• My parents are both Greek, and they took me back to Greece every summer to learn about my roots.
• Thessaloniki is a mainland city with incredible food, beautiful history, and plenty of nightlife. 
• Islands like Corfu and Rhodes will give you amazing beaches without as many tourists.

As a kid, I spent nearly every summer with my family in Greece.

My parents immigrated to California from Greece in the 1980s, but they made sure I grew up learning about our family's roots. We spent almost every summer of my childhood in Greece, where beach days were filled with that perfect turquoise Aegean Sea and big fresh bowls of horiatiki.  

Friends now frequently ask me for advice on their Greece trips, but the only places they ever want to visit are Mykonos, Santorini, and Athens. My answer to them is always the same: You can experience so much of Greece's incredible food, culture, and beaches without setting foot in its packed tourist destinations.

So, with the help of my lovely parents, I've brought you a list of seven incredible spots in Greece that hold some of our favorite memories.

Thessaloniki is a beautiful city packed with great food and incredible history.

Most of my summers in Greece were spent in Thessaloniki, where both of my parents grew up. It's the second biggest city in the country after Athens and dates all the way back to 316 BC. 

Ancient ruins can be seen in the city's downtown area, along with the majestic Byzantine churches. But the most important landmark is the White Tower, which was built in the 15th century after Thessaloniki fell to the Ottomans. The White Tower now has an exhibition on the city's history, and you can go up to the top for spectacular views from its balcony. 

Thessaloniki is also packed with so many delicious tavernas and restaurants that the city landed on Time Magazine's list of "The World's Greatest Places of 2022." My mom recommends visiting the Ladadika neighborhood at the city's center for dinner, or going to Aretsou for views of the water. Try the bougasta — a Greek dessert of custard wrapped in phyllo — or koulouri, Greek sesame bread rings that were my mom's childhood favorite. 

"Walk in the Thessaloniki promenade to enjoy a sunset and, if the sky is clear, a perfect view of Mount Olympus," she added.

I'll let you in on a secret: The best beaches in Greece are actually in Halkidiki.

Sure, Santorini's got those gorgeous white buildings, and Mykonos has the wild nightlife. But if you're looking for an incredible beach vacation, you might be better off on the mainland. 

Even as a kid, I remember being stunned by the beaches in Halkidiki. The sand is soft and white, the water is warm, and the colors of the sea are the brightest blues you'll ever see. One summer my mom and uncle took me to a different beach every day, and she still loves to tell the story of how I gave all the Halkidiki beaches an "A++" because I loved them so much. 

Halkidiki is near Thessaloniki, so it's also a great place to visit if you want to combine a city escape with a beach destination. Plus, with so many local tavernas by the sea, you're sure to have a great meal of octopus, ouzo on the rocks, and some calamari. 

"If all you want for your vacation is to lie on a beach and listen to the waves, Halkidiki is your destination," my mom said. 

A trip to Meteora will give you an unforgettable hike.

Meteora is another childhood trip I'll always remember. Located in central Greece, the Meteora monasteries — now a UNESCO World Heritage Site — are perched on huge cliffs that will take your breath away. 

Orthodox Christian hermit monks first began coming to the cliffs of Meteora around the 9th century, looking for peace and isolation. In the 14th century, the first Meteora monastery was built, spearheading the beginning of the site's monastic community, according to Visit Meteora. Six of the 24 monasteries remain active today with more than 60 nuns and monks. 

"It's absolutely amazing to realize that monks built these monasteries and lived there for centuries," my mom said. "The unique rock formations and nice sunsets offer many photo opportunities. It's a really special place that makes me feel close to heaven." 

Delphi is a dream destination for history lovers.

Ancient Greeks believed that Delphi was the "navel of the world." The myth goes that Zeus released one eagle from the east and one from the west and the birds met in the middle at Delphi, where the famous oracle was built. 

In addition to being an incredible archaeological site, Delphi also has a stunning natural backdrop. My mother said she still remembers the sweeping views of the valleys and the lovely olive trees in addition to the incredible ancient ruins. 

"I loved visiting Delphi because of its history, but also because of the beautiful natural surroundings," she added. 

And how could you not be wowed by the birthplace of the Olympics?

For as long as I can remember, the Olympics have been a huge point of pride in our household. My parents always loved reminding me why Greece walks first in the Parade of Nations, and why the Greek flag is always flown during the closing ceremony. 

So as a kid, it was incredibly special to visit Olympia, where the Olympics first began. The games were held in Olympia every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD, and ruins from the sporting events still stand there today. 

"Olympia has always had an emotional impact on me," my mom said. "To be able to walk in the same field where the Olympics started moved me very much when I visited for the first time." 

"I think this would be a special place for someone who loves sports or history," she added. 

Corfu is one of my family's favorite islands in Greece.

I have this distinct memory of seeing beautiful candy-colored houses along the water in Corfu. The stunning city is a great option if you want to visit a beautiful Greek island without fighting hundreds of other tourists for a picture of the sunset. 

Once under Venetian rule, the Italian influence is still apparent in much of Corfu's beautiful architecture and delicious food. Along with stunning beaches, the island is known for its lush flora and fauna. My parents took my sister and me to Corfu when we were kids and said it was a great spot for family vacations. 

