Category: Business

• Donald Trump spent his day off from court at a supporters' dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Axios reported.
• The former president hosted fans who'd bought NFTs from his "Mugshot Edition" collection.
• Footage from the event showed Trump claiming that Joe Biden "has no idea" what crypto is.

Donald Trump appears to have spent much of his day off from the ongoing Stormy Daniels hush-money trial talking up crypto, attacking Joe Biden's digital asset policies, and dining with fans who spent thousands of dollars on NFTs of his mugshot.

Axios reported on Wednesday that Trump was planning to host a dinner for supporters that evening at Mar-a-Lago.

Guests eligible for the event had bought at least 47 NFTs from the "Mugshot Edition" collection, according to a copy of an invitation reviewed by the outlet. The mugshot NFTs cost $99 apiece.

Crypto influencer Frank Degods posted video of the event on Wednesday night that showed Trump pledging to accept crypto donations and criticizing the Biden administration's record in regulating the asset class.

In one post on X, the former president is seen saying: "Can we donate to the Trump campaign using crypto? I believe the answer is yes."

"If you ask Biden 'Sir, are you for or against crypto?'… he'd say 'get me off the stage', he has no idea," he tells supporters in another clip. Trump added that Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary "Gensler is very much against it, the Democrats are very much against it."

"And I'm fine with it," Trump added. "I want to make sure it's good and solid and everything else, but I'm good with it … if you're in favor of crypto, you'd better vote for Trump."

Gensler, who has run the SEC since 2021, has taken a hawkish stance on crypto, filing lawsuits against top trading firms, exchanges, and brokerages.

On Wednesday, Biden said he would veto a bill aimed at striking down an SEC resolution offering accounting guidance for cryptocurrencies.

Trump appears to have U-turned on crypto during the 2024 election cycle given he called large-cap token bitcoin "a scam against the dollar" back in 2021.

• A Tesla owner posted on a Cybertruck forum warning others to be careful closing the door.
• The owner posted a photo of a cut on his leg that he said he got closing the door on an incline.
• Tesla warns Cybertruck owners to "use caution around the panel edges" of the angular design.

A Tesla owner said he needed stitches after he wound up with a gash on his leg from exiting his Cybertruck on an incline.

"Be careful when closing your cybertruck door!" the owner said in a post on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum. "I parked on an incline, exited the truck and as I was closing the door I manage to clip the very corner of the door against my leg."

The user said the corner of the door isn't that sharp, but he closed the door with force and it hit his leg and caused damage. The post included a photo of the bloody cut and the corner of the door that hit his leg.

"When I got home the wife said I needed to go get stitches, so I did," the poster said.

The owner said he still loves the Cybertruck and blamed his own clumsiness for the incident. Business Insider reached out to the Cybertruck owner for more information on the incident but did not hear back ahead of publication. Tesla did not respond when contacted for comment.

Tesla has a warning about closing the door in its owner's manual that says to "use caution around the panel edges on Cybertruck, including the doors, powered frunk, tailgate, and surrounding panels."

The warning also advises owners to always grasp the door at the top when pulling it open, and to keep hands and fingers away from the opening edge.

The manual states "neglecting to follow the correct opening procedure for front and rear doors can lead to injury."

Another commenter responding on the forum said he had also cut himself accidentally.

"This beast has some sharp angles I cut my finger while washing the car," the person said. "Of course nothing as bad as you but still drew blood. Lesson learned I'll pay attention to the edges next time."

Other Cybertruck owners have reported hurting their fingers after deliberately closing the vehicle's front trunk — or frunk — on them to test out its safety sensor. After a viral video of a Tesla owner testing out the frunk's frunk sensor by closing it on his finger, other owners tried out the trend and one ended up with a deep cut and finger splint.

• Climeworks' direct-air-capture plant can remove up to 36,000 metric tons of carbon from the air a year. 
• Carbon removal is becoming a key climate technology because the world isn't cutting emissions fast enough.
• The tech is still in its early stages and expensive, ranging from $600 to $1,000 per ton of carbon.

The startup Climeworks this week switched on the largest direct-air-capture plant, which pulls carbon dioxide from the sky and locks it away underground.

