Maxim Levoshin

ru_RU Russian
ru_RU Russian

Category: Business

  • Burford vs. Argentina: The $16B Legal Battle over YPF

    YPF’s Nationalization: Where It All Began

    This story deserves a movie. And like all great dramas, it starts with national pride and ends at the doors of a U.S. courthouse.

    In 2012, President Cristina Kirchner’s government nationalized the oil company YPF. Argentina bought the controlling stake from Spain’s Repsol—but conveniently “forgot” about other shareholders, particularly the Petersen Group, linked to the Eskenazi family. Losing the chance to sell their 25% stake, they didn’t fight alone.

    Burford Capital: When Lawsuits Become Investments

    Enter Burford Capital—a litigation finance firm that invests in lawsuits. In 2015, it bought the claims from Petersen and Eton Park, hired lawyers, and launched a legal battle against Argentina in New York. After 10 years, the court ruled in their favor: Argentina had violated shareholder rights. The damages? $16.1 billion.

    The Verdict: $16 Billion and 51% of YPF

    Today, a federal judge in Manhattan ordered Argentina to hand over 51% of YPF shares to comply with the ruling. Those shares are valued at $6–8 billion. And if Argentina doesn’t hand them over voluntarily? Burford and the court are ready to act—the shares are held in a U.S. depository.

    A Legal Thriller with Global Stakes

    YPF shares dropped 6%. Burford’s surged 22%. A perfect example of legal strategy turned hedge fund tactic.

    This isn’t just about fairness. It’s a reminder: not even sovereign states are immune to commercial law—especially when their assets are parked in New York.

    And yes, if Netflix turned this into a series, it would have it all—oil, politics, Wall Street lawyers, an aging Argentine dynasty, a judge in a black robe, and headlines worth billions.

  • Bezos, Taxes, and Venice: Protesters Miss the Point

    Bezos, Taxes, and Venice: Protesters Miss the Point

    Venice Protests: Bezos Rents a City, Activists React

    n Venice, protests erupted after Jeff Bezos reportedly rented out large parts of the city for his wedding. Italian Greenpeace took to the streets with signs reading: "If you can rent Venice, you can pay more tax." But the real question is: does he actually pay less?

    How Billionaires Like Bezos Minimize Their Taxes

    And how?

    1. A Symbolic Salary, Wealth in Stocks

    Bezos officially earns a modest annual salary (around $80,000). But his real wealth lies in Amazon stock. These shares increase in value over time, but that growth isn’t taxed until he sells them—which he rarely does.

    2. Loans Against Stock: Spending Without Selling

    Instead of cashing out stocks, Bezos borrows against them. These loans aren’t taxed because they aren’t considered income. He can fund his lifestyle without triggering a taxable event.

    3. Moving States to Cut Taxes

    In early 2024, Bezos relocated from Washington (which introduced a 7% capital gains tax) to Florida—a state with no income or capital gains tax. This move likely saved him $400–600 million during stock sales.

    4. Philanthropy as a Tax Strategy

    Bezos donates billions through entities like the Bezos Earth Fund and various trusts. These donations reduce his taxable base while boosting his public image.

    5. Family Offices and Trust Structures

    His family office, Bezos Expeditions, manages personal investments and uses trusts for estate planning and tax optimization—common tools for preserving ultra-high-net-worth wealth.

    Capitalism, Clearly Explained

    Bezos follows a classic ultra-wealthy playbook: keep wealth in appreciating assets, avoid taxable events, live in tax-friendly states, donate strategically, and plan legacy through trusts. Meanwhile, protesters chant in the streets rather than try to understand the mechanisms of capitalism or find ways to improve their own financial situation.

    The Wedding Was Moved—But Taxes? Unchanged.

    Eventually, the wedding location was shifted due to the protests.

    But did that result in more taxes paid? Of course not.

    So was this a win for protesters—or just noise, as usual?

  • Why Social Intelligence Beats Degrees and Hard Skills

    While everyone’s busy chasing new skills and diplomas, true winners are betting on social intelligence — the ability to understand others, sense boundaries, spread positive emotions, and build relationships that actually work.

    What science says about human connection

    I recently read Daniel Goleman’s “Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships” — and came away with one simple truth:

    Without people, you’re nobody. And even with people, if you can’t relate to them — you’re still in trouble.

    What really stuck with me

    - Empathy isn’t about being nice — it’s a core superpower

    - A colleague’s mood can literally impact your immune system

    - One toxic coworker = slow-acting poison

    - Your childhood attachments shape your relationship patterns for decades

    Communication isn’t a soft skill— it’s one of life’s hardest skills

    Bottom line

    Want success, happiness, and a healthy mind?

