObsidian Bike Light Set
• Best strap-mounted bike light: Knog Blinder Mob USB Rechargeable Light
• Best high-end bike light: NiteRider Pro 1800 Race Light
• Best bike light featuring side lights: Light and Motion Urban 500 Headlight

Updated on 06/19/2019 by Les Shu: Updated selections, prices, links, and formatting.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

The best bike light overall

For a reasonable price, the Cygolite Streak 450 Hotshot SL Bike Light Combo Set includes a bright headlight and taillight to make your early morning or late night commutes safer.

The Cygolite Streak 450 Hotshot SL Bike Light Combo Set comes with the Streak 450 Lumen headlight, which lasts for up to 100 hours on a single charge, and the Hotshot SL 50 Lumen taillight, which lasts for 200 hours on a single charge.

The lights charge using a Mini USB cord that you can plug into your computer or a cube. Since many electronics these days rely on Micro USB (not mini), you may want to keep a Mini USB cord with you on your rides so you aren't stranded with dead lights. Or, if you see the low battery indicator turn on, be sure to charge the light before you go out.

The headlight has seven lighting modes: boost, high, medium, low, steady pulse, walking, and day lighting, which consists of powerful flashes that make you stand out in broad daylight. The taillight also has lightning mode as well as five other modes of varying flash tempo and brightness.

The Wirecutter recommends the Cygolite Streak 450 Hotshot SL Bike Light Combo Set because the testers found the headlight put out a beam that was incredibly bright at close range and long distance. And, the reviewer notes the taillight puts out enough light for most bike-path or urban riding while offering a great battery life. Single Geared's reviewer noticed a significant difference in drivers' awareness of him when riding. He also appreciated how effortless the tool-free mounting process was.

About 77% of the people who rated the Cygolite Streak 450 Hotshot SL Bike Light Combo Set on Amazon left a positive review. One customer touted the long battery life and the brightness of the headlight. Yet, he noted that the headlight has hot spots, but he found that useful for avoiding potholes.

Several other buyers were impressed with how bright the headlight is. One buyer warns that the quick-release on the light is tight at first. She ended up cutting her finger trying to get it loose, but it slid off easier over time.

Pros: Incredibly bright, long battery life, easy to mount, several useful lighting modes

Cons: Uses Mini USB (rather than the more common Micro USB)

Buy the Cygolite Streak 450 Hotshot SL Bike Light Combo Set on Amazon for $55.60

The best budget bike light

If your funds are limited but you still want to ride safely, consider picking up the surprisingly well-built and bright TeamObsidian Bike Light Set.

One of the benefits you sacrifice with the low cost of the TeamObsidian Bike Light Setis usability out of the box. Batteries aren't included. Despite having to buy five AAA batteries (I recommend getting rechargeable versions), there is a lot to like about this set.

The headlamp produces 200 lumens of light. Both lights have three lighting modes — high, dimmed, and flashing — and are designed to withstand water, snow, heat, and dust. Installation is effortless and tool-free. And, the lights have quick-release mounts so you can take them with you and avoid potential thefts.

TeamObsidian stands behind the quality of their bike lights by offering a "100% no-hassle lifetime guarantee." The company specifically states that they will refund your money if you are dissatisfied for any reason. And, if the lights break, they will send you new ones.

WOM-derful blog recommends the TeamObsidian Bike Light Set because of the powerful headlights with adjustable beam patterns and lack of dead spots. However, the reviewer felt the tail lamp wasn't sturdy, was hard to open, and wasn't impressed with the brightness or beam patterns. Outside Pursuits recommends this light for country roads and urban riding but notes that it isn't designed for trails.

More than 1,300 customers have left positive reviews of the TeamObsidian Bike Light Set on Amazon. Of the of bike lights in this price range and preferred this model. One customer found the metal build quality was better than other bikes lights he tried in the same price range. He also says that the light detaches easily and can be used as a flashlight, and he was impressed by customer service.

There are several other comments regarding how good the customer support is. Other common positives are that the lights are quite bright and the mounts, though they are made of thin plastic, hold the lights solidly.

Pros: Affordable, adjustable beam width, excellent customer service, impressive lifetime guarantee

Cons: Doesn't come with batteries, not designed for trail riding

Buy the TeamObsidian Bike Light Set on Amazon for $15.99

The best strap-mounted bike light

The Knog Blinder Mob USB Rechargeable Light is available in a variety of styles and is easy to transfer from one bike to another within seconds.