My dad also recommends adding a trip to Ioannina on the way to Corfu to visit the stunning Perama Cave. 

Rhodes is a stunning Greek island that feels straight out of the Middle Ages.

Ruled by the Knights of St. John from the 14th to 16th century, Rhodes still feels steeped in medieval history. I remember being wowed as a kid while walking past the majestic castles, under the stone arches, and through the tiny cobblestone alleys on the island's Old Town. 

Rhodes also has plenty of beautiful beaches, as well as Butterfly Valley — my mom's favorite part of the island.

• Kate and Anthony's sweeping romance wrapped in "Bridgerton" season two. 
• But, c'mon — who wouldn't watch more Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey? 
• There's fertile ground for a Kanthony spinoff series — and the show teased that they're going to India.

Kate and Anthony's love story on "Bridgerton" is done — but if there's any couple on the show so far who could carry a spinoff series, it's them.

Not every "Bridgerton" couple demands excessive rumination. In fact, the show is stronger for its ability to finish the stories of each lead couple and move on to another in subsequent seasons without getting too tied up in previous storylines. Even Kate and Anthony's sweeping love story has concluded, and they've settled into marital bliss.

But here's the thing: Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey are just so damn fun to watch. And the people — me! — want more of them.

Kate and Anthony are still extraordinarily charming

Sure, people complained about the lack of outright sex in season two, but that didn't make Kate and Anthony's romance any less sexy. By the time we see them in total marital bliss in season three, it feels like they really had to fight for it. They spent most of the third season enjoying an extended honeymoon, dispensing advice to Anthony's wayward siblings, and bickering — and they earned it.

To best understand their current dynamic, take a look at their conversation with Colin in season three, episode seven. While they're ostensibly there to assuage Colin's pre-marital worries, it turns into affectionate bickering.

"Marriage takes hard work," Kate tells Colin. "But it is work that is worth it."

"Our marriage is not hard work," Anthony quips.

"You are wearisome tonight," Kate replies, exasperated.

Ultimately, Kate's sage advice — and Anthony's empathy — seem to right Colin's headspace. But the exchange, which makes up one of the season's best scenes, is more a testament to their enduring ability to entertain, and Anthony's newfound comedic relief status.

Of course, a good dynamic does not a full television series make. Executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers told Town & Country that the show tells complete stories. To tell further ones would require further conflict.

"There are no spinoffs to be had because we'd have to find some reason to break a couple up, and that feels very artificial," Rhimes said.

Luckily, "Bridgerton" has just given us the perfect set-up for a potential Kanthony spinoff — one that feels like it could generate another story.

Kate and Anthony are going to India — and we should follow them

During Colin and Penelope's wedding breakfast, Anthony and Kate discuss their next steps. Kate is envious of her sister Edwina's life, presumably back in India, and describes her "charming" hometown to her husband Anthony. With a baby on the way, Anthony is thinking about the future of his family and proposes that they have their child in India.

"Our child will always be a Bridgerton. But I should like them to know that they are a Sharma as well," Anthony says. "Know their history. And it is important for me to know it so that we can share that history with our child together."

The entire exchange feels like a reason to comfortably skirt around Kate and Anthony by removing them from the picture altogether, while still leaving the door open for future appearances in season four and beyond. But it's also fertile ground for a spinoff: We still don't know much about Kate and Edwina's heritage and life in India.

As Vice reported, season two of "Bridgerton" presented the Sharmas' cultural heritage as a mishmash of language and customs from across India. And while Kate spoke about her childhood, the show wasn't able to visually render it. A spinoff set in India — and hopefully featuring Charithra Chandran back as Edwina — would help flesh out their characters, and lend some credence to Anthony's desire to know about his wife's family.

Of course, there are also demands like actor's schedules to contend with. But Ashley told French entertainment outlet Premiere that she would be down for a Kanthony spinoff in the future. And when it comes to the main series, the actor has had discussions with showrunner Jess Brownell about Kate's future.

Ashley told People that both she and Bailey "adore" their characters on the show, and would do their best to return for season four.

"I think we'll do all we can with our schedules to make it work so that we can, hopefully," she said.

All episodes of "Bridgerton" season three are now streaming on Netflix.

• North Korea and South Korea have sent weapons to opposing sides of the war in Ukraine.
• North Korea's support for Russia puts it in a position to get assistance and test its weapons.
• Meanwhile, South Korea is setting itself up as a global arms supplier by sending ammo to Ukraine.

North Korea and South Korea have been fueling opposite sides of the war in Ukraine, positioning themselves as players in this conflict.

Both states have much to gain from their involvement: North Korea's support for Russia strengthens a useful partnership, while South Korea's contributions to the Ukrainian war effort reinforce its role as a global arms supplier. The North also gets to challenge the world order while the South strives to preserve a world where tyrants aren't able to tear down vulnerable democracies.

North Korea's earliest involvement in the conflict is believed to have begun roughly two years ago, when the US accused it of providing ammunition to Russia in September 2022. Last summer, the Russian defense minister visited Pyongyang. And then, last fall, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met for a summit on a potential bigger arms deal between the two nations, one that got Russia the ammo it needed to replenish strained stockpiles at a critical moment.

