The Vatican’s official prayer app has been quietly exposing the personal data of more than 700,000 users worldwide for at least six months, according to a security researcher who says repeated attempts to warn the app’s operators went unanswered.

A widely used app with a basic security flaw

“Click to Pray” is the official prayer app of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, offering daily prayers and papal content to users through iOS, Android and a web browser. According to the app’s own website, it is used in nearly every country in the world. In January, a security researcher who goes by the handle “BobDaHacker” discovered a flaw known as an insecure direct object reference, or IDOR, in the app’s underlying code at clicktopray.org.

The vulnerability allowed any internet user, without any special technical skill, to query a single exposed application programming interface endpoint and retrieve basic personal information belonging to every account holder on the platform, as well as staff accounts belonging to employees of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network itself. Cybersecurity outlet Dark Reading independently tested and confirmed the vulnerability remained live as of its reporting.

How the flaw worked

When users sign up for Click to Pray, they provide a first and last name, an email address, a password and an optional country field. Behind the scenes, each new account is assigned a sequential numerical user ID. Because the app’s API endpoint failed to verify whether a request was authorized before returning data, anyone who supplied a valid user ID, in sequence, could retrieve that account’s name, email address and country of origin in plain text, along with information on whether an account had been deleted or carried administrative privileges. Researchers say the flaw would have allowed someone to systematically collect data from all of the platform’s more than 719,000 registered accounts.

BobDaHacker described the underlying issue as one of the most common categories of web application vulnerabilities. “IDORs are incredibly common. Broken Access Control has been the number one vulnerability category in the OWASP Top 10 since 2021,” the researcher said, referring to the industry-standard list of the most critical web application security risks maintained by the Open Worldwide Application Security Project. The researcher attributed the recurring nature of such flaws to a common gap in how web development frameworks handle security: most frameworks automatically verify whether a user is logged in, but leave it up to individual developers to separately verify whether that user is authorized to view a specific piece of data, a step that is easy to overlook under time pressure.

Months of silence from Vatican-linked officials

According to the researcher’s own account, the vulnerability was first reported to nine email addresses associated with Click to Pray and the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network on Jan. 3, but none of those messages received a response. Dark Reading said it separately reached out to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network in an attempt to help get the issue fixed, and, after failing to get a response, contacted La Machi Communication for Good Causes, the Spanish-language communications agency that designed and built the app, but had not received a reply as of publication.

Reflecting on the lack of response after months of waiting, the researcher wrote in a blog post documenting the findings, “I guess my email wasn’t in their prayers.”

Not the app’s first security lapse

This isn’t the first time Click to Pray has faced scrutiny over its handling of user data. In 2019, cybersecurity firm Fidus Information Security discovered that the app’s companion Bluetooth-connected eRosary device, priced at roughly $110, was returning users’ login PINs in plain text through its API, a flaw the firm reportedly identified within about 10 minutes of testing. A Vatican spokesperson confirmed at the time that the earlier flaw had been fixed. The latest disclosure suggests that lessons from that earlier episode may not have carried over fully into the app’s current infrastructure.

Why the exposed data matters

While the leaked information, primarily names, email addresses and country data, may seem limited compared to breaches involving financial or medical records, researchers warned it still carries real risk. BobDaHacker noted that Click to Pray’s user base likely skews toward older, less tech-savvy users who tend to place significant trust in anything associated with the Vatican, making the exposed accounts a potentially attractive target for phishing campaigns. A scammer with access to the leaked email addresses could impersonate the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network directly, sending messages designed to appear as official Vatican communications in order to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or revealing further personal information.

A broader pattern across industries

Security researchers say the Click to Pray incident reflects a pattern seen across organizations of all sizes and sectors, not just religious institutions or smaller communications firms. BobDaHacker emphasized that any organization collecting personal data from hundreds of thousands of users takes on a responsibility to protect it, regardless of its mission or size. Notably, the Vatican issued its own formal personal data protection regulation, Decree No. DCLVII, in April 2024, which outlines requirements for security measures, risk analysis and incident reporting procedures. The existence of that decree has done little to prevent the current exposure, underscoring the gap that can exist between written policy and actual technical implementation.

