Money & Ethics

Exactly how many billionaires are in the U.S. today? According to the Forbes annual list, 813 billionaires call the United States home as of 2024. That makes the U.S. the country with the most billionaires by a wide margin. Together, they hold a combined wealth of 5.7 trillion dollars.

By Jasper Merrenor

From trendsetting members of the royal to lucky YouTube child stars, we've listed the world’s wealthiest children by estimated net worth.

By Mitch Ryan

Capitalism can be like a warped and extremely un-fun game of Monopoly, and most people are entering the fray much too late to get a slice of the action.

By Mitch Ryan

While the average billionaire is 66 years old, there's a dramatic shift taking place in the world of wealth. A new generation of billionaires is making headlines with their impressive fortunes. Around the globe, 14 individuals have reached a net worth of over $1 billion despite being 30 years old or younger - and the youngest billionaire is still in her teens.

By Mack Hayden

A trillion dollars is a phenomenal sum of money, equivalent to 1,000 billion dollars. It's a figure so large it's almost unthinkable, yet we find ourselves wondering: Are there any trillionaires? According to Oxfam International, the world's first trillionaire is predicted to emerge within the next decade.

By Mack Hayden

Bill Gates thinks it should. Payroll taxes from workers fund Social Security, Medicare and defense among other federal programs. But other experts firmly disagree.

By Dave Roos

The gender pay gap is usually expressed something like this: Women make 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. Where did this figure come from and is it still true?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Razors. Shampoo. Even dry cleaning. Women pay more for these things every day. Simply because, well, they're women.

By Cherise Threewitt

Forget about being anonymous when you shop. In the new Amazon Go store, every single thing you buy is linked directly to you.

By Jonathan Strickland

Amazon does everything else, so why not own a city, too? If all goes according to plan, Amazon The City may be coming to a municipality near you.

By Laurie L. Dove

Whether from a clerical error or an improperly offered bonus, sometimes you end up with a fatter paycheck than you're supposed to get.

By Dave Roos

On average, black women in the U.S. workforce earned $0.37 less for every dollar a man in the U.S. workforce earned in 2014. That's a pretty big wage gap.

By Kate Kershner

We're not sure why but Americans seem to lose their minds when picking up flashy electronics at big discounts the day after Thanksgiving. Discover 10 horrifying true-life tales that happened during Black Friday shopping.

By Laurie L. Dove

In the grand tradition of retail, all is not always as it seems, and the doorbuster is no exception. Before you camp out for Black Friday, brush up on your retail parlance, and discover the shady side of deals "too good to be true."

By Julia Layton

The relationship between taxes and social welfare programs drives the argument that taxes are essentially socialist, but is that really the case? What does it mean to be socialist -- and how does that definition change once one leaves the U.S.?

By Dave Roos

Initially dismissed as an isolated, disjointed protest organized by leftist radicals, the Occupy Wall Street movement has gained traction all across the world. Who are these protestors, really, and what do they stand for?

By Cristen Conger

According to conservative opponents to the Occupy Wall Street movement, only 53 percent of Americans pay income tax. Is this true -- and does it matter?

By Dave Roos

Capitalism revolves around the entrepreneurial spirit: Anyone willing to work hard enough to succeed will do so. However, that's easier said than done, especially in the developing world. That's where microlending comes in.

By Josh Clark

How do illegal drugs reach consumers without detection? There are points -- known as narco states -- along the world's drug supply chain where illegal substances are bought and sold with governmental approval.

By Josh Clark

Waiting in endless checkout lines can make Scrooges out of the cheeriest holiday shoppers. Many of us brave the mall mayhem to be part of the Black Friday rush. But to retailers' chagrin, most of us are browsing and not buying on this storied day.

By Kathryn Whitbourne

In the credit default swaps (CDS) market, the health of multinational banks and corporations -- and the portfolios of untold individuals -- are at stake. What's more, the market is entirely unregulated. So how much damage can CDSs really cause?

By Josh Clark

If you've picked up a newspaper lately, then you're aware of the economic troubles raging on Wall Street. But the culprit may very well be in your own neighborhood: Are mortgage-backed securities to blame for the mess?

By Josh Clark

You just got your tax refund, and you want to do the right thing and eliminate debt. But why doesn't your credit card company want you to pay down your balance?

By Jane McGrath

In 2007 and 2008, foreclosures became a hot news topic. But is the crisis the fault of the home buyer, or is the lender to blame?

By Dave Roos

Ever wonder why your favorite restaurant from back home offers a completely different menu abroad? This is called glocalization -- global organizations adapting expansive products to fit local markets.

By Robert Lamb