The Knog Blinder Mob USB Rechargeable Light comes in about nine different styles and a few different colors. The lights can be used as headlights and taillights.

The variety allows you to choose a light that is ideal for your purposes. For example, the Mr Chips style casts a broader beam that doesn't go as far. Whereas The Face and Four Eyes produce longer, narrower beams. Each of the lights features a secure strap system that allows you to effortlessly switch the light from one bike to another.

The Wirecutter recommends the Knog Blinder Mob V Kid Grid taillight because the reviewer found it put out a long, wide beam, and it was easy to move between bikes. However, it wasn't her top pick because of the short battery life and hefty price tag. Outdoor Gear Lab tested The Face and appreciated the wide, eye-catching beam. Yet, the reviewer would have liked an easier to press on/off button and more beam distance.

Approximately 77% of the Amazon buyers who reviewed the Knog Blinder Mob USB Rechargeable Light left a rating of 4 or 5 stars. One of the most popular lights is the Mr Chips headlight. Buyers note that the battery tends not to last long unless you use eco-mode. The beam is easy to see from several angles, and people appreciate that the light plugs right into a USB port so there's no need for a cord. One buyer was left without a light mid-ride because there is no low-battery indicator on this unit.

Pros: Several configurations to meet your specific needs, USB rechargeable, can be reinstalled easily on any bike

Cons: Short battery life, no low-battery indicator

Buy the Knog Blinder Mob USB Rechargeable Light on Amazon for $22.95 and up (price varies by model and size)

The best high-end bike light

If you prefer to take your mountain bike off-road at night and you have a little extra to spend, consider the NiteRider Pro 1800 Race Light.

What sets the NiteRider Pro 1800 Race Light apart from the other lights in our guide is that it gets brighter than your average car headlight. There are five modes: high, medium, low, walk, and flash.

The light is designed to stand up to the elements with Dupont fiberglass reinforced nylon housings and a borosilicate glass lens, which is resistant to extreme temperature changes. The eight-step power gauge tells you how much battery power is left, and you can easily swap out batteries so you aren't left in the dark while you wait for your light to charge.

Outdoor Gear Lab recommends the NiteRider Pro 1800 Race Light because the brightness and beam quality received top scores in their tests. Of the 20 lights it tested, this unit reached the greatest distance (172 meters.) Yet, the reviewer notes that the light is not very portable.

Mountain Bike Action compared the Pro 3600 to the Pro 1800, and the Pro 1800 came out on top. The reviewer found the narrower beam pattern was still enough for aggressive night riding. We Test Lights performed an analysis of the specs, and demonstrated that the light produces 1720 lumens with a 27-degree beam angle and a run-time of 137 minutes.

Around 74% of the buyers who reviewed the NiteRider Pro 1800 on Amazon gave it 5 stars. Several mountain bike riders vouch for the light's ability to truly put out 1800 lumens, which effectively turns night into day according to one buyer.

A rider with more than 30 years of trail-riding experience notes that it works best on the third and fourth settings because the top setting tends to produce wash out that decreases your night vision. Another buyer found the battery didn't last long for him, and when he left the battery charging for multiple days, the blue LED that shows that charging is done actually killed the battery.

Pros: 1800 lumens output, long distance beam that maintains uniformity, excellent for trail riding at night

Cons: Expensive, hard to remove

Buy the NiteRider Pro 1800 Race Light on Amazon for $225

The best with side lights

Why you'll love it: The Light and Motion Urban 500 Headlight keeps you visible from the front and sides with its powerful headlight and helpful side lights.

When mounted just right, the Light and Motion Urban 500 Headlighthas two amber safety side lights that make you visible to drivers on your sides. There are four light modes: high (500 lumens), medium, low, and pulse.

On high, the battery lasts for about 90 minutes, and on pulse, it lasts for up to 12 hours. The light mounts right onto your handlebars and has a quick release feature so you can take your light with you. It charges using a Micro USB charging cable. And, Light and Motion backs the quality of this product with a two-year warranty.

Bike Rumor recommends the Light and Motion Urban 500 Headlight because of its compact, lightweight design, which easily fit in the reviewer's pants pocket when not in use. The Wirecutter rated this the best commuting headlight because it offers better optics than any of the other headlights they tested. However, the reviewer notes that the battery only lasted six hours on the second-lowest setting.

