The new Fortune 500 list is already out. Once again, California's top companies made the cut. Apple is placed third on this impeccable list; yes, California's blue-chip companies dominate the new star-studded Fortune 500 list. The Fortune 500 list primarily lists the top US companies ranked by their total yearly revenue. The coveted list included 53 firms that are headquartered in the Golden US State. California was second only to the 54 New York-listed entities. Notably, the 500 companies list is generally compiled, taking into account the results that the publicly-traded companies report. Privately traded company results are also included (companies that have filed financial statements with the relevant government agencies).

As noted, the top 10 California companies on the list include the tech giant Apple. The company ranked third nationwide despite its sales declining in recent months. McKesson Corp, the top pharmaceutical distributor, ranked fifth. Chevron, the renowned oil stalwart, came in No. 19. Chevron ranked relatively well despite the widely publicized scandal involving the discovery of unauthorized accounts. On its part, the banking giant Wells Fargo rose just a little bit to position 25.

Apple, the tech wizard, is based in Cupertino, while Wells Fargo and McKesson are headquartered in San Francisco. Chevron's headquarters is located in San Ramon. Among the Fortune 500 companies, three are headquartered within the Los Angeles city limits. Some of these are the engineering and construction behemoth, Aecom. It was ranked No. 61 on the big list. CBRG Group, the real estate services firm, came in No. 214, and Reliance Steel and Aluminum Co came in at No. 320. Reliance's main businesses revolve around buying bulk metal from mills, processing it, and selling it to various companies and machine shops.

Interestingly, companies led by women did not do so well in the new Fortune 500 list. There were only 32 companies that were led by female CEOs. While this was still a record number, it merely comprised 6.4% of the overall total. And seven of the 32 companies have their headquarters in California. Some of these are Ross Stores Inc, Yahoo, Hewlett Packard, PG&E, Mattel, Sempra Energy, and Oracle. Further, Wal-Mart stores retained their top place on the list. The company earned an impressive revenue totaling almost $486 million. Once again, Ark, the Bentonville-based retail giant, was ranked first. The company has held this position for the last 13 out of 16 years. Ark is the biggest employer on the list- it employs 2.3 million people.

Among the companies appearing on the list, Apple raked in the biggest profit. Overall, the company earned nearly &46 billion. According to Fortune, the 500 listed companies raked in a combined $12 trillion in revenue. This is about 2/3 of the US gross domestic product. The profit margin was estimated at about $890 billion.

Here's a sampling of all California companies that made the list: Apple, Alphabet, Chevron, Intel, Wells Fargo, McKesson, Hewlett Packard, Disney, Cisco Systems, Oracle, HP, Facebook, Gilead Sciences, Molina Healthcare, Qualcomm, Amgen, Gap, PG&E, Aecom, Western Digital, Visa, CBRE Group, Synnex, Edison International, Western Digital, Farmers Insurance Exchange, Ross Stores, PayPal Holdings, Core Mark Holding, Sempra Energy, Applied Materials, Ebay, Netflix, Pacific Life, Tesla, Charles Schwab, Reliance Steel an Alluminum, Live Nation Entertainment, Salesforce.com, Franklin Resources, Nvidia, Activision Blizzard, A-Mark Precious Metals, Avery Dennison, Sanmina, Lam Research, First American Financial, Adobe Systems, Clorox, Mattel, NetApp, Robert Half International, Yahoo and Symantec.

Apple enjoys a rare distinction: Its California's highest-revenue generating company. In the fiscal year 2019 apple raked in about $260.2 billion. The company employs 137,000 people. Overall, the Fortune 500 companies employ a total of 29.1 million people all over the world. The California-based companies that made the list enjoy a combined revenue of a whopping $1.5 trillion. Significantly, this is the 9th year Walmart has performed excellently, making it to the top of the coveted list. Analysts note that the coronavirus pandemic generally took a negative toll on the latest Fortune 500 listing. Generally, as many countries went into a lockdown, the global companies somewhat hit a pause. Thus, the overall profits for the top Fortune 500 companies dropped considerably. The earnings dropped from $1.24 trillion- $859 billion. Over 70% of these companies realized a major decline in profits.

But a few of the best-performing sectors still realized handsome profits despite the coronavirus ravages. Analysts note that these well-performing sectors include household products and technology. The former reported a major rise in profitability, raking in a 106% rise in overall profits. Further, women-led companies also improved significantly. Of course, the women-led company's fortunes are expected to improve even further in the future. And there was another first- two Black women were listed among the Fortune 500 company CEOs. The two are No. 79 (TIAA's) Thasunda Brown Duckett and No.16 (Walgreens Boots Alliance's) Roz Brewer. This was a significant milestone.

