Rafael Nadal
Whether or not Rafael Nadal makes another dollar off the gentleman’s sport, his post-tennis future is assured.
Although Nadal has had to sit out this year’s French Open, the tennis pro’s investment company Aspemir had a turnover of €20 million ($21.5 million) in 2021, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais, quoting registry filings.
The results include earnings of €11.4 million, a jump of 102 per cent compared with the same period in 2020.
Through Aspemir, the Spaniard controls 20 companies. His mother, Ana Maria Parera, is sole administrator and his father, Sebastian Nadal, is a proxy, the newspaper said.
Aspemir’s investments include the Tatel restaurant group, luxury property company Mabel, a sports complex in Nadal’s hometown of Manacor and several renewable energy ventures.
Nadal wins 2022 French Open – in pictures
The company also owns 18 properties, including sites in upmarket areas of Madrid and Barcelona.
Nadal has a net worth of €295 million, Spanish newspaper El Mundo calculated in February.
The figure represents a 31.1 per cent increase over the preceding 12 months, a difference of about €70 million.
In 2022, he earned $9.9 million from tournaments, including a 22nd Grand Slam title at the French Open.
Nadal is the 196th-richest person in Spain, according to El Mundo. However, he is one of the richest tennis players in the world.
ATP Tour data shows the clay-court specialist has earned $134.6 million over his 22-year career, putting him behind leader Novak Djokovic, whose tournament winnings totalled $167.2 million as of June 8.
Counting endorsements and appearance fees, Nadal’s career earnings amount to more than $500 million, according to Forbes magazine.
Among the major brands he has worked with are Nike, Kia, Babolat, Santander, Richard Mille, Lanvin and Emporio Armani.
Over a typical year, Nadal’s annual pre-tax earnings amount to about $40 million from all sources, according to wealth tracking website Celebrity Net Worth.
He has earned only $310,797 from tennis in 2023, having had to withdraw from most of this year’s tournaments due to long-standing injuries.
This month, he announced that surgery to fix a troublesome psoas muscle had been a success. With a recovery time of five months, Nadal, now 37, could begin the next chapter in his career before the Australian Open in January.
Before then, another business venture will boost his 2023 earnings.
Zel, the hotel brand he created with Melia Hotels International in December, will open its first hotel next month. The luxury Zel Mallorca hotel, located on a beach in Palmanova, will welcome guests from July 1.
Paris Hilton
Hotel heiress Paris Hilton has joined a $15 million investment round in automated savings app Checkmate.
The series A round was led by Google Ventures and included more than a dozen other investors and funds, including Hilton’s husband, Carter Reum, through his M13 Ventures company.
Mantis, the venture capital fund of electronic duo The Chainsmokers, and Trevor Neff of Ashton Kutcher’s Sound Ventures also joined the funding round, the company said in a recent blog post.
The US-based Checkmate automates shopping discounts for iPhone users via a Safari browser extension. The app uses online and email searches to improve mobile shopping at a time when e-commerce has become more personalised and regulators are strengthening customer privacy.
Since its launch last year, the app has hit number one in the Apple App Store, surpassing more than 380,000 users, including 55,000 daily active users.
This is its second funding round after a $5 million seed round in September.
Hilton, 42, has a net worth of $300 million. She is the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, who founded the Hilton Hotel chain, but has reportedly received a fraction of the hotelier’s fortune.
Instead, she has turned a career as a model, actor, reality TV star, DJ and influencer into a revenue stream worth billions of dollars.
As of 2020, her 30 fragrances had generated more than $2.65 billion in gross revenue, according to Elle Canada magazine. Together with her other fashion and retail businesses, Paris Hilton-backed products have generated more than $4 billion in sales.
Through her company 11:11 Media, Hilton is also involved in a wide range of creative and technology ventures, including businesses in the digital, audio, film, television, licensing and metaverse space.
The Simple Life star has invested in at least 12 different companies, according to investor information platform Crunchbase.
The majority of these have been start-ups linked to the blockchain, web3 and metaverse environment, including video platform Shibuya and cryptocurrency payments company MoonPay.
Harry Kane
English Premier League star Harry Kane has invested in OxeFit, a robotics and artificial intelligence-based fitness technology start-up, the Texas-based company said.
The oversubscribed series A round was joined by several professional athletes, including golfers Dustin Johnson and Talor Gooch, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
The round brought in $20 million, according to market intelligence platform CB Insights. The size of Kane’s investment was not made public.
The real-time data that OxeFit machines provide can help stop or reduce injuries, Kane says.
“What impressed me most about OxeFit is not only the science behind the physical products, but the combination of robotics and content working together to deliver a truly customised training experience,” he says.
Kane, 29, has a net worth of £51 million ($63.9 million) as of May 2023, up from £42 million a year previously, according to The Sunday Times.
His income largely stems from his contract with Tottenham Hotspur, where he earns about £200,000 each week, or £10.4 million annually, as a striker under a six-year deal running until 2025.
Endorsements provide further income, notably from Nike, Gatorade and EA Sports.
Kane also has an extensive property portfolio valued at more than £13 million, according to the UK’s The Sun newspaper, which cited accounts for his company, Edward James Investments.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Joining the world’s billionaires in the new space race is Leonardo DiCaprio. The Academy award-winning actor recently invested in Earth observation and geospatial start-up Nuview, the company said last week.
It is the actor’s first investment into a space economy company, according to investor information website Pitchbook.
Using a network of 20 light detection and ranging technology satellites, Nuview aims to generate centimetre-level accurate representations of the Earth, to provide greater data clarity in the fight against climate change.
“Nuview’s cutting-edge technology will set itself apart by generating high-resolution, 3D images of the Earth's surface, intending to improve our ability to monitor and protect the planet with much more accuracy,” DiCaprio says.
“This unprecedented data set will help enable scientists, policymakers and conservationists to make more informed decisions and uncover valuable new insights in climate science.”
Watch: Leonardo DiCaprio at Cop26
The new outlay is rooted in DiCaprio’s broader investment approach.
The long-time climate change advocate supports a wide range of sustainability-focused ventures. These include alternative meat start-ups Aleph Farms, Beyond Meat and Mosa Meat, solar energy players Powerhive and Kingo Energy, and packaging substitute CruzFoam.
Last year, a climate fund he backs, Regeneration.VC, raised $45 million to help make sustainable consumer goods available to wider audiences.
DiCaprio, 48, has a net worth of $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
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PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
What is an ETF?
An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.
There is no fund manager deciding which stocks and other assets to invest in, instead they passively track their chosen index, country, region or commodity, regardless of whether it goes up or down.
The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five largest providers BlackRock’s iShares, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisers, Deutsche Bank X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
While the best-known track major indices such as MSCI World, the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, you can also invest in specific countries or regions, large, medium or small companies, government bonds, gold, crude oil, cocoa, water, carbon, cattle, corn futures, currency shifts or even a stock market crash.
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The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
More from Mohammed Alardhi
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Racecard
6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m
8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m
9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m
10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Scotland's team:
15-Sean Maitland, 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Nick Grigg, 12-Sam Johnson, 11-Byron McGuigan, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ali Price, 8-Magnus Bradbury, 7-Hamish Watson, 6-Sam Skinner, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 4-Ben Toolis, 3-Willem Nel, 2-Stuart McInally (captain), 1-Allan Dell
Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Jonny Gray, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Greig Laidlaw, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Chris Harris
Francesco Totti's bio
Born September 27, 1976
Position Attacking midifelder
Clubs played for (1) - Roma
Total seasons 24
First season 1992/93
Last season 2016/17
Appearances 786
Goals 307
Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
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The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
