Joe Biden was a 33-year-old US senator, and Jill Biden, whose maiden name is Jacobs, was a 24-year-old college senior. Both had been married before. Joe Biden's wife and daughter died in a car crash in 1972, leaving him a widower with two sons, and Jill Biden and her husband filed for divorce in her junior year. 

"I was a senior, and I had been dating guys in jeans and clogs and T-shirts, he came to the door and he had a sport coat and loafers, and I thought, 'God, this is never going to work, not in a million years,'" Jill Biden told Vogue in 2016. "He was nine years older than I am! But we went out to see 'A Man and a Woman' at the movie theater in Philadelphia, and we really hit it off."

When she got home from the date, Jill Biden told Vogue, she called her mother and said, "Mom, I finally met a gentleman."

"I said, 'Not yet. Not yet. Not yet,'" Jill Biden told Vogue of Joe Biden's proposals. "Because by that time, of course, I had fallen in love with the boys, and I really felt that this marriage had to work. Because they had lost their mom, and I couldn't have them lose another mother. So I had to be 100 percent sure."

When she did eventually agree to marry him, they held their wedding ceremony at the United Nations chapel and a reception lunch at Sign of the Dove in New York City. They took sons Beau and Hunter on their honeymoon.

In a video shown at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Jill Biden said that Ashley Biden's birth made the family "complete."

He announced his presidential run in Wilmington, Delaware.

His short-lived campaign had been enveloped in scandal, with allegations of plagiarizing his speeches and exaggerating his academic records from college and law school, The New York Times reported.

"'I made some mistakes,'' he said as he announced the end of his campaign.

The New York Times described Jill Biden's face as "a study in dejection." Jill Biden later wrote about controlling her emotions in her 2019 memoir, "Where The Light Enters."

"As a political spouse, I've found that my stoicism often serves me well," she wrote. "In 1988, when Joe's first presidential campaign started to look bleak, people were constantly looking for cracks in our team. We all felt scrutinized, but I refused to show weakness."

Joe Biden had a pulmonary embolism later that year as he recovered. In her book, Jill Biden writes about watching as "EMTs carried him down the steps of our house on a stretcher."

She became Dr. Jill Biden.

"She gave me back my life," he wrote. "She made me start to think my family might be whole again."

The "bromance" between the two politicians went viral.

Joe Biden supported her career, too. She made history as the first known second lady to hold a full-time job, teaching English at Northern Virginia Community College.

"As second lady, she was teaching full time for eight years, 15 credits a semester," Joe Biden said in a video shown at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

"I said, 'I know I can do both jobs,'" she said.

She encouraged students to call her "Dr. B.," The Los Angeles Times reported. 

The plaque reads "Joe loves Jill. Valentine's Day 2010."

They took other trips together, such as attending the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

An ABC News camera panned to Joe Biden, who could be seen laughing good-naturedly at the unintended double entendre as the audience cheered.

"It's in my remarks, really," she said, before continuing with her speech amid chuckles from the crowd.

"After Joe was elected vice president, people started questioning whether I could keep teaching," she said. "Not Joe. He was there standing by my side saying 'Of course you should. It's who you are, Jill.'"

As they had in 2009, they danced together at more inaugural balls.

Still reeling from the loss, Joe Biden decided not to run for president in 2016.

"After the disappointment of my divorce, I never wanted to feel so out of control of my heart again," she wrote. "But in the months that Joe and I were dating, that desire ran up against a new reality: I was falling in love."

For the first time since 1981, she took a break from teaching to help him on the campaign trail.

Jill Biden was gesturing behind herself as she spoke, barely missing Joe Biden's face as he pretended to dodge. Joe Biden then leaned forward while her arm was outstretched and bit down on the tip of her index finger. She appeared to laugh it off.

Jill Biden later reposted a video on X of the hosts of "The View" discussing the moment, where Meghan McCain said, "I thought it was silly, and they clearly still love each other and are playful," and replied, "Guilty, we do still love each other!"

"Whoa, you don't screw around with a Philly girl, I'll tell you what," he said after the protesters were removed from the stage on Super Tuesday. "I thought I heard on the news on the way over that the committee in charge of Secret Service decided they have to start providing Secret Service for us. I think that's because they're afraid Jill's going to hurt someone. I tell you what man, I married way above my station."

"Love makes us flexible and resilient," she said in the speech. "It allows us to become more than ourselves, together, and though it can't protect us from the sorrows of life, it gives us refuge, a home. How do you make a broken family whole? The same way you make a nation whole: with love and understanding and with small acts of kindness."

"Jill's a mom — a military mom — and an educator," he said. "She has dedicated her life to education, but teaching isn't just what she does — it's who she is. For America's educators, this is a great day: You're going to have one of your own in the White House, and Jill is going to make a great first lady."

In an interview on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," they responded to the controversy.

"That was such a surprise," Jill Biden said of the op-ed. "It was really the tone of it. He called me 'kiddo,' and one of the things I'm most proud of is my doctorate. I mean, I've worked so hard for it. And Joe came when I defended my thesis."

"I got to hand her her doctorate on the stage at the University of Delaware," Joe Biden added.

Colbert jokingly asked if Joe Biden ever wanted to "get out a length of pool chain and go full corn pop" on people who criticize Jill Biden's academic achievements. As he began to answer, she interjected with "No! The answer is no!" Joe Biden then quipped, "I've been suppressing my Irishness for a long time."

The Biden family Bible dates back to 1893. He has used it for his swearing-in ceremonies as a US senator and as vice president. 

The then-president and first lady were traveling to Atlanta for a rally in Plains, Georgia, to meet with former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter.

As they were boarding Marine One on the White House Ellipse, Joe Biden bent down and picked a dandelion for his wife. Jill Biden stopped to accept the flower, and she held on to it as she boarded the helicopter.

The Bidens entered the White House with two German shepherds, Champ and Major. Champ passed away at the age of 13 in June 2021, and Major was rehomed due to behavioral issues. 

The Bidens also adopted a cat, Willow, in January 2022.

Commander was moved out of the White House in October 2023 after numerous biting incidents.

While exiting Marine One on Valentine's Day, the then-first lady was photographed wearing a corsage of what appeared to be white gardenias, her favorite flower.

In an interview with People magazine shortly after Joe Biden took office, Jill Biden shared that the corsages began as a Valentine's Day tradition, and that he had surprised her with a corsage of gardenias at the inauguration.

"I don't know when it started — a long, long time ago. I think it was for Valentine's Day," she said. "I love gardenias and so Joe would buy me a wrist corsage of gardenias. I wore it to school to teach!"

Joe Biden also shared a Valentine's Day message for his wife.

"You're the love of my life and the life of my love, Jilly. Happy Valentine's Day," he wrote on X.

Jill Biden, who appeared on the June-July cover of Harper's Bazaar, told the magazine that she and Joe Biden fight via text in what they call "fexting" to avoid arguing in front of their Secret Service detail — a method they've used since he served as vice president.

In one particularly heated exchange, Joe Biden reminded her that presidential communications like texts and emails are kept as part of a historical record of each presidency.

"Joe said, 'You realize that's going to go down in history. There will be a record of that,'" she told Harper's Bazaar. "I won't tell you what I called him that time."

While they did occasionally "fext," Jill Biden also spoke about supporting her husband's work during his presidency.

"I try to be a support for Joe because I don't know how many people are saying to him, 'That was great. That was brilliant.' I try to be that person for him," she said. "Some days, I see Joe and I'm just like, 'I don't know how you're doing it.' It's the pandemic and then it's the war and then it's the economy and then it's the gas prices. You feel like you're being slammed."

The Bidens celebrated their anniversary at their beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. During their trip, Joe Biden fell off his bike but quickly got back up and chatted with reporters. A White House spokesperson said that the president did not require medical attention.

Jill Biden's support was widely regarded as a determining factor in Joe Biden's decision to run again in 2024.

South Carolina Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a former state party chairman and Biden 2020 finance committee member, told Business Insider in 2022 that "Joe Biden wouldn't have run in '20 if Jill Biden had not wanted him to run and he won't run in '24 if Jill Biden doesn't want him to run."

During the first presidential debate of 2024, Joe Biden spoke with a hoarse voice, offered convoluted answers, and appeared disoriented at times. His poor performance sparked panic among Democrats about whether he should stay in the race.

Jill Biden defended Joe Biden in the face of widespread criticism, telling Vogue that the Biden family "will not let those 90 minutes define the four years he's been president. We will continue to fight."

"When he gets knocked down, Joe gets back up, and that's what we're doing today," Jill Biden said at a New York City fundraiser the day after the debate.

Joe Biden also acknowledged that his age impacted his debate performance, but remained firm in his commitment to stay in the race.

"I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," he said during a rally the day after the debate. "I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done."

On July 21, Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

"While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden wrote in a letter posted on social media.

On July 24, Jill Biden posted her first public statement since her husband's announcement.

"To those who never wavered, to those who refused to doubt, to those who always believed, my heart is full of gratitude," Jill Biden wrote in a statement on X. "Thank you for the trust you put in Joe — now it's time to put that trust in Kamala."