What North Korea received from this partnership is a little more opaque, but speculation has pointed to food and petroleum products, possibly even Russian technologies, as likely trades.

South Korea, on the other hand, has been indirectly funneling artillery ammunition to Ukraine by way of the US, working a loophole through the Yoon administration's restrictions on providing lethal aid.

Last month, Chris Park, a research assistant and the program coordinator for the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, addressed this situation on CSIS' The Impossible State podcast.

He said that "with South Korea providing artillery shells to Ukraine via the United States and North Korea directly sending weapons to Russia, you get a situation where the two Koreas are engaged in what's essentially a proxy war 5,000 miles away from the peninsula."

While North Korea and South Korea, longtime foes that are technically still at war (the Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a formal treaty), aren't necessarily in this conflict to fight one another, it's still a unique situation that could have reverberations and consequences in Europe, on the Korean peninsula, and in the wider Indo-Pacific region.

Kim and Putin's meeting last fall was noteworthy. It marked the first time Kim had left his so-called "Hermit Kingdom" in four years, and it signaled a turning point in North Korean foreign policy, which had shuttered after the 2019 Hanoi summit with then-US President Donald Trump and was further hurt by COVID-19.

For years, Kim positioned himself as an observer, watching closely as Russia invaded Ukraine and tensions flared between China and Taiwan after former US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited the island, though it still engaged in provocations of its own.

Coming out of pandemic lockdowns, North Korea is navigating international relations to find the situations that are most advantageous for it.

One example is its close ties with Russia, which are becoming stronger. North Korea has provided Moscow with hoards of weapons, likely including 152mm shells, 122mm rockets, and KN-23 ballistic missiles. Fragments of KN-23s have been discovered in Ukraine since earlier this year, and the Ukrainians have previously found what they suspect are North Korean rockets.

White House and South Korean estimates of just how much ammunition has been sent have varied, but generally, it is a significant amount in the millions. By South Korea's latest estimate, North Korea has sent as many as 10,000 containers.

Arms deals with Russia, another of which could be in the works, are notably also opportunities for North Korea to improve its ammunition production capabilities. The quality and overall performance of the ammunition sent have been called into question.

Producing shells for Russia, or working with Moscow to produce shells, gives North Korea a chance to address inadequacies. Earlier this year, one US official stressed that North Korea was gaining invaluable data from letting Russia use its weapons in a real combat situation, which could help it develop better and more accurate weapons. South Korean officials have expressed similar concerns.

This week, Putin is expected to visit Pyongyang for the first time in almost 25 years for further arms deal discussions. The continued cooperation with Russia could be valuable for North Korea, especially if it can receive support, either economic or military for its own ends.

On the other side of the 38th parallel, South Korea has ambitions of being a global arms supplier and opening up its defense industry for increased international cooperation, making its partnership with the US to supply weapons to Ukraine notably beneficial.

In a CSIS report in March, Park and Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and a senior advisor at CSIS, wrote that South Korea has noticeably upped production of 155mm shells since it indirectly sent 300,000 to Ukraine via the US, which had been revealed in earlier reporting.

The agreement details are not clear, but it appears that South Korea sent ammo to replenish US stockpiles, which was then sent to Ukraine. In return, it's possible the US will replace its stockpile with South Korean-produced ammo.

In May 2023, it was confirmed that South Korean ammo was going to Ukraine by way of the US.

There are limitations, though. South Korea's current annual production rate is only about 200,000 155mm artillery shells a year, and it likely doesn't want to dip into its own stockpile and risk shortages in the face of a conflict with North Korea.

Cancian and Park note, however, that South Korea's vast 105mm stockpile could serve as a sort of stopgap measure.

While 105mm shells have less range and power, South Korea is thought to have around 3.4 million of them stockpiled, and many of them may be expiring soon. Ukraine has the artillery to fire this kind of ammunition.

"The 155 has become the US and really Western standard artillery projectile," Cancian said on The Impossible State podcast. But the 105 used to be standard, and the US is currently sending Ukraine 105s now.

If South Korea can continue to position itself as an arms supplier through the US — or if the Yoon administration waives its policy and provides lethal aid directly to Ukraine, which it has said it will consider in the event of large-scale attacks on Ukrainian civilians, which have been occurring since the beginning of the war — it might stand to gain much from the war in Ukraine, including increased investment in its defense industrial base.

Both North Korea and South Korea also have ideological reasons to be involved in the war in Ukraine.

For North Korea, supporting Putin's belief that Ukraine is part of Russia strengthens the partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow and gives Kim an opportunity to challenge and push the limits of the US-led world order for its purposes.

Experts have previously assessed that North Korea — along with Russia, China, and Iran — all have reasons to align in an "axis of upheaval," reshaping the world to their liking.

South Korea, on the other hand, may see in the war in Ukraine reflections of tensions in its region and the potential for a conflict with North Korea or a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Park said on The Impossible State that "it's fair to say that South Korea favors a world in which conquest is discouraged and vulnerable democracies are not abandoned to tyrants next door."

That said, the Yoon administration is unlikely to move towards providing Ukraine lethal aid directly due to concerns over reactions from China and Russia. South Korea has long had close trade relationships with China in particular and remains concerned about how Russia could influence or empower North Korea, risking war on the peninsula.

