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The Most Interesting IPO Of The Past Three Years Coming Soon

BNPL Giant Klarna's Comeback

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Hello and happy Sunday! The week is behind us, and it’s time to break down the biggest stories shaping philanthropy, AI, finance, and global affairs:

  • Michael Bloomberg Tops Philanthropy List Again: The billionaire media mogul donates $3.7 billion, outpacing all other U.S. givers.

  • ChatGPT Usage Hits New Highs: Americans visited OpenAI’s chatbot 610 million times in February, an 83% jump year-over-year.

  • Klarna’s IPO is Imminent: The BNPL giant is set to file for its long-awaited public offering, testing the industry’s recovery.

  • Europe Weighs Its Role in Ukraine: With U.S. aid on hold, European leaders debate whether they can fill the gap.

  • Tesla’s European EV Sales Plunge: Registrations drop 45% as competition rises and Elon Musk’s brand image takes a hit.

Michael Bloomberg’s Billions: Why He’s America’s #1 Philanthropist

For the second year in a row, Michael Bloomberg has topped the Philanthropy 50 list, giving away $3.7 billion in charitable donations last year 👑💰. The billionaire media mogul, known for his commitment to public health, education, and the arts, told The Chronicle of Philanthropy:

“I’ve never understood people who wait until they die to give away their wealth. Why deny yourself the satisfaction?”

This marks the 25th edition of the ranking, which tracks the top 50 donors who publicly disclose their charitable giving. Notably, names like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and MacKenzie Scott are missing from the list due to undisclosed donations.

Despite those omissions, the top 50 donors gave a total of $16.2 billion last year—a sharp increase from $12.2 billion in 2023. 41% of the total donations came from the top three philanthropists alone, reaffirming the strong impact of America’s wealthiest givers.

Americans Visited ChatGPT 610M Times in February—A New High

While AI stocks like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Alphabet have taken a hit amid recent tariff and trade tensions, Americans’ appetite for AI tools remains stronger than ever. 🤖❤️‍🔥

New data from Similarweb shows that visits to OpenAI’s ChatGPT website reached 610 million in February, a 13% jump from January and a massive 83% increase year-over-year.

The surge highlights how ChatGPT is cementing itself as a go-to tool for everyday tasks, despite OpenAI’s somewhat confusing suite of product names.

The data also reveals an interesting trend: weekday visits to ChatGPT.com hover around 25-26 million, but drop to ~18 million on weekends, suggesting that the AI chatbot is being used primarily for work-related tasks.

BNPL Comeback: Klarna’s IPO Filing is Days Away

The long-awaited Klarna IPO is finally happening. The buy now, pay later (BNPL) giant is expected to file for its initial public offering within days, with a targeted valuation of over $15 billion and pricing set for early April, according to Bloomberg.

Once one of the world’s most valuable startups, Klarna hit a $45.6 billion peak valuation before plummeting during the 2022 market downturn. However, as BNPL companies pivoted toward profitability, Klarna’s valuation has been slowly recovering, reaching $14.6 billion last year.

The BNPL industry’s evolution mirrors Klarna’s own trajectory. Once hailed as a revolutionary alternative to credit cards, the industry faced major hurdles post-pandemic due to rising interest rates and investor skepticism. But Klarna and its biggest American rival, Affirm, have adapted. Affirm has leaned into interest-bearing lending, which made up 72% of its loans in 2024, while Klarna has partnered with Stripe and JPMorgan and introduced a Klarna Card—which, despite its branding, functions much like a credit card with flexible repayment options.

As Klarna prepares to go public, its success will serve as a litmus test for the BNPL industry’s long-term sustainability in an era of tighter monetary policy and increased competition.

Can Europe Fill the Gap? Ukraine Aid in Jeopardy After U.S. Withdrawal

The U.S. has paused military aid to Ukraine, raising concerns about its long-term support. In response, European leaders are vowing to step up their commitment. At a European Council meeting, they discussed increasing military aid and reducing dependence on the U.S. for security.🛡️🇺🇸

So far, EU countries have provided $53.8 billion in military aid, roughly 39% of Ukraine’s total support, while U.S. contributions have been higher. If the U.S. withdraws permanently, Europe would need to double its efforts to fill the gap. In a joint statement, 26 out of 27 EU leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, though Hungary withheld support. Meanwhile, Trump has suggested Ukraine may need to cede territory to Russia in future peace talks.

From Leader to Laggard: Tesla’s Struggles in the European EV Market

Tesla is losing ground in the European EV market as its sales decline sharply. In January 2025, new Tesla registrations in Europe fell 45% year-over-year 👀🚨, while overall EV sales surged 37%, signaling a significant shift away from the brand.

Tesla’s market share in Europe has dropped from 18.2% in 2023 to just 6% in early 2025, struggling against growing competition from traditional automakers. Additionally, Elon Musk’s political ties to the Trump administration have sparked backlash, with some customers distancing themselves from Tesla. With an aging vehicle lineup and a polarizing CEO, Tesla faces increasing challenges in maintaining its dominance in the European market.

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