The first night of the Democratic National Convention was dedicated to recognizing Joe Biden's legacy throughout his decades of public service.

"Joe and I have been together for almost 50 years, and still there are moments when I fall in love with him all over again," Jill said in her speech.

In his convention speech, Joe Biden said that his wife "still leaves me both breathless and speechless."

The Bidens greeted Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the White House before heading to the inauguration, which was held in the Capitol Rotunda due to frigid temperatures.

The cancer has metastasized to the former president's bones, Joe Biden's office said in a statement released on Sunday.

"While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management," the statement read. "The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians."

On Monday, Joe Biden posted a selfie on X of himself with Jill Biden and their cat, Willow, and thanked well-wishers for their support following his diagnosis.

"Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places," he wrote. "Thank you for lifting us up with love and support."

Instead of driving around the lake, which can take about 4 ½ to five hours, the Lake Express ferry brings passengers and their cars across the water in about 2 ½ hours.

An adult round-trip ticket starts at $199 for the classic cabin and $245 for the higher-tier premier cabin. To bring a vehicle along as well, round-trip tickets start at $236 on top of the passenger fees.

I paid a total of $279 for my round-trip premier ticket without a vehicle, including taxes and additional fees.

Michigan's eastern time zone is an hour ahead of Wisconsin. Even though the trip only took 2 ½ hours, the time difference meant we'd lose an hour on the way.

I'd checked the National Weather Service's Great Lakes Portal and found that waves were expected to be around 1 foot high throughout the journey, which didn't sound that bad.

Receiving free motion-sickness medicine immediately upon checking in made me feel a bit concerned about how choppy the waters would actually be. I took the pill to be safe.

Unlike the Amtrak lounges available to first-class train passengers, there was no separate waiting area for those with premier cabin ferry tickets.

There were also drinks, snacks, and souvenirs available for purchase.

An announcement told those traveling with cars to board first by driving their vehicles onto the ferry.

The classic cabin was laid out in clusters of eight seats around two tables, with a few tables on the edges ending up with more space.

The screens appeared in both cabins, showing our approximately 82-mile journey across Lake Michigan.

Next to the checkout counter, condiment packets and plastic utensils were available for passengers to grab for themselves.

The faux flowers added a whimsical touch to the ferry ride.

The ferry wasn't very crowded on my trip, so I got an entire table with four seats to myself.

There was also a screen with a credit card reader to order additional concessions.

Breakfast burritos cost $10 while sandwiches and pizzas ranged from $11 to $12. There was also alcohol available for purchase, including local beers such as New Glarus Spotted Cow and Miller Lite.

Unlike newer plane and train models that have outlets at every seat, the Lake Express ferry only had outlets every few rows.

Even while docked, the up-and-down movement of the ship on the water felt stronger than I'd anticipated. I hoped that once we started moving, the motion would feel smoother.

A factor that likely contributed to my impending seasickness was that it was too cold for me to sit outside on the deck in the fresh air.

In true Midwest spring fashion, it was 44 degrees on that early May morning. Strong winds over the open water made it feel even colder once we started moving. I got a little bit queasy from the sensation of the boat pitching up and down, but focusing on the horizon and feeling the wind against my face kept it from getting worse.

I lasted about half an hour outside before I got too cold and returned to the warmth of the premier cabin.

The Lake Express crew was clearly well-trained and used to passengers becoming seasick. As soon as they saw me looking a little green, they provided me with ginger ale, ginger chews, saltines, anti-nausea wristbands, and sickness bags.

Even though I was having a rough time, I felt well taken care of.

The bathroom looked similar to bathrooms I'd encountered on Amtrak, with a few additional touches like decorative tile and a trash can with a weighted lid to keep it closed as the boat rocked back and forth.

The premier cabin where I'd booked my seat was located in the back of the ferry, where the motion of the boat was stronger. I couldn't last more than a few minutes there without feeling like I was going to throw up.

A crew member told me that lying on the floor in the middle of the boat would help me feel more like I was swinging in a hammock or rocking in a chair. It worked. Kind of.

I spent the next two hours regretting the money I'd spent on a seat I wasn't even using, for perks that I didn't feel well enough to enjoy.

I managed to keep a few plain applesauce packets down around lunchtime, but had no appetite to eat anything else for the rest of the day.

The Lyft driver who drove me from the ferry terminal to the submarine museum was a US Navy veteran himself. He told me that enlisted sailors often got seasick, too, which made me feel less pathetic.

"Some people I served with were just lucky — didn't get seasick at all, ate all of their meals," he said. "And some walked around with buckets."

After a few hours of fresh air and fascinating World War II history, some of the color returned to my cheeks. However, I knew if I got back on the ferry, I would immediately feel awful again. The mere thought of being tossed around by the waves on the journey home made my stomach churn.

Unfortunately, since it was less than 24 hours before my return trip, my ferry ticket home wasn't refundable.

I shelled out $123.27 for a rental car from Muskegon's tiny airport and hit the road.

The route took me down the Michigan coast, across Indiana and Illinois, and back up into Wisconsin, totaling around 300 miles.

About one in three people experience motion sickness, and genetics are a determining factor, according to a 2015 study published in the Oxford University Press' Human Molecular Genetics.

The simple truth is that some people get seasick and some don't, and I do. Even though I took motion sickness medicine ahead of the trip, it wasn't effective enough to quell my symptoms.

If you're one of those lucky people who doesn't get seasick, the Lake Express ferry is a great option to cut across Lake Michigan for a shorter, more scenic trip than driving.

If you're a landlubber like me, learn from my mistakes. Don't spring for the more expensive cabin. Check the weather and wave heights ahead of time. And keep your options open for your return trip in case you end up on the floor.

The Mercedes-Benz CEO personally delivered the new popemobile to Francis in December. Källenius and other Mercedes-Benz employees who were involved in developing and producing the vehicle also received a private audience with the then-pope.

The open-top G580 features four motors optimized for driving slowly through large crowds for public appearances.

The dashboard features a digital display.

The pope's large seat in the center can be adjusted to different heights and swivels around.

The car also flies the yellow and white flags of Vatican City.

The sides of the popemobile remain open, allowing the pope to greet members of the public and offer blessings.

Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88.

Pope Leo XIV has not confirmed that he will continue to use the latest popemobile — he may choose another vehicle from the Vatican's extensive fleet.

The Gato-class submarine measures 312 feet long and weighs 2,410 tons while submerged. Its standard crew consisted of eight officers and 72 enlisted men.

From 1947 to 1969, the USS Silversides was used as a training vessel for the Ninth Naval District in Chicago. It was then moved to the Naval Armory and Navy Pier before arriving in Muskegon to serve as a museum in 1987.

It was also used as a movie set for the 2002 film "Below."

The USS Silversides Submarine Museum is open seven days a week from April through December and operates Thursday through Monday in the winter months of January, February, and March.

An all-inclusive ticket to the museum costs $17.50 for adults, $15 for veterans, and is free of charge for active-duty service members. Tickets can be purchased on the museum's website.

Like the USS Cobia in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the museum also offers visitors the chance to spend a night on the submarine.

The Lake Express ferry passes by the USS Silversides Submarine Museum on its route between Muskegon and Milwaukee. As I began my tour of the submarine, the ferry honked its horn as passengers waved at me from the upper deck.

The 40-millimeter antiaircraft gun had the longest range, capable of shooting targets up to 22,800 feet away.

Harbin was 19 years old when he was shot in battle on May 10, 1942. He was buried at sea.

Lignum vitae is Latin for "wood of life."

The rest of the deck was made of teak wood, which is impervious to water, fire, and termites. It also doesn't float, which was crucial to maintain the submarine's covert operations if a piece broke off.

The USS Silversides featured stickers showing that it sank 30 ships, but that number has since been amended to 23, Bethann Egan, the museum's executive director, told BI.

The USS Silversides also damaged 14 ships, cleared 16 enemy mines, and rescued two American paratroopers.

The room slept 16 crew members on bunks that unfolded alongside the torpedoes, which measured 22 feet long and weighed 3,000 pounds.

All of a crew member's personal items had to fit into one small locker.

If the submarine was too bright inside, crew members wouldn't be able to see in the dark if they went up onto the deck at night during an attack.

The lights used to be blue and then switched to red, which is why the light fixture said "blue" on it even though the light bulb was red.

Flushing the toilet on the USS Silversides was a 12-step process. One wrong move would cause the toilet's contents to shoot back out.

Officers ate the same meals as the rest of the crew, but dined in the privacy of the ward room instead of the crew's mess.

The pantry also stocked snacks and coffee.

"The pharmacist's mate who actually performed it did not technically have permission from all the way up, but the commander made the decision that this needed to happen or else the sailor was going to die," Egan said. "So he stood up for him and made sure that he was not court-martialed after."

The wardroom also served as the officers' dining room and lounge.

Junior and senior officers served as administrators on the submarine, while the executive officer, known as the "XO," was second-in-command to the commanding officer.