The light registered 494 lumens in We Test Lights' tests, and it had a run-time of 97 minutes on high. The brightness dropped consistently over the course of the runtime until it hit about 260 lumens at 90 minutes and died soon after.

Of the Amazon customers who left reviews, 68% gave the Light and Motion Urban 500 Headlight 4 or 5 stars. Many say that the 500 lumens are plenty bright for road riding at night and that anything more could be disorienting for drivers, other cyclists, or pedestrians.

The biggest complaint has to do with the cover over the Micro USB port. It is not attached to the unit and falls off. And, it's so small that if it falls off during a ride, you are unlikely to find it. One buyer lost the USB cover, which allowed moisture to enter the unit and caused it to malfunction.

Pros: Has side lights, 500 lumens, lightweight and compact, easy to remove, two-year warranty

Cons: USB port cover falls off easily

Buy the Light and Motion Urban 500 Headlight on Amazon for $44.45

Check out our other bike gear guides

The best bike helmets you can buy

There are so many bike helmets to choose from that it can seem very overwhelming. That's why we've done the research to find the best bike helmets you can buy. The POC Octal X SPIN is our overall favorite for most people, but we have four other great options for you to consider.

• Best bike helmet overall: POC Octal X SPIN
• Best budget bike helmet: Bern FL1 Trail
• Best high-end bike helmet: Giro Aether MIPS
• Best portable bike helmet for bikeshare: Priority Bicycles Stack
• Best bike helmet for commuters: Lumos Kickstart

The best bike locks you can buy

Whether you live out in the country or in a major metropolitan area, there is no bike lock system that will stop a well-equipped thief. However, there are a number of locks that will either slow down or completely discourage a criminal. We've rounded up the best bike locks you can buy.

• Best bike lock overall: Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini Bicycle U-Lock
• Best bike lock on a budget: Titanker Bike Lock Cable
• Best standard-size U-lock bike lock: Kryptonite New York Standard Bicycle U-Lock
• Best U-lock/cable bike lock combo: Kryptonite Kryptolok Standard Bicycle U-Lock w/ 4-foot Flex Cable

• Outdoor Voices launched TechSweat in 2018— a collection of lightweight workout gear that's cool to the touch and specially designed for hot, sweaty workouts.
• TechSweat includes staples ranging from leggings to crop tops and skorts, and prices from $45 to $95 per item.
• Recently, the TechSweat originals underwent a fit update that gave them a new waistband.
• To see how it stacks up, Insider Picks tested the new TechSweat leggings ($75-$95) in our own workouts. Find our (unanimously positive) verdicts below. 

Outdoor Voices (OV) is, in large, partly defined by its unusual ability to appeal to both athletes and leggings-are-for-Sunday-errands athleisurites. The company recently released an athletic collection that manages to keep its cool aesthetic intact while supercharging the clothing's functionality.

TechSweat, built for severely sweaty, no-frills workout classes, gets its namesake from OV's new TechSweat material: breathable, sweat-wicking, surprisingly cool-to-the-touch, and extremely pliable thanks to four-way stretch. The shorts promise to be the lightest and smoothest you'll ever wear, and the leggings to withstand the high-intensity, high-sweat exercises that feel like they're being hosted in the fiery brimstone of hell on a Monday morning. You can shop it in all your workout basics — leggings, bras/crops, tanks, shorts/skorts — and prices range from $45 for crop tops and flex shorts to $95 for two-tone leggings.

To see if the TechSweat material was really all it was chalked up to be, we had five women on the Insider Picks team put the TechSweat leggings to the test. You can find our personal experiences below, but the gist of it is this: these are great workout leggings. 

At first glance, the collection looks like any other Instagrammable pair designed by the company: high waists; flattering, intuitive seaming; and rich colors with names like Papaya and Baltic. But on the body — and, more importantly, in your spin class — there's no mistake that these leggings were built first and foremost for exercise. The material is soft and smooth and still works to somewhat sculpt the body, but doesn't catch or hold heat. It's responsive, flexible, and lightweight enough to escape notice during exercise. For us, it meant our attention could remain on our exercise, rather than on how quickly we could bail. 

All in all, TechSweat gear manages to marry OV's calling card style with a high, unexpectedly utilitarian performance level. We suggest ordering your typical size. Expect to spend a lot of time in them. 