Climeworks said the plant, called Mammoth, has about 10 times the capacity of its first facility and could capture up to 36,000 metric tons of carbon emissions a year once it's completed.

That amount is a small fraction of the more than 40 billion metric tons estimated to have been emitted globally in 2023, but the opening of Mammoth in Iceland marks a milestone for a nascent technology that scientists say will be key to slowing the climate crisis.

Countries that signed the 2015 Paris Agreement said they would keep global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. A UN science panel has warned that the risk of catastrophic climate effects — including deadly heat waves, drought, famine, and infectious diseases — increases with each degree of warming.

Since then, planet-warming emissions have continued to rise. The Global Carbon Project estimated that these emissions reached record levels in 2023, mainly driven by burning fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal for energy and transportation. European climate scientists on Wednesday said April was the hottest month on record, continuing an 11-month streak.

Countries and companies aren't slashing emissions fast enough, so technology like direct air capture is becoming more important.

But it's an expensive and uncertain pathway. Analysts estimate that for direct air capture to be widely adopted, the price of removing and storing 1 ton of carbon dioxide would have to fall to $100 by 2050. Today it ranges from $600 to $1,000. Climateworks' Mammoth plant also cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build, though the company didn't disclose the exact amount.

The company, which has big-name customers including Microsoft, Shopify, Swiss Re, Stripe, and JPMorgan Chase, said cost reduction was a priority. It added that while the Mammoth project wouldn't achieve that, it would help it innovate further and make the technology more efficient as it scales.

Climeworks aims to become large enough to remove 1 million metric tons of carbon a year by 2030 and 1 billion metric tons by 2050 — or a megaton and gigaton.

Climeworks' operations in Iceland are powered by renewable geothermal energy. In a press call, Jan Wurzbacher, a cofounder and co-CEO of Climeworks, described the process: Fans draw air through filters to separate out the carbon dioxide, which is then compressed with water and pushed underground into basalt rock formations. Within two years the mixture turns into rock and is stored away for millions of years. In early 2023, an independent third party verified that the process and its results were sound.

"There is more needed to scale up this industry," Wurzbacher said. "It's about offtake. It's about markets, standards, and regulations. And it's about public and private funding. A lot is needed in that area, and we need to move forward quickly to reach our targets."

Wurzbacher said Climeworks had projects in the early stages of development in the US, Canada, Norway, Oman, and Kenya.

The US Department of Energy last year announced $1.2 billion in funding for direct-air-capture demonstration plants. Climeworks is involved in a project in Louisiana, while Occidental Petroleum was selected for a plant in West Texas. The two plants could remove more than 2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air each year.

• The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is a compact crossover SUV that rivals competitors from Toyota and Honda.
• I enjoyed the Tucson Hybrid's stylish looks, new tech, solid performance, and fuel efficiency.
• I was disappointed with the somewhat unrefined drivetrain and transmission. 

Compact crossover SUVs are now the most popular form of automobile on American roads, accounting for roughly 1 in 5 new vehicles sold during the first quarter of this year, according to data from Cox Automotive.

For the last 20 years, Hyundai's offering in this crucial segment has been the Tucson.

During that time, the strikingly stylish Tucson has not only evolved into the brand's best-selling model, with nearly 210,000 units sold in 2023. It's also one of the most popular models in the segment, in its fourth generation that launched in 2021.

I recently spent a week with a 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD around the roads of suburban Atlanta to see why it's so popular with buyers.

I was impressed. The Tucson Hybrid is a great little SUV with a quiet cabin, comfortable ride, loads of tech, peppy performance, and futuristic looks. But it isn't perfect — The unrefined engine and transmission proved to be a bit of an annoyance.

The SUV is available in traditional internal combustion (ICE) form, as a hybrid (HEV), and as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

The base Tucson SE in front-wheel-drive (FWD) starts at $27,500, while the top-spec Tucson Limited Plug-in Hybrid with all-wheel-drive (AWD) starts at $45,450.

My test car, a Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited with AWD, starts at $39,465. With fees, the car carried a price of $41,010.

The Tucson Hybrid competes with a handful of HEV rivals in the segment.

The Tucson Hybrid goes head-to-head with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, and its corporate cousin, the Kia Sportage Hybrid.

