• Instant cameras have improved significantly since the Polaroid was introduced in the 1940s.
• The best instant camera you can buy is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 with its fun retro look, affordable price tag, and built-in selfie mirror.

When instant print cameras initially appeared in the 1940s, there was a feeling of wonder surrounding them. The ability to shoot a photo, have the camera eject a blank print, and then eventually see the photo appear on the paper after a short time rarely failed to amaze. At the time, you usually had to wait several days to receive prints after sending film off to be developed, so the instant print was simply magical.

Of course, several decades later, the allure of instant prints isn't quite the same, but that doesn't mean instant cameras are long dead. Many people like instant cameras because they're a fun supplement to digital photography. Sure, you can shoot a photo with your phone and instantly share it with an unlimited number of people, but there's just something about being able to hold that photographic print in your hand immediately after shooting it. It's something you cannot do with digital photography.

So maybe it isn't all that surprising that instant print photography is making a bit of a comeback. If you want an instant camera to bring print photography back into your life, you're in luck. Several companies now make great digital cameras with fun, funky, retro designs.

We've picked the best instant cameras you can buy to supplement your smartphone and digital camera. Read on to see which of our picks is best for you. We've also included a brief history of instant photography and some of the pros and cons of the medium to help you make your choice.

Here are the best instant cameras you can buy:

• Best instant camera overall: Fujifilm Instax Mini 9
• Best easy-to-use instant camera: Polaroid Originals OneStep 2
• Best classic-looking instant camera: Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic
• Best instant camera with digital storage: Polaroid Snap Touch
• Best instant camera with manual controls: Lomography Lomo'Instant Wide

Updated on 1/6/2020 by Jen Gushue: Updated picks, prices, links, and formatting.

The best instant camera overall

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is easy to use, comes in many fun, funky colors, and it even has a selfie mirror so you can look your best in every photo you take.

If the primary reason you'd like to try an instant camera is that they're fun to use, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 delivers. This little camera is available in several bright colors and boasts many enjoyable features.

Polaroid may be the most well-known name in instant photography, but Fujifilm has carved its own niche in this market with a series of successful instant cameras. The Mini 9 is just one model in the family and our top pick. It prints small photos measuring about 2.4 by 1.8 inches using Mini film.

We aren't the only ones who love this fun instant camera. In its review, PC Mag says the Instax Mini 9 is enjoyable to use and the selfie mirror is a great addition. Nerd Techy says this model is very easy to use right out of the box. This camera does offer primarily automatic shooting features, although you can adjust the brightness setting.

However, the Instax Mini 9 certainly isn't a perfect instant print camera. The image quality leaves a bit to be desired, as Camera Labs discusses in its review, but it's still a nice camera to use, and we doubt you were expecting museum-quality prints from this small camera.

Pros: Low priced model, bright body colors, easy to use camera even for beginners, camera creates a fun atmosphere, includes a selfie mirror, Mini film style for this camera is easy to find, trustworthy camera brand

Cons: Image quality leaves a bit to be desired, very limited number of manual control features

The best easy-to-use instant camera

If you just want a basic instant print camera that requires little to no input from you, the Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 keeps things simple and fun with automatic settings.

When you're looking to keep things simple with instant print cameras, the Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 delivers better than any other model.

The OneStep 2 is inspired by the original 1977 Polaroid OneStep Land Camera, and the new version is a modern upgrade of the classic design, though the heft of the camera does harken back to days of old. The OneStep 2 weighs nearly a pound, and with the body measuring 6.7 by 4.7 by 4.7 inches, it's not fitting in your pocket anytime soon.

Its variable settings are few, but you do have the opportunity to increase or decrease the exposure a bit, with the +/- switch on the front of the body. You can also suppress the flash with a small button on the back. Otherwise, the flash is automatic. It also has a self-timer, so you can set the camera up to take selfies.

Polaroid Originals is the only brand that can produce the classic Polaroid-sized film, so if you want the large 3 by 3-inch photos synonymous with the Polaroid name, the OneStep 2 is for you. PC Mag loves the black and white film and was impressed with its consistency and clarity, but they found the color film to be much less reliable, often producing duller, lower-contrast photos than they had hoped for.

At only eight photos per pack, the film can get expensive, but it may serve to make you a more intentional and thoughtful photographer.

Pros: Fully automatic features that are very easy to use, multiple body color options, fun to use and shoot with, classic Polaroid-sized images

Cons: Color prints not as consistent in quality as monochrome prints, large body is bulky, film is expensive

The best classic-looking instant camera

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic has some interesting shooting modes that make it fun to use, and its retro look is very cool.

Few new instant cameras have the same vintage vibe as the original models from the 1960s and 1970s, but the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic comes closest.

Rather than the curved lines on the camera body or the bright colors that you'll find with some new instant cameras, the Instax Mini 90 has a rectangular look with black or brown body colors and silver trim. 

The Instax Mini 90 contains several different exposure modes, including a double exposure that results in some very interesting images, according to the Popular Photography review. However, you are limited to an image print size of 2.4 by 1.8 inches with the Mini film.

The Mini 90 Neo Classic is a slightly older instant camera, but it still carries plenty of desirable features that make it a fun party camera with its creativity and versatility, according to The Phoblographer review.

This camera is also a bit smarter than some other instant cameras on the market. It will automatically detect the brightness in the room and compensate with the correct amount of flash and exposure to improve your image quality a bit. It also has modes like "macro" for up-close shooting and "kids mode" for fast-moving subjects like children and pets.

Pros: Fun shooting modes and a double exposure mode, retro camera body look is cool, makes use of common Mini instant film, prints have a vintage look, fun camera to use at parties and other events

Cons: Ergonomics for shooting photos are poor, price is a little high, image quality isn't great

The best instant camera with digital storage

If you want to receive the benefits of both instant print and digital photography in a single camera, the Polaroid Snap Touch is your camera.

The Polaroid Snap Touch is the best of both worlds in a small package. Not only can you instantly print your photos, but it's also got the internal storage of a typical digital camera. It has a 3.5-inch touchscreen, which allows for recording photos to a microSD memory card, and it can record HD video. Or you can choose to create prints of 2 by 3 inches directly from the camera using Zink — short for zero ink — technology.

This camera is expensive compared to most other instant print cameras as you might expect, considering its digital photography features. The Zink printing system differs from traditional instant print systems, making it a bit more expensive to use, but the photos do emerge fully developed, unlike traditional Polaroid prints.

The Snap Touch doesn't have many buttons, as you'll control most of the camera's features with the touchscreen, which is a below-average quality screen, according to the Stuff review.

The Phoblographer dislikes that the camera doesn't make use of the classic Polaroid print-style film, but said the Snap Touch offers some fun filters.

The camera body is available in multiple colors with the traditional Polaroid rainbow stripe on the front of each one. The Snap Touch looks more like a point-and-shoot digital camera than a typical instant print camera. And the Nerd Techy review says the image quality of the digital photos with the Snap Touch is similar to what you'd receive with an average point-and-shoot camera.

Pros: Rare combination of instant prints and digital image storage, includes LCD screen, can save photos to a removable memory card, quality of digital images matches point and shoot cameras

Cons: Build quality is questionable, instant prints are very slow, LCD screen has below average quality, high price

The best instant camera with manual controls

If you want an instant print camera that gives you more control over your image, you'll love the lens adapters and settings on the Lomography Lomo'Instant Wide.

Most instant print cameras don't offer many options for controlling the camera settings. They're primarily automatic cameras that just want you to line up the scene and press the shutter button. The camera takes care of the rest.

But the Lomography Lomo'Instant Wide camera has a large number of settings you can control, according to The Phoblographer, making it easier to create better-looking instant prints.

PetaPixel appreciates the screw-on lens adapters that change the look of your photographs. This combo pack comes with the built-in 90mm lens as well as an ultra-wide-angle lens and a close-up lens. It also comes with four color gels that let you play with different tones. PC Mag calls the Lomography camera the best instant print camera on the market because of its image quality.

One of the best features of the Lomo'Instant Wide camera is that it uses wide-format film, which means your actual image size is larger than with most instant print cameras, measuring 3.9 by 2.4 inches. But to create such large instant prints, the camera body must be large, which the Format magazine review says makes the camera awkward to hold.

Pros: More manual control options than other instant print cameras, uses wide-format film for larger prints than other models, provides best instant print image quality

Cons: More expensive than other options, durability is a question mark, large camera is awkward to hold and use

A brief history of the instant camera and how it works

Edwin Land, the founder of Polaroid, created the first instant print camera in 1948. It was called the Polaroid Land Model 95. Less than 10 years later, the millionth instant camera was manufactured. By the 1960s, color Polaroid instant print cameras were available. Polaroid instant print cameras quickly went viral.

With an instant film camera, you'll place a pack of film inside the body of the camera. Upon pressing the shutter to take a photo, the camera exposes this film. As light travels through the lens and strikes the film, an image is generated. Once the film is exposed, the camera ejects it, and it becomes your instant print.

Instant camera "film" actually consists of light-sensitive coated paper, as PetaPixel discusses. Different layers of the coating react to different colors in the light. A variety of chemicals are also used within the layers of coating and papers to handle the developing and sealing of the image. Once the camera exposes the instant film to light, the chemicals begin to work, allowing the image to show up on the paper.

Even during the past several decades, instant film photography existed in a niche area of the market. But once Polaroid filed for bankruptcy in 2001, the possibility of losing access to instant film and instant print photography inspired some new players to enter the instant photography market. A few different companies such as Fujifilm and Lomography are making new instant film cameras, as well as types of film that fit vintage Polaroid cameras, all of which keep instant print photography alive.

Instant cameras versus digital cameras

Although instant print photography won't be eclipsing digital photography anytime soon, many people like to use instant print cameras as a supplement to digital photography. Here are some of the differences between the two.

Create prints now: The instant print camera's greatest advantage over digital cameras is the ability to shoot a photo and have a print in your hand a minute later. You can look at digital photos on your smartphone screen instantly, but holding an actual print in your hand requires a bit more time and several steps with the digital camera.

Print size: Most instant prints are extremely small. The most common type of instant film in use today, called Mini film, creates prints with an image size area of about 2.4 by 1.8 inches, according to PC Mag. The Wide film format has a print size of 3.9 by 2.4 inches. The classic 3 by 3-inch Polaroid size is only produced by Polaroid Originals. That's quite a bit more limiting than what you can do with modern digital cameras, where multiple larger print sizes are easy to create with a home printer.

Image quality: Digital cameras can create images of a far greater quality than instant print cameras. But most people who are using instant print cameras aren't looking for tremendous image quality. They just love the grainy look and feel of instant prints, which is far different from prints you'd make from photos shot with a digital camera. 

Cost per print: It's far less expensive to shoot photos and make prints from a digital camera than with an instant print camera. Instant prints typically cost $0.75 to $1.50 per print, but you can use a photo print service to create prints from your digital camera for less than $0.50 or even $0.25 per print, although larger prints may cost more. Unfortunately, if you shoot a terrible photo with an instant print camera, you still have the cost, even if you throw away the print. There are no free do-overs with instant prints. And some of us really need those do-overs because of our less-than-professional-level photography skills.

Fun: Ultimately, most people choose to use instant print cameras because they're just fun. That doesn't mean digital photography isn't fun, but there's still that feeling of magic to see an instant print appear on the paper. Instant print cameras may not be as efficient or provide the quality of a digital camera, but they can be incredibly enjoyable.

• Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in an apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail on Saturday, August 10 as he awaited trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors.
• Since Epstein's death, unsubstantiated conspiracy theories have spread that he was killed because of what he knew about powerful people, according to a 60 Minutes investigation that aired January 5.
• Epstein, who ran a business out of the US Virgin Islands, was known for jet-setting with the likes of Bill Gates, and Prince Andrew, the third child of the UK's Queen Elizabeth.
• Some of Epstein's former friends include L Brands CEO Les Wexner and President Bill Clinton. Both have said they cut ties with the disgraced financier years ago.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The publication of Jeffrey Epstein's autopsy photos reignited conspiracy theories over of the cause of the registered sex offender's death. Epstein, 66, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail on August 10, as he awaited trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors.

The former hedge-fund manager may have kept his client list under wraps, but he often bragged of his elite social circle that included presidents and Hollywood stars.

"I invest in people — be it politics or science," Epstein was known to say, according to New York Magazine. "It's what I do."

Epstein had been in police custody since his July 6 arrest shortly after exiting his private jet in New Jersey's Teterboro Airport. He pleaded not guilty on July 8 and was being held without bail in New York City. On July 25, Epstein was placed on suicide watch after a reported suicide attempt that led to his hospitalization.

In 2007, Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution in Florida.

Here's what we know about the famous people who crossed paths with Epstein.

SEE ALSO: Jeffrey Epstein made $200 million in 5 years after he registered as a sex offender. Here's how the mysterious financier made his fortune

DON'T MISS: Carlos Ghosn's wealth and power made it 'easy for him to flee' Japan, prosecutors say. Meet Nissan's disgraced former chairman, who reportedly escaped to Lebanon by stowing away in a box for musical instruments.

President Donald Trump once considered Epstein a friend.

The future president claimed in 2002 that he had a long friendship with Epstein. "I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy," Trump said, according to New York Magazine. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life."