    Train not just your brain — but your ability to connect with other brains.

  • Musk–Trump Feud Wipes $152B Off Tesla’s Value

    Musk–Trump Feud Wipes $152B Off Tesla’s Value

    Today’s business headlines feel like playground drama: Donald Trump and Elon Musk engaged in a public spat that has already caused Tesla shares to plummet 14%, wiping out $152 billion in market value.

    How the feud unfolded

    Musk called Trump’s proposed bill an “utter abomination,”prompting Trump to threaten to cancel all federal contracts with Musk’s companies.

    The cherry on top: Musk accused Trump of hiding documents related to the Epstein case.

    The business takeaway

    Мораль? Не позволяйте личным амбициям и эмоциям разрушать деловые отношения. Иначе рискуете потерять не только деньги, но и репутацию.

  • AI Is Exploding: Why It’s the New Internet and You Can’t Miss It

    Mary Meeker has released her annual trends report — this time focused on AI. And the numbers are staggering.

    The fastest tech growth in human history

    ChatGPT reached 800 million users in just 17 months. For comparison, it took the internet 23 years to hit the same milestone. This is the fastest technological adoption in human history.

    Costs are dropping, capabilities are skyrocketing

    The cost of processing an AI token is approaching zero, while the costs of training new models are growing exponentially.

    AI is already smarter than humans

    AI is working faster and smarter than humans. GPT-4.5 is already fooling Turing test judges — 73% mistook it for a human. Visual models are generating images indistinguishable from real photos.

    How AI is transforming work and education

    AI is reshaping education and the job market. In the U.S., AI-related job postings are up 448%, while traditional IT jobs are down 9%.

    People spend more time in ChatGPT than Instagram

    Users now spend more time in ChatGPT than on Instagram. Usage time has surged 202% over the past 21 months.

    Tech giants are burning billions

    Tech giants are investing billions. The Big Six (Apple, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta) have increased capital expenditures by 63% in one year — reaching $212 billion.

    China is catching up fast

    China is closing the gap. Usage of Chinese language models is surging, and the country is deploying industrial robots faster than the U.S.

    AI is entering the real world

    AI is going beyond screens: autonomous taxis, AI chefs at Yum! Brands, banking assistants, and even FDA-approved doctor bots in the U.S.

    The next frontier: Artificial General Intelligence

    The next target is Artificial General Intelligence. OpenAI now believes it knows how to build it. And this is no longer science fiction.

    Bottom line: AI is the new internet

    AI isn’t just a trend. It’s the new internet — only faster, cheaper, and much smarter. If you’re not already in the game, you’re falling behind. Но как и во всём- будьте осторожны!

  • 4 Smart Ways to Skip Passport Control Lines

    I used to think the only way to skip passport control lines was to be a citizen or have fast-track access. But it turns out there are a few more ways to move like a VIP and save hours of waiting:

    1. The right passport + Global Entry = fast entry into the U.S.

    If you’ve ever landed in the U.S., you know the dreaded immigration lines. But there’s a hack: Global Entry — a program for “trusted travelers.” You register your passport, pass a background check once, and after that, no more lines — just head to the kiosk.

    Eligible passports: Argentina, India, Colombia, Germany, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, UK, Brazil, Taiwan, Croatia, +Mexico, +Canada.

    Bonus: expedited TSA screening on domestic U.S. flights.

    2. eGates in Italy

    Major Italian airports (Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, and others) offer automated eGates for passport control. Eligible travelers include citizens of: the U.S., EU, UK, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, South Korea, Japan, Israel, UAE, Taiwan, New Zealand, Singapore.

    Tourists queue up, but you’re already sipping your cappuccino at the café. Available for travelers aged 12+.

    3. France & PARAFE gates

    Paris, Nice, and Lyon airports have PARAFE gates. Scan your passport, look at the camera — and you’re through.

    Eligible travelers: citizens of the EU, EEA, Switzerland, UK, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, USA.

    You need a biometric passport and must be 18+.

    4. APEC Business Travel Card — business-class lanes without the ticket

    Frequent traveler in Asia? This is a game changer.

    The APEC Business Travel Card gives entrepreneurs from APEC countries:

    — Visa-free entry to 19 countries
    — My favorite perk: access to diplomatic/fast lanes at border control. Personally tested — it’s a joy.

    You can get this card even with a Russian passport — valid for 5 years. A huge time-saver if you travel around Asia and Australia.