• Tesla will reward employees for "exceptional performance," according to a memo from Elon Musk obtained by BI.
• Musk told staff Tesla is working on a review that will provide merit-based stock option grants.
• The announcement follows a series of layoffs at Tesla earlier this year.

Tesla is implementing a system to reward "exceptional performance" with stock option grants.

Elon Musk told employees on Monday in a companywide email that the carmaker is working on an initiative to reward high performers at Tesla, according to three sources with knowledge of the issue and a screenshot of the email viewed by Business Insider.

"There will also ben an ongoing program to award spot option grants for anyone who does something outstanding for the company," Musk said.

Musk's announcement comes after the carmaker initiated a series of layoffs in April. The Tesla CEO told staff at the time that the company planned to eliminate more than 10% of its total workforce. The company later rehired some of the impacted employees. The carmaker has since posted dozens of jobs on its careers website, including roles in its Autopilot division and at its service centers.

Reuters was the first to report the memo. The company did not provide merit-based stock awards in 2023, Reuters reported.

Tesla, which disbanded its PR department years ago, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

One Tesla worker told BI that they felt Musk's email was proof the tide might finally be turning.

"We've been holding our breath for months and this feels like one of the first positive signs we've seen," the worker said.

It isn't the only spot of good news for Tesla over the past week. The company's efforts to reapprove Musk's pay package also came to fruition last week.

Tesla spent weeks campaigning for a proposal to reinstate Musk's compensation plan, which was valued at $55 billion when it was struck down by a Delaware judge in January. Tesla has said it plans to use shareholder approval to convince Delaware to reinstate the pay plan and Musk was quick to celebrate the vote during Tesla's annual meeting on Thursday.

Read Musk's full email to Tesla staff below:

Over the next few weeks, Tesla will be doing a comprehensive review to provide stock option grants for exceptional performance.

There will also ben an ongoing program to award spot option grants for anyone who does something outstanding for the company.

Thanks for everything you're doing to make Tesla successful,

Elon

Do you work for Tesla or have a tip? Reach out to the reporter via a non-work email and device at gkay@businessinsider.com or 248-894-6012.

• I took my first cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships.
• I brought only a carry-on suitcase and a backpack for the seven-night Caribbean cruise.
• I was glad I packed light but had some regrets. I longed for earplugs and a bar of laundry soap.

I took my first cruise in April 2022 on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas — one of the largest cruise ships in the world. For the seven-night cruise to the Caribbean, I brought just a carry-on suitcase and a backpack.

While packing light made the trip easier, I did forget a few critical items. Here's everything I was thankful I had during my voyage — and the items I longed for and will remember to pack next time.

One of the best things I packed was a magnet.

Stateroom decks had long hallways lined with identical blue doors, so my magnet made it easier to find my cabin.

But I wished I downloaded some movies and shows to watch on my phone in my room.

The cruise ship's WiFi wasn't strong enough for me to stream videos.

For long days in the sun, I was glad I packed sunscreen.

I enjoyed a few beach days during my cruise, so sunscreen was essential. 

However, I wished I had remembered to bring some aloe vera gel for the day I forgot to lather up.

Aloe vera typically soothes and cools my burns, so I should have packed it for the day I forgot to apply sunscreen. 

I was glad I brought a rash guard to swim in the ocean.

An excursion guide told me that some beaches in the Caribbean, like Tulum, Mexico, don't allow sunscreen in the ocean to protect wildlife.

But the water was so clear that I wished I had a waterproof case for my phone to take pictures.

As other cruisers snorkeled with phones in hand, I realized I was missing an opportunity to capture ocean life. 

This sunhat also came in handy to block the sun.

I don't typically wear my sunhat, so the cruise was the perfect occasion to pull it out of my closet.

But I wished I had brought an adjustable cap for windy days on the top decks when my sunhat wouldn't stay on my head.

Mornings and evenings on the top decks of the ship were so windy that I had to leave my hat in my room. 

Even though the weather was hot during the day, this sweater came in handy for cool, windy nights and mornings.

I ended up wearing my sweater every day during the Caribbean cruise. 

But I only packed one pair of pants and had to wear them every night.

In hindsight, I should have packed a couple more pairs of pants.

I should have brought a windbreaker, too, to keep me warmer on the top decks in the morning and at night.

A windbreaker would have been more helpful than my sweater alone.

I wished I'd brought a bar of detergent to wash my clothes since I packed light, and laundry services on the ship cost extra.

On my cruise, Royal Caribbean's laundry service charged for each article of clothing — $4 a shirt, $9 a dress, and $2 per pair of underwear.

But at least I brought the right shoes.

I packed two pairs of shoes: sneakers for walking and waterproof sandals for the beach and pools. 

Thankfully, I also remembered to bring a waist pack to carry a few things when I didn't feel like lugging my backpack around.

Having a small pack came in handy during port stops and while exploring the ship.

I was also glad I brought a digital watch to keep on ship time.

Ship time is the time zone that cruise ships adhere to even when docked at ports in different time zones.

But I wish I had downloaded guidebooks for the ports I visited to get a better idea of things to do.