As of this report, the vulnerability remained active, and neither the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network nor La Machi Communication for Good Causes had issued a public response addressing the flaw or confirming a timeline for a fix. Security researchers tracking the disclosure say the case illustrates a broader industry challenge: making basic cybersecurity practices, including having a clear channel for reporting vulnerabilities, as standard and expected for organizations of every kind as having a functioning contact page. Until Click to Pray’s operators address the underlying authorization flaw, cybersecurity researchers say the personal information of hundreds of thousands of users worldwide remains freely accessible to anyone who knows where to look.

The upcoming issues, expected to collectively raise over Rs 25,000 crore, include a mix of fresh equity issuances and offer for sale (OFS) component, merchant bankers said.

“With markets stabilising and investor sentiment improving, companies that were waiting on the sidelines are now moving ahead with their IPO plans,” said Bhavesh Shah, MD & Head-Investment Banking at Equirus Capital.

Among the largest offerings, Zepto plans to raise up to Rs 8,010 crore through a fresh issue, along with an OFS of up to 11.34 crore equity shares.

Housing finance company Truhome has proposed a Rs 3,000-crore IPO, comprising a fresh issue of up to Rs 1,500 crore and an OFS of an equal amount.

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Elevate Campuses intends to raise Rs 2,550 crore entirely through a fresh issue, while Shiprocket has filed for a Rs 2,342.35-crore IPO, including a fresh issue of up to Rs 1,100 crore and an OFS worth Rs 1,242.35 crore.
Other companies preparing to hit the capital markets include Innovatiview India (up to Rs 2,000 crore, entirely through OFS) and Milky Mist Dairy Food (Rs 1,553 crore).In addition, Dhoot Transmission, ARCIL (Asset Reconstruction Company India Ltd), Ardee Industries, Gaja Alternative Asset Management, Rays of Belief, Hy-Tech Engineers, Shankesh Jewellers and Learnfluence Education are also planning to launch their maiden public offerings.

The fresh pipeline comes amid sustained activity in the primary market, reflecting improving investor sentiment and healthy demand for new listings.

Market participants expect IPO activity to remain buoyant as companies look to capitalise on favourable fundraising conditions.

So far this year, 36 companies have launched their IPOs, including nine that hit the primary market this month. Moreover, Manipal Health Enterprises and Juniper Green Energy are set to open their public issues on July 29 and July 30, respectively. MV Electrosystems is also scheduled to launch its IPO next week.

Looking ahead, Shah said the long-term outlook for India’s IPO market remains strong despite periodic volatility.

“The primary market has undergone a structural transformation, with equity becoming an increasingly preferred source of growth capital. While there will always be tactical pauses driven by market volatility, the underlying pipeline remains very strong. I continue to expect India to raise around USD 20 billion through IPOs this calendar year,” he said.

He added that well-priced IPOs are likely to continue delivering healthy returns, while aggressively valued offerings may witness limited upside, as investors become increasingly selective rather than indiscriminately bullish.

KYOTO — A 61-year-old unemployed resident of Kyoto’s Nishikyo Ward was arrested Thursday on suspicion of inflicting injury after allegedly subjecting his neighbors to more than seven years of round-the-clock radio and electric guitar noise, causing several nearby residents to develop insomnia, depression and tinnitus.

Years of noise, despite repeated warnings

According to Kyoto Prefectural Police, the suspect, identified as Kazunori Yokoi, is accused of playing radio broadcasts and amplified electric guitar music at his home between June 2019 and July 2026, causing four nearby residents to develop health problems, including sleep deprivation and psychological distress. Police said complaints and emergency calls from neighbors date back to around 2017, with the disturbance growing steadily worse in the years that followed. Nishikyo Police Station officers had issued Yokoi guidance and formal warnings over the noise on multiple occasions, but police said the situation never improved.

Investigators said Yokoi placed a radio near a window of his home, left the window open, and kept the radio playing continuously, 24 hours a day. He also allegedly played electric guitar through an amplifier for extended stretches, from early morning until late afternoon or evening, according to police.

