Omega in Space....sort of

Jeff Bezos’ rocket ship ride last week wasn’t just a landmark event in private space travel—it was also a marketing opportunity for Omega watches, Jacob Gallagher writes. As Mr. Bezos posed for pictures and chatted with CNN reporters following the launch, he had a shimmering customized Omega strapped conspicuously on the exterior of his jumpsuit. The Swiss luxury brand wouldn’t say whether the watches were its gifts or paid for by Mr. Bezos’ Blue Origin, but they were a publicity boon either way. Google Trends showed a big spike in searches for “Bezos Watch” and “Jeff Bezos Watch” on the morning of the Blue Origin’s launch. There was also a healthy number of searches for the more specific “Jeff Bezos Omega.”

LeBron becomes NBA's 1st "Billion Dollar Man"

☰ AP Photo/Ashley Landis Lakers' LeBron James Becomes 1st Active NBA Player With $1 Billion in Career Earnings ADAM WELLS JULY 22, 2021 Thanks to his legendary NBA career, a thriving production company and his recent turn as the star of Space Jam: A New Legacy, LeBron James is the NBA's first active player with $1 billion in career earnings. Per Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico.com, James recently passed the $1 billion mark split between $700 million in earnings off the court and $330 million in salary as an NBA player. Michael Jordan also passed the mark but did so post-playing career. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has been arguably the biggest sports star in the United States since his first NBA game during the 2003-04 season.

Brands: BMW Meets "Black Widow"

BMW enters its first-ever collaboration with Marvel Studios for the upcoming film “Black Widow” starring Scarlett Johansson. The film premieres on July 9 with two BMW vehicles on the set – the X3 and the 2 Series Gran Coupé.It seems that the timing was less than ideal for the Bavarian firm as the car used in the action shots is a pre-facelifted BMW X3 M40i. We guess that the updated model which premiered a few weeks ago wasn’t ready at the time of the shooting, so BMW used it only in the promotional material.

Business: The "$300 Million Bustier"; Playboy Buys Australian Lingerie maker

The owner of the Playboy brand said it agreed to purchase an Australian lingerie retailer for $333 million, as the former magazine publisher tries to expand its business beyond licensing its famous bunny-ear logo. Honey Birdette, the lingerie brand PLBY Group Inc. is acquiring, has around 60 physical stores primarily located in Australia, with a few in the U.S. and the U.K. The company expects revenue of more than $73 million for the fiscal year.

Companies: Facebook Joins the "T-Square" (Trillion-Dollar Club)

Facebook's market value surpassed $1 trillion for the first time today, joining an exclusive club of companies to cross that mark, Axios' Sara Fischer writes. Shares jumped by nearly 5% after a federal judge dismissed an antitrust complaint from the FTC.

Why it matters: Despite a record level of regulatory scrutiny, Facebook's value continues to soar. The company has experienced enormous growth over the past year, as more people turned to its services to communicate and shop during the pandemic.

Box Office: "Fast9 " Blows Out Competition for Pandemic record

F9" blew past estimates and brought in $70 million this weekend — beating the previous pandemic champ, Paramount's "A Quiet Place Part II," which brought in $50 million on Memorial Day weekend.

That makes "F9" the biggest box-office opening winner domestically since "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" debuted in theaters in December 2019. The weekend blowout is a huge sign of optimism for the struggling movie theater industry, which has been ravaged by pandemic-driven theater closures and the rise of streaming.

Music: Sterling Awards Set for July 11

The organizers, yesterday, officially kickstarted the Sterling Awards for 2021, seeking to recognize and reward even more gospel talents and contributors this year, with the introduction of several new categories to the 2021 edition.

The media launch was held in Kingston, where Founder, Basillia Barnaby-Cuff announced that the 2021 ceremony will be held on July 11, 2021, at 5:05 p.m. via live broadcast on Television Jamaica (TVJ). Among the new categories being introduced this year, is the New Talent Showcase which has been generating steady traction in the digital space already. The organizers rolled out the series online, giving aspiring gospel artistes an opportunity to showcase their talents. From the drove of video submissions, the Sterling Committee chose the top 10 finalists, three of whom battled their way to earn a spot as a top-three finalist. The virtual series came to a close on Tuesday, June 23, 2021, with the announcement hailing Gavin McDonald as the first New Talent Showcase winner.