We worked out in Outdoor Voices' TechSweat leggings. Here's what we thought:

TechSweat 3/4 Leggings

TechSweat 3/4 Leggings, $85

I am supremely picky about leggings. I don't like to own pairs that are specifically for workouts or specifically for lounging — I want the pairs that I'm happy to wear for either of those things, and the TechSweats do not disappoint. The material is incredibly stretchy and thin, but I never worry that it'll become see-through when I bend over. Instead, the thinness contributes to their breathability, responsiveness, and gentle supportiveness. The waistband is high and thick, so it stays secure over my hips, but it's not so stiff that I feel like I'm being squeezed in half, which is a huge pet peeve of mine with a lot of HIIT-specific leggings. They fit true-to-size, 

Overall, I just really love this pair and I wear them all the time, both at the gym and on the weekends. I didn't have a great experience with the Springs leggings, so I'm really glad I gave OV a second chance with these. And now they're the ones I recommend to any friends (or readers) looking for a good pair.—Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor 

TechSweat Two-Tone Kneecap

TechSweat Two-Tone Kneecap, $75

After trying a different pair of OV leggings and not loving them, I have to admit that I was ready to write off the brand. However, these TechSweat leggings have whirled me around 180-degrees to become a fan. At first glance, I thought I maybe should've sized up, but they turned out to be very stretchy and forgiving, and my usual size fit perfectly. The waistband is a little stiffer than the legs, providing structure and support, while the rest of the leggings are flexible and breathable. If you have an intense workout or tend to sweat more in general, I do think the fabric will show your sweat — but if you don't care, you'll love the fit and feel for activities from running to HIIT workouts.  

I appreciate the inclusion of the back pocket, though to quell my paranoia, I do wish it was a zipped one instead. The brand's signature color-blocking design looks great. I have this idea in my head that cropped leggings make my already-short legs look even shorter, so I normally only buy full-length leggings, but OV's design (I got the Provincial Blue/Baltic color) really flatters my body! — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

TechSweat 7/8 Two-Tone Leggings

TechSweat 7/8 Two-Tone Leggings, $95

I'm particularly picky when it comes to leggings — it's hard to find a pair that are comfortable, can power through all kinds of workouts, and look great, too. When I find that trifecta, I get a little obsessed, like I am with this pair from Outdoor Voices.

The first thing I noticed slipping these on was how soft, stretchy, and lightweight they are. I'm always a little hesitant about such lightweight leggings as many lack support, but these are equal parts supportive and breathable — a winning combination for sweaty workouts. The high waistband keeps everything secure while you run, stretch, or bend, but it doesn't dig into your stomach like other high-waisted pants have a tendency to do. The two-toned blue color is really pretty, but also super flattering and although these are lighter colors, I haven't had any issues with sweat marks.

Beyond practicalities, I love the way these make my legs and butt look and I would (actually, make that will) definitely buy another pair. —Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter

TechSweat 7/8 Leggings

TechSweat 7/8 Leggings, $85

Like Connie, after an initially underwhelming introduction to OV, I wasn't sure if the brand's larger-than-life hype would hold up. I own more than 20 pairs of workout leggings, and over two years of researching and reporting on products on top of that haven't made me an easy-to-please shopper.

But TechSweat really surprised me. Where the other OV leggings I had tried failed, these excelled. The TechSweat leggings manage to tread the very thin (some would say impossible) line between leggings fit for casual wear and those equipped with the performance level needed to withstand sweaty, punishing workouts all in one pair. I still wear my 2XU tights for the hottest conditions, but I may wind up wearing these more frequently overall, and I still gladly tug them on for HIIT classes. The breathable, flexible material is forgettable in exactly the way workout gear should be. The waist is tighter than the legs, but not uncomfortable. 

On top of functionality, it's worth mentioning that they're also pretty flattering on — strategic seaming accentuates leg muscles and shapes your bum, and a high waist elongates legs and seems to narrow the waist. My only substantial gripe is that I wish the back pocket had a zippered closure. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

TechSweat 3/4 Two-Tone Leggings

TechSweat 3/4 Two-Tone Leggings, $95

There's a lot of hype surrounding Outdoor Voices clothing. Some of it is well deserved, and some of it isn't … at least for the price. OV leggings aren't cheap (they range from $75 to $95 a pair), so I had high expectation for the TechSweat leggings when they landed on my desk to test. And … my verdict is in: These didn't disappoint. Their look is very Instagram-worthy, but it's their comfort and overall performance that sold me. They're very stretchy, but still supportive thanks to their high waistband; they're made of a thin-ish, but durable nylon blend that breaths better than other workout legging in my closet; and they're comfortable enough to wear when I'm not working out too. 