According to Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, Trump now believes the crimes Epstein was charged with are "completely unconscionable and obviously criminal." She also labeled them "disgusting," according to a July report from the Associated Press.

"The president told me this morning he hasn't talked to Epstein, he doesn't think he's talked to him or seen him in 10 or 15 years," Conway added.

Former President Bill Clinton traveled with Epstein in 2002 and 2003.

A statement released in July by Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña said the former president traveled to Europe, Asia, and twice to Africa on Epstein's private jet. Clinton's staff and Secret Service agents also went on these trips, which were to further the work of the Clinton Foundation, according to the statement.

At the time, Clinton told New York Magazine through a spokesperson that Epstein was "both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist with a keen sense of global markets and an in-depth knowledge of twenty-first-century science."

Ureña also said that Clinton and Epstein haven't spoken in "well over a decade" and that Clinton "knows nothing about the terrible crimes" Epstein was charged with.

Actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Chris Tucker also took trips with Epstein.

Epstein, Clinton, Spacey, and Tucker spent a week in 2002 touring AIDS project sites in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, and Mozambique for the Clinton Foundation, according to a New York Magazine report.

Spacey was also charged with sexual assault, but in December, The New York Times reported that the case had been dropped by the plaintiff's estate. The plaintiff, a 62-year-old massage therapist, died in September.

Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is Epstein's ex-girlfriend — and alleged madam.

Maxwell, 57, is a British socialite and the daughter of media tycoon Robert Maxwell.

She started dating Epstein shortly after moving to New York in 1991, Business Insider previously reported. After they broke up, court documents allege that Maxwell started recruiting underage girls for him to have sex with.

The FBI is investigating Maxwell's relationship with Epstein, Reuters reported in December, as the British heiress is reportedly hiding out with armed guards in the United States or the United Kingdom.

Prince Andrew and Epstein were close friends, the Guardian reported in 2015.

Maxwell introduced Epstein and the Duke of York in the 1990s, the Guardian reported, and the two became close friends.

The Duke is the son of the UK's Queen Elizabeth. He has also been criticized for frequently taking flights on the taxpayer's dime while serving as the country's special representative for international trade. This earned him the nickname "Airmiles Andy," according to the Washington Post.

Court documents reviewed by the Guardian allege that Epstein instructed Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a 15-year-old employee at Trump's Mar-a-Largo resort, to have sex with Prince Andrew on three separate occasions. Buckingham Palace said in 2015 that the allegations against Prince Andrew were "false and without any foundation," according to the Guardian.

According to a July 22 article from NY Magazine's Intelligencer, a number of royals and royal connections were among Epstein's contacts. That includes Prince Andrew's then-wife, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York; and Charles Althorp, Princess Diana's brother. According to Intelligencer, all three were named in Epstein's black book; Ferguson and Prince Andrew were also named in his private jet log.

In a interview with the BBC in November, Prince Andrew said his relationship with Epstein brought him "opportunities," and that his slowness in ditching Epstein as a friend was because of his tendency to be "too honorable." The interview was widely criticized over Prince Andrew's lack of sympathy with Epstein's victims and his defense of his friendship with the convicted sex offender, Business Insider reported.

Prince Andrew resigned from public royal duties in November, Business Insider reported.

L Brands CEO Les Wexner is Epstein's only confirmed client.

Epstein became a trusted confidant of Wexner's while Epstein managed the CEO's fortune, according to Vanity Fair. Wexner has a net worth of $6.7 billion, Bloomberg reported. The magazine reported that Wexner allowed Epstein to take an active role in L Brands, which owns Bath & Body Works, Express, and Victoria's Secret.

In 1989, Wexner used a trust to buy an Upper East Side townhouse that is believed to be the largest private residence in Manhattan for $13.2 million, Vanity Fair reported. Epstein moved in after Wexner and his wife, Abigail Koppel, moved to Ohio in 1996. Wexner's trust transferred ownership of the house to Epstein in 2011 for $0, Bloomberg reported.

Wexner later fired Epstein as his money manager. "Mr. Wexner severed ties with Mr. Epstein more than a decade ago," an L Brands spokesperson told Forbes in July.

Former Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta worked with Epstein's legal team to arrange a plea deal after Epstein was charged with solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution in Florida in 2007.

An investigation by the Miami Herald revealed that Acosta, then a US attorney, had enough evidence against Epstein to request a life sentence. Instead, he reportedly met with one of Epstein's lawyers, who happened to be a former colleague of Acosta's.

In the resulting plea deal, Epstein served 13 months in a private wing of a county prison, which he was allowed to leave six days a week to work in his office.

Business Insider previously reported that Acosta said he was "pleased that NY prosecutors are moving forward with a case based on new evidence," on Twitter.

Acosta resigned on July 12.

Film publicist Peggy Siegal planned a star-studded dinner party for Epstein and Prince Andrew at Epstein's New York mansion in 2010.

Siegal, known for hosting events to promote films including "The Big Short," "Argo," and "The Revenant" to Oscar voters, invited Epstein to screenings after he was released from prison in 2010, according to The New York Times.

"I was a kind of plugged-in girl around town who knew a lot of people," Siegal told The New York Times. "And I think that's what he wanted from me, a kind of social goings-on about New York."

Siegal also planned a dinner party for Epstein and Prince Andrew at his Upper East Side home. The event was attended by Katie Couric, George Stephanopoulos, and Chelsea Handler. "The invitation was positioned as, 'Do you want to have dinner with Prince Andrew?'" Ms. Siegal said. Many of the guests didn't know who the host was or about his criminal history, The New York Times reported.

A spokesperson for Siegal told Business Insider that Siegal's relationship with Epstein was social, not professional. Siegal told The New York Times that she ended her relationship with Epstein at the height of the #MeToo era in 2017.

Netflix, FX and Annapurna Pictures severed their ties with Siegal in July after her connection to Epstein became public, Variety reported.

Epstein also told the Times that he spoke often with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Epstein said that MBS had visited Epstein's Manhattan mansion many times and had a framed photo of the crown prince hanging on the wall, according to New York Times reporter James B. Stewart.

Representatives of MBS did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

According to the New York Times, Epstein claimed to have advised Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

In an interview published in the New York Times on August 12, Epstein claimed that Elon Musk had sought him out to help manage the trouble he had gotten into with the SEC a year earlier, in August of 2018.

Epstein told reporter James B. Stewart that he had promised to keep his work for Tesla private because of his prior conviction. Epstein also warned that both Musk and Tesla would deny their connection to Epstein if it ever became public, the Times reported. In a statement to Business Insider, a spokesperson for Musk denied Epstein's claims of having served as an adviser to the CEO.

Musk and Maxwell were photographed at an Oscars after-party hosted by former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014, in West Hollywood. The same Musk spokesperson told BI that "Ghislaine simply inserted herself behind him in a photo he was posing for without his knowledge."

Musk has confirmed crossing paths with Epstein at least once, Business Insider reported. Musk, Epstein, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg were all guests at a dinner hosted by LinkedIn CEO Reid Hoffman sometime after he was released from jail in 2008.

MIT Media Lab director Joi Ito quietly worked with Epstein to secure anonymous donations, Vanity Fair reported.

Ito worked with other directors and staff at the MIT Media Lab to quietly receive large anonymous donations from Epstein after he was convicted of soliciting underage girls for prostitution, a The New Yorker exposé published on September 6 reports. The article contains emails sent between Ito and Epstein.

The emails show Epstein also worked as an in-between for other wealthy donors, including Bill Gates and Leon Black, and that Epstein had a role in determining what his donations would be used for at MIT, contradicting previous statements from Ito and the university.

Ito resigned from his posts at MIT, The New York Times Company, and the MacArthur Foundation on September 7, Business Insider reported.

Epstein worked as a go-between for the MIT Media Lab and Bill Gates to arrange donations, Vanity Fair reported.

Emails obtained and published by The New Yorker show former MIT Media Lab Director Joi Ito wrote that Gates was "directed by" Epstein to donate $2 million to the research lab in October 2014.

Gates also met with Epstein at least once in New York in 2013, and flew on one of his private planes to Palm Beach, Business Insider previously reported. "Bill attended a meeting in New York with others focused on philanthropy. While Epstein was present, he never provided services of any type to Bill," a Gates spokesperson told Business Insider.

A spokesperson for Gates told Business Insider that "Epstein was introduced to Bill Gates as someone who was interested in helping grow philanthropy. Although Epstein pursued Bill Gates aggressively, any account of a business partnership or personal relationship between the two is simply not true. And any claim that Epstein directed any programmatic or personal grantmaking for Bill Gates is completely false."

A New York Times investigation published in October found that Gates met with Epstein multiple times after Epstein's conviction in 2011, including at least three meetings at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse. Following the publication of that story, a spokesperson for Gates said Gates regretted the association, but Gates himself hadn't publicly addressed it until November, Business Insider's Aaron Holmes reported.

Gates said at The New York Times' Dealbook Conference that he believed "billions of dollars" would come from his meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. "I made a mistake in judgment in thinking those discussions would go to global health," Gates said. "That money never appeared."

"I gave him the benefit of my association," Gates said.

Reid Hoffman defended Ito after news of Epstein's connections to the MIT Media Lab broke.

A "few years ago," Epstein attended a dinner Hoffman hosted to honor an MIT neuroscientist, Vanity Fair reported in July. Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk were also in attendance. Both denied having had ongoing relationships with Epstein to Vanity Fair through spokespeople.

Hoffman also implicated himself in the coverup of Epstein's donations to the MIT Media Lab. As pressure mounted on Media Lab director Joi Ito to resign, Hoffman defended Ito to author and fellow MIT Media Lab Disobedience Award jury member Anand Giridharadas in a private email, Giridharadas tweeted in September. "Hoffman basically hid behind bureaucracy and the old 'ongoing investigation' excuse," Giridharadas said. "He said it would be complicated to release the correspondence publicly because other names might get dragged in. Someone should tell him about redaction."

According to Giridharadas, Hoffman wrote in a second email that Giridharadas was making the situation "all about you" by threatening to resign. In the end, Giridharadas resigned from the Disobedience Award jury.

Hoffman not only sits on the Disobedience Award's jury, but funds it personally, according to the Media Lab's website. In 2017, MIT awarded Epstein and other donors "orbs" to thank them for their support, according to The Boston Globe. The orb looks similar to the trophy given to winners of the Disobedience Award.

• Westward Leaning is a California-based optical brand known for its eclectic, high-fashion sunglasses.
• The celebrity-favorite brand recently launched a collection of prescription eyewear that also supports a great cause; 15% of net profits will be donated to the Northern California Chapter of Vision to Learn, an organization that provides free eye exams and glasses to children in low-income areas.
• We tried a few pairs of prescription glasses from Westward Leaning and were very impressed with the easy ordering experience and the overall quality of the glasses. 
• They're not cheap (our pairs averaged around $300 with prescription lenses), and the brand doesn't take insurance, but in our experience, the quality of each pair was tangible. If you're looking to buy glasses online with insurance, check out this list.
• Right now you can save 20% on optical glasses by using the promo code "NEWYOU" at checkout. 

For me, wearing glasses is purely a necessity, not a fashion statement. Since I have to wear them during every waking moment of my life, I've always played it safe by getting a basic pair — so safe, in fact, that I've bought the same pair of black, square Ray-Bans multiple times in a row when my prescription changed.

I had looked for stylish alternatives in various brick-and-mortar stores hoping to be able to try the pairs on before committing, but the selections were usually limited and rather boring. Then my editor told me about Westward Leaning, a new eyewear startup that offers a variety of gender-neutral frames through an easy online shopping experience. 

Founded in 2012, Westward Leaning started out as an eclectic sunglasses brand favored among the Hollywood crowd. But with its recent launch of prescription eyewear, it's become an optical brand for all types of wearers.

Beyond a great selection of eyewear, Westward Leaning's ability to be socially conscious separates it from the many other places to buy glasses online. The brand prides itself on using sustainable materials, utilizing ethical business practices, and regularly donating proceeds from its different collections to specific causes.

One of its current initiatives is to donate 15% of proceeds from the Optical collection to the Northern California Chapter of Vision to Learn, an organization that provides free eye exams and glasses to children in low-income areas.

And if that's not reason enough to buy a pair, you can save 20% on optical glasses during its current New Year sale by using the promo code "NEWYOU" at checkout. 

We tested three eyewear styles (and one pair of sunglasses) from Westward Leaning and were collectively impressed with how easy the ordering process was and the overall quality of the glasses. Read our full thoughts, below: 

Shop prescription eyewear at Westward Leaning now. 

Review of the Vanguard Optical 03, $304 with prescription lenses: 

I gravitated towards the Vanguard Optical 03 because of it's classic and timeless design. They're definitely more interesting than my black plastic frames, but I wouldn't have to worry about them going out of style any time soon. Notable people like Malcolm X, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Colonel Sanders (yup, the KFC guy) have all worn browline frames, so I figured I could pull them off, too. 

I was very impressed with the quality of the frames, the packaging (each pair comes with a collapsible glasses case and a microfiber cloth), and the simplicity of the ordering process. The only gripe I had was with the lenses. I could see out of them clearly, but they had a substantial amount of glare which somewhat hides my eyes. If you look closely at my photo above, you can probably see a reflection of my phone and other lights in the surrounding.

