1. Top Grossing Actors of 2017
If you want to make your year-end bonus feel like pocket change, take a look at the top grossing actors of 2017. The list was calculated using global ticket sales totals for major actors’ 2017 movies. Even though superheroes and Jedis seemed to rule the box office, it’s the action stars that pushed their way to the top. Coming out at number is Vin Diesel (wait, what?), the astronomic success of Fate of the Furious was a major income booster. He pulled in a hefty sum of $1.6 billion this year (!) with the help of xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. Dwayne Johnson came in second at $1.5 billion; number 3, Gal Gadot — $1.4 billion; number 4, Emma Watson — $1.3 billion; and number 5, Johnny Depp — $1.1 billion.
2. Toronto Zoo Welcomes Baby Rhino
The Toronto Zoo welcomed a newly born white rhino into its family on Christmas Eve. It’s the first birth of a white rhino at the Toronto Zoo since 1990, and the fifth in the zoo’s history. Both the first-time mom and baby are doing well, with the calf eating more than expected and the mom is very tired but calm. You can’t see the calf and mom just yet at the Zoo but there is a video of the new born rhino to watch on repeat. White rhinos are currently listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species so this birth is important for the conservation of the species.
3. Tim Cook Gets a Raise
Speaking of mind blowing salaries, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple is right up there as well. He saw a 46% income increase this year as sales and profits for the company increased – taking home $12.8 million. If you add on the $89.2 million in equity award, his total income was $102 million. Not too shabby. Counterpoint Research says Apple took home 60% of profits generated in the global smartphone industry this past quarter. There has been an increased popularity in older iPhone models as well as the launch of iPhone X which sold 6 million pieces on Black Friday. Tim Cook was also told to start flying privately due to security reasons, not a first for Apple CEOs.
4. Johnny Bower
Maple Leafs legend, Johnny Bower passed away at age 93 on Tuesday after a short battle with pneumonia. He was a Hockey Hall of Famer and loved by the whole hockey community, not just in Toronto. Bower helped bring home Toronto’s last Stanley Cup in 1967. At the start of the 2016/2017 season, the Leafs retired Bower’s No. 1 and at the same time naming him one of the 100 greatest Maple Leafs of all time. Bower was also named one of the 100 greatest NHLers in the league’s 100-year history at a ceremony at the all-star game in Los Angeles last season. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered in Toronto and the rest of the hockey community.
5. Royal Family Reaction
Meghan Markle’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, responds to Prince Harry’s comments on family. Prince Harry recently spoke on BBC Radio 4′s “Today” program and commented that Meghan was enjoying Christmas with the family “that she’s never had.” Her sister stepped in on Twitter when people were thinking that Meghan was estranged from her large family. She tweeted “Our dad is amazing and completely self-sacrificing. We made it so that she had two houses.” Her sister will soon be releasing a book about her and Meghan’s childhood, stay tuned for those details.