While some versions of Tucson are made at Hyundai's plant in Montgomery, Alabama, the Tucson Hybrid is assembled in Ulsan, South Korea.

What immediately stands out about the Tucson are its striking looks.

The Tuscon's stylish sheet metal is the work of a team led by Hyundai's chief of global design, SangYup Lee, whose other works include the Bentley Bentayga and the 5th generation Chevrolet Camaro of Bubblebee fame.

The striking design starts with the parametric jewel pattern front grille, created using geometric algorithms instead of traditional sketches or drawings. The coolest part of the design is the LED daytime running lights embedded into the grille that look like dark chrome when turned off.

Here's a closer look at Hyundai's Parametric Jewel Hidden Lights.

The Tucson's actual LED headlights are nestled below and to the side of the grille.

The geometric shapes continue beyond the front grille.

The overall design of the Tuscon is punctuated with sharp, chiseled surfaces. According to Hyundai, the prominent angular wheel arches are styled to evoke vehicles created by Bertone, the defunct Italian design house responsible for some of the wildest supercars of the 1960s and 70s.

I'm a fan of the Tucson's optional 19-inch alloys.

Lower-trim models come with 17-inch wheels.

The rear of the Tucson features vertical LED taillights protruding from a light bar that runs across the tailgate.

Hyundai has also hidden the rear wiper under the spoiler.

The Tucson is about an inch longer than the Toyota RAV4, but 2.5 inches shorter than the Honda CR-V.

All wheel drive variants of the Tucson, such as my test vehicle, offer 8.3 inches of ground clearance, which is virtually identical to that of comparable RAV4 and CR-V models. Ground clearance for front wheel drive variants drops down to 7.1 inches.

The interior is comfortable and relaxing.

Aesthetically, the front dash and center console are designed to remind occupants of water meeting a central point before flowing down a waterfall.

I was a fan of the diffuser vents that line the entire width of the front dash. They augment the Tucson's traditional air conditioning vents and give the occupants the feeling of a gentle, evenly distributed breeze.

Material and build quality felt good but did not convey the same solid feeling one would find in a Toyota or Honda. I like the minimalist look of the shiny black piano material on the center console, but I also found it incredibly prone to smudges and scratches.

The Tucson's overall cabin ergonomics were sound. The touch-sensitive infotainment and climate control buttons on the dash were easy to use, although I would have preferred a physical volume knob.

The leather-trimmed front seats are heated and ventilated.

Front-seat passengers have access to a wireless phone charger, two USB-A plugs, and a 12V socket.

I also liked the push-button shifter that frees up space above the center console.

And the novel footwell map pockets that provide additional cabin storage.

The optional panoramic sunroof helps support the relaxing feel of the cabin.

The cabin is also equipped with 64-color ambient lighting and an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system.

In front of the driver is a nicely molded, leather-wrapped steering wheel.

In front of the steering wheel is an optional 10.25-inch configurable digital instrumental display.

Lower-trim models get an old-school analog instrument cluster.

The instrument display is home to a blind-spot monitor.

It uses rear-view-mirror-mounted cameras to give drivers a view of their blind spots when changing lanes.

Here's a closer look at the camera.

The Tucson Hybrid Limited also uses cameras to create a 360-degree overhead view of the vehicle.

In addition, the Tucson Hybrid Limited is equipped with a complete suite of advanced driver safety aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep and lane following assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and parking collision avoidance assist.

It's also equipped with remote smart parking assist, or as they called it in the commercial, "Smaht Pahk"" which can pull a vehicle into and out of a parking space with the driver outside the car.

The Tucson Hybrid is powered by a 1.6 liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine working in unison with an electric drive motor.

The Tucson Hybrid's 1.6-liter engine produces 180 horsepower, while the electric motor is rated for 59 horsepower. The total output is 226 horsepower and is mated to a traditional six-speed automatic transmission.

The Tucson Hybrid is equipped with a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

The plug-in hybrid version comes with a more powerful, 90-hp electric drive motor, a larger 13.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and an onboard charging port.

The internal combustion-only version of the Tucson is powered by a 187 horsepower, 2.5-liter, normally aspirated, four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

ICE-only Tucson comes with front-wheel-drive with all-wheel-drive as an option.

So, what's it like to drive?

