The meteoric rise — and spectacular fall — of the Queen of Airbnb

Tech Insider : Economy
An illustration of Dani Widell
Amid Tulsa's booming Airbnb market, Dani Widell claimed to have more listings than anyone.

Dominic Bugatto for BI

On a mild Tuesday evening in early 2022, some 150 people packed into the VFW hall in Tulsa to hear the Queen of Airbnb make her pitch.

The new first rule of home buying: fire your realtor

Tech Insider
A person handing themselves a house and keys
The best part of (briefly) having an agent was realizing just how much I had already figured out on my own.

Sebastian König for BI

Last summer, when I told my then-girlfriend that I had just hired a real-estate agent to help me buy an apartment, her response annoyed me: "Sounds like a scam."

Why companies keep betting — and losing — on Harry and Meghan

Tech Insider
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle divided by a ripped $100 bill with a downward trending line
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are really famous, but that doesn't mean they're good at business.

Eddie Mulholland/Pool via AP; Alyssa Powell/BI

It turns out the best way to get ahead in America is to leave

Tech Insider : Economy, Travel
Photo illustration of a passport and money butterfly.
Americans are discovering that their income can stretch much further in other countries, allowing them to save, pay down debts, and get ahead.

Juanjo Gasull for BI

America's young men are blowing their money like never before

Tech Insider : Economy, Crypto
A young man in the center of a $100 bill
The boys-who-like-to-bet bank is open, and a slew of companies are making as many withdrawals as they can.

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI

Beware: leaving a big city could be really bad for your career

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
A man crossing the street with money falling out of his suitcase

Marco Bottigelli/Getty, Yevgen Romanenko/Getty, Maskot/Getty, Tyler Le/BI

America's cities had a way to escape the 'doom loop.' Then they blew it.

Tech Insider : Economy, Politics
Money dripping over an image of a city
City and state governments across America are facing a nasty budget crunch as property taxes fall and new expenses add up.

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI

Landlords have a secret weapon in the war over high rents

Tech Insider : Economy
How landlords use algorithms to jack up your rent.
Big-time apartment owners have a secret weapon: a software that helps property managers to help them set rents and juice their profits

Emrah_Oztas/ Getty Image, eGreg Bajor/Getty Image, Aleksey Balatskiy/Getty Image, Cici Morosanu/500px/Getty Image, Busà Photography/Getty Image, Abanti Chowdhury/BI

AI bots are replacing Gen Z influencers. Maybe that's a good thing.

Tech Insider
Genz's fading dreams of fame because of AI
Gen Zers want to be influencers. But the industry is getting more competitive — and flooded with AI.

Abanti Chowdhury/BI

Why saving for retirement has never felt scarier — or more confusing

Tech Insider : Economy
An empty savings jar with a label that says
Instead of a golden sunset to look forward to, retirement has become anxiety-inducing for many Americans.

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI

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