Measured noise levels rivaled a subway train

When officers measured the noise coming from Yokoi’s residence, they recorded levels reaching as high as 80 to 90 decibels, a volume police and city officials compared to standing inside a moving subway train car. Sustained exposure to noise at that level is widely recognized by health experts as capable of contributing to sleep disruption and elevated stress over time, particularly when it occurs continuously over months or years rather than in isolated incidents.

Among those affected, three residents in their 60s to 80s were exposed to the noise between June 2019 and this past July and reportedly developed sleep deprivation and depression as a result, according to police. A fourth resident, a woman exposed to similar noise between April 2025 and July of this year, is suspected of having developed tinnitus, a persistent ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears, as a result of the prolonged exposure.

Recorded evidence and a large seizure

Frustrated neighbors reportedly began recording the disturbances themselves, with audio captured in May of last year documenting what appeared to be an electric guitar echoing from Yokoi’s residence, according to reporting citing Japanese broadcaster TBS News. That kind of resident-gathered evidence, alongside the noise measurements taken by police, formed part of the basis for Thursday’s arrest.

Officers from Nishikyo Police Station searched Yokoi’s home and other associated locations as part of the investigation, seizing dozens of items connected to the alleged noise disturbances. Reports on the seizure have varied slightly, with some accounts citing more than 40 electric guitars removed from the property, while others cite a broader total of 76 items, including guitars and amplifiers, taken during the search.

Suspect denies intent to cause harm

Following his arrest, Yokoi offered a partial denial of the allegations against him. According to Mainichi, when confronted by police, he said, “That is not true.” Separately, according to reporting from Tokyo Reporter citing TBS News, Yokoi did not dispute that the noise itself had occurred, but pushed back specifically against the characterization that he had intended to harm his neighbors, telling investigators that any suggestion of deliberate intent to inflict injury was “wrong.”

A case built on Japan’s inflicting-injury statute

Japanese police pursued the case under a legal provision covering the infliction of injury, an approach sometimes used in cases where prolonged environmental disturbances, such as sustained noise, are found to have caused documented physical or psychological harm to victims, rather than treating the matter solely as a civil nuisance or lesser noise-ordinance violation. The years-long pattern of documented complaints, official warnings, and eventual medical symptoms reported by multiple neighbors appear to have supported prosecutors’ and police’s decision to escalate the case to a criminal injury investigation rather than continuing to rely on administrative guidance alone.

Not an isolated pattern in Japan

Cases involving prolonged noise disturbances rising to the level of criminal prosecution have occurred in Japan before, though they remain relatively uncommon. In one earlier case that drew international attention, a woman in western Japan was sentenced to prison after deliberately directing loud stereo music toward a neighbor’s home for almost three years, a dispute that similarly resulted in the neighbor developing insomnia and other health complaints before authorities intervened. While the specific circumstances differ, such cases illustrate how sustained, targeted or persistently unaddressed noise complaints can, in some instances, escalate from neighborhood disputes into formal criminal matters under Japanese law.

As of Thursday, Yokoi remained in police custody following his arrest, with the investigation continuing under Nishikyo Police Station’s jurisdiction. Police have not indicated whether additional charges may follow, nor have prosecutors announced a timeline for formally charging or arraigning Yokoi in connection with the case. The four residents identified as affected by the yearslong noise exposure have not been publicly named, consistent with standard practice in cases involving alleged victims of ongoing harassment or health-related harm.

For now, the case stands as a striking example of how a years-long neighborhood noise dispute, despite repeated police warnings that failed to resolve the underlying behavior, ultimately escalated into a criminal investigation once documented health effects among multiple residents became part of the evidentiary record.

Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery have agreed to pause their $110bn (£82.8bn) merger until June 2027 while a judge weighs upon a legal challenge against the tie-up.

The pause follows lawsuits from 12 US states and the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who argue the deal would harm competition and lead to higher prices for consumers.

The decision comes just days after European regulators approved the deal, on the condition Paramount would end a major film distribution partnership with Universal Pictures in the region.

With the deal on hold in the US, emergency court hearings have now been cancelled.