Personally, I won't be wearing these every day because they're not blue-light-blocking, which makes a huge difference if you regularly look at screens for long periods of time, but they're a great second pair for the weekends when I want a different look. If Westward Leaning had more options for lenses, I wouldn't hesitate to wear these on a daily basis. — Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter

Review of the Vanguard Optical 09, $304 with prescription lenses: 

Westward Leaning's glasses come in mostly funky retro styles — some of which are more flashy than others. I went for the Vanguard Optical 09 because I've always liked the way that frame shape looks on my face. I also tend to prefer glasses with adjustable nose pads because I have a skinny nose that most glasses slight right down. The glasses are clearly well made — they feel sturdy and the polished crystal acetate looks cool with the silver wire running through it.

I like them a lot, though I prefer to wear them when I don't have to look at a computer screen for long periods of time, as the clear frames create a glare that irritates my eyes (I have this problem with all clear acetate glasses, so it's not just these!). The ordering process was very simple, too. After I checked out, Westward Leaning emailed me to ask for a copy of my prescription so I did have to fill it out myself (and risk messing it up). — Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks senior editor

Review of the Concorde Optical 06, $294 with prescription lenses:

As you can see from the photo above and below, these glasses are kind of huge on me — but I don't care! I love them, and I wear them almost every day now. They have a definite '70s vibe, which I love, and I haven't experienced any oxidization of the metal frame yet despite that they touch my face and come into contact with skin-care products a lot. The adjustable tortoise acetate temples are also a nice touch that keeps them feeling secure against my head.

The ordering process was really easy, as the only thing I had to do once I placed my order was to send a picture of my prescription via email. However, once my glasses were produced, I got a message letting me know that they found a small scratch on my lenses and were remaking them and sending them with expedited shipping. It wasn't too much of an inconvenience since I had plenty of other pairs of glasses to wear in the meantime, but I imagine that since prescriptions are newer to the brand, they're still working out some little kinks in production.

As an apology, they also sent me a pair of sunglasses that they were able to make with my prescription, even though there's no ordering option to do so online. If you want a pair of sunglasses with prescription lenses, I suggest contacting them directly and asking if they're able to do it for the pair you want. I don't think you can for the pairs with colorful lenses, but I got a regular greyish-black pair that I love. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks senior editor

The bottom line:

Overall, shopping for glasses at Westward Leaning was a positive experience for us all. None of the styles are distinctly masculine or feminine, and that's perfectly fine. We had no trouble picking frames that we liked and would continue to wear.

The frames aren't the cheapest options available online, but they are fairly priced considering how well they're made.

It's worth noting that the optical collection we reviewed is Westward Leaning's first crack at prescription eyewear, so while options like blue-light-blocking lenses aren't available just yet, one can hope they'll be available in the future.  

Shop prescription eyewear at Westward Leaning now. 

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• Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted wearing an iPod Shuffle Monday as he greeted fans before a game.
• Ronaldo appears to be listening to a 4th Generation iPod Shuffle, which was released by Apple in 2010 and discontinued in 2017.
• The internet reacted to Ronaldo's outdated device with shock and amusement Monday.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Less than a week into the new decade, Cristiano Ronaldo is already bringing back 2010s nostalgia.

The soccer superstar was spotted wearing a years-old iPod Shuffle as he greeted fans before a game in Turin, Italy on Monday, TMZ first reported.

Ronaldo's iPod appears to be a 4th Generation Shuffle, which Apple first rolled out in 2010. The device was discontinued in 2017, but Shuffles are far from rare — used iPod Shuffles typically sell for around $25 online. Ronaldo is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world with a net worth of over $450 million.

It's unclear whether Ronaldo's had the Shuffle clipped on to his tie as humorous fashion statement, or because he genuinely enjoys the random song selection of the mini music player, which does not allow users to select particular tracks and which has a max capacity of 4GB, or 1,000 songs. 

While iPods were once a cash cow for Apple, the company has moved away from the devices now that most users store music on their phones — Apple has not rolled out a new line of iPods since the iPod Touch in 2015, which has only seen minor updates since then.

The internet reacted to Ronaldo's iPod with a mixture of bewilderment and admiration Monday.

SEE ALSO: The new iPod says a lot about Apple as a company right now

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• Coty Inc. and Kylie Jenner announced that Christoph Honnefelder will assume the role of CEO of Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin. Jenner was previously her company's CEO, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• Honnefelder was previously the executive vice president of assortment and purchasing at Douglas, a European beauty retailer.
• In addition, Coty and Jenner have formally commenced their "long-term strategic partnership" to help turn Jenner's beauty business into a "global powerhouse brand," according to Coty's press release. 
• In November 2019, Coty announced its intention to acquire a 51% stake for $600 million dollars, valuing the Kylie Cosmetics at $1.2 billion. A press release at the time noted that the acquisition was expected to close "in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Coty and Kylie Jenner announced that Christoph Honnefelder will take over as CEO of Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin. In addition, Coty and Jenner have commenced their "long-term strategic partnership" to help expand Jenner's current makeup empire into a "global powerhouse brand," according to Coty's press release. 

Jenner and her team will still lead "all creative efforts in terms of product and communications initiatives," while Coty will lead the portfolio's "overall" development. Previously, Honnefelder served as the executive vice president for assortment and purchasing at Douglas, a European beauty retailer. 

Jenner sells majority stake for $600 million

In November 2019, Jenner announced her intention to sell a majority stake in her namesake makeup company to beauty conglomerate Coty Inc.

Coty, controlled by the European investment firm JAB Ltd., agreed to purchase a 51% stake in the company for $600 million, valuing the brand at $1.2 billion. The Wall Street Journal reported in November that Jenner would remain the "public face" of the brand.

Jenner founded the brand in 2015, and it quickly became successful. In 2017, two years after its launch, Forbes reported that the brand already had a valuation of $800 million, with Jenner, at the time, on track to become the youngest self-made billionaire in history. She achieved this feat just two years later, in 2019, according to Forbes.

Coty said in a November statement that Jenner's brand was set to bring in roughly $200 million in sales by the end of 2019.

Known primarily known for their brands CoverGirl, Clairol hair dye, and OPI nail polish, Coty has struggled with weak sales in recent years, WSJ reports. The Wall Street Journal's Sharon Terlep reported in early November that the beauty conglomerate was restructuring and had experienced high executive turnover, with Coty on its third CEO in as many years. With this deal, Coty will refocus on revitalizing its flagging beauty division.

Coty's shares jumped 6% upon the initial announcement of the acquisition, though stock has since declined.

A representative for Kylie Cosmetics declined to comment further when reached by Business Insider. Representatives for Coty didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

SEE ALSO: Kylie Jenner appears to be coming out with a baby line — and she's planning everything from car seats to clothes

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• The McDonald's menu has tons of options for fast-food fans.
• And McDonald's crew members themselves have their own favorites.
• Business Insider spoke with a number of current and former McDonald's employees about their go-to menu orders.
• Sign up for Business Insider's retail newsletter, The Drive-Thru.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you really want to know what's good and what's worth skipping at the Golden Arches you can turn to McDonald's crew members for their insight. They make the food, after all.

And, according to Quora users who previously worked at the chain, many crew members choose to use their employee discounts — which vary from restaurant to restaurant — to buy McDonald's food during their meal breaks.

So what orders do crew members gravitate toward, whether they're on their lunch break or off-duty?

Business Insider spoke with several current and former crew members to find out. A number of McDonald's employees have also shared their favorite orders on Quora. Some crew members favored classic menu items, while others got more avant garde with signature-crafted selections.

Here's a look at some of McDonald's employees' favorite orders:

SEE ALSO: McDonald's employees share 11 annoying things they wish customers would stop doing

DON'T MISS: McDonald's employees share the 14 strangest orders they've ever gotten

SEE ALSO: 11 insider facts about McDonald's that employees know and most customers don't

The chicken nuggets and tenders are quite popular ...

When asked about their favorite order, a former McDonald's crew member told Business Insider that they went for the chicken McNuggets and fries. Chicken McNuggets were first introduced in a limited capacity in 1981.

"They're the best," the ex-crew member added.

A Minnesota-based McDonald's crew member told Business Insider that they frequently eat at the restaurant, as they can order meals at a "discounted price."

"The best thing to get is by far the tenders, but we do run out every now and again, so the next best thing is either nuggets or a cheeseburger," the crew member said.

Another crew member from Georgia told Business Insider they enjoyed the chicken tenders, as well.

... as are the chicken sandwiches.

Even in the era of the chicken sandwich wars, some employees consider the McDonald's buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich a go-to.

"A chicken sandwich meal is my go to," a former crew member from Virginia told Business Insider.

A number of crew members love the breakfast options ...

Breakfast is popular wth some crew members.

One crew member wrote in a 2018 Reddit AMA that they craved the sausage, egg, and cheese McGriddle.

Another employee in the same thread said they favored the egg McMuffin. And a third crew member wrote that they most enjoyed the steak, egg, and cheese bagel.

International crew members go for items that aren't available in the US.

McDonald's menus vary around the world to better suit local tastes. So that means international crew members might have favorites that US employees don't even recognize.

"I don't get McDonalds very often, but when I do I always get the same thing: A BBQ chicken legend, large fries, and a strawberry milkshake," former McDonald's crew member wrote on Quora.

The chicken legend is a chicken breast fillet with mayo in a toasted roll, and it's available in the UK.

Meanwhile, for Australia-based McDonald's crew member and Quora poster Grace Bridget, McBites and gravy-loaded fries are the order of the day.

Others look to McDonald's so-called secret menu ...

McDonald's so-called secret menu is a bit controversial among employees.

A former McDonald's crew member from Virginia told Business Insider that "there is no such thing as a secret menu."

That being said, one McDonald's crew member wrote in a 2017 Reddit Post that their favorite creation from the restaurant was a McGangbang— widely considered a jewel of the secret menu. This order is composed of a McDouble sandwich and a McChicken sandwich mashed together.

... or even experiment with their own creations.

Former McDonald's employee Jasmine Nathaniel took to Quora to share her experiences at the fast food chain. She said that sometimes crew members would get "creative in the kitchen" when they had a bit of free time.

"I have made many quesadillas and grilled cheese bacon sandwiches in my time," she wrote.

At the end of the day, over 375,000 people work at the fast-food chain around the world. Their tastes are going to vary quite a bit, just like those of McDonald's customers.

Are you a current or former McDonald's employee with a story to share? Email acain@businessinsider.com.

• Pipette's Baby Balm is the most effective and nonirritating lotion alternative I've found for my daughter's sensitive skin.
• Launched in September 2019, Pipette makes bath and moisturizing products for mom and baby. Their formulas are vegan, "clean," and nontoxic, and Environmental Working Group (EWG) approved.
• I've found that this balm is an excellent option for those who are sensitive to perfumed baby lotions, or need a quality baby moisturizer suitable for fall and winter.
• The balm has heft, but absorbs readily and has diminished my daughter's eczema. 

I've been on the hunt for an effective environmentally friendly, unscented baby moisturizer since I was pregnant. 

That was four years ago.

Yeah, it's been a journey. So you'll understand why a seemingly simple tub of Pipette Baby Balm has me as hyped up as a kid at "Baby Shark Live." 

Two weeks and 22 uses since purchase, I think I may finally be able to toss out the graveyard of half-used lotions and balms taking up space in my bathroom cabinet.

I tried Pipette on a lark thanks to a 20% off coupon. The brand, which launched in September 2019, makes moisturizers and bath products for babies and moms.

Although my daughter is a toddler now, I still gravitate toward baby products because they tend to have fewer ingredients and lighter scents. It's also a consideration for my work as a postpartum doula. New families are always in need of reliable, baby-safe products that aren't a waste of money.

What makes Pipette stand out from other baby care products?

While "nontoxic" and "unscented" were the initial siren song for me, I will admit that I am a sucker for minimalist packaging, and Pipette's sedate, slightly retro, mint-and-navy blue combo definitely caught my eye.

The design is as clean and simple as its ingredients. The packaging is recyclable, and according to the brand's website, renewable plastics are used "whenever possible." Although that iffy language is underwhelming, the company does not test on animals and features only plant-derived ingredients.

On top of that, all of their products carry the Environmental Working Group's EWG Verified guarantee that they do not contain potentially harmful ingredients.

What are the ingredients in the Baby Balm?

When it comes to babies, less is definitely more. A main selling point of this brand is that it is "clean," which means the ingredients are nontoxic, and it does not contain chemicals, fillers, or synthetics. 

Pipette relies on sugarcane-derived "squalane," which is intended to mimic our body's own squalene (with an "e"), a skin-moisturizing lipid we naturally produce. To that, it adds plant-derived fatty acids, berry wax, a few fruit/plant-based binders and moisturizers, and vitamin E. 

What it does not contain may be more newsworthy: no petrolatum, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, oxybenzone, talc, polyethylene glycol, formaldehyde, or retinyl palmitate. Although these ingredients are commonly found in beauty and bath products, they are arguably irritants, potential carcinogens, allergens, and/or hormone disruptors.