My ship stopped in Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and the Bahamas. 

I wanted to try my best to avoid illness and was glad I packed vitamins …

I packed vitamins made to support immune systems since I was coming in contact with many people. 

… and also medicine to combat motion sickness, which I experienced frequently.

I always pack Dramamine on my trips to avoid motion sickness. 

More than anything, I wished I had earplugs to help me sleep during rough nights at sea, which sounded like thunder in my stateroom.

It was especially loud since I was at the front of the ship, where seasoned cruisers said movement on ships feels the strongest.

Next time, I'll come prepared.

• TPG's Jon Winkelried tops a list of highly paid CEOs. His comp was valued at $198.7 million in 2023.
• Most top CEOs' earnings come through stock awards, often payable over several years.
• The median pay package for CEOs was $23.7 million in 2023, an 11.4% increase from the prior year.

No surprise: It pays to climb your way to the top of the org chart.

The highest-paid CEOs in the US aren't necessarily household names, but they're enjoying some pretty sweet pay packages — more than enough to avoid worries about higher prices for that morning coffee.

Take Jon Winkelried, head of the private equity firm TPG Inc. The value of his pay package was $198.7 million in 2023. Winkelried topped a list of the 100 highest-paid chiefs from Equilar, which analyzes data on executive compensation.

But though many compensation numbers are big, it's not all cash. Amit Batish, senior director of content and communications at Equilar, told Business Insider that much of the top dogs' hauls come through stock awards.

"That's kind of the bread and butter of executive compensation these days," he said.

To get the payouts, CEOs often have to achieve targets such as stock price thresholds.

Regardless of how they get it, it's been a good year to be the boss. The median pay for heads of S&P 500 companies rose 12.4% to $15.5 million in 2023, according to ISS-Corporate, which provides data and analytics to global corporations.

And the median compensation package for CEOs on Equilar's list — comprised of companies with revenue of $1 billion or more — was valued at a cool $29.1 million in 2023, a jump of 20.1% from the prior year.

According to its data, that made the ratio of CEO pay to that of the median employee 312 to 1.

There are still some high-wattage chiefs a bit farther down the list, like Apple's Tim Cook, who comes in at No. 11 with compensation valued at $63.2 million, or Satya Nadella, the Microsoft CEO, at No. 16 with total comp valued at $48.5 million. They haven't yet made it to the very top yet, according to Equilar.

And then there is the head-spinning and controversial pay of Elon Musk. The Tesla CEO's all-stock 10-year compensation package — which is linked to financial targets and which shareholders recently approved, though it won't be immediately reinstated — is worth some $55 billion based on the company's recent share price.

Here are the top ten other highest-paid, plus highest-profile, CEOs.

1. Jon Winkelried, TPG

Winkelried's compensation package was valued at $198.7 million, an increase of 483%. The CEO-to-worker package for the private equity firm was 683 to 1.

The company's fiscal 2023 revenue totaled $2.39 billion.

2. Harvey Schwartz, Carlyle Group

Schwartz's compensation package was valued at $187 million. The CEO-to-worker package for the private equity firm was 813 to 1.

The company's fiscal 2023 revenue totaled $2.96 billion.

3: Hock Tan, Broadcom

The value of Tan's total compensation jumped to $161.8 million in 2023, a 167% increase over the prior year, according to Equilar. The pay ratio — how much more he takes home than the average employee of the chip and software maker — was 510 to 1.

The company had $35.8 billion in revenue in fiscal 2023.

4: Nikesh Arora, Palo Alto Networks

The value of Arora's total compensation as CEO of the cybersecurity company came to $151.4 million, a surge of 1,355%, according to Equilar. The CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 735 to 1.

Revenue reached $6.89 billion in fiscal 2023.

5: Sue Nabi, Coty

Nabi runs the beauty company Coty. The value of her compensation package was $149.4 million, an increase of 4,100%, according to Equilar. The CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 3,769 to 1.

Revenue came to $5.55 billion in fiscal 2023.

6: Christopher Winfrey, Charter Communications

Winfrey, who took the top spot at the cable company in December 2022, landed total compensation valued at $89.1 million. The boss-to-worker pay ratio was 1,635 to 1, according to Equilar.

In fiscal 2023, revenue came to $54.6 billion.

7. Ariel Emanuel, Endeavor Group Holdings

Emanuel's compensation package was valued at $83.9 million, an increase of 340%. The entertainment and media giant's CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 1,184 to 1.

The company's fiscal 2023 revenue totaled $5.96 billion.

8. Adam Foroughi, AppLovin

Foroughi's compensation package was valued at $83.4 million, an increase of 79,783%. The CEO-to-worker pay ratio for the mobile technology company was 795 to 1.

The company's fiscal 2023 revenue totaled $3.28 billion.

9. David Risher, Lyft

Risher's compensation package was valued at $78.2 million, and the rideshare company's CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 519 to 1.

The company's fiscal 2023 revenue totaled $4.4 billion.

10: Will Lansing, FICO

Lansing runs Fair Isaac Corp., which developed FICO, the most broadly used model for scoring credit. The value of his total compensation came to $66.3 million, an increase of 251%, according to Equilar. The CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 653 to 1.

