Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion-Chapter 473 - 389: Net Worth Two Billion (7/10)

After James departed on the speedboat, Link lay on the sofa browsing through magazines.

By March, "The Expendables" had been gradually withdrawn from theaters across North America, grossing 130.3 million US Dollars in North America and 297 million US Dollars worldwide, with several countries and regions still showing the film.

This movie ranked 18th on the 2010 North American box office chart.

Produced by Palm Beach Films, "Scandal Plan" earned 71.41 million US Dollars in North America and 122 million US Dollars globally, placing the 38th on the annual North American box office rankings. Though not highly placed, it was considered the biggest surprise hit of 2010.

From box office revenue shares as well as DVD, home entertainment, and cable television splits, Palm Beach Films reaped over 48 million US Dollars, nearly twelve times its cost.

More importantly, the film's lead actress Emma Stone also soared in popularity in the entertainment industry, becoming as famous as the top four ingénues.

Having appeared in both films, plus "Valentine's Day" released earlier in the year, Link was in three films this year with global box office earnings exceeding 100 million each, earning him high praise from the media for his strong box office appeal.

The first three months of every year is the award season in the entertainment industry, with more than ten award shows including the Golden Globes, Grammys, Oscars, People's Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards, and Critics' Choice Awards, all of which Link received nominations or invitations to the ceremonies.

However, due to a multitude of personal matters during these two months, he only attended the Grammy Awards.

This year at the Grammys, he led all artists with twelve nominations and ultimately won three awards: Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Pop Male Vocalist, making him the biggest winner of this year's Grammy Awards.

He also won other accolades including the People's Choice Award for Favorite Action Movie Star ("The Expendables"), Teen Choice Award for Scene Stealer ("The Expendables") and Best Kiss ("Valentine's Day" vs Taylor), and Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in an Action Movie ("The Expendables"), among others.

He was literally taking home awards left and right.

Furthermore, artists under Link Music and actors from Palm Bay Talent Agency also had a rich harvest at various music/movie award ceremonies at the beginning of the year, grabbing more than twenty awards.

Besides award ceremony news, he also looked at the latest Billboard chart data.

In November last year, Lana released her second album "Born to Die", with lead singles "Dancing with your ghost" and "Born to Die" ascending to Billboard's number one spot in succession, with the former sitting at the top of the singles chart for three non-consecutive weeks.

The album's sales were unexpectedly strong, selling 224,000 copies in the first week in the United States, topping the album chart, and currently reaching a total of 1.137 million in the US alone, marking Lana's second platinum album.

The album sales overseas were even better than in the US.

Following its release, the album conquered the charts in nine countries including Britain, France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and Australia.

By March, the cumulative sales had surpassed 500,000 copies in eleven countries, with Australia leading at two million copies sold.

As of now, "Born to Die" has accumulated a global sales total of 8.37 million copies, and achieving diamond status is only a matter of time.

Lana was rightfully considered the top female artist at Link Music.

Following Lana, Bruno Mars also released his second studio album, "Doo-Wops & Hooligans", in early February.

The album's first promotional single, "Grenade", was released in mid-January, dominating the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks, becoming Mars's third number-one single following "Nothin' on You" and "Lighters".

In mid-February, the second promotional single "Just the Way You Are" was released alongside the album.

The song was an instant hit upon release, with first-day sales reaching 860,000 copies and holding the top position on the singles chart for six consecutive weeks, still unbeaten this week.

Both promotional singles had impressive sales, which helped promote the album's reputation, debuting with 341,000 copies sold in the US, and becoming the Billboard 200 album chart winner for three consecutive weeks.

To date, the album's US sales figure has reached 924,000 copies, poised to surpass Lana's, though internationally, Mars's second album sales lag behind Lana's.

While Lana and Mars's albums sold well, fans and the media did not forget him, the man behind the scenes.

He single-handedly handled the lead singles of both albums, garnering huge success in the market.

Now, fans, peers, record companies, and the media all regard him as a musical genius, a master, an influential figure akin to a godfather.

It's said that any song he writes will inevitably climb to the top of the singles charts, whoever sings his song becomes famous.

Some say his songs are a barometer for the market, asserting that to ensure an album's success, one needs only to follow the style of his songs or those of the newest albums by Link Music artists, and they can't go wrong.

The media has made him out to be something of a legend.

Singers eager to join Link Music are numerous as fishes in a river, sending in hundreds of demo tapes every week, hoping to catch his eye and become the next Lana, Mars, or Wiz Khalifa.

