Founders: Duolingo's billionaire boss on rejecting Bill Gates

Noubar Afeyan helped bring one of medicine's biggest breakthroughs to the world through Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine. In this episode, he explains why what looked like an overnight success was actually decades in the making.Presenter: Will Bain Producers: Barbara George and David Cann Researcher: Aleeza Siddiq

They are one of the biggest rock bands in the world and are releasing their 25th album this week. So, in a world where artists can make billions from touring alone, should the band release new material or just go on the road?They have earned more than $200 million across six tours, more than $100 million over 10, while many musicians earn less that $0.01 per stream of their songs.Presenter: Hannah Mullane Producer: Matt Lines and Neil MorrowYou can email the team: [email protected](Photo: Mick Jagger on the Pyramid Stage during a Rolling Stones set at Glastonbury in 2013. Credit: BBC)

Sameer Hashmi travels to Riyadh to examine the progress of Vision 2030, an ambitious plan launched nearly a decade ago to transform one of the world's biggest oil producers into a more diverse economy. The kingdom has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in tourism, entertainment, sport and mega-projects, while introducing sweeping social reforms that have reshaped everyday life. But oil remains central to the economy, some flagship projects have been scaled back, and now the conflict with Iran is creating fresh uncertainty over the kingdom's plans to diversify its economy.Presenter/producer: Sameer HashmiYou can email the team: [email protected](Picture: A Saudi man walks past the logo of Vision 2030 after a news conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia June 7, 2016. Credit: REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser)

Rahul Tandon is joined by Han Lin in Shanghai and Allison Schrager in New York to examine a set of stories where markets, politics and consumer behaviour collide. They begin with Donald Trump’s financial disclosures and what they reveal about the relationship between politics, markets, and wealth, before discussing the growing role of governments and billionaires in major technology firms, including OpenAI. And are billionaires heroes or villains? Plus, in China, some western consumer brands are finding strong demand among local consumers, including unexpectedly popular pancake chains. So why are companies such as Nike reporting weaker sales in the country? Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: David Cann You can email the team: [email protected](Photo: US President Donald Trump raises a clenched fist to shoulder height after stepping off the new Air Force One, a plane gifted by the Qatari government, after arriving at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, 1 July, 2026. Credit: Evan Vucci/Reuters)

For decades, Nike was the sports brand - a global symbol of winning. One estimate suggests it sells 26 pairs of shoes every second. Elite athletes wore it as they chased titles, while millions of children wore it as they dreamed of sporting glory. But as competition intensified and consumer tastes changed, the company that once dominated the market began to lose momentum. This year alone, Nike's stock market value has fallen by around 35%. So what went wrong? And can Nike find a way back to winning?Presenter: Rahul Tandon, Michelle Fleury and Will Bain Producer: Rebecca Smyllie Editor: Stephen RyanYou can email the team: [email protected](Photo: Shoppers walk past a Nike store in the King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania, US, 3 April, 2025. A giant Nike tick is displayed in the window. Credit: Rachel Wisniewski/Reuters)

Charlotte Tilbury, makeup artist and founder of the global beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury, reflects on building an international cosmetics business after spotting a gap in the market. She discusses the role beauty and confidence have played throughout her career, the company's growth and the challenges of navigating Covid-19.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producers: Amber Mehmood and Barbara GeorgeYou can email the team: [email protected](Picture: Charlotte Tilbury)

It's the most successful tennis tournament in the world, expected to generate $500 million over two weeks. Yet day tickets still start at around $40, strawberries and cream cost less than $4, and courtside sponsorship remains remarkably restrained. So how does Wimbledon generate so much revenue? We examine the business model behind one of sport's most valuable brands and the debate over how its profits are shared with players.Presenter: Hannah Mullane Producer: Matt LinesYou can email the team: [email protected](Picture: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at a Wimbledon practice session on 26 June 2026. Credit: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/Shutterstock)

Rob Young reports on the huge task of rebuilding Gaza, which the United Nations estimates will cost $70 billion. Across Gaza City, earthmovers load piles of waste onto trucks bound for landfill, while in neighbourhood after neighbourhood, rubble stretches into the distance. Yet businesses are trying to get up and running again: markets are slowly refilling, and supply chains are beginning to reopen. Presenter/producer: Rob Young(Photo: Palestinians ride past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the Israeli offensive, in Gaza City, 23 June, 2026. Credit: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters)

Will Bain is joined by Nga Pham in Jakarta and Carsten Brzeski in Frankfurt to take stock of the week's business stories.They discuss the economic impact of heatwaves around the world, as extreme temperatures affect productivity, energy demand, and economic growth. The panel also examines Germany's plans to reform its pension system and what they could mean for Europe's largest economy.Plus, a dispute over fruit imports is raising fresh tensions between China and Taiwan, as Beijing's purchases of custard apples spark concerns on the island. And after a volatile week for technology shares, including sharp movements in SpaceX stock, the panel asks whether investors are becoming more nervous about the future of the tech sector.Presenter: Will Bain Producer: David Cann Executive Producer: Justin BonesYou can email the team: [email protected]: People cool off in the Trocadero fountain in front of the Eiffel Tower as temperatures rise in Paris during a heatwave affecting a large part of France, June 23, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Abdul Saboor)

Toy Story 5 broke opening weekend box office records, handing Josh D'Amaro a welcome gift as he settles in to the top role at Disney. But he inherits many challenges at the global media company as well - theme park attendance has dipped, overall cinema sales are down compared with pre-pandemic box office takings, while its streaming service Disney+ faces strong competition from Netflix, Amazon and HBO Max. And while Toy Story 5 recreated the magic of the original animated adventure, recent releases linked to Marvel or Star Wars have bombed.This is the latest episode of our weekly Power Players show, hosted by Rahul Tandon and Will Bain in the UK, and North America Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury in New York.Producer: Rebecca SmyllieYou can email the team: [email protected](Picture:A general ambiance of atmosphere during the "Toy Story 5" Paris Premiere at Le Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione on June 14, 2026 in Paris, France. Credit Julien Hekimian/Getty Images)