Despite the court freeze, Paramount and Warner Bros insist that combining their operations is essential to compete with digital streaming giants and tech conglomerates.

Paramount hailed the agreement as a “significant win”, stating it provides a “direct path to a trial based on the evidence”.

The company added that a trial is the “fastest” way to prove the merger is “good” for competition, consumers, and creators. The US Department of Justice approved the deal in June.

But state officials and Hollywood unions argue that merging two major studios gives one company too much control.

They argue the move would reduce bargaining power for writers and crews, shrink project options, and ultimately limit choices for viewers.

WGA head Tom Fontana previously warned it would suppress wages and eliminate opportunities for up-and-coming writers.

“It remains our view that this merger is unlawful, and we will continue the fight to block it,” the Block the Merger Coalition said in a statement on 24 July.

Paramount insists viewers will benefit, vowing to release 30 films in cinemas every year – doubling its current turnout.

With preliminary court battles now bypassed, legal teams for both sides must submit a proposed trial schedule by 31 July.

Until a judge reaches a final verdict – or until 1 June 2027 – Paramount and Warner Bros will remain completely separate, competing operations.

Some entrepreneurs find one successful path and stay on it. Timothy Caraboolad has taken a different approach.

Throughout his career, he has moved between construction, real estate development, design, and cannabis retail. The common thread has never been the industry. It has been solving real problems with practical solutions.

From managing renovation projects in the Boston area to developing luxury homes in South Florida, Caraboolad has stayed closely involved in every detail. His career shows how hands-on experience can shape better business decisions and stronger customer experiences.

Who Is Timothy Caraboolad?

Timothy Caraboolad is an entrepreneur, real estate developer, and designer based in Palm Beach, Florida. He also spends time in Aspen, Colorado, Boston, Massachusetts, and Martha’s Vineyard.

His interest in building began early. Growing up in Boston, he worked alongside his father, Geoffrey Caraboolad, at Metric Construction Corporation. Rather than learning from books alone, he learned on active construction sites.

“I learned early that good projects don’t happen by accident,” Caraboolad says. “They come from paying attention to the small things every single day.”

That early experience taught him how construction, planning, budgeting, and teamwork fit together long before he started his own companies.

After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from Rollins College, he combined formal business education with years of practical experience in the field.

How Timothy Caraboolad Started in Real Estate Development

Before launching his own business, Caraboolad managed residential renovation projects throughout Brookline and Newton, Massachusetts. Those projects helped him understand both the technical side of development and the expectations of homeowners.

He later founded Arc Design, a luxury residential development and design company.

Unlike many developers who step away after planning begins, Caraboolad stayed involved throughout every phase.

“I’ve always wanted to be part of every decision,” he explains. “From development planning to choosing finishes, every detail affects how someone experiences a home.”

That approach became one of the defining characteristics of his work.

Rather than treating design, construction, and customer experience as separate jobs, he viewed them as connected parts of the same process.

Why Native Sun Wellness Was Different

One of the biggest turning points in Caraboolad’s career came from a deeply personal experience.

While supporting his mother during her battle with breast cancer, he saw how confusing it was for patients to legally purchase medical cannabis in Massachusetts.

Instead of accepting the system as it was, he looked for a way to improve it.

In 2017, he founded Native Sun Wellness with the goal of creating a more welcoming and educational experience for patients.

“My family experienced how difficult the process could be,” Caraboolad says. “That made the mission personal. We wanted patients to feel informed, respected, and comfortable from the moment they walked through the door.”

Working alongside his father, he helped establish multiple retail locations across Massachusetts, including a flagship dispensary in South Boston.

He later founded Holland Brands to focus on developing recreational cannabis retail locations throughout the state.

Although the industries were different, the business philosophy stayed consistent.

“When you remove unnecessary friction for customers, you build trust,” he says. “That’s true whether you’re building a home or helping someone navigate a healthcare experience.”

What Is Timothy Caraboolad Doing Today?

Today, Caraboolad has returned to the work that first inspired him.

Through Lad Design, based in South Florida, he develops high-end custom homes with a strong focus on timeless architecture, craftsmanship, and thoughtful execution.