The Tucson Hybrid doesn't drive like a hybrid. Much of that can be attributed to Hyundai's decision to go with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission instead of an E-CVT gearbox found in rivals like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid.

As a result, the Tucson Hybrid feels virtually identical to a traditional ICE vehicle, while the RAV4 and Escape Hybrids feel more akin to a pure BEV.

Under hard acceleration, the Tucson Hybrid takes a split second before the power kicks in like a traditional ICE vehicle, unlike other hybrids where you feel the instantaneous torque of the electric motor before the ICE engine takes over.

According to MotorTrend, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid can reach 60 mph from a standstill in a respectable 7.8 seconds.

I only have two real gripes with the driving experience.

Even though the 1.6-liter engine delivers strong and smooth power when called upon, the intrusive, high-pitched noise it makes under hard acceleration can be jarring. In addition, the six-speed transmission has a tendency to hesitate during low-speed driving leading to abrupt gear changes. Both take away from the Tucson's generally refined driving experience.

Overall, the Tucson Hybrid delivered solid acceleration and sure-footed handling with a quiet and comfortable ride.

The SUV had impressive fuel economy for a 3,800-pound, all-wheel-drive SUV.

The Tuscon Hybrid Limited boasts EPA fuel economy figures of 37 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 37 mpg in combined driving.

The Tucson Hybrid isn't as efficient as the RAV4 Hybrid. However, the RAV4 doesn't have a true mechanical all-wheel-drive like the Tucson. Instead, it uses 149-hp electric motor to power the rear wheels to create a virtual all-wheel-drive.

During my time with the Tucson Hybrid, I fell a few mpg short of the EPA fuel economy ratings. However, my numbers were negatively affected by more aggressive than normal throttle application and extended periods of idling.

For comparison, the internal combustion-only Tucson with AWD is rated for 23 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.

The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited is equipped with a touchscreen infotainment system.

The 10.25-inch screen is standard on higher trim levels, but lower trim levels get a smaller, 8-inch touchscreen.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all models. However, only vehicles with the smaller screen get wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.

The rear seats are trimmed in soft leather and heated.

Occupants in the roomy rear cabin get an impressive 41.3 inches of legroom which is on par with the Honda CR-V and beats the RAV4 by 3.5 inches.

The rear seat passengers are also treated to dedicated air vents and USB-A plugs.

The Tucson Hybrid Limited is equipped with a smart power liftgate.

The liftgate triggers if you stand within three feet of the rear bumper for more than three seconds while possessing the key fob. This is a departure from rival systems that require the driver to swing their leg under the back bumper.

Open the liftgate and you'll find 38.7 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats.

There's no spare tire. Instead, there's a tire repair kit in the underfloor storage area where the spare wheel would have been.

With the rear seats folded, the Tucson Hybrid boasts 74.5 cubic feet of cargo space.

It's not perfect: The drivetrain needs further refinement and improved interior material quality.

With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Korean hybrid.

The Tucson Hybrid is a great choice for someone who wants the performance and feel of a pure ICE vehicle but the efficiency of a hybrid.

This is something few vehicles can deliver these days.

• Digital cameras are regaining popularity among Gen Z, who seek authentic, unfiltered experiences.
• Profits from digital cameras are projected to grow by $1.4 billion between now and 2028.
• It signifies a longing for disconnection with social media, which Zoomers have never known.

I'm old enough to remember a time when I'd have to bring along my little pink digital camera if I wanted to document a night out.

I would eagerly, if a bit fuzzy-headedly, plug its memory card into my laptop the morning after to look back on all the moments I captured. Slightly blurry, eyes closed, stained shirts, unflattering angles — it didn't matter. All the photos went up on Facebook.

Time moved on, and so did social media. Facebook albums became a thing of the cheugy past, replaced by Instagram photo dumps and TikTok storytimes.

But things may have come full circle because digital cameras are back for Gen Z. As are some of the raw, messy moments that come with them.

Like Facebook albums but cooler

Despite plummeting between 2018 and 2021, profits from digital cameras in the electronics industry since then have been steadily increasing. Revenue is expected to grow continuously by $1.4 billion between now and 2028, an increase of 5.81%, according to Statistica, with sales expected to reach a new peak of $25.5 billion that year.