The company's revenue totaled $1.5 billion in fiscal 2023.

A FICO spokesperson, through a statement to BI, said, in part: "Under Mr. Lansing's leadership the past 10 years, FICO has delivered total shareholder return that is in the top 1% of the S&P 500. Meanwhile, his base salary for 2023 was $750,000, well below industry peers and in the bottom quartile of S&P 500 CEOs."

11: Tim Cook, Apple

Cook's total compensation for running the tech giant was valued at $63.2 million, a drop of 36%, according to Equilar. The pay ratio was 672 to 1.

The company's revenue totaled $383.3 billion in fiscal 2023.

16: Satya Nadella, Microsoft

Nadella's total comp was valued at $48.5 million, a drop of 12%. The chief-to-worker ratio was 250 to 1.

The software giant's revenue was $211.9 billion in fiscal 2023.

An earlier version of this story appeared on May 3, 2024.

• As a frequent solo traveler, I've been lucky enough to visit all 50 US states.
• Although I've loved aspects of every state, there are some places I'm not in a rush to return to.
• Illinois, Indiana, and North Dakota are some of the states I don't plan to return to anytime soon.

According to market research company Ipsos, the average American has only been to 12.5 states. But as a frequent solo traveler, I've been lucky enough to visit all 50 US states.

The journey has been filled with beauty, excitement, unique destinations, and a sense of accomplishment I never could have imagined.

Although I've found beauty in all 50 states and would honestly return to them all, there are some that I'm in less of a rush to visit again.

Whether the landscapes just weren't for me or the distance to travel was too great, here are the five states I'm not in a hurry to return to.

I enjoyed traveling to Indiana but would prefer to visit other states in the Midwest.

Although I haven't visited every corner of Indiana and enjoyed my previous visits, I don't see myself returning anytime soon.

I prefer visiting many of the states around Indiana and am constantly working to get back to them. For example, Michigan and Wisconsin are two of my favorite places to visit.

Although Indiana has a major national park, Indiana Dunes, I'd rather visit the sand dunes in Michigan or simply head to Chicago, which is less than an hour from the park.

North Dakota is beautiful but more difficult to navigate.

In my opinion, North Dakota is one of the country's most otherworldly and beautiful states. Although I think it's worth a visit for anyone who appreciates plains, prairies, badlands, and wildlife, it is — to me — the sort of place that's a once-in-a-lifetime visit.

The state's remoteness and lack of larger cities (only Fargo has over 100,000 residents) make it a place that isn't necessarily as easy to just take a weekend trip to.

Since things are more spread out, this trip requires more planning than others. So, while I'd love to go back eventually, I likely won't find myself there again soon.

I found Kansas to be a bit monotonous.

Although Kansas has more to offer than the traditional plains many people think of, I find the landscape to be somewhat monotonous.

However, I did love exploring hidden gems like Monument Rocks' giant chalk formations, which rise dramatically from the plains.

Although the state's mostly rural and agricultural nature is charming, I'd rather be in nearby Colorado or Missouri for more diverse landscapes.

I'd rather visit South Dakota or Wyoming than Nebraska.

Because I have family in Nebraska, I find myself in the state quite often.

Due to its proximity to my home in Colorado, I've visited Nebraska dozens of times and have traveled to many outdoor recreation opportunities, parks, and unique destinations throughout the state.

Although I've had a blast exploring Omaha's vibrant art scene, and Scotts Bluff National Monument is simply stunning, the landscape is still not one I would choose over the surrounding areas in South Dakota or Wyoming.

I don't love the remoteness of some of Nevada's highways.

This one is tough because Nevada's state parks are some of the most amazing in the country. I even have fun on an occasional trip to Las Vegas. The only problem I have with Nevada is the remoteness of some of the highways.

The state is home to what Life magazine dubbed the "Loneliest Road in America" in 1986. The stretch of US Route 50 that crosses the state is remote, isolated, and vast.

I've enjoyed driving the road and other areas of the state multiple times. But lately, I've felt more comfortable knowing that others are nearby when I'm traveling solo.

• I made Dolly Parton's easy corn bread for breakfast. 
• The recipe only has three main ingredients and is ready in almost 30 minutes.  
• Parton's recipe may be simple, but her corn bread is delicious and goes well with everything.

I sat down with Dolly Parton and realized she's an expert when it comes to all things Southern food.

On top of being a legendary musician and a fashion icon, Parton is also a great chef. 

The country-music star shared plenty of her cooking secrets with me, including her hack for making the fluffiest scrambled eggs and the unique ingredient she uses to elevate her mac and cheese. 

Parton also revealed what she loves whipping up in the kitchen for Carl Dean, her husband of 56 years, or her goddaughter Miley Cyrus. 

"Miley and I both love Southern food like mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and a big ol' hunk of corn bread — making corn-bread muffins or a big pan of it with the squares," Parton told me.

I loved trying Parton's usual Taco Bell order. So when I stumbled on her corn-bread recipe, I knew I had to give it a go.

Parton's corn-bread recipe began circulating online after it was featured in her cookbook.

Parton's cookbook, "Dolly's Dixie Fixin's: Love, Laughter, and Lots of Good Food," was released in 2016. It features 125 recipes, including dishes that Parton always loves whipping up on tour or at home. As true Dolly Parton fans know, the cookbook is no longer readily available. If you want a copy on Amazon, you'll have to fork over more than $200. 