The rooms also came with storage areas where they could hang their uniforms.

His stateroom featured a depth gauge and a compass above the bed so that he could tell how deep the submarine was and which way it was facing at all times.

According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, the nickname dates back to the 1890s, when chief petty officers took care of the goats kept on ships for fresh milk.

Another explanation is that chief petty officers served in the Navy for over a decade to reach their positions and were known as "old goats."

In addition to managing personnel records, the yeoman also kept logs of the submarine's changes in direction, speed, and depth.

The bow and stern plane wheels pictured above controlled the submarine's depth and angle.

The commanding officer would give commands like "Two degrees right rudder," which the crew would repeat and execute.

Keith Gill, the museum's director of curatorial services, told BI that staff members use this inclinometer "every day" to check on the submarine.

"It's almost never centered, and that's because we have some leaks in some tanks that we're monitoring and adjusting air pressure to keep water out," Gill said.

A green light indicated that a vent or hatch was closed, while red meant it was open. The submarine could only submerge when the board was fully lit up in green.

On some World War II submarines, such as the USS Becuna, the main helm was located in the conning tower above the control room. On the USS Silversides, the main helm was in the control room itself.

The compressed air manifold distributed compressed air throughout the submarine, which was used to start the engines, fire torpedoes, and surface the vessel.

The trim manifold showed how much weight was located in different tanks on the submarine and moved water between them to maintain the ship's balance as it used up fuel or fired weapons.

Most communications happened in code.

Cooks were also trained to operate the deck guns and perform other technical tasks around the submarine.

Gill noted that during World War II, Black crew members were often relegated to roles in the kitchen and were not allowed to advance beyond serving as stewards due to the Navy's segregation policies.

"One of the negative sides of our past is how we treated African-American citizens," he said. "They were in the military, but they were segregated somewhat. On a Navy ship, on a sub, you really can't segregate, but you can control what they're doing."

The kitchen also included a deep fryer.

Submarines were known for doing some of the most dangerous work and having some of the most difficult living conditions in the military, but they made up for it by ensuring sailors received the best food.

Submariners also received hazard pay, the highest in the Navy.

Newer crew members slept on the bottom bunks, which could also occasionally be used as food storage early on in a patrol.

The mattresses in the two middle bunks were placed so close together that they essentially functioned as one bed.

Officers showered every three to five days, while the cooks showered every day since they were handling food.

At top speed, the USS Silversides could travel at 21 knots, or about 24 miles per hour.

The forward engine room also contained two evaporators that distilled ocean water into fresh water.

The engines are still operational.

The logo depicts a silverside fish smoking a cigar and holding a torpedo.

At full power, the USS Silversides used 4 million watts of electricity.

The after torpedo room was smaller than the forward torpedo room, with four torpedo tubes and room for eight torpedoes.

Electric torpedoes like the Mark 18 didn't leave a wake, or trail of waves, behind them, making them more difficult to detect.

I particularly enjoyed an exhibit about the appendectomy that took place in the wardroom featuring photos from the procedure.

After running its engines in an annual Memorial Day tribute, the museum hopes to give the USS Silversides its first oil change since the 1950s this summer. Eventually, the entire vessel will have to be removed from the water and dry-docked due to leaks in its tanks.

The museum applied for federal funding through the Save America's Treasures grant program, but Egan said they may not end up receiving it due to sweeping cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency.

"They have not officially cut that funding source yet, but it's not looking good," Egan said.

When the submarine was on active duty, the entire 80-person crew worked tirelessly to maintain the ship, and the Navy financed all necessary repairs and upgrades. The USS Silversides Submarine Museum's preservation efforts, however, are privately funded and largely volunteer-driven.

"We're just poor museum people who are trying to honor the commitment that these guys made over 14 war patrols to protect our country," Gill said.

Kuentzel, who took the season 10 title in 2010 after a consistent performance throughout the series, returned to her legal roots after the show.

She was the general counsel and director of advocacy for the San Francisco SPCA from 2012 to 2022, where she oversaw all legal affairs and advocacy campaigns, according to her LinkedIn profile.

In January 2023, she cofounded and was named CEO of a veterinary start-up called Ease Pet Vet. The company connects pet owners with online veterinarians who can help with animal behavioral issues. According to the site, the company "specializes in common issues," which include "challenges such as reactivity, house soiling, generalized anxiety, noise fears, and separation anxiety."

She's a successful lawyer and businesswoman, but is the least well-known "Apprentice" winner since she has stayed out of the public eye.

After winning season six in 2007, Schaeffer, now 50, pivoted away from the business world to become a TV and YouTube host.

She was a correspondent for the TV Guide Channel and, as a former lawyer, hosted a 2008 web series called "Know Your Rights" to help people better understand the legal system.

An avid golfer, she often plays in celebrity golf tournaments and has both guest-hosted and offered commentary on The Golf Channel.

She's also involved with charities that advocate for autism awareness, cancer research, and children's issues, and hosted the YouTube show "The Future Is Bright" presented by the Autism Society of America in 2015.

Pinkett, who won in 2005, had co-founded the consulting firm BCT Partners in 2001. His website calls BCT "a multimillion-dollar research, consulting, training, technology and analytics firm." He also holds five academic degrees and is a published author.

After his appearance on "The Apprentice," he remained somewhat in the public eye, returning to the show as a boardroom advisor.

In 2016, alongside other "Apprentice" candidates, he publicly opposed Trump's first presidential run, per NBC.

"We acknowledge Donald's success as a businessman, and genuinely appreciate the opportunity 'The Apprentice' afforded all of us," Pinkett, now 53, said at a press conference before the New York primary in 2016. "We, however, strongly condemn Donald's campaign of sexism, xenophobia, racism, violence, and hate."

Pinkett maintained this position during the 2024 campaign, when he and five other "Apprentice" alumni endorsed Kamala Harris in an open letter published by Politico. They called him a "divisive, self-interested, and erratic leader with a fragile ego."

Trump did not publicly respond to their letter at the time.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

After winning season two in 2004, Perdew founded a hedge fund and a consulting firm, and he gives speeches about leadership.

Perdew's fund, Moonshots Capital, invests in technology startups and companies started by veterans. His creative consulting agency, DuMont Project, works with direct-to-consumer brands.

A former military intelligence officer, Perdew, 58, was appointed to President George W. Bush's Council on Service and Civic Participation in 2006 and re-appointed in 2008.

He has also served on several company boards, including Pandora and LinkedIn, and frequently gives public speeches on leadership, technology, and career development.

Yazbeck won season five of "The Apprentice" in 2006.

After overseeing the construction of the Trump SoHo condominium in New York City, he started his own telecommunications company called Wavsys, which was named an Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Company in America in 2014.

Yazbeck, 52, who grew up in London, was also awarded the British Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2014.

He returned to "The Apprentice" as a guest board member and dabbled in voice acting with a small part in the 2006 animated film "Over the Hedge."

Per his LinkedIn, he's also co-founded other companies such as Scopeworker, a supply chain company, and Admazing, which connects businesses that are looking to advertise with mobile games.

Some "Apprentice" winners become successful businesspeople, and some become television personalities, but Kendra Todd's career balances both.

Todd, 47, won "The Apprentice" in 2005, the same year that Realtor Magazine named her one of their Top 30 Under 30 brokers.

After her time on the show, she released the bestseller "Risk & Grow Rich: How to Make Millions in Real Estate," then combined her real estate expertise and TV experience as the host of HGTV's "My House Is Worth What?" from 2006 to 2008.

Todd founded her own real estate firm, the Kendra Todd Group, in 2009, where she continues to work today, per her LinkedIn. She has also made appearances on "Fox and Friends" as a real estate contributor.

In response to the letter that some "Apprentice" alums signed endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, Todd spearheaded a response from 10 other former contestants to support Trump's campaign, Fox News reported in October 2024.

"It is disappointing and shameful that these contestants would use the platform that Donald Trump gave them to attack him in this manner," they wrote. "Is this the thanks he gets for literally changing the trajectory of our lives?"

Rancic, who won the very first season in 2004, capitalized on his "Apprentice" success as a motivational speaker and bestselling author in addition to his business ventures.

As a motivational speaker, Rancic, 53, teaches audiences about productivity and his successful business methods. He has hosted and appeared on several TV shows talking about entrepreneurship and has written four books, including a New York Times bestseller called "You're Hired."

Rancic married E! News co-anchor Giuliana Rancic (née DePandi) in 2007, and the couple went on to star in their own reality show "Giuliana and Bill" from 2009 to 2014. They own six restaurants together and support several philanthropic causes related to cancer and infertility after Giuliana's breast cancer diagnosis in 2011.

With several burgeoning businesses and star power, he's the only "Apprentice" winner who has remained a household name years after the show aired, hence earning the accolade of most successful "Apprentice" winner.

Net worth: $1.5 billion

Age: 78

Source of wealth: As the founder and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Rane helped popularize the lumber business by appearing in commercials as a cowboy known as "the Yella Fella."

Residence: Abbeville

Net worth: $400 million, each

Age: Rubini is 70; Hyde is 68.