His current work includes luxury spec homes in the SoSo neighborhood of West Palm Beach.

For Caraboolad, success comes from staying involved instead of managing projects from a distance.

“I still enjoy walking a job site,” he says. “Seeing a project take shape never gets old. That’s where the best decisions are made.”

His background allows him to see projects from several perspectives at once. He understands construction, design, business operations, and the homeowner’s experience.

That combination helps guide decisions throughout the entire development process.

What Can Entrepreneurs Learn From Timothy Caraboolad?

Looking across Caraboolad’s career, one pattern stands out. Every new business started with an unmet need.

Arc Design focused on thoughtful luxury development.

Native Sun Wellness addressed a difficult customer experience.

Holland Brands expanded retail opportunities.

Lad Design continues that same mindset by creating carefully designed homes that emphasize quality over shortcuts.

“I’ve never been interested in building something just because everyone else is doing it,” Caraboolad says. “The goal is to create something that lasts and genuinely improves the experience for the people using it.”

That philosophy has allowed him to move successfully across industries without losing sight of his core values.

Outside of work, Caraboolad enjoys downhill skiing, offshore and fly fishing, mountain and road cycling, golf, tennis, and hiking. Spending time outdoors helps him recharge while maintaining the focus needed for complex development projects.

His career continues to evolve, but the foundation remains the same: practical experience, careful execution, and a commitment to building businesses that solve real problems. Whether developing luxury homes or improving customer experiences in entirely different industries, Timothy Caraboolad has consistently approached entrepreneurship with the mindset of a builder first and a business owner second.

South Korea unveiled a sweeping $950 billion package of artificial intelligence chip and infrastructure deals involving Samsung Electronics, SK Group and major U.S. technology firms this week, a announcement Seoul’s government hailed as proof of the country’s central role in the global AI supply chain. But the figure has quickly drawn scrutiny from industry analysts and journalists who say the number blends revenue, expenditures and undisclosed estimates in ways that make it difficult to verify.

A high-profile summit in San Francisco

The deals were announced following an AI summit hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in San Francisco on July 24, which brought together top executives from Nvidia, Broadcom, Microsoft, Anthropic and other major U.S. technology firms alongside leaders from Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group and Naver. At the summit, Lee unveiled what he called the “San Francisco AI Declaration,” outlining Seoul’s broader ambitions for technological cooperation with the United States, describing plans to make the country’s “dynamic AI ecosystem” available to help expand global markets for both industrial and personal AI applications. South Korea’s presidential office described the overall $950 billion figure as a landmark achievement demonstrating the country’s position as a key player in the global AI supply chain.

How the $950 billion breaks down

According to figures released by South Korea’s government, the total combines roughly $200 billion tied to a memorandum of understanding between Samsung Electronics and Broadcom, approximately $500 billion connected to SK Group’s collaboration with Nvidia, and an additional $250 billion representing the government’s own estimate of SK’s broader collaborations with other major technology firms including Microsoft, Anthropic and Amazon Web Services. Hyundai Motor Group separately announced plans to collaborate with Nvidia, Waymo and Google DeepMind in the physical AI sector, though it did not disclose specific dollar figures tied to that cooperation.

The Samsung-Broadcom agreement covers memory, foundry and advanced packaging collaboration through 2030, with Samsung set to supply high-bandwidth memory for Broadcom’s next-generation AI accelerators while also producing Broadcom’s communication semiconductors using sub-2-nanometer manufacturing processes. A Samsung Electronics official described the agreement as comprehensive in scope but declined to specify how the $200 billion figure splits between memory supply and foundry or packaging orders, noting the estimate reflects the companies’ projected activity over five years rather than a confirmed order.

The larger SK Group figure centers on a letter of intent between SK Telecom and Nvidia to build an AI data center, or “AI Factory,” with up to 2 gigawatts of capacity beginning in 2027, alongside a long-term agreement for SK Hynix to supply next-generation AI memory, including high-bandwidth memory, to Nvidia.

