Smells Like Teen Money

PRESENTED BY WISPR FLOW

Happy Monday, Future Party. And it’s likely a very happy Monday for Colin Sanders, who cracked the puzzle in MrBeast’s Super Bowl commercial… earning himself a $1 million cash prize. Clearly, it pays not to skip the ads!

Several Roblox users have become millionaires by creating simple, viral games… while they were still teenagers.

The Big Picture: Roblox may be the best example yet of a sustainable metaverse economy — one where people create, sell, and work within a digital marketplace. For many teens, it may represent a new way to realize the American dream.

Between The Blocks: Some games that took only a few weeks to build are earning kids a lifetime of income.

Final Check: Roblox has been around since 2004, but it has truly exploded in popularity over the past five years, paying out $1.5 billion to game creators in 2025… even though the company controversially keeps 70% of all game and item sales revenue.

Still, the top 1,000 developers on the platform earn an average of $1.3 million annually. That’s pretty remarkable, considering that half of the creators on the service don’t have more than a high school education, according to Bloomberg.

Next Level: With how precarious the IRL job market is, having a Roblox side hustle could soon be considered a necessary investment.

…so why are you still banging away at your keyboard for every email, text, and Slack message?

Wispr turns your voice into polished, ready-to-send text instantly. Speak naturally, and Wispr cuts filler words, fixes grammar, and formats perfectly for whatever app you’re in — Slack, Google Docs, and more. No edits required. 

Whether it’s for work or everyday productivity, over 100K people use Wispr to save hours each week.

Try Wispr today on Mac, iPhone, Windows, and Android. It’s free to start.

Professional actors are increasingly seeking new ways to get paid for their skills… including playing “standardized patients” in hospitals.

Why It Hurts: Television used to be the main driver of actor employment across the US. But the end of “Peak TV” in 2023 has meant that Hollywood is now making only about two-thirds as many shows as it once did… leaving far fewer opportunities for day players, featured extras, and background actors to make a living.

Behind The Curtain: For an out-of-work actor, being a standardized patient isn’t a bad day job.

Final Diagnosis: For many actors, any opportunity to hone their improv skills — or work with a script and get paid for it — is a win. That’s part of the reason SAG actors are flocking to microdramas or licensing their performances to AI companies. At the end of the day, there are bills to pay.

Don’t be surprised if some of next season’s background performers on Grey’s Anatomy or The Pitt are discovered from the “standardized patient” ranks.

Prescription: With so many talented actors looking for work, more industries may begin exploring real-world simulations as a way to better train their workforce.

Relaxation never tasted this good.

Cornbread’s THC Seltzers are a delicious way to unwind without the hangover and next-day regret.

Infused with 5mg of pure THC, all-natural fruit flavors, and only 30 calories, they offer a gentle, refreshing way to enjoy a calm and carefree moment.

Save 30% off your first order with code GOODFEELS

43.3% of you voted Yes, occasionally in Friday’s poll: Do you eat dumplings?

“I try not to eat pasta, so a dumpling is a splurge.”

“Absolutely love a good dumpling! One of the few types of food that has a variant in almost every regional cuisine.”

“Especially if you consider pierogi a type of dumpling! 🇵🇱”

“Three words: DIN TAI FUNG.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join Poll Of The Day, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

🎥 David Ellison and co. are looking to eventually work out of the Warner Bros. studio lot and transform Paramount’s lot into a mix of production hub, commercial and retail center, and tourism destination.

🎭 Quentin Tarantino plans to mount an original play  — “an old-fashioned British face” — on London’s West End this fall.

⚽ Lionel Messi now earns between $70 million and $80 million annually playing for Inter Miami.

🚀 Sierra Space has raised $550 million to supercharge its production capabilities and launch into the national security space.

🧼 City Detect, a startup that uses AI to literally clean up cities and neighborhoods, has raised a $13 million Series A led by Prudence Venture Capital.

📱 Some people are getting dumber second phones as a break from their primary smartphones.

🛒 Companies like Booking.com and Expedia saw their stocks jump after OpenAI reversed course on plans to embed checkouts in ChatGPT.

🎲 Both Polymarket and Kalshi are looking to raise funds at a $20 billion valuation.

🛍️ Saks Fifth Avenue is shuttering half of its stores as it emerges from bankruptcy.