Putting the Baby Balm to the test against toddler eczema

Once fall hits, dryness is a given. And as the chilly New England temperatures drop further, my household is up against something even worse: eczema. It manifests as small red and raised patches that drive my daughter crazy with itching. Unrefined extra-virgin coconut oil has been my fallback since she was an infant, but it is messy and takes time to absorb.

Other clean products didn't work for us, for various combinations of lackluster moisture, allergenic ingredients, or not-quite-right scents. Everyone for Everybody is a terrific synthetic-free brand, but it's extremely lightweight. I even plunked down $35 to try a jar of Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm, but its medicinal scent and greasy after-life doomed it to the back of the drawer almost instantly.

That brings us to Pipette. I decided to test the balm by finger-painting a thin coat on my daughter's face post-bath, as well as the crooks of her elbows and several other targeted spots. Once our mornings hit below freezing, I repeated a quick swipe on her cheeks before heading out to daycare. In three days, her cheeks went from a patchwork of bright red blotches to a few faint rosy marks. Nothing else has done that as fast or as effectively.

The bottom line

So, should you buy it? Yes. Particularly if you are interested in clean or vegan products, are sensitive to perfumed baby lotions, or need a quality baby moisturizer suitable for fall and winter.

There are literally thousands of options there. I am recommending this as a replacement for baby's daily lotion and as a spot fix for patches of extra-dry skin. Depending on your needs, other products may be better for your baby. If cradle cap is a concern, I recommend unrefined extra virgin coconut oil. If diaper rash is cropping up, there is nothing better than Boudreaux's Butt Paste in my experience.

If you love fragrant "baby-smelling" things, this probably won't hit the mark for you. Though it's marketed as "unscented," the balm smells a bit like linseed oil. Or, if you ask my toddler, it "smells like unicorn syrup!!!"

I've read some reviews that say the balm felt greasy or didn't absorb. That was not my experience. In fact, I felt it was the opposite. At $13 for 2 ounces, Pipette is pricier than many store-bought options. However, it's less expensive than upscale balms and lotions targeting consumers who want clean products.

You can purchase Pipette Baby Balm on its own or as part of a bundled gift pack. I purchased the Moisturizing Bath Set ($30). (The Baby Lotion is great so far, but its scent is more medicinal than the Balm).

Pros: Clean, nontoxic, plant-derived ingredients; no perfumes or synthetic fragrance; moisturizing, absorbent, and non-greasy

Cons: More expensive than mainstream store-bought alternatives

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• Impossible Foods just announced a new plant-based pork substitute and a sausage product that will appear in a Burger King breakfast sandwich launching at the end of January.
• The announcements represent the meat alternative company's first major new product launches since it debuted the original Impossible Burger back in 2016.
• The company hasn't revealed when the ground pork alternative will actually launch, but has said it will likely appear in restaurants before making its way to grocery stores.
• The sausage will appear on a new breakfast sandwich launching in Burger King restaurants in a few test markets at the end of January.
• The new Burger King menu item gives Impossible ammunition to compete with rival Beyond Meat, which has meatless breakfast alternatives available in chains such as Dunkin' and Carl's Jr.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Impossible Foods just announced its first new products since debuting its popular plant-based "beef" burger in 2016 — Impossible Sausage and Impossible Pork, the former of which will be launching in a breakfast sandwich available at select Burger King locations this month. The launch represents the startup's next major step forward as it competes with rival Beyond Meat to dominate the market for plant-based meat alternatives.

Impossible Foods will be testing its first sausage product at 139 Burger King restaurants at the end of the month. located in Savannah, Georgia; Lansing, Michigan; Springfield, Illinois; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Montgomery, Alabama. Those restaurants will be getting the Impossible Croissan'wich, a sandwich that consists of egg, cheese, and Impossible Sausage on a toasted croissant. 

The Impossible Burger can already be found at several popular fast food chains such as White Castle, which sells Impossible Sliders, and Burger King, which has Impossible Whoppers on the menu. But the launch of a sausage product at Burger King gives Impossible Foods even more ammunition to compete with rival Beyond Meat, which similarly can be found at a growing number of fast food chains, and which already provides the meat alternatives for breakfast sandwiches at chains like Dunkin' and Carl's Jr. 

In addition to the new breakfast sandwich, Impossible Foods is also launching Impossible Pork: a plant-based ground pork alternative that the company says can be used in any recipe that calls for ground pork. The company has not said when Impossible Pork will launch, but Rachel Konrad, chief communications officer of Impossible Foods, said it's likely to appear in restaurants before grocery stores, as with the Impossible Burger before it.

Why pork?

Like the Impossible Burger, the company's pork product is made using heme — the protein that gives the plant-based patties their signature "bleeding" look that simulates the texture and appearance of red meat. The Food and Drug Administration approved heme for use in food products sold in grocery stores in August, a victory for Impossible Foods that came after the FDA initially said that the data the company had provided about its burgers wasn't enough to "establish the safety" of heme.

The heme in Impossible Pork isn't the same as that found in the burger. Rachel Konrad, chief communications officer at Impossible Foods, told Business Insider that the company tweaked its heme formula to better replicate the consistency of pork rather than red meat.

Impossible Foods decided to make a pork alternative its next major product for two key reasons: there's a huge market for it since it's the most widely eaten meat in the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.  Plus, offering a plant-based alternative to pork could help cut back on the environmental impacts stemming from the pig farming industry, the company says. High-density pig production can release excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus into the environment, the FAO says. 

Impossible Foods is showing its new plant-based meat options at CES, the annual tech trade show that occurs each January in Las Vegas. The news comes after the company teased a major announcement just ahead of the conference. While this is the first time the company is officially unveiling its new pork alternatives, Impossible Foods CEO Pat Brown told Business Insider in May that it had been working in this direction.

As for what's next for Impossible Foods, Konrad said the company's research and development team is working on the Impossible Burger 3.0, as well as steaks, and hinted that the company could consider expanding into poultry and fish in the future as well.

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• Drake says his 2015 diss track aimed at Meek Mill, "Back to Back," was inspired by his former partner Serena Williams and her rivalry with Maria Sharapova. 
• The Canada-born rapper and Williams dated briefly in 2015, during which period he was also embroiled in an ongoing feud with Meek, whom had accused him of "ghostwriting."
• "I was with Serena at the time. And we had been talking a lot about her and [Maria] Sharapova going back and forth over the years," Drake told podcast Rap Radar.
• "You know, she's a top competitor, so she was like: 'You gotta finish it.'" he added. "'And it's gotta be something that everyone [Meek] is with and him have to hear.'"
• Drake and Meek squashed their beef in 2018 and went on to collaborate on the 2019 smash hit "Going Bad," which sold nearly 3 million copies worldwide. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Drake says his 2015 diss track aimed at Meek Mill, "Back to Back", was inspired by his former partner Serena Williams and her rivalry with Maria Sharapova. 

The Canada-born rapper and Williams dated briefly in 2015 but kept their relationship away from the public eye, according to Complex.

During that period, Drake was also embroiled in an ongoing feud with fellow rapper Meek Mill, whom had accused him of using ghostwriters on "R.I.C.O.," a project the pair collaborated on.

As a response, Drake released the diss tracks "Charged Up" and "Back to Back," the latter of which he says Williams helped him finish.

"'Charged Up' was just a thing, like, I was just seeing if it was real," Drake told podcast Rap Radar when asked about his beef with Meek. "I just wanted to know if was it real, whether it was a package, or maybe if it was just a mistake on his part."

He continued: "And then I'd made the decision that I was gonna to go again. I remember I was working on some beat, I think it was a Boy Wonder beat or something, and it was kind of more like 'rappy.' It was gonna be another 100 bar thing. 

"I was with Serena at the time. And we had been talking a lot about her and [Maria] Sharapova going back and forth over the years."

Williams and Sharapova had endured an intense rivalry prior to 2015, meeting 18 times, though Williams more often than not came out on top, winning 16 of those encounters. 

"And she had made this comment to me and she was like: 'Well look, if you're gonna go again, you gotta finish it.'" Drake added. 

"You know, she's a top competitor, so she was like: 'You gotta finish it. I'm talking about done. Over. And it's gotta be something that everyone [Meek] is with and him have to hear. You can't do some s--- for the moment and then it goes away.'

"She kinda put this battery in my back."

Drake went on to finish the song, not only emerging as the victor of the pair's exchange, but also scoring himself a top 10 hit on the U.S R&B/Hip-Hop Billboard charts.

Though Meek later struck back with a track of his own, "Wanna Know," the pair ultimately squashed their beef in September 2018, when Drake brought out Meek on stage to perform in Boston.

They then later collaborated on the 2019 smash hit "Going Bad," which went to number six in the charts and sold almost 3 million copies worldwide. 

Read more:

Drake is the artist of the decade

Drake says he's 'so hurt' after his father claimed he lies about their relationship to sell more records

Serena Williams has been taking boxing lessons from Mike Tyson, and the former heavyweight champion says he wouldn't 'want to get in the ring' with her

The racket Serena Williams smashed during her 2018 US Open final defeat by Naomi Osaka is expected to fetch up to $50,000 at auction

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• Emilie Given is a wife, boy mom, and entrepreneur. She founded She's A Given, a Seattle-based virtual assistant company, in 2018 to be able to spend more time with her family. Through her thriving business, Emilie's primary focus is to inspire other women to create a career that allows them to focus on passion versus paperwork and family over familiarity. Follow her journey on Instagram.
• After a complicated childbirth, she began to pursue entrepreneurship out of sheer necessity. 
• She was able to turn her 10-hour-a-week side hustle into a full-time job and business by following seven key steps.
• She recommends entrepreneurs build their networks and client-facing collateral like a website and social media before even beginning to start their businesses.
• She also pushes freelancers to think big and launch loud — that's how she was able to put herself on the path to make multiple six figures this year.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

I never dreamed of being an entrepreneur. I was perfectly content in my administrative job, supporting executives and climbing the corporate ladder. I coveted the corner office with a window that overlooked the Space Needle and dreamed of the days where I would be a director with an assistant of my own. 

However, after a complicated childbirth where my son and I almost lost our lives, I began to pursue entrepreneurship out of sheer necessity. 

Don't get me wrong — I had a perfect, cushy job as an executive assistant at Amazon corporate headquarters making roughly $75,000 a year, but my near-death experience sparked something in me that I couldn't ignore. What it boiled down to was two lessons: Family is precious, and you can't get time back.  

The decision to support executives as a virtual assistant was relatively easy. My professional background was in administrative support, and I know my personality type thrives on helping others, so I made the decision to become a freelance VA while still at Amazon. I started with one client at about 10 hours per week, then added another at 10 hours per week, and finally another 10-hour-per-week client. It was becoming clear that I could turn this side hustle into something bigger. 

There was just one setback: I knew nothing about running a business. 

Determined to inhale every ounce of information I could, I jumped head first into the entrepreneurial world, and before I knew it, I was completely and utterly consumed. I had previously been working 70- to 80-hour weeks for almost a year when I finally realized that I had "proved it" to myself — I could make a sustainable living owning my own business.

Giving notice can be scary. It can be scary to leave a stable job with benefits, scary to consider what people might think of you, and scary to jump into so many unknowns. However, when I put my notice in, the only feeling I felt was excitement! I received applause and support for starting my own business. The vice president of my organization told me, "You'll be successful in whatever you do." That statement gave me confidence, and the positivity really set me up for success. 

Today, I own a virtual assistant agency that has become wildly successful since I left my job five months ago. Revenue projections for this year are in the multiple six-figure range, and I'm expanding my reach to include courses and coaching for women who are interested in following a similar path.

One of the smartest decisions I ever made was to start my business while I had the security net of full-time employment. Having a year to reach big and fail big with minimal risk was a huge asset, and I highly recommend it. If you have the opportunity, it's very important to get your ducks in a row before clocking out forever. Here are the seven steps that I took (and you should, too!) before I stopped "working for the man" and became a leading lady.  

1. Build your network

Before you even announce your business, it's a good idea to start connecting with your target market on and offline.

My first plan of action when I got started was to research startups in Seattle and connect with startup CEOs in the area. I didn't pitch them — I just introduced myself and explained that I was interested in connecting with other local business owners. I also found that analyzing my list of current Facebook friends who owned businesses was very helpful. I pinpointed specific ways I could help them and sent each a personalized email. To this day I continually build my network on social media and at in-person networking groups — and this is the bread and butter of my client base. 

2. Create your client-facing collateral

The last thing you want someone to say when you are telling them about your business is, "Oh great! What's your website!" — and you don't have one to show them. It's best to create all of your client-facing collateral before you launch. This includes your branding, website, business cards, and social media handles. 

I sought out a digital marketing agency as a client that did my branding and website in exchange for my virtual assistant services. I knew I had to have everything in place before I launched, and trading my services was exactly how I got there with a limited budget. I also started posting on social media about three months before I publicly launched, including productivity tips, motivational quotes, and most importantly, posts on getting to know me, the person behind the brand. 

3. Start small, but think big

Something I learned while working at Amazon is to "think big." It's one of their leadership principles, and it still sticks with me today. I started small as a freelance virtual assistant, but when my business started to hit a ceiling, I started to think bigger, which ultimately led me to start an agency, which then quadrupled my revenue. 