There are definitely cheaper leggings out there that are just as cute and high performing, but if you're itching to own an OV pair, definitely go for one from the TechSweat line. —Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy for Insider Picks

• Google hides fun games and tricks, known as "Easter eggs," inside its search engine. 
• Here are our favorites from over the years. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Google has come a long, long way since its startup days, but it hasn't forgotten how to have fun. 

The search giant loves to hide fun tricks, or "Easter eggs," into its services. From Google Hangouts to Google Maps, there are neat games or features hidden inside nearly every product and service Google makes (even its spreadsheets).

But its Google's search engine that holds most of these jokes, games, and nifty features. There are almost too many to count, so we've rounded up a handful of our favorites from over the years.

Here are 26 Easter eggs hidden inside Google Search:

SEE ALSO: Here are all the new Animojis coming to your iPhone X

1. If you search for “solitaire,” you can play a round of the classic card game.

2. Searching “tic tac toe” will let you start up that game. You can set it to play against a friend or Google itself. For a real challenge, set the difficulty to “Impossible,” and try to get anything done at work.

3. If you're in the holiday spirit, you can play a digital game of dreidel by searching "spin (or play) dreidel."

4. If you have a tough decision on your hands, Googling “flip a coin” might help.

5. Or, try “roll a die.”

6. Searching “askew” will turn the page slightly...askew.

7. Searching “anagram” will ask if you meant “nag a ram." That, of course, is an anagram of "anagram."

8. If you know anything about programming, you'll get a kick out of this one: searching for “recursion” — a programming term referring to a function that calls back to itself — will ask if you meant “recursion.” Now try clicking on it repeatedly. Get it?

9. Search “what sound does a dog make” and you'll get a "woof" sound — you can also try cow, pig, duck, and a few other animals.

10. This one is for "Seinfeld" fans: When you type in "Festivus," you'll see a pole pop up on the left side of the screen.

11. If you’re feeling curious, search “fun facts” (or “I’m feeling curious”). That’ll return a Snapple-cap-style piece of random information, which you can refresh right on the page.

12. Searching “Google in 1998” will bring you to a page reminiscent of what Google looked like a couple decades ago, complete with company background info — and that awful logo.

13. Searching for “the answer to life, the universe, and everything” brings up a calculator result of 42, a reference to Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”

14. Here's a slightly more obscure one: Googling “Conway’s game of life” returns a sprawling digital animation to the side of the screen. This is a reference to the famous self-simulating “cellular automaton” created by British mathematician John Conway in 1970.

15. There are clearly a few gamers on Google’s Search team. Search “Super Mario Bros,” for instance, and one of the "?" blocks from that series will show up in the Knowledge Graph card on the right. Click it, and you’ll be treated the same coin-dispensing sound effect you’d hear in the original games.

16. For Sega fans, searching "Sonic the Hedgehog" will bring up the beloved mascot in the Knowledge Graph. Clicking on him will make him do his trademark spin, and eventually transform him into his powered-up Super Sonic form.

17. Searching “zerg rush” will unleash a torrent of O's that gradually eat away at your results. This is a reference to a type of attack in the popular strategy game series "StarCraft."

18. A treat for those who remember Nintendo’s "Star Fox 64": Searching “do a barrel roll” will spin the results page a full 360 degrees. You can also search “Z or R twice” — that's the command you had to hit on the Nintendo 64 controller to do said barrel roll.

19. Googling “Pacman” will allow you to play the interactive game Google created for a Doodle celebrating the little yellow guy’s 30th anniversary back in 2010.

20. Move over to Google Image Search, and searching “Atari breakout” will turn that page’s images into a big game of — you guessed it — "Breakout."

21. Because all of existence comes back to Kevin Bacon in the end, searching “bacon number” after a celebrity’s name will tell you just how many degrees of separation are between that celebrity and the star of "Hollow Man."

22. If you're still not over the fidget spinner craze of 2017, try searching for "spinner." You can chose between an endlessly spinning fidget spinner or a "Wheel of Fortune"-style number spinner.