Why the numbers have drawn skepticism

Despite the scale of the announcement, industry observers and business sources have raised questions about how the figures were calculated. Notably, the disclosed totals combine revenue Korean companies expect to earn selling semiconductors to U.S. firms with the money those same Korean companies plan to spend purchasing American-made graphics processing units, a structure some in the industry say inflates the headline number. One source from the business community, speaking about SK’s dealings with Nvidia specifically, characterized the practice of combining outbound sales figures with inbound purchases as reflective of a broader pattern of exaggeration currently common across the AI industry.

Beyond the revenue-and-expenditure blending, most of the individual company-level breakdowns behind the $950 billion figure have not been disclosed. Aside from the specific numbers tied to Broadcom and Nvidia, the government has not detailed how much of the total stems from any other individual company relationship, including the roughly $250 billion attributed broadly to SK’s collaborations with Microsoft, Anthropic and Amazon Web Services. SK has said the overall scale is not significantly overstated but has not released company-by-company figures to support that claim.

Industry context: some deals seen as inevitable

Some industry insiders have suggested that, given how few global suppliers exist for advanced memory chips, much of the projected business between major U.S. technology firms and South Korea’s two dominant memory producers was effectively predetermined regardless of Friday’s announcement. An SK official acknowledged that the company’s collaborations with Nvidia and other partners on semiconductors and data centers have been ongoing for some time, while arguing that publicly disclosing the scale of those relationships for the first time still carries meaningful value in demonstrating actual demand for South Korean semiconductors.

SK’s chairman defends the announcement

SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won pushed back directly against suggestions that the figures were overstated, framing the announcement as conservative relative to the company’s actual scope of activity. “The AI plan grows bigger the more we touch it,” Chey said, adding that he suspects the announced figures may understate the true scale of the projects already underway. He emphasized that the disclosures reflected work grounded in realistic planning rather than speculative announcements.

Part of a broader state-backed AI push

Friday’s announcement builds on an already ambitious state-driven AI strategy from President Lee’s government. Last month, Lee unveiled three large state-backed initiatives centered on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix aimed at building semiconductor production clusters, physical AI ecosystems and AI data centers, representing more than $576 billion in investment on their own. Lee is also scheduled to attend a separate Silicon Valley meeting involving South Korea’s National Pension Service, the world’s third-largest pension fund, and U.S. venture capital firms, part of a broader effort to attract international investment into South Korean startups.

With most of the underlying company-specific figures still undisclosed, and questions lingering over how much of the $950 billion reflects genuinely new business versus previously expected transactions between a small number of global chip suppliers and buyers, further clarity is likely to depend on future corporate disclosures from Samsung, SK Hynix and their U.S. partners as the various memorandums of understanding and letters of intent move toward finalized contracts in the years ahead.

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Success stories in business often focus on numbers. Revenue growth. Client counts. Company milestones. For Lyshaan Hall, the founder of Breukelen Wealth, success has always meant something more personal.

“I measure success by the ability to fulfill the dreams of our clients,” Hall says.

That mindset has shaped his career from the beginning. Today, Hall is known as a tax strategist, entrepreneur, and financial advisor who works with business owners, executives, athletes, entertainers, and high-income professionals. But his journey started with a simple observation: many successful people were earning substantial incomes while lacking a clear plan for building long-term wealth.

Rather than focusing solely on tax preparation, Hall saw an opportunity to help people think more strategically about their financial lives.

How Lyshaan Hall Built Breukelen Wealth

Breukelen Wealth was founded in Brooklyn, New York. The company’s name comes from the original Dutch settlement that eventually became Brooklyn, reflecting Hall’s connection to the borough and its entrepreneurial history.

The firm’s mission was straightforward. Hall wanted to help people access the kinds of financial strategies often associated with the ultra-wealthy.

After years of working with clients, he noticed a common pattern.

“Too many successful individuals and business owners were paying more taxes than necessary and making financial decisions without a clear strategy,” Hall explains.

What started as a tax-focused practice gradually evolved into a broader advisory firm. Over time, Breukelen Wealth expanded into areas such as wealth planning, business consulting, and financial education.