As a freelancer, working 160 hours per month earned me $5,600 in total, but that was unsatisfying to me. So I decided to brainstorm how I could increase my earning potential. I decided that an agency model worked best for me, and it led to five-figure months in an eight-week period. 

Be humble, but also think of ways that you can make a bigger impact. How can you scale? How can you help more people? Set small goals, but immediately set your next-level goals right after that. 

4. Systemize

When I started my business, it was just me, but I knew it wouldn't always be me. So one of the first things I did was document my processes and create standard operating procedures so that I could delegate when the timing was right.

I used Google Docs with Loom videos to write my standard operating procedures, Canva for turning my client-facing SOPs into branded collateral, Trello and Asana for workflows, and Slack for team communication. I documented every single thing, from job descriptions to questions asked during phone interviews to client onboarding to how I do payroll for my contractors.

Basically, if I got hit by a bus tomorrow, my business would still be able to run. Starting this from the beginning rather than later saved me so much time and prevented me from being chained to my desk for 10 hours a day. 

5. Launch loud

When you're ready to tell everyone about your business, do it loud! Have a launch party and Q&A session. Don't be modest about your new venture — be proud. You worked hard to get this venture off the ground, and thus you should shout it from the rooftops. The more people you tell about your business, the more buyers are within your reach. 

I've gained some great clients just by simply talking about my new business. One day, I was out wine tasting with friends and someone toasted my new venture. The owner of the wine shop happened to be next to me and asked what my new venture was. She told me she needed me, and we were drinking wine together at a business meeting two days later.  

Someone knows someone who needs you. One thing that I did, which I found to be wildly successful, was to build anticipation with my audience. For example, I posted on my Facebook and Instagram pages that I left my job at Amazon and to "stay tuned." People were on the edge of their seats waiting to hear about what I was up to next, and this anticipation helped create excitement around my launch. People were eager to follow my business pages and share my announcement with their audiences as well. 

6. Prioritize progression over perfection 

Owning a business is an ever-changing process. While I was researching client databases, I wasted so much time analyzing them, trying them out, and comparing to other systems before I realized: There are so many on the market — just pick one and go with it. 

It's fine to weigh your options, but there's a fine line between taking action and procrastinating with research as an excuse. The same is true for email campaigns, social media posts, and choosing where to market your services. There's no way to find out what works and what doesn't work unless you get it out there. 

My first social media posts were kind of sales-y and had little to no engagement, but without those stats, I wouldn't know if that worked or not. I toyed with many variables — color scheme, quotes vs. no quotes, and content before I figured out that personalized content about myself, why I started, and my vision and photos of myself and my family got the most engagement. What I'm saying is: Get it out there. Take messy action, and you're a lot closer to actual results than being stuck in edit mode. 

7. Believe in yourself

This one is last, but certainly not the least. In fact, consider this the foundation of your entire business. If you don't 100% believe you're going to be successful, then why should your clients believe in you or your product? 

When you speak to others, don't say "I'm thinking about starting a virtual assistant business because I think I can help others save time." Phrase it: "I own a virtual assistant agency that helps others free up their time." Exude confidence and believe in yourself.  Success is up to you!

SEE ALSO: I made $50 million before turning 30. Here are the 3 biggest mistakes that shaped my career — and what you can learn from them.

READ MORE: I earn three times as much as a freelancer as I did in my full-time job. Here are the 5 lessons I've learned about going off on your own.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.

• New York City includes dozens of neighborhoods across its five boroughs: Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, and the Bronx.
• Those neighborhoods draw people from around the world, and residents speak a plethora of languages.
• Using census data from the Minnesota Population Center, we found the three most commonly spoken languages in each neighborhood. 
• Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.

Recent Census population estimates show that New York suffered a bigger population decline than any other state between 2018 and 2019.

But despite that drop, New York City continues to be a thriving cosmopolitan metropolis. One example of NYC's vibrancy is the plethora of languages spoken across the five boroughs.

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey provides a picture of several demographic, economic, and social characteristics of the US population. One of the questions on the survey asks respondents what language they mainly speak at home. Using data from the Minnesota Population Center's 2011-15 ACS Integrated Public Use Microdata Series, we found the top three languages spoken in each neighborhood.

For our working definition of neighborhood, we used the Census Bureau's Public Use Microdata Areas, which are designed to allow small-scale geographic analyses of individual-level ACS data. In New York, these areas mostly correspond to the city's community districts (or groups of two for areas with smaller populations), so they're a pretty good proxy for neighborhoods.

Here are the three most common languages spoken at home in each New York City neighborhood.

SEE ALSO: The most expensive college in every state, in one map

The most commonly spoken language in most neighborhoods is English.

Spanish is the most common language spoken at home in several neighborhoods in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and northern Manhattan and Queens.

Brooklyn Community District 13, covering Brighton Beach and Coney Island, has Russian as its most common language.

The No. 2 most commonly spoken language in most neighborhoods is Spanish.

Several neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn have other languages falling in the second-place spot.

Here's a close-up of Brooklyn and Queens highlighting some of the second most common languages that aren't English or Spanish.

Pockets of Chinese and Russian show up here, and Haitian or French Creole (marked as "Creole" on the map) is common in a large swath of eastern Brooklyn.

In most neighborhoods, neither English nor Spanish is the third most common language.

In the next slides, we'll take a closer look at the city's boroughs.

Here's the No. 3 most commonly spoken language in each neighborhood in Manhattan and the Bronx.

Chinese and French are common in Manhattan, while languages in the African Kru family are prevalent in several Bronx neighborhoods.

Here's the No. 3 most commonly spoken language in each neighborhood in Brooklyn and Queens.

A mix of languages shows up in these two boroughs.

And here's the third most common language in each neighborhood in Staten Island.

• Comforters should be comfortable, warm, and breathable, a combination of criteria that's not always easy to find — and means you can pay up to hundreds of dollars when you do.
• The Equinox Comforter (currently $29 for queen currently on Amazon) is an exception, and thousands of satisfied sleepers can attest to its value.
• After trying the comforter for myself, I'm convinced that you don't always have to spend a lot for a quality piece of bedding.

Bedding can be a pricey investment, and why shouldn't it be? If you're spending every night on the same set of sheets and under the same comforter, you should hope that these pieces are soft, comfortable, and long-lasting. You might be willing to pay a premium for them, but before you start taking out your checkbook, it's also worth giving some more affordable options a chance.

I recently tried one such option, a best-selling alternative down comforter from Equinox. At first glance, the biggest draw is clearly its price: the queen size costs $29 and the king $43. And there's a twin size for $27.

The problem with a cheap price is that it often means the product itself is cheap. After one month of testing, I was glad to see the Equinox comforter did not fall into this category. It's one of those rare unicorn products that are a steal for their quality and, as many reviewers note, an item that rivals the $200-plus competitors they've tried.

The down alternative comforter is made with a siliconized-fiber filling, which prevents dust accumulation and is resistant to bacteria, making it the optimal choice for people who are sensitive to allergens.

This filling also helps retain heat without making the comforter stifling or overbearingly heavy. I appreciate a weighty feel, especially during the winter, but breathability is still important. I never woke up sweaty with this comforter, which strikes just the right balance of plush fluffiness and weighty warmth.

The style and softness of the comforter means you can sleep with it as is. The exterior is made with a soft and smooth brushed microfiber, and has a classic quilt-like stitching.

But it also has corner tabs if you prefer to put a duvet cover over it (for part of the testing period, I used Casper's, which I reviewed in full here). The tabs were quick to tie and did their job in keeping the comforter from shifting around.

More than 2,100 reviewers agree that the comforter is a five-star purchase for the comfort and warmth it delivers at a very affordable price. While it would probably be too warm for the summer, I think that it can certainly be your essential piece of bedding during the rest of the year. For under $35 for the queen size and under $50 for the king size, you'll get more than enough use out of it.

SEE ALSO: The best mattresses you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

• An abandoned mansion in the Scottish Highlands that was once a summer home and "love nest" for Coco Chanel is being turned into a boutique hotel, according to The Times.
• The Rosehall Estate features wallpapers designed by Chanel, has 22 rooms, sits on 700 acres of land, and laid vacant for more than 50 years, Harper's Bazaar reported in 2015.
• Winston Churchill described Rosehall as "a very agreeable house in a Highland valley" that was "quite different to England" during a 1927 visit, according to the National Records of Scotland.
• The Scottish estate was purchased by an undisclosed buyer with plans to convert it into a boutique hotel; the property sat on the market more than four years with an asking price of £3 million ($3.94 million), according to The Times.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Scottish tourists will soon have the opportunity to spend the night in a mansion designed by famed French fashion designer Coco Chanel, according to The Times.

The 700-acre property, called Rosehall Estate, was the summer home and "love nest" of Chanel and Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor in the 1920s, Harper's Bazaar reported in 2015. Chanel reportedly hated the interior of the house and redesigned it with colors and wallpapers inspired by those in her chic Paris apartment.

The rustic manor eventually grew on the French fashion designer. The design of Chanel's iconic tweed suits was even inspired by fishing and hunting outfits Grosvenor wore at Rosehall, according to the National Records of Scotland.

The estate has been abandoned for 52 years, but photos of its interior reveal that touches of Chanel's iconic design remain. Keep reading for a look inside the famed manor.

SEE ALSO: Giorgio Armani just bought a $17.5 million penthouse in NYC. Take a look at how one of the richest men in fashion spends his fortune, from a 213-foot yacht to homes in Italy and the Caribbean.

DON'T MISS: 11 ultra-wealthy people who aren't leaving their fortunes to their children

Coco Chanel spent several summers in the 1920s at Rosehall Estate with her lover, Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor, the second Duke of Westminster.

Source: Harper's Bazaar, The Times

The couple hosted several well known visitors at their "love nest," including future prime minister Winston Churchill.

Source: Harper's Bazaar, The Times

The estate is located in the Scottish Highlands, less than a two hour drive from Inverness.

Source: Google Maps

The original house was built in the early 1800s and rebuilt after a fire burned it down.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

The home has 22 rooms ...

Source: The Times

... spread across two stories.

Source: The Times

The home has sat vacant since 1967 ...

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

... but some of Chanel's unique interior designs can still be seen.

Source: The Times

Some of the walls are painted in Chanel's signature tone of beige.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

The French fashion designer had these wallpapers handprinted for the house, inspired by those in her Paris apartment.

Source: Harper's Bazaar

In that space, Chanel opted for ornate furnishings in dark tones.

Source: CR Fashion Book

Remnants of similarly ornate furnishings ...

... and lighting fixtures can still be seen at Rosehall Estate.

However, there is widespread dry rot.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Still, the house is considered a historic landmark in Scotland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

It's believed to be the only building Chanel ever designed in the United Kingdom.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Even the bathroom may have historic significance. Rosehall is believed to have been home to Scotland's first bidet.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Despite her attention to detail inside the main house, Chanel likely spent most of her time at Rosehall outside.

Source: National Records of Scotland

During an October 1927 visit to another Scottish estate with Chanel, Winston Churchill wrote in a letter to his wife that the French fashion designer "fishes from morning till night, and in two months has killed 50 salmon."

Source: National Records of Scotland

The couple primarily used Rosehall as a sporting lodge for hunting and fishing.

Source: National Records of Scotland

Churchill wrote during a May 1927 visit to Rosehall, "This is a very agreeable house in a Highland valley. Well-equipped with salmon, trout and snipe. The air is most exhilarating, keen and yet caressing. It is quite different to England. Coco got three fish yesterday."

Source: National Records of Scotland

Tourists might soon have the opportunity to go fishing at Rosehall, too. The Scottish estate was finally purchased by an undisclosed buyer with plans to convert it into a boutique hotel, after the home sat for more than four years on the market with an asking price of £3 million ($3.94 million).

Source: The Times

• Former Vice President Joe Biden currently has the best chance of becoming the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.
• Biden and his wife, Jill, have a net worth of $9 million, according to Forbes, even though Biden was once known as "Middle-Class Joe."
• The couple earned a $15.6 million income between 2017 and 2018 from book royalties and paid speaking engagements, according to financial disclosures reported on by Forbes.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Former vice president and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has unparalleled name recognition among the field of candidates vying for the title of Democratic presidential nominee.

Biden was ranked No. 1 in Insider's recent "Power Ranking" of who has the best chance of becoming the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee. And according to recent polls, he is also perceived as most likely to beat Trump.

The 77-year-old has touted himself as "Middle-Class Joe" for decades — but he and his wife, Jill, have a net worth of $9 million, according to a Forbes estimate from July 2019.

The couple's fortune is mostly tied to public speaking engagements and book royalties, according to tax returns and financial disclosures released by the Biden campaign and published on the campaign's website.

A spokesperson for Biden didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Biden's net worth or personal life from Business Insider.

Keep reading for a look at Biden's wealth, assets, real estate, and lifestyle.

SEE ALSO: Elizabeth Warren and her husband are worth an estimated $12 million. Here's a look at the lifestyle, finances, and real-estate portfolio of one of the leading Democratic presidential candidates.

NOW READ: Joe Biden is running for president in 2020. Here's everything we know about the candidate and how he stacks up against the competition.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is one of the leading 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.

Biden was ranked No. 1 in Insider's recent "Power Ranking" of which candidate has the best chance of becoming the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee.