Source of wealth: Rubini serves as the CEO and chairman of commercial real-estate developer JL Properties, while Hyde serves as its president. Each of them owns 50% of the business, which also includes properties in Florida and Utah, Forbes reported.

Residence: Anchorage

Net worth: $17.3 billion

Age: 67

Source of wealth: Ernest Garcia II owns the used car retailer DriveTime Automotive, the fourth-largest used car retailer in the US. He is also the largest shareholder of Carvana, an online used car dealer founded by his son, Ernest Garcia III, in 2012.

Residence: Tempe

Net worth: $113 billion

Age: 80

Source of wealth: Rob Walton and his siblings inherited their wealth from their father, Sam Walton, who opened the first Walmart store in 1962 and founded the discount warehouse Sam's Club in 1983. Rob Walton, the eldest of the Walton siblings, is also one of the principal owners of the Denver Broncos.

Residence: Bentonville

Net worth: $189 billion

Age: 40

Source of wealth: As a student at Harvard, Zuckerberg cofounded a social network known as "The Facebook" in 2004. He went on to become CEO of Meta, the parent company for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.

Residence: Palo Alto

Net worth: $16.9 billion

Age: 85

Source of wealth: Anschutz initially amassed his fortune through the discovery of an oil field on the Wyoming-Utah border in 1979 and subsequent investments in railroad companies. He founded Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) in 1994, which owns major sports teams and performance venues such as the Crypto.com Arena. AEG is also the parent company of the Coachella music festival.

Residence: Denver

Net worth: $21.3 billion

Age: 68

Source of wealth: Cohen founded two hedge funds, SAC Capital and Point72. Until SAC Capital was shut down after pleading guilty to insider trading charges in 2013, it was one of the most successful hedge funds in the world (Cohen himself was never charged). Point72 currently manages over $35 billion, Forbes reported. He also holds a 95% ownership stake in the New York Mets.

A fun fact about Cohen: He loosely inspired Damien Lewis' "Billions" character, Bobby Axelrod.

Residence: Greenwich

Net worth: $800 million

Age: 77

Source of wealth: Snyder's parents founded WL Gore & Associates, a manufacturing company that holds over 7,000 patents, in 1958. Gore-Tex, a waterproof fabric used in outdoor apparel and shoes, remains its most profitable invention. Snyder owns around 5.5% of the company, Forbes reported.

Residence: Wilmington

Net worth: $206 billion

Age: 61

Source of wealth: Bezos founded e-commerce titan Amazon in 1994 and still owns around 9% of the company. As of May 2025, he was the third-richest person in the US behind Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. He's also the third-richest person in the world, just ahead of Larry Ellison.

Residence: Miami

Net worth: $10.7 billion

Age: 71 (Bubba), 72 (Dan), and 69 (Trudy)

Source of wealth: The Cathys are heirs to the Chick-fil-A family fortune. Founded by their father, S. Truett Cathy, in the 1960s, the fried-chicken fast-food chain now has over 3,200 restaurant locations worldwide. Dan Cathy's son, Andrew Cathy, took over as CEO in 2021. Dan Cathy's brother, Bubba Cathy, is still the executive vice president.

Residence: Atlanta (Bubba and Don), Hampton (Trudy)

Net worth: $10 billion

Age: 57

Source of wealth: Omidyar founded eBay in 1995 and became a billionaire when the e-commerce company went public during the dot-com bubble in 1998. eBay also acquired PayPal in 2002 for $1.5 billion.

Residence: Honolulu

Net worth: $3.2 billion

Age: 76

Source of wealth: VanderSloot is the founder and former chief executive of Melaleuca, Inc., which sells nutritional and wellness products online. Forbes reported that the company now has over one million customers each month.

Residence: Idaho Falls

Net worth: $39 billion

Age: 38

Source of wealth: Lukas Walton is the billionaire heir to the Walmart fortune and the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. Lukas Walton inherited his vast wealth after his father, John T. Walton, died in a plane crash in 2005 at the age of 58.

He founded Builders Vision, an impact investing group, in 2021, and also chairs the Walton Family Foundation's environment program committee.

Residence: Chicago

Net worth: $9.9 billion

Age: 62

Source of wealth: Cook has served as CEO of Cook Group, a medical-device manufacturing company founded by his parents, since his father's death in 2011. Forbes reported the company made $2.4 billion in revenue in 2024.

Residence: Bloomington

Net worth: $10.2 billion

Age: 83

Source of wealth: Stine is an agricultural pioneer and the founder and owner of Stine Seed, a corn and soybean seed company based in Adel, Iowa.

According to the company's website, Stine Seed and its affiliates own around 800 patents related to soybean and corn genetic technology. Major licensing deals have helped it become one of the world's largest private seed companies.

Residence: Adel

Net worth: $67.5 billion

Age: 89

Source of wealth: Koch amassed his billions from serving as co-CEO of Koch, Inc., which produces around $125 billion in revenue each year, Forbes reported.

Founded in 1940 by his father, Fred Koch, Koch Industries — later shortened to Koch — is involved in various businesses, from oil pipelines to paper goods, and is the second-largest private company in the US.

Residence: Wichita

Net worth: $8.1 billion

Age: 63

Source of wealth: Gustavson made her billions as the heiress to the Public Storage empire and as a prize-winning horse breeder. Her father, B. Wayne Hughes, cofounded Public Storage, a self-storage company that now owns and operates thousands of locations across the US and Europe, in 1972.

Forbes reported that Gustavson owns about 10% of the company.

Residence: Lexington

Net worth: $17.2 billion

Age: 53

Source of wealth: Graves, the founder and CEO of the chicken-tender restaurant chain Raising Cane's, opened his first restaurant in 1996. The company now has nearly 900 restaurants in the US and made $5.1 billion in annual sales in 2024, Forbes reported.

Residence: Baton Rouge

Net worth: $3.7 billion

Age: 79

Source of wealth: Alfond's father, Harold Alfond, made a fortune as the founder of the Dexter Shoe Company, once one of the largest shoe manufacturers in the US. Forbes reported that he sold the company to Warren Buffett in 1993 for $420 million in Berkshire Hathaway stock.

Harold Alfond died in 2007, leaving his fortune to Susan Alfond and her three siblings.

Residence: Scarborough

Net worth: $5.5 billion

Age: 95

Source of wealth: Lerner's fortune grew after she loaned $250 to her husband, Ted Lerner, to establish a firm that sold homes to real-estate developers, Forbes reported.

Founded in 1952, it grew to become one of the most successful real-estate companies in the DC area. The Lerners also made their money as owners of the Washington Nationals baseball team.

Residence: Chevy Chase

Net worth: $31.5 billion

Age: 63

Source of wealth: Johnson is the chair and CEO of Fidelity Investments — which her grandfather founded — and holds an estimated 28.5% ownership in the company. The Financial Times called her the "quiet queen of American finance" for the way she grew her father's and grandfather's business while staying incredibly private.

Residence: Milton

Net worth: $23.7 billion

Age: 63

Source of wealth: Gilbert is the founder and chairman of Rocket Companies, formerly known as Quicken Loans. From 2013 to 2018, under Gilbert's leadership, the company closed nearly half a trillion in home loans, according to the Gilbert Family Foundation. He also owns the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.

Residence: Franklin

Net worth: $2.9 billion

Age: 84

Source of wealth: Taylor purchased Carlson Letter Service, a wedding stationery business that he worked for while attending college, in 1975, according to the company's website. It became the Taylor Corporation, a print services and communications company. A former state senator, he's also owned several sports teams.

Residence: Mankato

Net worth: $3 billion

Age: 68 and 64

Source of wealth: The Duff brothers' wealth originates from their family business: tires. Their father, Ernest, founded Southern Tire Mart in the '70s and sold it in 1998. James and Thomas bought it back in 2003 and then cofounded Duff Capital Investors, a holding company, in 2007. Forbes reported it now brings in $5 billion in revenue across over 20 businesses.

Residence: Hattiesburg

Net worth: $11.4 billion

Age: 73

Source of wealth: In 1990, David Steward cofounded IT provider World Wide Technology, which Forbes valued at $20 billion in sales. Citi, Verizon, and the federal government are a few of the company's clients. An avid fan of car racing, Steward has pushed for more diversity in NASCAR, according to his company bio. In 2018, WWT began sponsoring Bubba Wallace, one of the few Black drivers in the racing organization's history.

Residence: St. Louis

Net worth: $7.4 billion

Age: 90

Source of wealth: Washington owns a business group called Washington Companies, which is involved in mining, rail and marine transportation, and construction. He's also invested in his son Kyle's ship business, Seaspan ULC.

Residence: Missoula

Net worth: $165 billion

Age: 94

Source of wealth: Buffett is one of the best-known and most successful investors of all time. He's made his fortune via Berkshire Hathaway, which owns brands such as Geico, Dairy Queen, and Duracell. Despite his immense wealth, he's also known for his modest spending habits. Recently, he announced he'll retire at the end of 2025.