The company eventually surpassed seven figures in annual revenue while building relationships with entrepreneurs, executives, professional athletes, and other high-performing professionals.

What Challenges Did Lyshaan Hall Face as an Entrepreneur?

Like many founders, Hall’s biggest challenges appeared during periods of growth.

In the early years, earning trust was not easy. The financial services industry is highly competitive, and attracting clients required consistent networking, education, and relationship-building.

Another obstacle came as the business expanded.

“Early in the growth of the business, I tried to do everything myself,” Hall says. “Client service, operations, sales, marketing, tax work, and strategic planning.”

At first, that approach worked. But eventually it became a bottleneck.

As demand increased, Hall found himself spending more time working inside the business than building the business itself.

The solution required a shift in mindset.

“I learned that building a successful company requires systems, processes, and a strong team, not just individual effort.”

That lesson became a turning point. By developing infrastructure, creating standardized processes, and surrounding himself with talented professionals, Hall was able to scale the company while maintaining the client experience that helped build its reputation.

Why Continuous Learning Drives Lyshaan Hall

One theme appears repeatedly throughout Hall’s career: education.

He believes the best advisors never stop learning.

“Tax laws, financial markets, business strategies, and regulations are constantly evolving,” Hall says. “Successful advisors remain students of their craft.”

That commitment extends beyond professional development. Hall estimates that he invests more than $100,000 each year into personal growth and education.

He credits much of his thinking to lessons learned from books, mentors, and thought leaders such as Tony Robbins, Ryan Holiday, and Dennis Kimbro.

For Hall, learning is not simply about gathering information. It is about developing better ways to solve problems and serve clients.

“Every client has unique goals, challenges, and opportunities,” he says. “The ability to develop customized solutions rather than applying generic advice is what separates great advisors from average ones.”

How Lyshaan Hall Approaches Leadership and Goal Setting

Hall’s leadership philosophy centers on vision, accountability, and adaptability.

When setting goals, he starts with the long-term picture and works backward.

“Goal setting begins with having a clear vision of where we want to be in the future and then working backward to create actionable steps that move us closer to that vision every day.”

Large objectives are broken into annual, quarterly, and monthly milestones. Progress is tracked through client satisfaction, business growth, operational performance, and regular reviews.

But Hall also believes flexibility is essential.

“Our approach is to stay committed to the vision while remaining willing to adjust the strategy when new opportunities or challenges arise.”

That balance between discipline and adaptability has helped guide the company through changing markets and economic conditions.

What Success Means to Lyshaan Hall Today

Over the years, Hall’s definition of success has evolved.

While business growth remains important, he believes professional achievement should support a fulfilling life rather than replace it.

“I believe true success is achieved when personal fulfillment and professional achievement work together rather than compete with one another.”

That perspective influences both his leadership style and the culture he aims to create.

When facing challenges, Hall returns to a simple principle.

“My work is bigger than me,” he says. “The clients, families, and business owners who rely on our guidance motivate me to keep going.”

Looking back, Hall sees entrepreneurship as a continuous process of learning, adapting, and improving.

Rather than viewing obstacles as failures, he sees them as opportunities for growth.

His philosophy remains rooted in the same belief that inspired him to start Breukelen Wealth in the first place: that knowledge, strategy, and disciplined execution can create meaningful opportunities for people who are willing to think beyond short-term results and focus on building something that lasts.

Elon Musk predicted that money will become largely irrelevant within the next decade, a statement that drew significant attention given its timing: the world’s richest man made the comment just weeks after his paper fortune shrank by nearly $700 billion amid a steep decline in Tesla and SpaceX stock prices.

A bold prediction about an AI-driven future

Speaking with The Economist’s editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, in a wide-ranging interview, Musk argued that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and robotics could fundamentally reshape how the global economy functions. “Money won’t matter in 2036,” Musk said, predicting the world would transition into what he described as an era of “incredible abundance,” in which robots and AI systems produce more goods and services than people could ever consume.

Musk framed his reasoning around the basic purpose money serves. “You want money for goods and services, right? You want money for obviously food, housing,” he said, arguing that once AI and automated production make those goods and services essentially limitless, the underlying need for currency would diminish substantially.