The 77-year-old former senator has the edge in the polls.

Based on a recurring series of national surveys conducted by Insider, many people who would be satisfied with Biden as the nominee are unconvinced about almost all of the other candidates in the race. 

Biden recovered the lead over Senator Elizabeth Warren in RealClearPolitics' polling average after coming in first place in the Quinnipiac poll of New Hampshire. The last-minute entrances of moderates Michael Bloomberg and Deval Patrick did not seem to impact Biden's lead. 

While many Americans perceive Biden as likable, many also take issue with his candidacy.

A June INSIDER poll found Biden was ranked by respondents as more likable or personable candidate than his opponents 78% of the time, but that doesn't mean he isn't contending with significant criticism regarding policy and more.

In the spring, Biden addressed accusations that he made several woman feel uncomfortable due to inappropriate touching.

In the summer, Biden fondly recalled working with two segregationist senators, later apologizing for it.

Most recently, analysts have expressed concerned with Biden's age — should he win the nomination, and then the presidency, the possibility of a second term would be questionable. He would be 86 in 2028.

The 2020 Democratic primary marks the third presidential race Biden has entered — but the first as a millionaire.

Biden's political career took off in 1972, when he was elected to the US Senate. He unseated Republican J. Caleb Boggs to become the fifth-youngest senator in history. He then continued to serve as a Delaware senator for over 30 years.

Biden has famously touted himself as the poorest member of the Senate and referred to himself as "Middle-Class Joe."

In 2008, he was the running mate for Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. From 2009 to 2017, he served as Vice President of the United States with Obama as president.

Prior to the 2020 election cycle, Biden had run for president twice: first in 1988, and again in 2008. The first run ended in a plagiarism scandal; the second time around, he withdrew from the race after the Iowa caucus. 

Forbes estimates that as of July 2019, Biden and his wife, Jill, are collectively worth $9 million. Some of that comes from his senatorial salary.

Since 1998, the first year Biden released his tax returns, the majority of the Bidens' income was attributed to his Senate salary and her community college professor's salary, according to Forbes.

Biden's salary in 2009, his last year in the Senate, was $169,000. The vice presidency came with a 30% raise; he earned an average of $225,000 per year and served as vice president from 2009 to 2017. Forbes also reported that the pair received roughly half a million dollars in pensions and social security benefits over the course of those eight years.

But the majority of the Bidens' wealth was built after he left office. 

The couple has made more than $15 million from book royalties.

Joe Biden has written two books over the past 11 years:

• "Promises to Keep," released in 2008 right after his presidential run announcement, was Biden's first memoir. It did not sell well initially, but the New York Times reported book sales picked up after Biden was announced as Obama's running mate. In 2013, the United Press International reported the book was ultimately not lucrative —  Biden's financial disclosures showed book royalties "close to zero."
• "Promise me, Dad," released in 2017, is an account of Beau Biden's death from cancer. It topped the U.S. bestsellers list briefly after its release and has sold over 300,000 copies.

And then there's the money Biden has made off of promoting his 2017 bestseller, "Promise Me, Dad." According to Biden's recent financial disclosures, he was paid anywhere from $8,000 to $90,000 per single book-tour stop.

The book tour resulted in $1.8 million, according to Forbes. Public speaking engagements also contributed $2.4 million to the couple's net worth — and Jill's speaking fees tacked $700,000 on to that. CNBC reported that Biden took in as much as $190,000 in March 2018 for one lecture at Drew University in New Jersey.

In total, the couple earned more than $15 million, according to tax filings, from book royalties and speaking events and professor of practice fees provided by the University of Pennsylvania starting in 2017.

The Bidens have endured a number of personal tragedies.

A month after Biden's election to the US Senate in 1972, his wife Neilia and 1-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in a car accident. The couple's two sons, Beau and Robert, were also in the car, but survived.

Biden went on to marry Jill Jacobs in 1977. The pair had a daughter, Ashley, in 1981.

Biden underwent brain surgery for two potentially deadly aneurysms in 1988 but was back to work within seven months. During his second term as vice president, 27 years later, his 46-year-old son Beau died of brain cancer.

The death of his 46-year-old son Beau played a prominent role in Biden's decision to sit out the 2016 presidential election.

Although many believed Biden would have fared better than Hillary Clinton, Biden opted to steer clear of the 2016 presidential race to grieve. His grief was later widely addressed by the aforementioned memoir, "Promise Me, Dad."

In January, Politico's Michael Kruse described empathy stemming from personal tragedy as the quality that makes Biden electable: "There is no person in American politics today whose life has been so shaped by loss and grief," he wrote, noting that Biden's personal history gives him the unique opportunity to immediately connect with those who have experienced loss themselves.

The family's primary residence is in Delaware.

The Washington Post reported that the Bidens' primary residence is a home the family built over 20 years ago in Wilmington, Delaware. The lakeside property is said to be nearly 7,000 square feet.

The family also purchased a $2.7 million Delaware beach home in 2017.

The waterfront property is 4,800 square feet.

The Bidens also recently rented a lavish mansion in McLean, Virginia, according to the Washington Post.

They started renting it in 2017 after vacating the vice presidency. The rental price for the sprawling 12,000-square-foot residence with marble finishes, a gym, sauna, and enough parking for 20 cars was referred to as "substantial" by Biden's campaign in June 2019.

The Washington Post determined that the monthly rent for the home hovered around $20,000, according to Zillow.

The family's recent real-estate activity can be attributed to lucrative book royalties and speaking engagements.

Biden also holds a position at the University of Pennsylvania that carries an annual salary of $400,000 as a professor and the namesake of The Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.

All in all, the couple reported earning $11 million immediately after leaving the White House in 2017 and $4.5 million in 2018.

Even with his multimillionaire status, Biden is far from the richest Democratic presidential candidate.

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg has an estimated net worth of about $100,000. Former tech CEO Andrew Yang is worth about $1 million.

Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, are worth an estimated $2.5 million, according to Forbes. In both 2016 and 2017, the Vermont senator earned more than $1 million, largely from book royalties, financial-disclosure documents show — an income strategy similar to Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who, with her husband, is worth an estimated $12 million. In addition to book royalties, Warren's wealth is largely tied to retirement accounts and real estate.

Beyond Warren stands Colorado senator Michael Bennet, worth an estimated $15 million, and former Maryland representative John Delaney, worth an estimated $232 million. 

The richest of the Democrat hopefuls (by a wide margin) are former hedge-fund manager Tom Steyer, who's worth an estimated $1.6 billion and Michael Bloomberg, who's worth an estimated $56 billion, both according to Forbes.

• Eric Trump, President Donald Trump's middle child, may not be as glamorous as his sister Ivanka, nor as outspoken as his brother Don Jr., but he is an integral part of the Trump family.
• The 36-year-old is an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, focusing on its golf properties and vineyard.
• At 23, he founded a charity for children's cancer research. He's a family man, and one of his father's fiercest defenders.
• He's not immune to controversy, though. He's been criticized for hunting in Zimbabwe, and for defending waterboarding as a form of torture. His charity's use of funds is also being investigated by the New York state attorney general.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Eric Trump may not be the first Trump child who comes to mind.

The 36-year-old is in all of the family photos. He worked on one of the family properties growing up. He appeared on 23 episodes of "The Apprentice". He's played a key role in his father's presidential campaigns, and now runs the family business alongside his brother.

He's had his share of controversies, too, like hunting elephants, defending waterboarding, and sharing his disappointment with his depiction on "Saturday Night Live." But he still doesn't feature in the media as much as his older siblings or his father.

According to one college friend, "Eric has Trump genes, but he doesn't have the Trump brand." He and his wife, Lara, have been called the "most normal, least controversial Trump couple".

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

SEE ALSO: From rich kid to first daughter: The life of Ivanka Trump

DON'T MISS: The life of Donald Trump Jr., who once lived out of a truck, didn't speak to his father for a year, and is weathering a messy divorce

Eric Frederick Trump was born on January 6, 1984. He is President Donald Trump and Ivana Trump's third child.

Source: Biography.com

In 1992, Donald and Ivana divorced and Ivana won custody of the children. Eric was the youngest, and knew the least about what went on in the divorce. But he did remember disliking when friends brought him newspaper articles about the messy and public court battle.

Source: New York Magazine

Growing up, Eric and his siblings spent summers with their maternal grandparents Milos, an engineer, and Maria, a shoe-factory worker, in the Czech countryside. There were no video games, and only one English TV station. From their grandparents they learned how to hunt and the importance of not wasting food.

Source: Washington Post

Eric's father always encouraged him to be competitive. When he was 10, he said his dad would try and push him over while skiing, so he could beat him down the mountain.

Source: New York Magazine

When New York Magazine asked Eric in 2004 what he would change about his parents, he agreed with his siblings' sentiment that their father "could be more understanding of things he doesn’t ... understand."

Source: New York Magazine

But Eric has always been one of his father's biggest supporters, frequently appearing at campaign events and talk shows to defend his dad.

Sources: City and State New York, LA Times

Don Jr. took care of Eric after his parent's divorce, and Eric sees his older brother as a mentor. Today, they have breakfast together in Trump Tower at 7 a.m. almost every day.

Sources: New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, Washington Post

They've earned a series of nicknames together – the Clinton campaign called them "the Storm Troopers." Eric gave them the nickname "the brutes."

Sources: New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, Washington Post

Ivanka also helped take care of him when he was younger. He told New York Mag that she took him shopping, and tried to make him "cool." Donald Jr., Eric, and Tiffany told Barbara Walters in 2015 that Ivanka is their dad's "favorite child."

Sources: New York Magazine, Bravo, ABC News

Eric went to Hill School in Pennsylvania, like Don Jr. He reportedly showed up with just one bag and a lamp. He's described, by journalist and former classmate Frank Runyeon, as "earnest and awkward, goofy and unpretentious, gracious and sweet-spirited". He had a talent for woodworking, and was named the "biggest mooch" in a yearbook.

Sources: New York Magazine, City & State New York, Washington Post

During the summer holidays at high school, Eric and Don Jr. worked for the family business, helping with renovations and the rebuild of Seven Springs, a 230-acre estate in Westchester. They mowed fields, cut down trees, laid marble, and did electrical work.

Source: Vanity Fair

Eric didn't follow his siblings to the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating high school in 2002, he broke the mold and went to Georgetown University, earning a degree in finance and management.

Source:City and State New York

While studying, he joined the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity. According to classmates, he didn't go clubbing, and preferred the "frat kegger style of atmosphere".

Source:City and State New York

At 20, New York Magazine described Eric as "gangly and a bit shy," at 6-foot-5. Despite lacking his brother's confidence and his sister's glamour, he was polite and well-spoken.

Source: New York Magazine

In 2006, after graduating college, he started working for the Trump Organization with his dad and siblings. He made the most of the market crash, calling it the "greatest opportunity in the world," buying up every piece of land he and the company could.

Sources: City and State New York, Vanity Fair

In 2007, when he was 23, he started his own charity called the Eric Trump Foundation. Over the course of a decade, the nonprofit raised about $16.3 million for child cancer research at St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Sources: The New York Times, City and State New York, Forbes

Eric said he kept expenses down by hosting benefits at his family's golf courses. He also didn't employ any staff until 2015, Forbes reported.

Sources: City and State New York, Forbes

In 2008, Eric met Lara Yunasaka, an Inside Edition producer. They said they noticed each other when they were out at a bar, because they were the two tallest people in the room.

Sources: Elite Daily, Fox News

After the first meeting, it took them 3 months to go on a date. Lara later said that Eric wanted to be "very sure" that she was the one before they got married.

Sources: Elite Daily, Fox News

Between 2010 and 2015, Eric appeared on his father's reality show, "The Apprentice", 21 times as a boardroom judge and twice as an audience member.

Source: IMDB

In 2012, photos of Eric and Don Jr. hunting in Zimbabwe in 2011 surfaced. They showed the pair with a dead elephant and leopard. These photos continued to haunt the brothers, and brought new criticism from celebrities, including Mia Farrow in 2015 and Jim Carrey in 2018. Don Jr. told Forbes the elephants were overpopulated, and needed to be hunted to prevent further habitat destruction, and leopards weren't endangered. The hunting was legal.

Sources: Guardian, Forbes

On November 8, 2014, he married Lara after they had been dating for 5 years. They'd already adopted a dog called Charlie, who served as the ring bearer.

Sources: E News, Town and Country Magazine

Lara has become a key player in Trump's reelection campaign, in part, due to her experience with the media.

Eric is always a staunch defender of his father. In February 2016, he went on Fox News after Trump said the use of waterboarding, a torture technique, worked. Eric said it was no different from what happens on college campuses and in frat houses.

Source: City and State New York, Time

In October 2016, he went on CNN to defend his father and the Trump Organization's tax history. He said they had paid a "tremendous amount of taxes".

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/783520337766051840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Eric Trump: My father has paid a "tremendous amount of tax" https://t.co/qN4FfaLBuE via @DaniellaMicaelahttps://t.co/vAJhLnxTmL

In November 2016, Eric's late-night internet activity made the news, when he tried to trade some guns online around 2 a.m. on July 11 of that year. The attempted transaction came several days after a gunman killed five police officers in Dallas.