    Bottom line: more documents = shorter lines

    Чем больше у тебя паспортов, видов на жительство и правильных карт — тем короче твои очереди. Путешествие — это не только куда, но и как 😎

  • How Marcos Galperin Built Latin America’s Top Tech Giant

    How Marcos Galperin Built Latin America’s Top Tech Giant

    The Stanford Grad Who Built Latin America's Most Valuable Company

    After 25 years, Marcos Galperin is stepping down as CEO of Mercado Libre — the tech titan that:

    — Creates a new job every 3 minutes across Latin America
    — Serves over 150 million customers
    — Grows faster than Amazon on steroids
    — Just hit an all-time stock high despite a falling NASDAQ

    Starting in 2026, Ariel Szarfsztejn — former banker, strategist, Stanford MBA, and current Chief Commercial Officer — will take over as CEO.

    Galperin will stay on the board, focusing on culture, strategy, and AI.

    Why Mercado Libre became a powerhouse

    — Because 19 out of 20 of Galperin’s classmates didn’t believe in his idea
    — Because he pitched an investor at the foot of an airplane staircase
    — Because he solved real problems instead of building fancy slides

    What drives Galperin: conviction, curiosity, and action

    He believes in Bitcoin. Reads Gabriel García Márquez. Tells his kids to "learn how to learn."
    And while others talk about crises, he builds the future.

    That’s a real entrepreneur.

  • How AI Affects Critical Thinking

    How AI Is Reshaping the Way We Think

    I recently stumbled upon a fascinating study on generative AI. It looked at how tools like ChatGPT are impacting the critical thinking of people who rely on their brains for a living.

    The findings? A mix of inspiration and concern.

    Here’s what stood out:

    1. Blind trust in AI shuts down your brain

    Люди, которые на 100% уверены в ответах ИИ, почти не проверяют их. Просто берут и копируют. А это уже скользкий путь к отключенному мозгу.

    2. Confident thinkers keep their critical edge

    People who don’t feel intellectually inferior to AI tend to treat it like an assistant, not a boss. They double-check, clarify, and edit.

    3. AI shifts how we think — from creation to correction

    We used to search for information ourselves. Now, we verify what the AI suggests. It’s less about generating ideas, more about reviewing them.

    4. Fatigue, pressure, and laziness kill critical thinking

    When deadlines loom, there’s often neither time nor energy to question AI. And if you’re not an expert in the topic, spotting AI’s mistakes becomes tricky.

    5. The real danger: going into autopilot mode

    Relying too heavily on AI for repetitive tasks can gradually erode your ability to think independently.

    The bottom line: AI is a tool, not a substitute for thinking

    Used wisely, AI is an incredible assistant. But if you follow it blindly, you risk losing your critical thinking muscle.

    How do you use AI?

  • How MrBeast Built a $5B Media Empire by Age 26

    MrBeast and the $5 Billion Plan: YouTube Meets Silicon Valley

    Пока вы запрещаете детям игры и соцсети, MrBeast планирует привлечь $200 млн инвестиций и выйти на IPO при оценке в $5 млрд.

    From counting to 100,000 to global stardom

    Jimmy Donaldson started his channel at 13. In 2017, he went viral counting to 100,000 live. The internet took notice.

    Game shows, giveaways, and chocolate bars

    Now? He runs game-show-style YouTube hits, recreates Squid Game, hands out cash, and sells branded snacks. 371M subscribers. 66B views. $500M revenue - half from content, half from merch.

    Building the Beast Industries empire

    All profits are funneled back into wild new productions. His team’s project handbook recently leaked online - and it’s pure gold.

    Oh, and he’s just 26. Never finished college. Who do your kids want to be?

  • 💸 From $10,000 to $1.55 Billion: How Jeff Bezos' Family Made History

    💸 From $10,000 to $1.55 Billion: How Jeff Bezos' Family Made History

    Convincing someone to invest $10,000 in an online bookstore in the mid-90s - when most people were just figuring out dial-up internet - was no easy feat. But Jeff Bezos pulled it off.

    🤝 Early Faith in a Crazy Idea

    In 1996, armed with little more than a vision and a primitive Amazon website, Bezos made an offer to his family: invest $10,000 for 30,000 shares in his tiny startup. His brother Mark and sister Christina said yes.

    📈 Insane Returns Over Time

    By 2018, Bloomberg estimated each sibling’s stake was worth $640 million. But Amazon’s stock didn’t stop growing. At $221.30 per share by December 31, 2024 (up from $91 in 2018), their holdings are now valued at $1.55 billion each - a mind-blowing 15,499,900% return on investment.

    🛒 The Company That Changed Everything

    Thanks to Bezos’ obsession with long-term growth, Amazon became a $2.33 trillion titan - revolutionizing retail, logistics, cloud computing, and even how people buy toilet paper.
    Кстати, похожую историю в Латинской Америке прошёл Mercado Libre — крупнейший онлайн-ритейлер региона.