Residence: Omaha

Net worth: $28.6 billion

Age: 79

Source of wealth: Miriam Adelson is on the list after the 2021 death of her husband, casino magnate and major Republican donor Sheldon Adelson. Now, she and her family own over 50% of Las Vegas Sands, a casino company worth over $39 billion. In 2023, she became a majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, a title formerly held by Mark Cuban. She's also been a major donor to Donald Trump.

Residence: Las Vegas

Net worth: $11.5 billion

Age: 72

Source of wealth: Most of Cohen's familial wealth comes from Symbotic, a warehouse automation company that has partnered with Walmart. Cohen is the chairman and CEO. In addition, Cohen also owns the US' largest grocery wholesaler, C&S Wholesale Grocers, which brings in $33 billion annually, Forbes reported. In 2024, his net worth plunged by $9 billion due to his family's stake in Symbotic, when the company's stocks tanked.

Residence: Keene

Net worth: $7.4 billion

Age: 55

Source of wealth: Two Sigma, a $60 billion hedge fund, which Overdeck cofounded, is the source of his wealth. He and David Siegel stepped down as co-CEOs last year, amid a long-term dispute over managing the firm. In high school, he won a silver medal in the International Mathematics Olympiad, and now he serves as chair for the National Museum of Mathematics.

Residence: Millburn

Net worth: $1.7 billion

Age: 63

Source of wealth: Corio's billionaire status — the first in New Mexico — stems from Array Technologies, a solar tracking systems business. He is the founder and former CEO, resigning in 2020 before its IPO.

Residence: Albuquerque

Net worth: $105 billion

Age: 83

Source of wealth: What hasn't Bloomberg done? Besides his 12-year stint as the mayor of New York City and an unsuccessful presidential campaign, Bloomberg cofounded Bloomberg LP in 1981. Bloomberg is a media company and a financial firm with revenues of $13.3 billion, as reported by Forbes.

Residence: New York

Net worth: $9.8 billion

Age: 82

Source of wealth: Goodnight and his colleague John Sall (also a billionaire) cofounded a private school, Cary Academy, and also co-own a hotel and country club. But their biggest business venture together is the software company SAS, founded in 1976. It made over $3 billion in sales in 2024, according to the company's 2024 annual report.

Residence: Cary

Net worth: $1.2 billion

Age: 79

Source of wealth: Tharaldson, the only billionaire in North Dakota, got his start in 1982 when Tharaldson Hospitality purchased a Super 8 Motel. It then became a huge hospitality group and one of America's largest developers of new hotels.

Residence: Fargo

Net worth: $7.8 billion

Age: 87

Source of wealth: Wexner opened The Limited in Ohio in the 1960s. He then founded a retail empire that, at one point, owned brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, The Limited Too, Express, and Victoria's Secret. Now Wexner's company has been renamed Bath & Body Works Inc., and solely owns the chain of the same name.

Residence: New Albany

Net worth: $18.5 billion

Age: 79

Source of wealth: Hamm founded the Shelly Dean Oil Company, now known as Continental Resources, in 1967 when he was only 21. It's now one of the largest oil companies in the US, thanks in part to Hamm's decision to use horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Bakken region of North Dakota in the '90s. The company went public in 2007, but in 2022, Hamm and his five children took the company private again in a deal worth $27 billion.

Residence: Oklahoma City

Net worth: $29 billion

Age: 87

Source of wealth: One word: Nike. Knight cofounded the iconic brand in 1964 alongside Bill Bowerman. Although Knight retired in 2016, he and his family still own 20% of the company, which, in 2024, earned $51 billion in fiscal revenue, per Forbes.

Residence: Hillsboro

Net worth: $59 billion

Age: 66

Source of wealth: After spending time as a pro gambler and trader on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Yass cofounded Susquehanna International Group in 1987. The successful Wall Street trading firm has a 15% stake in ByteDance, TikTok's parent company. NBC reported in 2024 that Yass also has a personal share (7%) of ByteDance.

Residence: Haverford

Net worth: $3.4 billion

Age: 68

Source of wealth: In 1989, Nelson founded and led the private equity firm Providence Equity Partners. He was CEO until January 2021 and is now its executive chairman. The firm has invested in over 180 companies, including Hulu, Warner Media Group, and Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (YES).

Residence: Providence

Net worth: $5 billion

Age: 61

Source of wealth: Robert "Bob" Faith founded Greystar, a global real estate firm, in 1993 and continues to serve as chairman and CEO. Throughout his career, Faith grew Greystar from 9,000 units in the US to more than a million units across five continents, worth more than $315 billion, the company reported in a March press release. The company also has an investment management platform with $36 billion in assets under development.

Residence: Charleston

Net worth: $2.1 billion

Age: 89

Source of wealth: The University of Minnesota alum made his fortune as the owner of First Premier Bank. Despite having just 17 branches across South Dakota, the bank is one of the largest issuers of Mastercards, in part because it specializes in offering credit cards to those with low credit scores. Often, the cards have low limits and high interest rates.

Residence: Sioux Falls

Net worth: $26.8 billion

Age: 86

Source of wealth: Frist Jr. cofounded Hospital Corp. of America with his father in 1968. According to its website, the for-profit healthcare company is responsible for 186 hospitals and over 2,400 care sites (like urgent care centers, surgery clinics, and physician clinics) across the US and UK. He and his family own over 20% of the company, and his sons, Thomas Frist III and William Frist, are board members.

Residence: Nashville

Net worth: $388 billion

Age: 53

Source of wealth: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are in a continuous battle for the title of richest person in the US. Musk is CEO of Tesla, CEO and founder of SpaceX, and the founder of neurotechnology startup Neuralink and tunneling company The Boring Company. He also helped found OpenAI, but he left in 2018 and announced his own AI endeavor, xAI, in 2023, which he owns an estimated 54% of, according to Forbes. He also owns an estimated 74% of social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Residence: Austin

Net worth: $4.4 billion

Age: 81

Source of wealth: Miller owns the Larry H. Miller Company, which she founded with her husband, Larry H. Miller, in 1979 after purchasing their first Toyota dealership. The LHM Company's car dealership business became the eighth-largest in the US, and she sold it for $3.2 billion in 2021, Forbes reported. (Larry H. Miller died in 2009.) LHM's portfolio also includes companies in real estate, entertainment, sports, and insurance, among others. In 2020, after more than 30 years of owning the Utah Jazz, Miller sold the team and their home arena for $1.66 billion.

Residence: Salt Lake City

Net worth: $2 billion

Age: 88

Source of wealth: In 1979, Abele cofounded Boston Scientific, a medical device manufacturer, alongside Peter Nicholas. Boston Scientific focuses on developing more accessible medical technologies, and its products include pacemakers, defibrillators, and stents.

Residence: Shelburne

Net worth: $39 billion

Age: 85

Source of wealth: As the granddaughter of Mars Incorporated founder Frank C. Mars, Jacqueline owns an estimated one-third of the legendary candy, food, and pet-care company responsible for treats like Snickers, Juicy Fruit, and Milky Way. (Her brother owns another third and is the richest person in Wyoming, per Forbes.) She served on the board of directors until 2016, having spent nearly 20 years with the company.

Residence: The Plains

Net worth: $118 billion

Age: 69

Source of wealth: Bill Gates hired Ballmer as Microsoft's 30th employee in 1980. Ballmer went on to serve as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. After retiring, he bought the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion and donated millions to the University of Oregon.

Residence: Hunts Point

Net worth: $900 million

Age: 61

Source of wealth: During Smith's time as CEO and then executive chairman of the finance and business software company Intuit, the company's revenue almost doubled, Forbes reported. The success came after Intuit revamped its desktop software into a digital cloud-based platform. Now the president of Marshall University, he also chairs Nordstrom's board of directors and sits on the boards of Amazon and JPMorgan Chase.

Residence: Huntington

Net worth: $21.9 billion

Age: 78

Source of wealth: Hendricks earned her billionaire status as the cofounder of ABC Supply, the largest roofing wholesaler in the US, with her late husband Ken Hendricks. Founded in 1982, ABC Supply acquired the building materials distributors Bradco in 2010 and L&W Supply in 2016 with Hendricks at the helm.

Residence: Afton

Net worth: $39 billion

Age: 89

Source of wealth: Mars — whose sister is Jacqueline Mars, Virginia's richest person — is another heir of the Mars family fortune amassed from candy products such as Snickers, Mars Bars, and M&M's, as well as Pedigree pet food and Uncle Ben's rice. He owns a third of the $45 billion business.

Residence: Jackson

All four new Ollie's locations in Wisconsin opened in February. There are no longer any Big Lots stores in Wisconsin after the brand closed 200 stores across 41 states in 2024.

The carts appeared to contain mostly seasonal items such as summer-themed tumblers and beach towels for $2.99. It reminded me of the Bullseye's Playground section at Target containing items costing between $1 and $5.

Ollie's, founded by Mark Butler, Mort Bernstein, Harry Coverman, and its namesake, Oliver "Ollie" Rosenberg, opened its first store in Pennsylvania in 1982. Its 100th store opened in 2011, and Ollie's became a publicly traded company in 2015.