Business Insider's Amanda Krause named digital cameras one of the "quiet status symbols" you will likely see everywhere in 2024. The prediction was right, with Gen Zers now promoting $40 digital cameras all over TikTok.

Photo slideshows have replaced videos for some Zoomers on the platform, showing off a few unedited snaps of an event or night out with their friends. It's reminiscent of those relentless catalogues I would upload and tag everybody in, just a bit cooler.

Aswaa Khurram, a Gen Zer from Germany who regularly posts digital camera photo dumps on TikTok, told BI she bought one about six months ago after she saw a friend using a digital camera at her birthday. After that, she became "obsessed," she said, because "the result of a simple digi cam is unmatched."

She had been using a film camera for a while and even edited her phone pictures to capture the same aesthetic.

"I really love the precision and clarity those images give you," Khurram said. "Yet they have a certain magic in being able to freeze and feel a moment in time. A digital camera makes every picture and moment look beautiful."

Hermione Whitehead, a 23-year-old editorial research assistant, told BI she has also always loved retro-looking photos. She had been using disposable and instant print cameras for years but found the film and development costs too expensive.

She asked for a digital camera for her birthday and now uses her vintage Olympus model all the time. She said she loves the "graininess" of the pictures and the ease of not having to worry about editing apps.

"Taking photos and capturing memories in the moment is fun," she said. "Using smartphones constantly, we want to be 'away' from that."

Digital cameras don't come with the added pressures of social media. They don't talk back, and there's no association with getting the perfect shot for your feed.

"One click and done," Whitehead said.

Slowing things down

Kellie Whitehead, Hermione's mom, told BI said she sees the trend as "a comforting throwback to childhood."

Her daughter's generation loves all things vintage, thrift, and normcore, she said, which is "a step away from the instant hustle of modern life."

It's more or less impossible to take a bad photo with a smartphone, Kellie said, so something is charming about being able to do that.

Sharmin Attaran, a marketing professor at Bryant University, told BI Gen Z's return to more classic forms of photography "reminds us that not everything has to be instant."

"This trend isn't just driven by nostalgia; it's about connecting with something more tangible and authentic in our heavily digitalized world," she said.

It's also about embracing authenticity — something that's becoming increasingly important in a culture that's become so reliant on filters and photo editing.

"Gen Z is championing a slower, more thoughtful approach to life. They're reminding us all that in our fast-paced, instant-everything world, there's still a place for the slow development of film, the excitement of unexpected outcomes, and the lasting value of holding a piece of history in your hands."

Greg Morrison, the cofounder of MXML Creative, an agency focused on helping brands relate to Gen Z culture, said the hype of digital cameras is nothing new, with Zoomers adopting plenty of nostalgic trends such as Y2K fashion, Pokemon cards, and audio cassettes.

Khurram said there's definitely nostalgia to using her digital camera because it reminds her of her childhood when her parents would bring out theirs, or a video recorder, to capture special moments and occasions.

"It brings back memories when photography felt more natural," she said.

She said she tends to be "less selective and perfectionist" now about what she posts online and has stopped overthinking about whether to share a photo or not — focusing instead on how she felt when she was there. It helps that photos from a camera simply look better.

"I personally feel more photogenic in those than my phone photos," she said.

• The CEO of Applebee's owner, Dine Brands, told CNBC that the chain offers a better value proposition than its fast-food rivals.
• Diners have been complaining that fast food is too expensive after years of price hikes.
• But they're also cutting back at casual-dining chains. Applebee's diners are buying cheaper items and visiting less often.

The CEO of Applebee's owner, Dine Brands, said that diners are being lured in by value deals and argued that the casual-dining chain offers better bang for your buck than fast-food rivals.

"If you can have our burger for $10, which is great quality, abundant and eat in our restaurant, in our experience, why would you eat a $10 burger out of a paper bag in your car?" Dine Brands CEO John Peyton told CNBC, referring to Applebee's Whole Lotta Bacon Burger promotion.

Applebee's is among the fast-casual chains looking to scoop up fast-food customers who say they're tired of rising prices. Some diners say they're switching to casual-dining chains to have what they describe as a better sit-down experience with higher quality food for, in some cases, just a few extra dollars.