But Parton's corn-bread recipe has popped up on various websites, and the official Dollywood Facebook page also shared it in 2014. Parton wrote in her cookbook that when it comes to corn bread, she loves to keep things simple. 

"Coarse cornmeal, buttermilk, bacon drippings, and salt and pepper. Mixed together and baked in a slick black skillet. Served hot. Now that's my idea of real corn bread," she wrote. "There's nothin' you can't eat with a warm wedge of corn bread alongside it. That's why I always take two pieces and slather them with butter while they're still warm." 

I'm not much of a baker, but Parton's recipe sounded foolproof — even for me. There were still some challenges along the way, but the finished product was definitely worth it. 

The first time I tried to make Parton's corn bread was kind of a disaster.

When I first found Parton's recipe online, I didn't think I needed to double-check the ingredients. So when I saw that it called for two cups of cornmeal, I just bought the same box I had used to make Ina Garten's (very delicious) brown-butter skillet corn bread for Friendsgiving. 

When the corn bread came out of the oven, I knew I’d made a huge mistake.

When I first tasted the corn bread, I couldn't figure out what went wrong. But it tasted pretty terrible, and I just knew there was no way I had done Parton's recipe justice. 

Thankfully, after a little more research, I stumbled on the original page from Parton's cookbook and found her actual ingredient list. Parton had specified that her recipe requires self-rising cornmeal, and she recommended using Martha White cornmeal "because I like the texture." In retrospect, it seems obvious that the recipe would require self-rising cornmeal since Parton doesn't add any baking powder or eggs to her batter. But alas, this baking novice just didn't catch it. 

The great thing about cooking, though, is you can always try again. So I found some Martha White cornmeal and went back to the kitchen.

Parton's skillet corn bread has just a few main ingredients.

To make Parton's corn bread (which has eight servings), you'll need: 

• 2 cups self-rising cornmeal (she recommends Martha White or White Lily) 
• 1-1 ½ cups buttermilk 
• 2 teaspoons bacon drippings, plus extra for the skillet 
• 1 teaspoon salt

I began by making the bacon drippings.

Before I got started, I read this helpful article from CookingLight on the best technique for making bacon drippings. Instead of cooking full bacon strips, I cut the meat into small pieces and spread them out on my 9-inch skillet so the bacon would render evenly. 

I cooked my bacon over medium-low heat until it turned crispy and I could see plenty of drippings at the bottom of the pan. Then I removed the pieces, letting them rest on a plate lined with a paper towel. Parton said the skillet should be covered with extra bacon drippings, so I didn't wipe it clean after I finished cooking. 

You could easily whip up Parton's recipe after you've made breakfast or save the bacon to eat alongside her corn bread. Either way, it's a win-win.

It was time to whip up the batter!

First I added two cups of the self-rising cornmeal to a large bowl. 

Then I added some salt and the bacon drippings.

The first recipe I found online actually called for two tablespoons of bacon drippings instead of two teaspoons. I didn't realize that Parton's recipe was different before I made the corn bread again, so I accidentally added extra. 

But the flavor still came out great, so feel free to add more bacon drippings if you wish.

Last but not least was the buttermilk.

Dolly recommends gradually adding the buttermilk while stirring everything with a wooden spoon. You'll know the batter is ready when the consistency is thick but smooth. 

I poured my batter into the hot skillet and popped it in the oven.

Barely 10 minutes of prep had passed and my corn bread was ready to bake.

I threw my skillet into the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit and let it cook for 25 minutes. Parton says you'll know the corn bread is ready if it springs back when you tap it. 

My second attempt at Parton's corn bread came out beautiful.

I sighed with relief when I opened the oven. The corn bread had a pretty golden hue and looked promisingly fluffy — a far cry from the weird, acid-yellow bread I had made in my first attempt. 

And Parton's corn bread tasted super fluffy and moist.

Parton said her corn bread should be served "HOT!" so we dug right in after I took it out of the oven. 

And the difference between my two attempts was like night and day. Parton's corn bread was absolutely delicious. The texture was perfectly pillowy and the bacon drippings added an extra touch of savory richness. I paired some of Parton's corn bread with a peach jam we had on hand, and the sweet and savory combination blew me away. I made the corn bread for breakfast while spending a week with my parents, and they were both huge fans as well. 

Just make sure you enjoy the corn bread fresh from the skillet. I tried some leftovers the next day and found it dried up very quickly. 

I would definitely make Parton's corn bread for an easy breakfast or side dish.

The best part about Parton's corn bread is that it's ridiculously easy and quick. You can prep and bake it in almost 30 minutes, and this corn bread would go well with everything. I'd love to pair it with a hearty dinner or experiment with some hot honey and different jams for breakfast. 

Either way, I know Parton's corn bread definitely won't disappoint. 

• NASA approved the $19.5 million Landolt Space Mission to send an artifical star into Earth's orbit. 
• It will be the first astronomical tool of its kind that could revolutionize the way we study space.
• The mission could help many areas of astronomy from studying exoplanets to the universe's expansion.