23. Google added a tool for musicians, too. Just type in "metronome," then adjust the BPM for your piece of music.

24. If you search "Is Google down" you'll get a concise "no."

25. Here's my personal favorite: turn off your WiFi and open a new Google Search. You'll get a screen that says "There is no internet connection" below a little dinosaur. But tap the space bar, and the page turns into a tiny game where the dino has to run and jump over cacti.

26. BONUS: This trick doesn't work on the desktop version, but it works on mobile. Type in "bubble level" and it will turn your phone into an actual working level. So long, crooked picture frames!

Jeff Dunn contributed to an earlier version of this story. 

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Prime Day 2019 is coming up soon. The official date has not been announced yet, but we think it will be mid-July. You'll be able to save on Amazon devices, electronics, back-to-school supplies, and hundreds of thousands of other products. 
• In order to access the deals, you must be a Prime member. If you're not already, sign up for a free 30-day trial now so you can shop Prime Day. 
• Prime Day isn't the only perk you can take advantage of. During your trial, try out the dozens of other benefits of a membership.
• Check back at this link for more Prime Day deals to watch on a rolling basis. 

Other than anticipating what products will be on sale during Prime Day, the most obvious way you can get ready for Amazon's annual sale is to make sure you have a Prime membership, because you'll only be able to shop the sale and that day's Lightning Deals if you're a Prime member. 

Giving you the opportunity to save big on Amazon devices, electronics, back-to-school supplies, and hundreds of thousands of other products, Prime Day is the summer shopping holiday you never knew you needed, so now's really the best time to start your membership. 

Amazon did recently bump the cost of a Prime membership to $119 a year, but it's still completely worth it (and to put it into perspective, JPMorgan estimated the true value of a membership is actually $785). 

Fast and convenient shipping policies, free video and music streaming, and access to Prime Day just skim the surface of all the perks of a Prime membership, and if you're not convinced now, you can sign up for a 30-day trial to experience all the benefits for yourself. It's completely free, so you can shop Prime Day and try out other features of Prime without the commitment. 

Amazon also offers discounted memberships for the following groups. If either of these apply to you, start your membership or trial now so you can access Prime Day:

• $5.99/month for qualifying customers in select U.S. government assistance programs such as holders of the EBT card. Confirm your eligibility and start your Prime membership here. 
• 6-month trial and $6.49/month afterwards for students. Confirm your eligibility and start your free 6-month trial here. 

Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Prime here to access Amazon Prime Day.

Want to stay updated on everything Prime Day 2019? Bookmark this page and our master guide to the best deals of Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day 2019 is fast approaching — check out the best deals we expect to see again this year

DON'T MISS: 31 useful Amazon Prime benefits to know that go beyond free 2-day shipping

SEE ALSO: How to shop on Amazon Prime Day 2019 — all the tips and tricks you need to save the most money possible

Join the conversation about this story »

• Bernard Arnault has a net worth of $100 billion, Bloomberg reports. Along with Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, he's now one of three people in the world who are worth more than $100 billion.
• Arnault, 70, is the third-richest person in the world, having surpassed Warren Buffett in March 2019, Bloomberg reported.
• Arnault is chairman and CEO of LVMH, the world's largest maker of luxury goods that brought in nearly $53 billion in revenue in 2018.
• Four of Arnault's five children work at LVMH brands that include Louis Vuitton, Rimowa, Berluti, and TAG Heuer. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

French businessman Bernard Arnault just joined Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos in one of the world's most exclusive clubs — billionaires worth $100 billion or more.

Arnault, with his reported $100 billion net worth, is the richest person in Europe; he overtook Warren Buffett in March to become the third-richest person in the world, Bloomberg reported. Forbes, meanwhile, pegs his net worth slightly lower at $96 million. 

Arnault is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, known as LVMH, the world's largest maker of luxury goods, making him the richest person in the fashion industry. LVMH, which recorded more than $53 billion in revenue in 2018, is made up of 70 companies including Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Dom Perignon Champagne, TAG Heuer, and Rimowa.

Read more: Meet the Wertheimers, the secretive French brothers worth $42 billion who control Chanel, own vineyards in France and Napa Valley, and breed racehorses

Four of Arnault's five children are part of the LVMH empire. His daughter, Delphine, is the executive vice president at Louis Vuitton and apparent heiress to LVMH. 

Arnault, who lives in Paris and has a vacation home on the French Riviera, attended one of the most prestigious engineering schools in France and was named CEO of luxury goods holding company, Financiere Agache, in 1984, according to Bloomberg.