But even if it is winning over some fast-food customers, Applebee's sales are still falling.

Applebee's reported a 4.6% drop in US same-restaurant sales for the first quarter of 2024, which it attributed to a decrease in traffic. Its US restaurants brought in an average of $54,700 in sales each a week, down from $56,800 for the same quarter last year.

Fast food chains McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King have also said that their comparable sales are growing at a much slower rate than this time last year.

Diners are hungry for deals

Dine Brands CEO Peyton told investors at the company's earnings call on Wednesday that about 28% of Applebee's orders in the quarter were tied to a limited-time offer or promotion, up from about 19% in the same period in 2023, he said.

"The consumer has become more price sensitive, as indicated by the response to our limited-time promotions," he added.

Applebee's Whole Lotta Bacon Burger promotion was a time-limited deal that launched in April and provided diners with bacon-loaded cheeseburgers and a side — fries as the default — for $9.99 for both dine-in and to-go.

At the time of writing, the burger cost between $13.99 and $19.99 at the locations Business Insider looked at.

Other promotions Applebee's has launched so far this year include its All You Can Eat promotion in January, which Peyton said "exceeded our expectations," its Date Night Pass, which sold out within minutes, a $0.50 boneless wing promotion, and the return of the Dollarita.

Peyton said it was important that Applebee's promotions were both profitable as a stand-alone and led to customers buying other things from its menu, too. He noted that Applebee's even makes a profit when it sells margaritas for $1 under its Dollarita promotion.

It's not just Applebee's trying to grab some cash-strapped fast-food customers by promoting value deals. Chili's, for example, has a "3 For Me" combo that includes an appetizer, an entrée with a side, and a bottomless drink for $10.99.

Applebee's diners are cutting back, too

But casual dining chains have been raising their prices, too, because of wage and food inflation. At Dine Brands' restaurants, prices "spiked" in the last roughly two years, rising by between about 5% and 9% on an annualized basis, Peyton said. Historically, its franchisees had put up prices by roughly 2% to 3% a year, he said.

Peyton warned that diners at Applebee's and sister company IHOP were switching to cheaper menu items and dining out less often. "We also continue to see guests trade down from higher-priced items at both IHOP and Applebee's, another indicator that guests are managing their wallet," Peyton told investors.

Diners earning $50,000 and less were cutting back the most at both brands, Peyton said, echoing comments made by other restaurant chains.

"They're more aggressively managing their check, finding our value-oriented items," Peyton said. "That's been consistent the last couple of quarters but more pronounced in Q1."

Have you switched from fast food to casual dining chains like Applebee's, Chili's, and Olive Garden? Email this reporter at gdean@insider.com.

• Menards home-improvement stores earned John Menard Jr. his $22.9 billion fortune.
• The Midwest chain is different from other stores, with mail-in rebates and no installation services.
• I was surprised by Menards' size and enormous selection.

If you've spent any time in the Midwest, chances are the "Save big money at Menards" jingle is permanently embedded in your brain.

Menards, the home-improvement chain founded by John Menard Jr., is known for its discounted prices, mail-in rebates, and quirky Midwestern charm. The company helped Menard Jr. achieve billionaire status with a net worth of $22.9 billion, making him the richest person in the state of Wisconsin.

Last year, Menards earned $13.4 billion in revenue, Forbes reported, making it the third-largest home-improvement chain in the US behind Home Depot and Lowe's.

During a recent trip to my hometown in Wisconsin, I accompanied my dad, a frequent Menards shopper, on one of his trips to see what has made it such a successful business.

As the founder of home-improvement retailer Menards, John Menard Jr. is Wisconsin's richest billionaire with a net worth of $22.9 billion.

Menard Jr. is the 87th richest person in the world, Forbes reported.

After spending a summer constructing pole buildings to put himself through college at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire, he started a construction company in 1958, according to Menards' official website. That led him to the building-materials business, and he opened the first Menards retail location in 1964.

Now with over 300 locations across 15 Midwestern states, the chain sells a wide variety of home-improvement tools and building materials as well as appliances, lighting, furniture, and groceries.

Menard Jr. is a controversial figure known for his frugality and iron-handed management style. A 2007 Milwaukee magazine profile reported that managers are fined $100 for every minute a store opens late, and Forbes reports that even top executives are still required to clock in.