After the success of these two albums, Link Music's market value easily broke through 600 million US dollars, with the latest valuation between 620 million and 650 million.

Because of his massive influence on the United States music scene and popular culture last year, coupled with his overwhelming popularity, "Time Magazine" listed him again as one of the 'Time 100,' 'Time Idol,' and 'Top Ten Hot Internet News Personalities.'

"People Weekly" also once again named him 'Sexiest Man of the Year,' 'Most Influential Person in American Pop Culture,' and 'Music Superstar.'

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In the annual music industry power list published by "Rolling Stone," his rank was only behind the CEOs of record companies like Universal Music, Sony Music, and Warner Music, placing him sixth, with Ivanka in the ninth position.

Also, because he's been on fire recently, Link didn't want to deal with the media, which is why he came to Miami to rest and recharge.

"Link, do you want to try the iced tea I made?"

Nozomi Sasaki came out of the cabin holding a silver tray, wearing only a bikini. Tall with long legs and hair tied in a bun, she revealed a delicate and sweet little face, appearing fresh and cute, just like a woman walking out of a Japanese manga.

Nozomi-chan had also come to Miami over ten days ago to join him on vacation. She would keep out of sight when others were around, only showing herself when alone with Link, to make tea, chat, or cuddle in his arms, every wish readily granted.

Link took a sip of the iced tea, made with British tea leaves. It had a cool and slightly astringent taste, with a sweet aftertaste and rich aroma of tea.

"It tastes good."

Nozomi-chan knelt by his side, smiling sweetly at him, snuggling into his embrace.

She had just come out of the cabin, her skin cool and smooth to the touch, feeling great in his arms.

"How are the lingerie sales?"

"The new lingerie brand was launched at the end of last year, and in the beginning of this year, sales in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka reached over 68,500 pieces, profiting 32 million yen. I have the data on my laptop, do you want to take a look?"

Nozomi Sasaki offered as she pretended to get up.

Link waved his hand dismissively, 45 million yen being only about two hundred thousand US dollars. Nevertheless, for a newly launched brand to sell so much was not bad at all.

"Are you still filming?"

"No, I bid farewell to the entertainment industry in September and stopped appearing in the media."

Nozomi Sasaki said.

Link caressed her smooth cheek, "Aren't you uncomfortable with not attending public events anymore?"

"Not at all, I like it this way. The Japanese media have reported about our relationship, and now everyone knows that I belong to you. They respect me a lot, and I get invited to sit in the high seat at business meetings, which is much better than before."

Nozomi Sasaki looked up at him, her eyes filled with admiration.

Link smiled gently; the Japanese public has a strong admiration for the successful.

After their relationship was exposed by the Japanese media last September, many Japanese fans called him a scumbag and demanded he leave Japan. However, as Tesla went public and his net worth rose significantly, becoming a billionaire, the voices in the media criticizing him subsided.

In the last half-year, as Tesla's stock price has steadily climbed, reaching a market value of 6 billion US dollars, Twitter's third round of financing hit 4.5 billion US dollars, and Link Music broke through 600 million.

Just these three parts alone, "The Wall Street Journal" estimated his net worth to be around 1.8 billion US dollars.

Taking into account earnings from global touring and boxing matches, among other things, The Wall Street Journal estimated his net worth to be around 2.2 billion.

In early March "Forbes" valued him at 2.45 billion US dollars, primarily including stock holdings in the aforementioned three companies, shares in Dynasty Sports, Amazon stocks, and investments and income from music, boxing, film, advertising, and real estate.

This final amount of 2.45 billion US dollars placed him at number 398 on the "Forbes" global billionaires list, which was nearly ten times higher than last year.

As his net worth increased, negative media coverage about him in the United States and internationally decreased, with most reports being about his public appearances, rarely mentioning any scandals.

In Japan, the situation was similar; the media stopped reporting on his and Nozomi Sasaki's scandals, instead focusing on their business activities.

Nozomi Sasaki-chan also gained several prestigious titles at the beginning of the year, such as the most beautiful female CEO, vice-president of the Tokyo United Lingerie Association, and vice-chairperson of the Tokyo Loving Heart Association, among others.

Nozomi Sasaki underwent a significant transformation in status, from an exploited artist to a respected woman; needless to say, she didn't miss her old career.

Link kissed her cherry-like lips and loosened the straps beneath her, wriggling on the deck like big fish as the yacht swayed.