Arnault made headlines in April after pledging to help fund the rebuilding of Notre Dame. The 800-year-old Notre-Dame Cathedral caught fire in April, damaging its spire and roof. Collectively, France's superrich pledged over $450 million towards its repairs, though a church official said none of the funds had been received.

Here's a look at Arnault's career, life, and family.

SEE ALSO: Meet the Ambanis, the richest family in Asia, who live in a $1 billion skyscraper and mingle with royals, politicians, and Bollywood stars

DON'T MISS: A day in the life of a Deutsche Bank managing director, who wakes up at 5:00 a.m., spends 10 days of the month traveling, and works out twice a day even while on business trips

Bernard Arnault is the richest person in Europe, worth an estimated $100 billion. On March 5, he surpassed Warren Buffett to become the third-richest person in the world.

Source: Bloomberg

The 70-year-old French businessman is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, known as LVMH, a position he's held since 1989. LVMH is the world's largest maker of luxury goods.

Source: Bloomberg

The business is a family affair; four of Arnault's five children hold positions at LVMH brands.

Source: Bloomberg

Arnault's wealth is now exceeded only by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.

Source: Bloomberg

Arnault owns a 96.5% stake in Christian Dior, which controls 41% of LVMH.

Source: Bloomberg

LVMH, which recorded more than $53 billion in revenue in 2018, is made up of 70 companies that sell products such as Louis Vuitton leather goods ...

Source: Bloomberg, LVMH

... TAG Heuer watches ...

... and Dom Perignon Champagne. In 2018, LVMH brought in $53 billion in revenue.

Source: LVMH

Arnault comes from the northern French town of Roubaix.

Source: Bloomberg

He studied engineering at the Ecole Polytechnique, a prestigious school in Paris that counts three former French presidents and three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni.

Source: Business Insider, Bloomberg

After graduating, Arnault spent a stint working for his father's construction company, Ferret-Savinel, before entering the luxury goods industry. He became CEO of luxury goods holding company, Financiere Agache, in 1984.

Source: Bloomberg

Arnault married Anne Dewavrin in 1973 and they had two children together before separating in 1990. Arnault remarried to Helene Mercier, a Canadian concert pianist, in 1991.

He reportedly wooed her by playing Chopin and other classical composers for her.

Source: Forbes

The French billionaire and his wife live on Paris's Left Bank south of the Seine River, a historic area that includes neighborhoods such as the Latin Quarter and St. Germain-des-Prés.

Source: Bloomberg, The New York Times

In their home, Arnault keeps a collection of modern and contemporary art from artists that include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, Maurizio Cattelan, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso.

Source: Bloomberg

Arnault has five children: two with his first wife and three with his current wife.

Source: The New York Times

Antoine Arnault and Delphine Arnault are his two children from his first marriage.

Source: The New York Times, LVMH

Delphine, Bernard's oldest daughter, is the apparent heiress to the LVMH empire.

Source: The New York Times

She started her career at American consultancy firm McKinsey & Co. in Paris and is now the executive vice president at Louis Vuitton.

Source: Business of Fashion, The New York Times

In January 2019, Delphine became the youngest member of LVMH's executive committee at age 43.

Source:MDS

Delphine married Italian wine heir Alessandro Vallarino Gancia in 2005 in what Forbes called "France's wedding of the year." The couple divorced in 2010.

Source: Forbes, Business Insider

She now reportedly lives with tech billionaire Xavier Niel and has one daughter. But Delphine is notoriously private about her personal life. "I'm quite discreet," she told the Financial Times in a rare 2014 interview. "I think I’d rather focus on my work."

Source: Financial Times

Delphine's younger brother, Antoine, is chief executive of menswear label Berluti and chairman of the cashmere label Loro Piana, both LVMH brands.

Source: The New York Times, LVMH

In addition to those roles, Antoine was named head of communication and image for LVMH in June 2018.

Source: Business of Fashion

His partner is supermodel Natalia Vodianova, whom he reportedly met on a shoot for a 2008 Louis ­Vuitton campaign when he was the brand's head of communications.

Source: W Magazine

The couple lives in Paris with their two children and Vodianova's three children from a previous marriage.

Source: W Magazine

Alexandre, the son of Bernard Arnault and Helene Mercier, is the CEO of Rimowa, a German luggage brand owned by LVMH.