Sources: New York Magazine, National Memo

In November 2016, he tweeted what appeared to be his ballot with a vote for his father, which is illegal to do in New York. He later deleted the tweet.

Sources: The Sun, CNN

In December 2016, Eric stopped fundraising with his foundation. He said the decision, made with a "heavy heart", was to avoid confusion around donations in the wake of his father's run to be president. It came after he was criticized for auctioning off a coffee with his sister, Ivanka, who is now a senior White House adviser.

Sources: Business Insider, Eric Trump Foundation, Forbes

After his father entered the White House, Eric and Don Jr. took full control of the family business. Eric sits on the 25th floor of Trump Tower, and is executive vice president in charge of 19 golf courses. He says he's still a builder, seeing parallels between his role at the Trump Organization and the woodworking he used to do in high school.

Sources: City and State New York, Vanity Fair, Trump Organization

He's also in charge of the Trump Winery in Virginia, which was purchased in 2011. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Trump Organization drove down the price for the winery, from $100 million to $6.2 million, by buying land around the estate and discouraging access to it. In 2013, Eric won "Rising Star of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Sources: Business Insider, Wall Street Journal, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

In May 2017, golf writer James Dodson alleged Eric had told him three years earlier that Trump golf courses got funding "out of Russia." Borrowing one of his father's favorite phrases, Eric called it "fake news."

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/861529156701564929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This story is completely fabricated and just another example of why there is such a deep distrust of the media in our country. #FakeNewshttps://t.co/YZMUnniw7Z

Source: Business Insider

In June 2017, a Forbes investigation reported that Eric's charity had paid to use Trump golf courses for events, despite what he had previously said. When Donald Trump found out in 2011 that there was no billing he reportedly "flipped". "I don't care if it's my son or not — everybody gets billed," Trump Sr. reportedly said.

Source: Forbes

In June 2017 after the Forbes report, New York state's attorney general confirmed it had started investigating Eric's charity, renamed Curetivity. Eric is one of the defendants. The investigation is looking into whether the charity's money was shifted to the Trump organization.

Sources: Reuters, AP News, Politico

In September 2017, Lara and Eric welcomed their first child Eric "Luke" Trump. He was the first grandchild to be born during Trump's presidency.

Sources: Town and Country Magazine, New York Times

In March 2018, Eric didn't take impersonations of him on "Saturday Night Live" well. The actors portrayed him as a child. He emailed the Washington Post saying, "they got it wrong, they detest us and they will do anything to try and undermine our credibility."

Source: Washington Post

In June 2018, in an interview with Westchester Magazine, he said his father's life had gotten "exponentially worse" since becoming president. He also said that he and his older siblings were fair game for parodies and media attention, but his then-24-year-old sister Tiffany and his then-12-year-old brother Barron were off limits.

Source: Business Insider

In August 2018, Eric highlighted how he and his family have been targeted since his dad took office. "I've been threatened," Eric said on Fox News' "Hannity". "Our family's been threatened. All of us. We've all had white powder show up at our house."

Sources: The Hill, Fox News

In April 2019, the Mueller Report was released. Eric was only mentioned a handful of times. It said he had retweeted a Twitter account controlled by the Russian Internet Research Agency during the election, but it could have been accidental.

Source: Vice News

In June 2019, a cocktail lounge employee in Chicago spit on him. Secret Service took the employee into custody. Eric told Breitbart News that it showed a lack of civility from the Democrats, and "sickness and desperation" on their part. He didn't press charges.

Sources: Time, Brietbart, Chicago Tribune

With his father running for reelection in 2020, Eric is pulling his weight in campaigning. He's appeared at Republican fundraisers and made calls to thank particularly high donations. He's been tasked with keeping an eye on the campaign finances.

Source: Politico

Eric and Lara announced they're expecting their second child in August. They currently live with their son and two dogs in Briarcliff Manor, New York, a wealthy suburb of New York City and the home of the Trump National Golf Club Westchester.

Sources: USA Today, Business Insider

• Mark McLaughlin, MD is a practicing board-certified neurosurgeon and author of the book "Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon's Quest to Outthink Fear."
• To usher in the new decade, he has three resolutions to make a positive impact on his life. He wants to shift away from screens and read more, which will help him think and write more creatively.
• He wants to listen more meaningfully and attentively, and utilize downtime for thinking.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The start of a new decade seems more meaningful than the beginning of other new years. I tend to think more long range at these mileposts. For 2020, I've made three resolutions that I hope will have a positive impact on my life for years to come:

SEE ALSO: I'm a neurosurgeon, and the habit that completely changed my life can help improve anyone's mind

1. Ramp up reading

Starting now, I intend to consume more books on a regular basis. Crucial to meeting this goal will be diverting my gaze more often from the screen to the printed page. It's startling how much time we spend looking at mobile devices and watching television. A typical day for me: three hours on my mobile devices, one hour of the tube. This ratio between books and screens needs to shift now.

I've already written an article for Business Insider about how reading books has enhanced my life. It's clear that reading helps me think and write more clearly and creatively. It has also given me a broader worldview.

I've also learned that there's a qualitative difference between reading something in print and something online. I concentrate more on a book than I do when reading on a screen. Research shows we are less likely to have our attention diverted when reading something in print. In a 2016 survey of college students reported in The New Republic, 67% of respondents said that they were much more likely to multitask while reading digitally, versus 41% when reading print. 

Since elimination of distractions is important for reading, I've designated one room in my house for me and my books. It has no television or computer that can lure me to the easy option of pressing a button. It also makes reading more of a treat. Of course, you don't need a library in your home for this. A comfortable chair in a quiet place with good lighting will do the trick.

2. Listen up

I'm ushering in the new decade with a strong resolve to listen more attentively, so I can better understand what is being communicated to me. Doing so will require approaching conversations with curiosity and patience.

Stephen Covey said it best: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." By adopting the intent to understand first, I hope to be a more effective listener and avoid misunderstandings or jumping to the wrong conclusion. I believe a more receptive stance will lead to a more engaged experience for both myself and the person I am speaking with — and will help both of us find more mutually beneficial solutions to problems.

Case in point: Recently, a member of a board I was chairing told me he was quitting because he didn't have time for it. His reasoning puzzled me, since the board convened only four times a year for one-hour meetings. When I asked him to clarify his challenge with the time commitment, he revealed that he felt out of the loop in previous board meetings, as if he were a fifth wheel. Drawing him out this way helped me realize that I needed to engage him more in the meetings, and I was able to persuade him to stay on the board.

This year and beyond, I will try to pay attention to what is not said — but is evident in nonverbal cues.

Nonverbal communication is a crucial part of our interactions, more than most people may realize. Landmark research by psychologist Albert Mehrabian showed that the total impact of a message in personal encounters is 7% verbal, 55% nonverbal, and 38% vocal (which includes tone of voice, inflection, and other sounds.)  

3. Make downtime think time

Descartes said, "I think, therefore I am." Nowadays, we don't think enough — which can make us less than we can be. Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A, sets aside one half of a day every two weeks and one full day a month to perform what he calls intentional thinking. This allows him to focus on his most important projects.

We all have pockets of time for reflection, but we often tend to fill the minutes by pecking away at our mobile devices. My quest is to divert more of this time to focused, uninterrupted thinking, not doing. Opportunities for reflection are available every day, and I plan on taking advantage of them. For starters, I will take more walks, even short ones, without giving in to the urge to look at my cellphone. These are the times when fresh ideas, even great ones, may bubble up into our consciousness. 

You may be "thinking" as you read this that you simply don't have the time for much action-free reflection. Of course you do. There are many ways to capture more think time without wasting time. While walking the dog. Waiting for a train. Jogging outside or working out on an elliptical trainer. Idling in gridlock during rush hour. Even while sitting in the waiting room before having an appointment with me!

Ironically, letting the mind drift without targeting our thoughts can also enhance our performance. As essayist/cartoonist Tim Kreider tells us in the "The Busy Trap": "The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration … "

This makes me think of what I once read about Jonas Salk. His major insight for coming up with a cure for polio didn't occur while working at the lab, but while walking on the grounds of a thirteenth century monastery in Italy. I, too, have had a number of "a-ha!" moments about difficult patient cases after meditating and making my mind go quiet for a while.

The new decade has begun. May resolutions rule during the 2020s!

• Becoming a rich millennial isn't impossible.
• A financial planner shared the key steps people should take at milestone millennial ages — 25, 30, 35, and 40 — to build wealth.
• Millennials should be all about financial goals: identifying and prioritizing them, carrying out both short-term and long-term goals, and reassessing them as they enter a different life stage.
• Need help building wealth? SmartAsset's free tool can find a financial planner near you »

There's really no one way to define "rich" — everyone measures wealth in different ways.

"I know many people who make less than $50,000 but consider themselves wealthy because of their health, family, and friends," Douglas A. Boneparth, CFP and president of Bone Fide Wealth, which offers financial planning and advice to high-net-worth millennials, told Business Insider.

But when talking pure dollars, it helps to understand what the top 1% of the country earns and has in terms of their net worth. "From an income standpoint, the top 1% of households earn around $430,000," Boneparth said. "From a net worth perspective, it's north of $10 million."

Whether you define rich as $50,000, $100,000, $1 million, or $10 million — or as quality of life in general — it's never too early to start building wealth. We talked to Boneparth about the key steps millennials should take at their generation's milestone ages to build wealth.

25: Get goal-oriented

Now is the time to focus on identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing your goals, according to Boneparth.

"Build a strong foundation for savings by mastering cash flow. This means diving into the data," Boneparth said. "What did you spend your money on over the past six to 12 months? What can you consistently save? Define a comfortable and realistic lifestyle."

Consider the NFL player Brandon Copeland: At age 27, he saves nearly all of his salary. He previously told Business Insider that saving isn't about how much you earn — it's about how much you spend. Saving money starts with tracking your expenses, which will help you figure out where to cut spending, he said.

In fact, your mid-20s is when you'll have the least amount of expenses, Alicia Butera, CFP at Planning Within Reach, previously told Business Insider. It's a time when you start making real money but are still living the college lifestyle, making for good discretionary income, she said: "Saving when you're young is crucial and most important for compounding — the longer duration you have will reap you the largest benefit."

30: Continue to build your foundation

"If you haven't built your foundation at this point, don't delay," Boneparth said. "You should focus on satisfying your short-term goals such as cash reserves, making the standard payment amounts on your student loans, and/or saving for just about anything that you're looking to accomplish in the next four years or less (i.e. a house)."

Business Insider previously looked at the monthly savings needed to buy a home by age 35. If you start saving at age 30 for a 10% down payment on a $250,000 home, you'll need to save $400 a month — a 20% down payment would double that to $800 a month. If you started earlier, at age 25, you should continue socking away $192 for a 10% down payment or $284 for a 20% down payment on the same house.

You should also be saving cash in a high-yield savings account or money-market fund and taking advantage of any matching retirement contributions, according to Boneparth.

35: Focus on the long-term vision

"Start to make greater and greater contributions towards retirement and long-term goals if you've tackled short-term goals or have greater capacity to save," Boneparth said, adding that you should automate all savings. "Out of sight out of mind. It makes increasing savings that much easier."

Automating your finances is "the most important" first step to take in building wealth, according to David Bach, author of "The Automatic Millionaire." 

He calls it the "pay-yourself-first plan" — automating your accounts so that a portion of your paycheck moves into your 401(k) plan or savings account before you even see it, he told Business Insider in a Facebook Live interview: "When that money is moved before you can touch it, that's how real wealth is built."

Business Insider's Tanza Loudenback doubled her savings in 2018 by automating her savings in a high-yield savings account with Ally Bank, a different bank from where she keeps her checking account.

40: Revisit your goals

"Return to fundamentals and analyze cash flow again," Boneparth said. "Continue to be disciplined in spending and savings. See if your goals shifted at all and if any changes need to be made."

Your financial goals may shift as you enter the decade considered to be mid-career. This is the time when you're most likely to be earning the top tier of your income, so you should focus on outsourcing things — such as hiring an accountant to do your taxes — so you can focus on your career and extending your income and benefits, Butera previously told Business Insider.

Another thing you should be revisiting? Your net worth, and you should be doing so twice a year, according to CFP Sophia Bera in her book, "What You Should Have Learned About Money, But Never Did." Seeing how you're progressing toward your target net worth will help you stay on track with your goals.

Need help building wealth? SmartAsset's free tool can find a financial planner near you »

SEE ALSO: 7 ways rich millennials spend and display their money differently than rich baby boomers

DON'T MISS: Rich millennials are creating new trends and status symbols — here are 7 ways they're redefining what luxury looks like

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Nintendo Switch is the fastest-selling console of the current generation — here's why Nintendo is dominating video games

• As much as I dislike cold weather, I've always hated to wear gloves because they're uncomfortable and inconvenient when it comes to using touchscreen devices and doing tasks that require dexterity.
• Then I came across the North Face Etip Gloves, and they're everything I've been looking for in winter gloves. They're warm, comfortable, and tech-friendly.
• At $45, they are considerably expensive for gloves, but their usability makes them well worth it for anyone who has to brave cold weather.

I've lived in the Northeast for my entire life, and even after 26 winters, I've never really gotten used to cold weather. When temperatures drop below freezing, you better believe I'm going all out with the warmest clothing and gear. But as much as I dislike the cold, there was always one winter essential that I couldn't stand to wear: gloves. 