The walls at Ollie's were plastered with illustrated signs advertising the low prices in creative ways, such as "Caution: bargains ahead" with "Ollie" dressed as a construction worker, and "Knockout deals" showing the character wearing boxing gloves. Everywhere I turned, I saw another quirky sign that made me chuckle.

Instead of selling the new releases and bestsellers I usually see at big-box chains, Ollie's stocked an eclectic collection of graphic novels, coffee table books, volumes of Bible studies, and picture books for kids.

I thought the coffee table books in particular would make great inexpensive gifts. I found a giant book about baseball stadiums for $7.99 that the baseball enthusiasts in my life would love.

In one of the grocery aisles filled with canned goods and condiments, many of the items were still in boxes. I recognized some brands, like Campbell's and Libby's, but others were new to me.

Piles of boxes crowding a store can indicate understaffing and may deter customers from shopping if they have to squeeze through the aisles, Business Insider previously reported.

Since most of the merchandise was shelved in cardboard boxes, this could have been more of a stylistic choice.

I compared prices using the Target and Walmart apps on my phone while browsing the aisles at Ollie's. The same 8.9-ounce box of Cheerios costs $4.49 at Target and $3.68 at Walmart.

A can costs $2.69 at Target. At Walmart, it was on sale for $2.48, which was still more expensive than Ollie's.

That three-pack would cost $5.79 at Target and was listed for $12.80 on Walmart's website, though it's likely cheaper in-store.

Ollie's keeps its prices low by buying closeout, irregular, discontinued, and overstock merchandise at a discount.

The limited edition Dove body washes, which retailed for $4.99 at Ollie's, were no longer available at Target or Walmart. Other Dove body washes of the same size sell for $8.69 at Target and $7.97 at Walmart.

A Black and Decker Crisp 'N Bake air fryer and toaster oven was priced at $39.99 at Ollie's, while a regular four-slice toaster oven cost $29.99.

Target appeared to sell the same four-slice toaster oven for $29.99, matching Ollie's price, but it was difficult to compare prices for the air fryer since I didn't find exact matches on their websites. Perhaps the toaster-air fryer combination Ollie's had in stock was an older or discontinued model that is no longer sold in other locations.

There were also new air conditioners for sale, like a 10,000 BTU window unit from Danby priced at $279.99. The exact design I saw no longer appears to be sold by Danby, though the company offers other units with the same cooling power for $429.99 and above.

The raw flooring materials in the housewares section reminded me of Menard's, a Midwestern home-improvement chain frequented by contractors and DIYers and known for its mail-in rebate discounts.

Laminate chestnut oak flooring cost 97 cents per square foot, while 5-foot by 7-foot Zephyr Collection rugs cost $99.99.

Barbies ranged from $8.99 to $12.99 at Ollie's, which was less expensive than at other stores.

For example, the "You Can Be Anything" teacher Barbie cost $8.99 at Ollie's compared to $14.99 at Target and $11.60 at Walmart.

Toy prices are expected to increase due to Trump's 145% tariff on Chinese goods.

Ollie's is a store with personality. The vibrant comic book-like signage and the treasure-hunting nature of sorting through the aisles made for an enjoyable outing. The prices were also lower than big-box competitors like Walmart and Target.

I wouldn't necessarily shop at Ollie's if I needed a specific brand of cereal or shampoo since the inventory varies based on what discounted merchandise is available, but if I just need some "Good stuff cheap" once Trump's tariffs take effect, I'd definitely shop there again.

When BI reached out to Walmart and Target about how their prices compare to Ollie's, a Walmart representative told BI: "At Walmart, we operate an every day low price model, in which we work to remove costs through efficiencies in our own operations and supply chain — to operate at an every day low cost (EDLC) so that we can in turn provide our customers with every low prices (EDLP). We constantly advocate for lower prices on behalf of our customers."

Representatives for Target and Ollie's did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Preservation Society of Newport Country acquired the home in 1963 and turned it into a museum open to the public. Self-guided tours cost $25 per adult ticket and can be purchased on the Preservation Society's official website.

During the winter months, the mansion is only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, with daily tours restarting in mid-February.

William K. Vanderbilt was Cornelius Vanderbilt's grandson and heir to the family's railroad and steamship fortune during the Gilded Age. Alva Vanderbilt was a popular hostess in Newport.

When Alva Vanderbilt divorced her husband in 1895, she survived the scandal and kept Marble House and custody of their three children, Consuelo, William Kissam Jr., and Harold Stirling. She then married one of her neighbors in Newport, a financier named Oliver H.P. Belmont, in 1896.

After Belmont died in 1908, she became a leader in the women's suffrage movement, funding the National American Woman Suffrage Association and serving as president of the National Woman's Party.

"It would have been impossible to have used a pure white marble for the interior without having a mausoleum effect too cold for living comfort and joy," Alva Vanderbilt wrote of Marble House. "The soft gold brown fading off into delicate cream catches the sunlight by day or electric sparkle at night with a warm living glow."

The French doors in the entryway stayed open during the summer to provide a cooling ocean breeze.

Alva Vanderbilt was born in Alabama and raised in France. Her French design sensibilities were evident throughout the house.

The walls were created from one solid slab of marble that was cut in half to create pieces with mirroring patterns, a technique called bookmatching.

Crafted from bronze and covered in gold, the chairs weighed 75 pounds each and required the help of a footman to be seated in.

The ribbed ceiling, stone mantlepiece, and wood floors were all imported from Paris.

Buying art collections "en bloc" was popular during the Gilded Age as a way to quickly acquire a status symbol instead of taking generations to build a collection.

The wooden bookcases, built in Paris by Allard and Sons, held books on architecture and European history that were original to the Vanderbilt family's collection.

"This room is really the epitome of the Gilded Age," Caitlin Emery, the research and interpretation coordinator at the Preservation Society of Newport County, said on the audio tour. "It is coated in gold and you have to imagine guests coming in on a summer evening with the sun going down. And the light picking up on all these gilded surfaces. The feel and the essence of the room would have been absolutely remarkable."

In 1895, the Vanderbilts hosted a ball to celebrate their daughter Consuelo Vanderbilt's engagement to Charles Spencer-Churchill, the ninth Duke of Marlborough. The party featured 300 guests and lasted until 5 a.m.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was secretly engaged to another man and resisted the arrangement, but she wrote that her mother "would not hesitate to shoot" her lover if she tried to run away with him.

"Alva wanted to secure for her daughter the one thing that money couldn't buy — a title," Emery said in the audio tour.

Theirs was a loveless marriage. After 26 years, Alva Vanderbilt testified that she had forced her daughter to marry the duke, which allowed her to receive an annulment in 1921.

The mezzanine level featured two private studies, one for William K. Vanderbilt and one for Alva Vanderbilt.

Consuelo Vanderbilt moved to Marble House when she was 15. She described her room as "austere," writing that her mother had picked out every piece of furniture and "forbidden the intrusion of my personal possessions," according to the audio tour.

The Vanderbilts would never have used the servant staircase or gone into the service areas.

When the Vanderbilts lived at Marble House, the Trophy Room was a set of two connected dressing rooms for Alva Vanderbilt and Consuelo Vanderbilt. The Preservation Society turned it into a room for Harold Vanderbilt's yachting trophies.

The carvings in the molding throughout the room featured nymphs and cherubs for a fairytale-like oasis.

The factory that made Alva Vanderbilt's original wallpaper is still in business in Lyons, France, and it kept the Marble House orders in its archives. In 1990, the Preservation Society ordered the exact same wallpaper from the factory to replace the room's existing fabric, which had faded to gold, according to the audio tour.

His bedroom was decorated in the French Neoclassical style. After he and Alva Vanderbilt divorced, William K. Vanderbilt moved to France with his second wife.

Marble House only had one guest bedroom because it was mainly built for family use.

The guest sitting room was furnished with 18th-century French art and furniture produced by Allard and Sons.

The stairs leading up to the rest of the house were locked to protect the Vanderbilts and their priceless possessions.

The Vanderbilts paid their French chef a salary of $10,000 per year, or around $375,000 in today's dollars.

The sink was made of a soft mineral called soapstone to prevent the Vanderbilts' silver from being scratched or damaged during washing.

Alva Vanderbilt hosted women's suffrage conferences at Marble House in 1904 and 1914.

She is quoted as saying in her speeches: "Just pray to God. She will help you."

A "Votes for Women" teapot cost $28 at the gift shop when I visited in August. The large plates cost $14.95 and the smaller plates retailed for $12.95.

Marble House is located along Newport's Cliff Walk, a scenic walking tour of the area's famous mansions.

Designed by Richard and Joseph Howland Hunt, the Chinese Tea House is now a café that offers refreshments and afternoon tea to Marble House visitors.

Imported from Europe, the trees can grow 35 to 45 feet wide.

Built during a time of economic and technological advancement, Marble House symbolized the beginning of a new era where women could leave loveless marriages with their reputations intact and fight for the right to participate in America's democracy.