Beddoes pushed back on the prediction during the interview, pointing out the apparent tension between Musk’s forecast and the market value of his own companies. “I’m not sure that the people who bought your shares think that money won’t matter,” she said, challenging Musk to explain how Tesla and SpaceX would continue generating revenue in a future where money supposedly carries little significance.

Universal income and deflation concerns

Pressed on how people might live after losing jobs to AI over the next decade, Musk pointed to the idea of expansive government support, replying that the future would likely involve “universal high income” rather than the more commonly discussed concept of universal basic income. He suggested governments could directly issue payments to citizens as automation reshapes the labor market.

When Beddoes raised concerns that dramatically increasing the money supply to fund such payments could trigger inflation, Musk rejected the premise, arguing that inflation depends on the balance between money supply and the availability of goods and services rather than the money supply alone. He said that if AI-driven production dramatically expands the overall supply of goods and services, governments could increase the money supply without triggering meaningful inflation. Musk went further, suggesting that deflation, not inflation, would become the more pressing economic challenge if production outpaces growth in the money supply.

Acknowledging uncertainty about AI’s risks

Despite his optimistic framing of an abundant AI-powered future, Musk also acknowledged significant uncertainty and personal ambivalence about the technology’s trajectory. Describing his own shifting views on artificial intelligence, Musk said, “I’ve gone from exhilaration to terror regarding AI,” a comment that underscored the tension between his enthusiasm for AI’s potential and his stated concerns about its risks. He also weighed in on the global competitive landscape, suggesting China has a strong chance of eventually dominating AI development given the scale of computing resources the country could bring to bear, even as Chinese firms have already shown they can achieve results with comparatively limited computing power.

A steep decline in Musk’s fortune

The interview’s timing amplified public reaction, coming as Musk’s net worth has fallen sharply from its recent peak. Musk briefly became the world’s first trillionaire following SpaceX’s initial public offering, with his paper wealth reaching approximately $1.45 trillion on June 16, when SpaceX’s market value climbed to roughly $2.64 trillion. Since then, his estimated net worth has fallen to around $738 billion as of July 23, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a decline of nearly $700 billion in a little over five weeks.

The bulk of that decline stems from a dramatic slide in SpaceX’s stock price. Shares in the company, which trade under the ticker SPCX, have fallen nearly 50% from their June 16 peak of $225.64, closing at $115.07 on Friday, July 24. That drop has erased roughly a trillion dollars in SpaceX’s market capitalization since its post-IPO high. The stock’s decline accelerated following a delayed Starship launch on July 16, compounded by a broader selloff among AI-related companies as initial post-IPO enthusiasm cooled. SpaceX shares fell for seven consecutive trading sessions, closing below their IPO price during that stretch. Short sellers betting against the stock have reportedly gained roughly $15.5 billion during the decline.

Tesla adds to the pressure

Tesla shares also weighed on Musk’s overall net worth this week following the company’s latest earnings report. Tesla posted second-quarter revenue of $28.24 billion, beating analyst expectations by more than 7%, and delivered a record 480,126 vehicles during the quarter. However, adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.33, falling well short of the $0.5367 consensus estimate, a miss of more than 38%. The disappointing profit figures contributed to a roughly 19% weekly decline in Tesla shares, which closed at $313.03 on Friday.

Not all investors have reacted negatively to Tesla’s pullback. Prominent fund manager Cathie Wood, known for her bullish long-term stance on the company, purchased more than $51 million worth of Tesla shares during the recent dip, signaling continued confidence in the company’s trajectory despite the earnings miss.

A prediction that invites skepticism

Musk’s comments about money losing relevance by 2036 have drawn both interest and skepticism from economists and commentators, many of whom note the significant gap between Musk’s sweeping predictions about AI-driven abundance and the practical, near-term financial realities facing his own companies. Whether Musk’s long-term vision of a post-scarcity economy comes to pass remains deeply uncertain, but for now, the sharp decline in his personal fortune has added an unusual layer of context to his latest remarks about a future in which, in his view, money itself may eventually cease to matter.