The Obamas Are Getting a Book Deal That May Be Worth as Much as $65 Million USD

White House memoirs never come cheap and it was no secret that those of the Obamas would likely go for a record-setting price. And now we have a better idea of just how much a publisher is willing to pay for their rights: perhaps as much as $65 million USD.
The Obamas have just inked a massive deal with Penguin Random House that blows the doors off of the likes of the $15 million USD that Knopf paid Bill Clinton for 2004′s My Life and the $10 million USD Crown paid George W. Bush for 2010′s Decision Points. Though exact financial terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, the partnership between Penguin and the Obamas was reported by Publishers Weekly to be around $30 million USD for the two books — the former President and First Lady are writing separate memoirs, but negotiated their rights together — though The Financial Times put the figure at a staggering $65 million USD. Ultimately, the Obamas are expected to donate a significant portion of their proceeds to charity and the Obama Foundation.
“We are absolutely thrilled to continue our publishing partnership with President and Mrs. Obama. With their words and their leadership, they changed the world, and every day, with the books we publish at Penguin Random House, we strive to do the same,” said Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle in a statement. Dohle went on to say that the launches for the books would be “global publishing events of unprecedented scope and significance.” The timeline for their release, as well as their titles, remain under wraps.

View the Stunning Finalist Photos From the 2016 Smithsonian Readers' Choice Awards

Andrei Gorbatiuc

                                  

João Borges

                                   

Binh Duong

                                  

Tammy Swarek

                                  

Kerry Koepping

                                  

Mario Gustavo Fioru

                                  

Pedro Jarque Krebs

                                  

Lina Samoukova

                                  

Ben Hicks

                                  

Maxwell Harvey-Samps

                                  

Liam Wong

                                  

Duangmon C.

                                  

Pradeep Raja

                                  

Alina Rudya

                                  

Sofia Verzbolovskis

                                  

Kyaw Kyaw Winn

                                  

              

In 2003, the Smithsonian started an annual photo contest for photographers to submit their work in various categories. This year, the 14th Annual Smithsonian.com Photo Contest received over 48,000 submissions from photographers in 146 countries and territories. In what has become a great way to get the public involved, the Readers’ Choice Award is now open for voting — categories include: The American Experience, Natural World, Travel, Sustainable Travel, People, Altered Images and Mobile. With a variety of black and white, and color photos with a diverse pool of style, it’s anyone’s guess who will win.
Check out some selections above and vote for your favorites here.

CARS: Bentley Unveils the Even More Exclusive Bentayga Mulliner / Koenigsegg Unveils the First Production Versions of the Regera

Bentley has just unveiled its most exclusive SUV, the Bentayga Mulliner. Featuring a two-tone paint scheme, the look will first be introduced on the Bentayga Mulliner before becoming an option for the rest of Bentley’s lineup this April. The vehicle also boasts exclusive 22-inch wheels with floating centers to keep the badge upright, with unique badging and standard color-coordinated lower body extensions. Its lower grilles are rendered in a sleek and shiny chrome. Inside the car, the two-tone color-blocking scheme continues with black and ivory-colored leather applied onto each seat and down to the wood veneers.
Other upgrades include a wine bottle cooler and crystal champagne flutes. Special options include the Linley Hamper by Mulliner — featuring Linely china and silverware and a refrigerator. Or perhaps an automatic clock by Breitling is more your speed, which, according to the BBC, is a $160,000 add-on option. Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but orders will be taken this spring.





It’s been two years since Koenigsegg unveiled its uber-powerful Regera and now the 1,500 horsepower hybrid is finally set to be delivered to eager customers. So, in celebration of the release, the Swedish manufacturer is taking to this year’s Geneva Motor Show to show off the very first production models of the vehicle. While one is a nod to British racing heritage and one of the most iconic liveries out there, the other comes in candy apple red with unique translucent carbon fiber applications. And, as far as additional details go, the cars are set to make good on Koenigsegg’s promises, employing a twin-turbocharged V8 and an 800-volt trio of electric motors alongside Tresex hollow-core carbon fiber wheels, Michelin’s new Pilot Sport 4S tires, a stowable roof section, adjustable racing buckets, a system of surrounding cameras, and much more.
Head on over to Koenigsegg’s website for more on the spoken-for Regeras and look for both to be on display in Geneva later this month.

NEW MUSIC:

         

French Montana link up with A$AP Rocky for his brand new visual called Said N Done.
         

Ariana Grande links up with Future for her latest visual for Everyday directed by Chris Marrs Piliero.
         

Future is back with the release of his brand new visual called Use Me off his recent album Hndrxx.

NEW FILMS & MOVIES:

         

Wade and the other girls from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants plan a trip to Cabot Cove.
         

He’s back. And with plenty on his mind. Dave Chappelle returns with two stand-up specials from his personal comedy vault on March 21, only on Netflix.
         

An absurdist war story for our times, writer-director David Michôd (Animal Kingdom) recreates a U.S. General’s roller-coaster rise and fall as part reality, part savage parody – raising the specter of just where the line between them lies today. His is an exploration of a born leader’s ultra-confident march right into the dark heart of folly. At the story’s core is Brad Pitt’s sly take on a successful, charismatic four-star general who leapt in like a rock star to command NATO forces in Afghanistan, only to be taken down by a journalist’s no-holds-barred exposé.
         

From visionary Director Bong Joon Ho, this grand global adventure follows a friendship too big to ignore. Meet Mija, a young girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend – a massive animal named Okja. Following her across continents, the coming-of-age comedy drama sees Mija’s horizons expand in a way one never would want for one’s children, coming up against the harsh realities of genetically modified food experimentation, globalization, eco-terrorism, and humanity’s obsession with image, brand and self-promotion.

Simone Biles Sports Illustrated Swimsuit

         

U.S. gold medal gymnast Simone Biles makers her stunning debut in SI Swimsuit by showing off her Olympic Goddess body in Houston. Go behind the scenes of her photoshoot, as she becomes a work of art.

SNEAKER SHOPPING W/ COMPLEX

         

Jimmy Butler goes Sneaker Shopping with Joe La Puma at Saint Alfred in Chicago and talks wearing Jordans to the White House, walking away from his Adidas deal, and playing basketball with Michael Jordan.
         

Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson goes Sneaker Shopping with Joe La Puma at Kith in Miami, and talks about working at McDonald’s in high school to buy Air Jordans and why he’d get kicked out of today’s NFL.