At the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in 2021, Gates was seated one row in front of Hurd next to his ex-girlfriend, Ann Winblad.

Hurd and Gates attended several games of the tournament in Indian Wells, California, and appeared to lean into each other in the stands of a match between Paula Badosa of Spain and Maria Sakkari of Greece.

Gates and Hurd are both deeply involved in tennis. Gates has played in charity matches with pros such as Roger Federer, and Hurd chairs the Universal Tennis Foundation, which helps college players transition into professional athletes and supports youth and wheelchair tennis programs.

Gates and Hurd sat in the front row of the men's singles final match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece.

Citing anonymous sources, the Daily Mail reported that Gates and Hurd were dating and had been spotted sightseeing together in Sydney in January.

The Daily Mail also reported that Hurd and her late husband had been seated behind Gates at the BNP Paribas Open as far back as 2015.

Gates and Hurd posed for photos together at the 2024 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony, nicknamed the "Oscars of science" for its recognition of scientific achievements.

The conference is known as a "billionaire summer camp" where top tech leaders and investors such as Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg, and Warren Buffett attend industry sessions, play golf, and close deals.

Hurd and Gates attended the women's gymnastics final and team final events. They were joined by Gates' daughter, Jennifer Gates, and her husband, Nayel Nassar, an equestrian who competed for Team Egypt at the same Olympics.

Gates' memoir, "Source Code," chronicles his upbringing and the early days of Microsoft.

In the acknowledgements of "Source Code," Gates mentioned Hurd as one of the "dear and trusted friends" who "provided much-needed thoughtful and insightful feedback at critical stages in the writing" of his book.

In an appearance on "The Today Show" promoting his memoir, Gates said that he was "lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula."

"We're having fun, going to the Olympics and lots of great things," he said.

Gates and Hurd attended the star-studded ceremony at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.

Donald Trump married Ivana Trump in 1977. She gave birth to Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump before they divorced in 1989.

At the 1985 Met Gala, where the theme was "Costumes of Royal India," Donald Trump wore a black tuxedo, while Ivana Trump wore a purple leopard-print dress with a matching shawl.

For the "Dance" theme in 1986, Ivana Trump wore a sequined red dress with a sweetheart neckline and accessorized with a matching shawl and clutch.

The Met Gala celebrated the Costume Institute's 50th anniversary in 1987 with the theme "In Style."

Ivana Trump wore a black gown embellished with pearls for the gala's theme of "The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789-1815." Donald Trump stuck with his black tuxedo and black bow tie, but this time, his white shirt featured black buttons.

In 1998, the theme of the event was "Cubism and Fashion." Donald Trump wore his standard tuxedo, while Murray wore a strapless black dress with a front slit and carried a beaded bag.

Donald Trump and Melania Trump met at a party in New York City in 1998 while he was separated from his second wife, Marla Maples. They wed in 2005.

Melania Trump wore a cream micro-pleated dress and carried a shiny silver clutch for the 2003 Met Gala's "Party of the Year" theme. Donald Trump wore his usual tuxedo.

Donald Trump proposed to Melania Trump at the 2004 Met Gala with a 15-carat diamond ring valued at $1.5 million.

Ivanka Trump chose a peach off-the-shoulder dress with butterfly-shaped lace cutouts and a thigh-high slit.

She also carried a Chanel clutch for the 2005 theme of "The House of Chanel."

She added diamond jewelry and black open-toe heels to complete the outfit.

The theme of the Met Gala that year was "Anglomania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion."

She wore her hair in an updo and carried a cream bag.

The 2007 Met Gala honored French designer Paul Poiret as "The King of Fashion."

Wu also designed Michelle Obama's 2009 inaugural ball gown.

The theme of the 2008 Met Gala was "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy."

She appeared on the red carpet with designer Gilles Mendel of J. Mendel.

Years later, Melania Trump wore a Dolce & Gabbana blazer in her first official White House portrait. She also garnered controversy in 2017 when she wore an expensive jacket from the designer to the G7 Summit that retails for $51,500 — more than most Americans make in a year.

Ivanka Trump and Kushner met at a networking lunch in 2007. They broke up in 2008 due to religious differences but rekindled their relationship three months later. After Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism, the pair got engaged in July 2009.

At the 2009 Met Gala, Ivanka Trump wore a pale Brian Reyes dress with touches of black throughout the outfit. Kushner appeared in a classic black suit with a black tie.

In 2017, Siriano told Time magazine that he would not dress Melania in her capacity as first lady because he did not support the political outlook she represented.

"I dress people that I can support and support what they're doing in their lives," he said. "That's why it's important to me and it should be important to every designer because the people that you put in your brand represent the brand."

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner wed in October 2009 at the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey.

She added a gold clutch and accessories from Alexander McQueen to complete the look.

The theme that year was "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations."

Ivanka Trump wore a navy gown with cutouts and sheer panels by Peter Pilotto, while Kushner joined her in a tuxedo.

Ivanka Trump's ensemble featured a black top, a green floor-length skirt with a high slit, and gold spiked jewelry.

Oscar de la Renta also co-chaired the 2014 Met Gala.

The theme of the 2015 Met Gala was "China: Through the Looking Glass."

Ivanka Trump wore a red Ralph Lauren jumpsuit for the theme "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" just over a month after giving birth to her and Kushner's third child, Theodore James.

She and Kushner have not been back to the Met Gala since serving as advisors in Donald Trump's first White House administration.

Manhattan's only Costco store is inside a larger shopping complex in East Harlem.

While the bars are made in the US, according to the company's website That's It sources ingredients from the US as well as countries with "reciprocal" tariffs, including Peru (10%), Mexico (25%), the Philippines (17%), India (26%), Belgium (20%), Madagascar (47%), and Canada (25%).

The variety pack of 24 fruit bars costs $13.99.

The box said the bars were made in the USA "with domestic and imported ingredients."

"KIND products are manufactured in the US, with local sourcing where available as part of our commitment to sustainability," a KIND representative told BI.

A box of 22 KIND bars costs $20.

I like crushing seaweed in salmon bowls or just eating it as a snack. A package of 10 boxes of seaweed costs $10.99.

I often use a splash of POG to flavor seltzer and smoothies. I bought two bottles, which cost $11.98.

Costco uses different suppliers for its various house-brand Kirkland Signature products.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding sourcing its lemonade.

Two 3-quart bottles were priced at $6.29.

The pasta variety pack, which contained farfalle, elbow macaroni, and rotini for easy weeknight dinners, was priced at $9.49.

Barilla didn't respond to a request for comment on where it imports its ingredients from.

"Nature's Path does not currently purchase any products internationally that would require 'product of…' labeling," Nature's Path wrote on their website.

A 35.3-ounce bag of pumpkin seed and flax granola retailed for $8.99.

Mexico and Canada were not included in Trump's April list of "reciprocal" tariffs because he'd already announced a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian goods that aren't compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The 2-pound package of tomatoes retailed for $7.99.

The package of 16 individual avocado cups costs $12.99. I most often use them to make avocado toast.

The 12-ounce container retailed for $5.99.

The snack-sized cucumbers from Mucci Farms cost $5.99 for a 1.5-pound bag.

Three pounds of purple grapes were priced at $7.49.

I bought two bunches, which totaled $3.98.

This pack of four microwavable 1-pound bags of frozen broccoli, priced at $9.49, makes it easy to prepare a side of vegetables for any meal quickly.

The pineapple cost $3.99.

The organic baby carrots came in two 32-ounce bags and cost $6.99.

The 4-pound bag cost $6.49.

Stroehmann is a subsidiary of Bimbo Bakeries USA, the largest commercial baking company in the US that also owns Sara Lee, Little Bites, and Entenmann's, among other brands.

Two 24-ounce loaves cost $5.49.

Nasoya did not immediately respond to an inquiry regarding sourcing its soybeans.

I use extra-firm tofu as a meatless protein in numerous recipes in my rotation.

Four packages of tofu came in a box and sold for $6.79.

When I shopped at Costco in February, I had to rush to grab the last carton of eggs due to supply-chain issues amid the avian flu epidemic.

Thankfully, the refrigerated section was stocked with an ample supply of eggs this time.

The carton I bought cost $7.69.

I prefer buying lactose-free milk because it doesn't spoil as quickly. A gallon of Lactaid 2% milk costs $5.59.

The tissues cost $21.49, and the flower bouquet costs $17.99.

I spent $218.28 on about a month's worth of groceries. Roughly half of my cart was full of items from countries subject to the new "reciprocal" tariffs, which shows me how far-reaching Trump's trade policies are and how much my grocery bill may increase.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Editor's note: April 29, 2025 — This story has been updated to include comments from KIND.

Thompson didn't introduce the celebrities and survivors before the photo shoot so that he could photograph their first moments meeting each other.

"This initiative paired celebrities and notable individuals from diverse industries with survivors not just to spread the message but to engage directly — listening, questioning, and sharing in these profound experiences," he wrote in the coffee table book's introduction.