In 1997, Menard Jr. was fined over $1.5 million and pleaded no contest to charges regarding illegal hazardous waste disposal. Prosecutors alleged he used his personal pickup truck to take dangerous chemicals from the business to deposit them in his household trash, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Menards paid another $2 million in 2005 for violating state water-pollution laws in Wisconsin.

His personal conduct has also come under scrutiny with a 2013 lawsuit alleging he pressured the wife of one of his business partners to have sex with him and fired her husband when she refused. Menard Jr. denied any inappropriate conduct, his attorney told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Menard Jr. is also an avid race-car enthusiast, sponsoring Menards race cars at NASCAR and IndyCar events.

I visited a Menards store in Milwaukee for the first time.

The Menards store I visited in Milwaukee's Northridge neighborhood spans a whopping 162,300 square feet, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

In the parking lot, Menards pickup trucks were available to rent to bring home large purchases.

The pickup trucks cost $18.95 for the first 75 minutes, $6 for each additional 15 minutes, and 50 cents for each mile driven, according to the Menards website.

I was surprised to find one-way gates at the entrance to help prevent theft.

Most stores I visit in the Midwest don't have extensive security measures. When I compared shopping at Target in New York City and Wisconsin, I found the New York location featured "secured shelves" and locked cases, while even limited-supply items were kept on open shelves in the Midwest.

Menard Jr. is known to be serious about anti-theft measures. He set a policy that store managers cannot build their own houses to prevent them from stealing supplies, Milwaukee magazine reported.

Walking in, I was immediately shocked by how large the store was.

The aisles seemed to go on forever.

Our first stop was the grocery section, which sold snacks, beverages, and other basics.

Menards didn't have a produce section, but it did have a refrigerated section with gallons of milk and frozen food.

Grocery items at Menards were significantly cheaper than local grocery chains.

For example, a family-size box of Honey Bunches of Oats cost $4.93 at Menards. At Metro Market, a Midwestern grocery chain, the same box cost $6.29. I see why my dad swears by it.

I came across some unique products I'd never seen before, like Hydrox sandwich cookies.

Oreos were created as an imitation of Hydrox cookies but eventually superseded them in popularity, making Hydrox look like the knockoff. I'd never even heard of Hydrox cookies until I saw them at Menards.

Menard Jr.'s involvement in racing was evident in the packaging of the locally brewed Sprecher root beer.

The root beer was labeled as the official craft soda of the Automobile Racing Club of America's Menards Series. A 24-pack cost $19.99.

Some aisles also featured photos of Menards race cars.

Menard Jr.'s son, Paul Menard, raced in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The lighting section glowed with lightbulbs, chandeliers, and other fixtures.

The items also featured QR codes to scan for online shopping.

Counters, cabinets, and bathroom vanities looked ready to install.

Unlike other home-improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe's, Menards doesn't offer installation services. Instead, it directs customers to local service providers so the store doesn't act as a competitor to the contractors who shop there.

The lumberyard was big enough for multiple semi-trucks to load up on supplies.

Milwaukee magazine reported that Menard Jr. used to recycle wood scraps and heat stores with the leftovers.

The outdoor-living section sold an impressive array of furniture.

The section also included grills, gazebos, and swing sets.

With spring arriving, the garden center was in full bloom.

The gardening section sold potted plants as well as seeds, soil, outdoor decor, and gardening tools.

Menards had a little bit of everything, including shelves of "As Seen On TV" products.

The section featured Mike Lindell's MyPillow, Ped Egg callus removers, and portable handheld fans, among other items.

It even sold its own swag.

I could see how Menards, a family-owned Midwestern brand, would inspire the kind of loyalty that would make people want to wear its hats.

Another characteristic of shopping at Menards is its mail-in rebate.

On the day I visited, Menards was offering an 11% rebate in the form of a merchandise credit check if you mailed in a receipt and a completed form. The rebate percentage fluctuates, but the system is a hallmark of the Menards shopping experience and helps keep its prices even lower.

While I'm not a DIY-er myself, I was impressed by Menards' low prices, huge stock, and unique policies.

Even long after I left the store, I couldn't get the "Save big money at Menards" jingle out of my head.