More often than not, they were downright annoying to wear. I couldn't use my phone (or any touchscreen) in them, I couldn't comfortably grip a car steering wheel in them, and something as simple as taking my MetroCard out of my wallet was next to impossible.

After struggling to make it work, I'd usually find myself taking them off out of the desire to actually be able to use my hands, that is until I came across the North Face Etip Gloves. 

Read more: The North Face re-released it's iconic '95 Denali Fleece Jacket — and it's better than the original

How they work

As the North Face's flagship tech-friendly gloves, Etips are everything I've been looking for in a daily-use winter glove. They're made from a blend of polyester and four-way stretch fleece with a conductive polymer coating that allows you to use a touchscreen while wearing the gloves.

Unlike most other touch screen gloves that have conductivity in only one or two fingers, you'll be able to utilize all of your fingers on touch screen devices.

Most importantly, the Etip gloves work extremely well. I went to lunch the day of writing this review, and I didn't have to remove my gloves to check-in my mobile order. In the past, I've worn other gloves that were technically designed to work with touchscreens, but were such a pain to use efficiently that I still ended up taking them off. 

How they fit

My first impression of the North Face Etip Gloves was that they're very comfortable. The North Face designed them using radiometric articulation technology, which keeps your hands in their natural relaxed resting position. They're not stiff; you'll have full mobility and plenty of dexterity. 

I had no issues with doing things like gripping a steering wheel, shifting gears, and things that are more difficult to do while wearing gloves.

The gloves come in a range of sizes for both men and women, so you don't have to worry about them being too big or small. I used a tape measure and followed the size chart to get my size, and it turned out to be accurate. 

The bottom line

The North Face Etip Gloves are warm, but not the absolute warmest gloves you can buy. If sheer warmth is all you're going for, then you'll probably end up with a pair that falls short in terms of comfort and usability. The temptation (or pure necessity) to use my phone is usually enough to get me to take my gloves off in the coldest of weather, but there's no reason to with Etips because they balance warmth, comfort, and usability.

The $45 price tag might sound steep compared to a pair of $5 gloves you could buy, but let's be honest: You've probably purchased those kinds of gloves a handful of times because they wore out quickly or you lost them (they weren't special enough to keep track of).

I know they're two completely different products, but I value my Etip Gloves the same way I value my AirPods. Realistically, I could lose my AirPods just as easily as those wired headphones I don't really care about, but they're so good, I make sure I know where they are at all times. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• A modern La Jolla mansion is on the market for $12.7 million.
• The property is known as "The Jetson House" thanks to its curvy and futuristic architectural design, according to Robb Report. 
• The home is 9,200 square feet, with six bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, and interiors custom-made by designer Christopher Guy.
• Filled with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the architecturally distinct house overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A one-of-a-kind La Jolla mansion has hit the market for $12.7 million.

The home is known as "The Jetson House," according to Robb Report, due to its curved and rounded architecture, which gives the property a "futuristic" feel. The interior design by Christopher Guy also follows the curved theme.

"It's perfect for entertaining," listing agent Matt Altman told Robb Report. "It could be the coolest bachelor pad of all time, or it could accommodate a whole family."

Spanning over 9,000 square feet, the home, filled with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass windows, sits on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It has six bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, a theater room, a wine cellar, and a tasting room. In addition, the master bedroom has its own private balcony and a two-story walk-in closet.

The property is held by Josh and Matt Altman of the Altman Brothers Team at Douglas Elliman, who also listed the $20 million "Iron Man" mansion that singer Alicia Keys bought earlier in the year. 

Here's a look inside the futuristic property.

SEE ALSO: Alicia Keys is the previously unnamed buyer who dropped $20.8 million on a California mansion that's been compared to Tony Stark's home in 'Iron Man.' Take a look inside the clifftop house.

DON'T MISS: Kanye West just scooped up another $14 million ranch in Wyoming. Here's a look inside the growing real-estate portfolio he and Kim Kardashian share.

"The Jetson House" hit the market for $12.795 million in November. The distinctive property is known for its curvy architectural design.

It's located in La Jolla, California, an affluent seaside community that is only 20 minutes from San Diego.

Source:Zillow

The home is 9,200 square feet and boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, according to Robb Report. The interiors were custom designed by Christopher Guy.

Source: Robb Report

Most of the furniture in the home follows the curvy theme, with the kitchen appliances twisting along with the walls.

Source: Robb Report

According to Robb Report, the home has a split-level game and family room.

Source: Robb Report

The property also has a wine cellar, a tasting room, and a theater room.

Source: Robb Report

There are six bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms. Five of the bedrooms have their own patios, just outside floor-to-ceiling windows ...

Source: Robb Report

... and the master suite has a private balcony with stunning hillside views of the Pacific Ocean.

Source: Robb Report, LA Times

The master suite also has a two-story walk-in closet.

Source: Robb Report

Here's one of the many bathrooms in the expansive estate.

Source: Robb Report

The home also has a saltwater infinity pool, which sits on a hill that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

Source: Robb Report

There's even a poolside wet bar.

Source: Robb Report, LA Times

• "Shark Tank" often impresses us with its wide variety of creative solutions to everyday problems. 
• In the home and kitchen, products from the show are helping us clean and cook more efficiently, waste less, and sleep better. 
• From smart kitchen gadgets to pet products, these 18 "Shark Tank" alums have earned their spots in your home. 

Ten seasons in and hundreds of products later, the show "Shark Tank" continues to entertain us as well as the panel of celebrity investors with creative pitches. However, that doesn't always mean the products are actually good. Some end up being a little too creative or out-there and border on plain gimmicky or "Who would even use that?"

We looked through all the "Shark Tank" products available for purchase and came away with a selection of star products for the home that made us curse and ask ourselves, "Why didn't we think of this earlier?"

Many solve for the wasteful design of many common products you already use, while others address the annoying inconveniences that everyone experiences. 

Check out the "Shark Tank" home products that are worth buying below.

A spring-loaded laundry hamper

Household Essentials Lifter Hamper, $29.56, available at Amazon

This hamper drops down as you add clothes and rises as you remove them, meaning doing laundry will no longer be that uncomfortable chore you never look forward to. It eases the strain on your lower back, so it's especially great for expecting mothers, people with bad backs, and the elderly. 

A rapid ramen cooker

Rapid Ramen Cooker (Red), $9.99, available at Amazon

Granted ramen is already a pretty convenient meal to make, this tool makes the process even easier. The water line stops you from overfilling the bowl, the bowl doesn't get overly hot, and you don't need to use a pot and stove. It's perfect for anyone who doesn't have access to a kitchen, including students living in dorms and office workers. 

A tiny spatula to get every last drop of sauce or makeup

The Spatty and Spatty Daddy Spatula Tool Set, $11.99, available at Amazon

Think about all the ketchup, nail polish, and foundation that goes wasted because you can't get to the last remnants in the bottle. This small tool helps you get in all the nooks and crannies of bottles — so you're really getting your money's worth. 

A zip-up bedding set

Zipit Twin Bedding Set, $32.99, available at Amazon

It usually takes at least a few attempts to get your children to make their beds. There's no excuse with this bedding set because the fitted sheet and comforter are zipped together into one unit. 

A splatter screen that still lets you access your pan to cook

Frywall Medium Splatter Guard, $21.95, available at Amazon

While traditional splatter screens cover the pan, making it difficult to check on your food and resulting in condensation, the funnel-like Frywall surrounds the perimeter of the pan. The BPA-free silicone accessory still protects from oil splatters, while allowing you to continue cooking. 

Reusable bamboo paper towels

Bambooee Bamboo Paper Towel Roll, $9.99, available at Amazon

These durable, absorbent towels are an eco-friendly paper towel alternative made of organic bamboo. Each sheet looks and feels like a regular paper towel, but can be washed up to 100 times. Each roll of 30 Bambooee sheets is equivalent to 429 paper towel rolls. 

A suction silicone placemat

ezpz Happy Mat, $24.99, available at Amazon

The fact that you just spent an hour lovingly cooking a homemade meal and even organized it into easy-to-eat compartments often means nothing to a baby or toddler, who can hurl dinner to the floor in one easy swoop. This placemat will stay right in place on any flat surface, making it that much easier to get food from the plate into your child's mouth. 

A home gym rack

PRx Performance Profile Rack, $749-$849 (plus a $119.99 shipping charge), available at Amazon

This profile rack transforms any small space into your own gym. It comes with 11-gauge steel uprights and a 42" kipping pull-up bar and can be folded away when not in use. 

A more effective way to sweep your floor

WISPsystem One-Handed Broom, $29.95, available at Amazon

Sweeping is a pain, especially when you realize traditional broom and dustpans don't even catch all the dirt and debris on the floor. This special broom has electrostatic bristles to collect all types of debris, and uses a push-and-pull motion to scrape it into a foot-operated dustpan. You only need to use one hand to operate it, plus you never have to bend or stoop over. 

A smart baby changing pad and scale

Hatch Baby Grow Smart Changing Pad and Scale, $129.99, available at Amazon

It's easier than ever to track your baby's development with this modern nursery innovation. The soft foam pad tracks changes in weight to the .25 of an ounce and automatically syncs with the Hatch Baby app so you can view progress and learn new insights about your baby. The product grew out of the co-founder's own experience as a mother when she couldn't tell whether she was breastfeeding enough. 

A cold brew maker that slips right onto a mason jar

BRUW Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, $29.99, available at Wayfair

Bruw is a two-sided mason jar system that lets you make rich and delicious cold brew without the mess. After adding coffee grounds and water, then refrigerating the jar for 12 to 18 hours, simply attach the filter straw side down, add the second jar on top, and flip to begin the filtering process. 

Reusable silicone food bags

Stasher Reusable Silicone Food Bag, from $9.99, available at Amazon

This eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags has multiple uses: for storage and transportation, marinating, or sous vide. Its air-tight, pinch-lock seal keeps your food fresh, and it doesn't require any additional lids or seals. The BPA-free silicone is also dishwasher-, microwave-, and oven-safe. 

A natural flea and tick spray for your pets

Wondercide Flea and Tick Spray For Cats and Dogs, $24.99, available at Amazon

Wondercide, a safe and natural alternative to monthly chemical treatments, was conceived after the founder's dog got pesticide poisoning from a vet-subscribed flea and tick treatment. It has no toxic effects, won't stain fur or flooring, and comes in fresh lemongrass, cedar, and rosemary scents. 

Damage-free poster and picture hangers

GoodHangups Damage-Free Magnetic Poster and Picture Hangers (8-Pack), $14.97, available at Amazon

Hang up all your movie posters, concert posters, and photos without ruining them or the wall with these magnetic stickers. Just place the sticker on the wall, then place the magnet and poster over the sticker. It works on all different types of wall textures. 

A WiFi-enabled sous vide

Nomiku WiFi Sous Vide 1100-Watt Immersion Circulator, $249.95, available at Williams Sonoma

This sous vide connects to your phone to make sous vide cooking more streamlined than ever. You can create and send recipes to the machine and precisely control the temperature from your phone with the app, letting you keep tabs on your meal even when you're not in the kitchen. 

Pre-cut parchment sheets

The Smart Baker 9-Inch Round Perfect Parchment Paper (24-Pack), $10.99, available at Amazon

You've baked a beautiful cake, but now you're faced with the trouble of getting it out without ruining it. This parchment paper is cut in a unique shape that lets you lift your baked goods out of the pan in a breeze. You won't have to worry about greasing the bottom enough or cutting the parchment paper yourself. If you bake a lot, you'll love this product.

Eco-friendly bamboo chopsticks

Cropsticks (100-Pack), $21.87, available at Amazon

Unlike most disposable chopsticks, which are made from wood, Cropsticks use bamboo, which grows back after it's chopped. They're designed for a better dining experience: snap the top end off and use it as a chopsticks rest, then enjoy your food without getting the usual wooden splinters. 

A self-cleaning dog potty

BrilliantPad Self-Cleaning & Automatic Indoor Dog Potty, $129.99, available for preorder at Brilliant Pad

If you've already tried many indoor potty training systems, your search ends here with the world's first self-cleaning dog potty. You can adjust the timer to automatically change a dirty pad one, two, or three times a day, or manually change it with a push of a button. The machine will wrap and seal the waste, keeping your home clean and odor-free. It's best for dogs under 25 pounds. 

Read more about the 'Shark Tank' products we love here:

• The 8 most successful businesses that got their start on 'Shark Tank'
• 8 ‘Shark Tank’ companies that didn’t land a deal but are still doing incredibly well
• This $50 posture corrector from 'Shark Tank' might seem gimmicky — but it actually eliminated my back pain at work
• These cleansing wipes you might have seen on 'Shark Tank' are perfect for when you don't have time to shower after the gym
• This innovative brush from 'Shark Tank' made cleaning my car faster and easier than ever — and it's only $35
• A mother of 2 turned her Etsy shop for adorable baby shoes into a ‘Shark Tank’ hit — and it’s now a multi-million dollar business
• This quirky 'Shark Tank' alum makes ugly Christmas sweaters you'll actually want to wear
• A new app says it can save you $14,000 in student loan interest costs with the spare change in your pocket