Around 220,850 Jewish Holocaust survivors are still alive today, and most are over 85 years old, according to the 2025 Global Demographic Report on Jewish Holocaust survivors published by the Claims Conference.

A full list of the exhibition hours can be found on Borrowed Spotlight's official website.

Proceeds from a private auction of prints from the series will also be donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and SelfHelp, an organization that provides trauma-informed care to Holocaust survivors in New York.

Crawford wrote that meeting Mandel, who was 13 years old when German forces invaded Poland in 1939, was "profoundly inspiring."

"She shared the heartbreaking losses she endured: her sister, her father, her mother, and another sister — all gone. She was the only survivor in her family," Crawford wrote. "She told me how, at her lowest point, her friend's brother told her, 'No more death. We're getting married.' They did, and they built a life together in the United States."

Kane's blonde hair and blue eyes, which the Nazis viewed as traits of a superior race, allowed her to work as a courier for Jewish resistance groups known as partisans when she was 8 years old.

"We're here to tell the story," Kane told Graham, an actor best known for her role on "The Vampire Diaries." "That's what's important."

Born in 1922, Alexander endured the Warsaw Ghetto and 12 concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau, before he was liberated in 1945. He was the only surviving member of his family out of his parents and five siblings.

Alexander visited Dachau in 2023 to mark the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the camp.

"I want to be in this shape at 103," Braun said as he sat with Alexander.

Elbaum's mother helped him evade Nazi persecution by paying Catholic families to take him in and conceal his Jewish identity.

"It's an amazing thing to go through what you've been through, or to see life and be able to be an optimist," Sandberg told Elbaum.

"It is the only way I survived it," he said.

"We, the survivors, have an obligation not only to remember those that were slaughtered so ruthlessly, but also to warn and teach that hate begets hate and killing more killing," Friedman said.

Porter, a Broadway star, wrote on Instagram that Rosenberg's story "is a powerful reminder of what can happen when hate goes unchecked and why we must remain vigilant in protecting the most vulnerable in our society."

A 25-year-old lawyer hid Karin and her family for nine months in his one-bedroom apartment across the street from a Nazi outpost.

"These survivors stand as living testaments, urging us never to forget that empathy and action are often the difference between life and oblivion," Thompson wrote.

In total, Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt spent $660,000 to build the home (more than $23 million in today's money) and $1.5 million (around $53 million today) to furnish it.

Frederick and Louise didn't have children. After Frederick's death in 1938, he left the house to Louise's niece, Margaret Van Alen. The Vanderbilts' neighbor in Hyde Park, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, then suggested preserving the estate by converting it into a national park.

The Vanderbilt Mansion opened to the public in 1940, according to the National Park Service.

The only way to see inside the mansion is through a guided tour with a park ranger.

Between January and May, the hourlong tours are offered daily at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. A new summer tour schedule is posted before each season.

There are no reservations — $15 tickets are sold at the visitor center on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Vanderbilts' largest home, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, features 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces.

The Vanderbilt family also had homes in New York City, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

The building was designed by architects McKim, Mead & White and built by Norcross Brothers. The exterior is made of Indiana limestone.

The Vanderbilts used the home as a seasonal escape in the spring and fall. It has six floors and a total of 54 rooms, according to the National Park Service.

The oval-shaped entrance hall was furnished with green marble imported from Italy.

Unlike most residences at the time, the mansion had running water and electricity.

The office contained a private bathroom that led into his den.

The den included a small library of books and a moose head mounted to the wall.

The Vanderbilts hosted their first housewarming dinner party in May 1899, and only entertained about once per season.

The carpet measures about 20 by 40 feet.

Decorated with antique Renaissance furniture, the living room featured Circassian walnut panels on the walls.

Frederick and Louise had a permanent residence in Paris, which inspired the Louis XIV-style decor.

Vanderbilt butler Alfred Martin told the National Park Service that when the door to the salon was closed, "that was a sure indication that Mrs. Vanderbilt did not want to be disturbed."

The railing of the staircase was coated in velvet to make even climbing the stairs a comfortable, luxurious experience.

The second floor housed Frederick and Louise's bedrooms, as well as her dressing room and several guest rooms.

When I visited in January, the guest bedrooms were staged to appear the way they would have at that time of year. It took servants weeks to cover and uncover every item in the home with custom-made sheets.

In European palaces, railings around royal beds were utilized during daily ceremonies when a monarch woke up or during royal births. In Louise's bedroom, the railing was merely a decorative homage to the French architecture she loved.

Her room connected to Frederick's through an adjoining door. Frederick's room was closed for restoration when I visited.

The basement is also where servants stored the estate's wine and spirits, did laundry, and brought food up to the ground floor through a dumbwaiter.

The mansion employed 18 servants total.

The mansion is situated on 153 acres of land in the scenic Hudson Valley.

As our tour guide put it, "It's like they get to live in a beautiful landscape painting whenever they wish."

Washingtonian families have spent the day on the South Lawn of the White House rolling and playing with their dyed Easter eggs since President Rutherford B. Hayes opened the gates to the Executive Mansion in 1878.

Since then, the affair has become one of the most high-profile events that takes place at the White House each year. In a 2017 interview with The New York Times, Melinda Bates, who organized eight years of Clinton-era Easter Egg Rolls said, "The White House and the first lady are judged on how well they put it on."

The Evening Star reported, "Driven out of the Capitol grounds, the children advanced on the White House grounds to-day and rolled eggs down the terraces back of the Mansion, and played among the shrubbery to their heart's content."

The Jefferson Mounds, landscaped by President Thomas Jefferson himself, add a gentle hill to the White House's South Lawn.

In fact, The Washington Post described the White House floors as "ground full of freshly smashed hard-boiled egg and broken egg shells," according to the White House Historical Association.

After Harrison's appearance, presidents regularly watched and joined in on the White House revelry.

In 1889, the United States Marine Band directed by John Philip Sousa played on the South Lawn, according to the White House Historical Association.

In 1918, the District of Columbia food administrator canceled the event due to the destruction of eggs, saying, "nothing that is an article of diet should be destroyed" during the war, according to the White House Historical Association.

Eisenhower's grandchildren even participated in the event until security had to extract the three children from the huge surrounding crowds.

The president's 2-year-old grandson Jason Carter even made an appearance on the South Lawn in 1977.

They also hid wooden eggs signed by celebrities around the grounds for children to find, a tradition that is still upheld today.

President Bush blew a whistle indicating the start of an egg roll competition that his 3-year-old granddaughter Marshall took part in.

A big fan of the Easter event, first lady Hillary Clinton never missed a single egg roll while her husband was in office and even had an official grandstand built for the occasion.

The entire Obama family, including Barack's mother-in-law, joined kids and their families on the White House lawn to read books, shoot some hoops, and take part in healthy cooking demonstrations.

In an attempt to open up the event to more people, the Obama administration established an online lottery for tickets. They also invited scores of celebrities including Idina Menzel and Christian Bale.

The Associated Press reported that 30,000 parents and children attended the White House Easter Egg Roll in 2018.

Melania Trump added inflatable bowling to the Easter Egg Roll in 2018.

The event also featured Easter-egg hopscotch.

In 2021, the Bidens appeared on the balcony of the White House with the Easter Bunny, who was also wearing a face mask.

"The virus is not gone, and the second year in a row most will be apart from their families or friends and a full congregation to fill us with so much joy. But the Scripture tells us, 'Joy cometh in the morning,'" Biden said in his remarks.

"We weren't able to host this Easter Egg Roll last year because of the pandemic. But this year, we're finally getting together again, and it's so special," Biden told the crowd. "It means so much to see and hear the children and all the families show up to be here today. The joy, the laughter, and the occasional — at least with my young grandson, who's only 2 — the occasional, 'There's the Easter Bunny.' A little startled sometimes. But the joy and the laughter is something that has been a wonderful tradition here at the White House for a long, long time."

Fallon read a copy of his children's book "Nana Loves You More!"

"Thank you Beau. Thank you for reading with Nana," the first lady said when she finished reading the book by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle.

Around 30,000 people attended the annual event, which was broken into nine sessions, according to a White House press release. Activities included the traditional egg roll as well as an egg hunt, a talent show, a photo booth with costumed characters, and a dinosaur activity tent.

The 2024 event featured educational activities, an obstacle course in a "physical EGGucation zone," and costumed characters such as Daniel Tiger, Winnie the Pooh, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

The 2025 event features a reading nook from Amazon and a "Bunny Hop Stage" provided by Google, among other experiences, in what's apparently Big Tech's latest move to "make nice" with the administration, BI's Lauren Edmonds reported.

Ahead of the event, first lady Melania Trump thanked White House staff on X.

"As families across the nation gather to celebrate Easter, I extend my gratitude to the dedicated East Wing Staff for their tireless effort in preparing the upcoming White House Easter Egg Roll," she wrote on Friday. "This cherished tradition, rooted in history since 1878, brings joy, storytelling, and laughter to America's children. I look forward to watching all of the smiles light up this memorable day, on Monday."