Axios

Celebrities aren't the only ones pouring into Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII Sunday to watch the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The big picture: The game — and perhaps Grammy Award-winning artist Usher, who's slated to perform at halftime — is expected to lure 330,000 people to Sin City and infuse up to an estimated $700 million into an economy bolstered by gambling and tourism, per Rolling Stone.

Celebrities and influencers create a "coolness" halo effect with Gen Z and millennial consumers, according to a recent survey by YPulse, a youth research organization.

Why it matters: 69% of 13 to 39-year-olds say they are more likely to purchase brands that are considered cool, which is especially true in the age of the social media marketplace.

IRobot recently announced major layoffs and the departure of CEO Colin Angle, following Amazon's failed takeover attempt.

Why it matters: Losing out on a lucrative merger can feel like a death knell, but sometimes it's a blessing in disguise.

Most money-related books are worthy and informative; some are even interesting. Very, very few of them, however, are real page-turners — the kind of books that keep you up at night rather than sending you to sleep.

Why it matters: These five new money-related books are all really good reads.

With three in 10 people in the U.S. now living in condos and planned communities, many home shoppers need to factor in homeowners association fees as part of their purchase price.

Why it matters: Buyers looking at condos or townhomes for their low prices might not realize HOA dues can run into the thousands per month and can change over time.

Throughout the 32 national anthem performances at the Super Bowl since 1992, most ASL performers appeared on screen for 8% or less of the broadcasted song, according to an Axios analysis.

Why it matters: For the more than 40 million people who have trouble hearing in the U.S., ASL performance is a vital tool for understanding songs, and it's an art form audiences of all abilities can appreciate.

The performances during last year's Super Bowl by Justina Miles, the first female deaf performer for the game's halftime show, nearly stole the spotlight from Rihanna.

Why it matters: That moment, however, like others before it, hasn't been enough to change the messy relationship between the business world and the Deaf community.

The most widely-used measure of the U.S. stock market closed above 5,000 for the first time Friday, a round psychological figure investors have targeted amid a crush of fourth-quarter earnings.

Why it matters: The new record closing high around 5,026 comes as Q4's mixed— but still encouraging — reporting season comes to a close. It's simply the latest step higher in the bull market's steady push into unseen territory, due in part to market hopes for (eventually) lower interest rates.

New York Attorney General Letitia James amended the state's lawsuit Friday against cryptocurrency firms Digital Currency Group, Genesis and Gemini, saying the alleged fraud cost investors more than $3 billion.

Why it matters: The new figure nearly triples the amount the AG initially alleged was lost in the Gemini Earn program.

The European Union this week tightened its antitrust screws on tech companies, announcing that it now will consider the impacts of free products and "digital ecosystems."

Why it matters: Antitrust disputes often boil down to how markets get defined, and this move broadly expands those definitions in Europe.

Owens Corning on Friday said it's agreed to buy Tampa, Fla.-based doormaker Masonite for $3.9 billion in cash, or $133 per share.

The big picture: Masonite shareholders must be feeling the sort of M&A whiplash that can only be soothed by a 38% stock price premium.

Meta will not "proactively recommend political content from accounts you don't follow" on Threads, the company said in a statement provided to Axios.

Why it matters: The policies, which are the same it currently uses to regulate political content on its Facebook and Instagram apps, fill in the details of how Threads and Instagram will handle political content as the election approaches.

"Saturday Night Live" cast member Colin Jost will headline the 2024 White House Correspondents Dinner in April, the Association announced Friday.

The big picture: The annual bash is one of D.C.'s biggest events, drawing White House officials, lawmakers, celebrities and scores of journalists.

Two weeks ago today, President Biden issued a pause on new export approvals for liquefied natural gas. Here are a few things we've learned during the policy's young and tumultuous life.

Why it matters: There's lots of organization and money involved, helping to make this LNG move one of the most intense, well-coordinated energy policy battles this century.

The Super Bowl is the biggest marketing event of the year — one of the few remaining events that most Americans watch in real time. Here are the big trends to look for on Sunday.

Taylor Swift effect: Every game she attended this season got a viewership bump, and the assumption is the Super Bowl gets one, too.

Belgium's government is shopping around an avant-garde solution to Ukraine's money problems, now that further direct aid to the country seems all but dead in the U.S. Congress.

Why it matters: The war has dragged on — this month marks two years. Ideas that once seemed far-fetched or too difficult are now being given serious consideration.

Shamrock Shakes are back on the McDonald's menu this week, but at some restaurants the seasonal treat relies on a machine with questionable reliability.

Why it matters: The Shamrock Shake and Oreo Shamrock McFlurry use a soft serve ice cream machine model that reportedly breaks so frequently that a data engineer built a website to track defective devices. The problem has sparked hacks and lawsuits.

It's National Pizza Day! Time to glimpse inside the growing world of pizza influencers, who have huge followings and can make or break your local slice joint.

Why it matters: Pizza is big business, and this is the week that more pizza is sold in the U.S. than any other week — in part because of the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day.

Chicken wings, the ultimate Super Bowl food, cost less than they did last year, offering consumers welcome relief.

Why it matters: Cooling inflation has leveled the playing field this year for some game-day staples, data shared with Axios shows.

Money can't buy happiness, the old adage says. But maybe combining it with marriage can help.

Why it matters: Marital status is a stronger predictor of American adult wellbeing than education, race, age and gender, according to newly released data from the Institute for Family Studies and Gallup.

When it comes to chicken wings for the Super Bowl, team bone-in takes the trophy.

What's happening: Buffalo Wild Wings sells more than 11 million chicken wings every Super Bowl. Last year, more bone-in wings were ordered.

• Honey BBQ was the most popular flavor during Super Bowl LVII.

The Oscars will debut a new category for best achievement in casting at Hollywood's biggest awards ceremony starting in 2026, when movies from 2025 will be honored.

Why it matters: The first new category since 2001 follows a yearslong push for recognition of the role casting directors play in the success of movies.

La June Montgomery Tabron is the 61-year-old president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation — one of the oldest and largest private philanthropic foundations in the U.S. with an $8.7 billion endowment as of August 2022.

Why she matters: Montgomery Tabron leads a 220-person team whose mission is to help vulnerable children by funding and partnering with nonprofits in the U.S., Mexico and Haiti.