Source: The New York Times, LVMH, Getty Images

The luggage company he runs brings in more than $455 million in annual revenue.

Source: LVMH

Alexandre travels frequently between Cologne, Germany, where Rimowa luggage is made, London, his hometown of Paris, and Los Angeles, where Rimowa has a store.

Source: The New York Times

He's reportedly friends with Evan Spiegel, the chief executive of Snap, Snapchat's parent company. Spiegel called Alexandre "a really creative guy," according to The New York Times. "He's constantly thinking about the brand and how to express that."

Source: The New York Times

Alexandre's younger brother, Frederic, also has a role at LVMH. He joined the conglomerate as the strategy and digital director at Swiss luxury watch brand TAG Heuer, LVMH's largest watch brand, in 2018.

Source: The New York Times

Frederic graduated from his father's alma mater, École Polytechnique in Paris, and interned at Facebook and consulting firm McKinsey before joining LVMH as the temporary head of connected technologies at TAG Heuer in 2017.

Source: The New York Times

Arnault's youngest son, Jean, is the only one of his children not involved at LVMH.

Source: The New York Times

Like many billionaires do, Arnault travels by private jet.

Source: Getty Images

He owns a sprawling vacation villa in glitzy Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera ...

Source: Telegraph

... where he has been seen enjoying some tennis matches.

Source: Getty Images

Arnault has also reportedly spent at least $96.4 million on residential properties in Los Angeles, in the Beverly Hills, Trousdale Estates, and Hollywood Hills neighborhoods.

Source: The Real Deal

Arnault has rubbed shoulders with some of the world's influential figures, in the fashion world and otherwise. In 2017, he met President Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York City right before Trump's inauguration to discuss expanding LVMH factories in the US.

Source: WWD

He was photographed at parties with Lady Diana, Princess of Wales.

Source: Getty Images

Arnault was reportedly friends with Apple founder Steve Jobs, who once said to Arnault: "You know Bernard, I don’t know if in 50 years my iPhone will still be a success but I can tell you, I'm sure everybody will still drink your Dom Pérignon."

Source: CNBC

Former Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein once called Arnault "a complete visionary," adding that he "saw the increase of wealth in the world."

Source: CNBC

Arnault is reportedly longtime friends with former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Arnault was a witness at the former president's wedding to Carla Bruni.

Source: The New York Times

Here, Arnault can be seen shaking hands with Vladimir Putin during the Russian president's 2003 visit to the Chateau Cheval Blanc vineyard — owned by LVMH — in France.

Source: LVMH

Arnault considered legendary late designer and Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld a good friend. "The death of this dear friend deeply saddens me, my wife and my children," Arnault said in a statement. "We loved and admired him deeply. Fashion and culture has lost a great inspiration."

Source: LVMH

Arnault has a longstanding public rivalry with Francois Pinault, the second-richest man in France, who's worth $37.1 billion.

Source: Bloomberg, Forbes

Pinault is the founder and CEO of French luxury brand Kering, which owns brands including Gucci and Yves St. Laurent. The billionaire also owns Christie's auction house.

Source: Bloomberg

Arnault's LVMH originally tried to acquire a majority stake in Gucci in 1999, but Pinault ultimately snatched up the brand.

Source: Forbes

Over the years, Arnault has built LVMH into the largest luxury conglomerate in the world and earned himself an imposing nickname: "the wolf in the cashmere coat."

Source: The New York Times

He's behind the creation of Fondation Louis Vuitton, a Frank Gehry-designed contemporary art museum and performance space in Paris that opened in 2014.

Source: The New York Times

As the world's third-richest person, Arnault is getting richer at an astonishing rate. In January 2019, he made $4.3 billion in a single day after LVMH shares surged 6.9%. And just 16 months later, on June 19, Arnault again made news when he became the third person in the world to have a $100 billion net worth.

Source: Bloomberg

And between the end of January and February 27, 2019, he added another $3.9 billion to his fortune, which brought his total net worth to only $2.3 billion less than Warren Buffett's.

Source: Bloomberg, Bloomberg Billionaires Index

Arnault's jump into third place on Bloomberg's wealth ranking is the first time he's been ranked higher than fourth.

Source: Bloomberg

In April, LVMH released a statement on behalf on the Arnault family, pledging €200 million, or $226 million, to help rebuild the recently damaged Notre Dame Cathedral. A church official said in June that Arnault and other high profile donors had yet to pay "a cent."

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider