❗Let's close the gap: We still need your help to raise $40,000 by April 1. Donate now
By The Numbers

It’s good to be a former president

Tony Wagner Feb 16, 2015
$1,287,000

That’s what the U.S. Government’s General Services Administration allotted President George W. Bush for Fiscal Year 2014, Vox reported. That total includes office space, health care and other services — on top of the $201,700 all four living presidents receive annually.

2016

Speaking of presidents, the New York Times has made a handy, interactive scorecard for likely 2016 candidates. It rounds up the each candidates progress and parses through the currently crowded Republican field. 

100

The number of banks implicated in a sweeping, year-long heist revealed by a Russian cyber security firm Monday. Hackers reportedly got away with up to $1 billion from the various banks. We chatted with one expert about how much a breach could have gone unnoticed.

$90.7 million

The predicted box office take for “Fifty Shades of Grey” from Thursday night to Monday, the New York Times reported. It’s a strong opening – among the highest for an erotic film, an R-rated film and a film directed by a woman – and it has potential to shift attitudes in Hollywood about all three types of movies. Not bad for what was once “Twilight” fan fiction.

$44 million

That’s how much Colorado made from taxing recreational marijuana in 2014, the Associated Press reported. The market is still in flux, and the state got a bump from tourism last year, but it’s an encouraging sign for legalization supporters, especially taking into account the additional $32 million in taxes Colorado from medical marijuana.

$30 billion

The approximate value of chocolate company Ferrero SpA, the Wall Street Journal reported. Company founder and Italy’s richest man, Michele Ferrero, died over the weekend at 89. Ferrero gave the world Tic Tacs, Kinder eggs and most notably Nutella.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.