Astronomers typically deal with the very, very large — big telescopes, giant galaxies, and massive exploding stars.

But one of the more revolutionary astronomy tools of the decade is a mini satellite about the size of a breadbox. The satellite will act like an artificial star for astronomers to observe from the ground, allowing them to more accurately measure a space object's brightness and better understand some of the biggest mysteries in our universe, like dark energy.

NASA recently approved the $19.5 million Landolt Space Mission to launch the mini satellite into Earth's orbit.

"This is some really awesome science that NASA is supporting," Tyler Richey-Yowell, a postdoctoral researcher at Lowell Observatory who studies stellar astronomy and exoplanets, told Business Insider. "It's something that's going to help out all astronomers."

A revolutionary new tool for astronomers

The mini-satellite, called CubeSat, is designed to orbit Earth from 22,236 miles away. At that distance, its speed will match Earth's spin so the satellite will appear fixed in the night sky and will be an easy target for telescopes to track.

You won't be able to see it with the naked eye. But to telescopes, it'll look like a star. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2029. It will be the first tool of its kind.

"This is really new for us to have some sort of artificial star quote unquote up there that we can go and rely on and use," Richey-Yowell told BI.

What makes this "artificial star" better than a real one is that astronomers will know exactly how much light it's emitting.

The CubeSat, named Landolt for the late astronomer Arlo Landolt, will fire lasers with a specific number of light particles, or photons, which astronomers can use to calibrate their telescopes for measuring light.

This can help eliminate a lot of the guesswork that astronomers do now when using real stars to calibrate their instruments.

The problem is that there's no way of knowing exactly how much light real stars emit because we can't send a probe to one to accurately measure its brightness, Richey-Yowell said. Moreover, Earth's atmosphere absorbs a lot of light from space, which can also affect astronomers' calibrations.

"That's why this Landolt mission is so important," Richey-Yowell said. "If we send up a mission like this one where we know exactly how many photons, how much light per second, is coming from this CubeSat," then we can use it to compare and more precisely measure the light from other objects, like real stars, she said.

The mission is expected to help astronomers measure the light emitted from stars with 10 times more accuracy than current estimates, LiveScience reported.

It's like if you were given a 1,000-piece puzzle that only had half the amount of pieces, and then someone gifted you a few hundred more pieces. Landolt will help astronomers catch minute details they've otherwise been missing in the data.

How Landolt could revolutionize astronomy

"All of our astronomy is based on light, and so we really need to know how much light we are actually receiving," Richey-Yowell said.

You can learn a lot from a ray of light: a star's temperature, its mass, the types of exoplanets orbiting it, and whether they could potentially harbor life.

For example, knowing how hot a host star is can tell you how far an exoplanet must be in order to sustain liquid water on its surface, Richey-Yowell said. Water is one of the main ingredients for life as we know it, and one of the key features astrobiologists search for when scoping out potential planets that could harbor life.

Finding more Earth-like planets is just the beginning. Astronomers can also use Landolt to measure light from distant exploding stars, called supernovae, that help calculate the expansion rate of the universe.

Right now, cosmologists studying the universe's expansion face a huge challenge: they can't settle on a single value for the expansion rate. Some methods lead to one value while others lead to a slightly different one. This conundrum could be key to figuring out some of the biggest mysteries of the universe, like understanding the invisible force ripping our universe apart that we call dark energy.

"So really anything from small, tiny planets to the whole scale of the universe relies on our understanding of stars and how bright they are and what kind of light they're emitting," Richey-Yowell said. "I really do think it will be revolutionary for astronomy."

• Elon Musk himself had said in 2023 that X's revenue was down.
• Now we have numbers to back it up.
• X revenues plunged 40% in the months after Elon Musk took over, Bloomberg reported.

Elon Musk was right: X did lose lots of revenue when he took over.

X revenues plunged in the wake of Elon Musk's fraught acquisition of the social media giant, new documents obtained by Bloomberg reportedly show.

According to regulatory filings seen by Bloomberg, X generated $1.48 billion in revenue in the first half of 2023 — down roughly 40% from the first six months of 2022 before Musk's takeover.

Musk completed his $44 billion Twitter purchase in October 2022.

The docs obtained by Bloomberg also show X lost $456 million in the first quarter of 2023.

X responded to a request for comment from Business Insider with an auto-reply stating, "Busy now, please check back later."

Musk's relationship with the advertising community — where X makes most of its money — has been strained.

At an event in 2023, he infamously told advertisers to go "fuck" themselves after several — including Disney, IBM, Apple, and Lionsgate — abandoned the platform following a post by Musk that was criticized as antisemitic.

Advertisers also fled last year as reports revealed that certain ads were appearing against white supremacist and antisemitic content.

The documents obtained by Bloomberg were filed by X to state regulators in its quest to build a Venmo-esque, peer-to-peer payment platform.

Also of note in the filings, according to Bloomberg: despite Musk's longstanding interest in cryptocurrency, X Payments told Maine regulators that it has no plans to facilitate transactions with virtual currencies.

Musk, a cofounder of PayPal, has outlined a grander vision for X as an "everything" app, where users could base their "entire financial world."

He's previously floated a high-yield savings feature to incentivize users to keep money on X.