Pundits say Illinois' motor vehicle manufacturing future lies in three major cities. Yes, Illinois' fast-evolving auto industry comes down to a thrilling tale of three cities- Chicago, Belvidere, and Normal. The thriving auto industry is famous for producing a range of vehicles, from electric trucks to international megamergers. Very soon, Illinois' motor manufacturing factories will be building a range of SUVs- this is primarily the largest auto sales segment. But the path forward will be defined by several radically different factors. Think of it: In downstate Normal, a usually hibernating auto city is eagerly waiting for the rebirth of its long-dormant plant. How? It's awaiting the electric truck maker Rivian to flip the switch, signaling the start of the production of the pioneering e vehicle brands.

In the meantime, the Fiat Chrysler plant located in Belvidere is still reeling from the big loss of a third shift. As such, Fiat is anticipating a possible merger with the auto giant Peugeot. At the same time, Ford's Chicago plant is already moving at full speed heading into 2022. The plant was recently renovated with a whopping $1 billion budget. Fiat Chrysler and Ford have also ratified a 4-year contract with the United Auto Workers. This was necessary to avoid the prolonged strike that infamously shut down General Motors for more than 0ne month before a deal was struck.

The famous Illinois auto plants certainly face a new challenge. The future of the evolving auto industry now seems to include everything- from assembly lines operated by robots to self-driving vehicles. So, the auto managers (and thousands of workers) have to deal with this new challenge. And the row could spill down to the roads. Making things worse, pundits projected that new car sales would decline 1.2% equaling 16.8 million vehicles by 2020. The National Automobile Dealers Association released these statistics in its annual forecasts. If that came pass, it would be the first time the new vehicle sales slid below 17 million in 5 years. Patrick Manzi, the dealers' association senior economist, said this: "We must accept that most of the pent-up new vehicle demand has already been met. Many people, including those who could easily afford to buy a new vehicle, are likely to be tempted to go for second-hand units." Analysts note that during the 20009 great recession, new car sales dipped to 10.4 million vehicles. It peaked to 17.5 million units in 2016. SUVs and trucks have since surpassed sedans as the natural vehicle for choice among many consumers. They now represent 72% of new vehicles. Manzi says: "It seems that shift is permanent."

Further afield, the startup electric truck makers Rivian received a huge boost heading into its first year of production. The auto giant closed in on a funding deal worth $1.3 billion; this includes some new investments from Amazon and Ford. Indications generally suggest auto manufacturing is quickly returning to normal. Recently there was palpable excitement following Rivian's holding of an open house right in the town circle. The automakers were widely expected to offer some sneak peeks of its brand new sleek prototypes. Many hoped to get the chance to meet and greet with Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. Of course, there were real hopes for a big announcement to the effect that the giant automaker was holding out thousands of job opportunities for unemployed people. Well, the rubber will probably meet the road soon enough. Many expected Rivian's first productions- the high-performance e truck and SUV- to roll off the assembly lines at a former plant owned by Mitsubishi; yes, these were expected to be retooled at the town's outskirts.

The 36-year-old Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said: "Seeing what's in this facility reminds us all of the real scale of what we're doing. Get ready for it- everything we're doing will soon become crystal clear to lots of people." The Michigan-based Rivian, which Scaringe founded about a decade ago, is quickly gaining momentum in its goal to turn into the Tesla of Trucks. The company has drawn more than $2.8 billion in general investments since last year. The benefactors include Amazon, Cox Automotive, and Ford, among others. Rivian recently announced it would assemble 100,000 custom electric delivery trucks for Amazon. These would be built alongside the SUV, Rivian's consumer-focused truck.

Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line set an all-time single day booking record that surpassed the most recent record by nearly 60%;. While the most recent record was for a full season of sailings across six ships, this record was driven by the introduction of one new ship with itineraries for primarily one half of a year. Vista is slated to debut in April 2023, voyages opened for sale on September 15th at 9:00 a.m. eastern and by 10:30 a.m., the number of bookings had surpassed the company's most recent record which was set in March 2021.

";The tremendous wave of bookings we saw on the day we opened sales for Vista underscores the extraordinary demand for our acclaimed small ship, destination focused vacations,"; stated Bob Binder, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises.

On September 15, 2021, Oceania Cruises opened the inaugural season itineraries of its newest ship, Vista for sale to the general public. A total of 18 voyages spanning from April 2023 through November 2023 went on sale. Itineraries range from 10- to 24-days in length with fares from $5,299 per guest to $32,199 per guest. Accommodations on the designer-inspired upper premium ship range from 270 square feet for the newly introduced solo staterooms to more than 2,400 square feet for the palatial Owner's Suites which run the full width of the ship.

";We are seeing exceptional demand from both our loyal Oceania Club repeaters and new-to-brand guests who are attracted to Vista's new restaurants and culinary concepts, residentially styled staterooms and suites, and unique itineraries that present the destinations from a new perspective,"; stated Bob Binder, President & CEO of Oceania Cruises.

All of the bookings for 2023 are new cash bookings with absolutely no dilution from Future Cruise Credits issued for cancelled cruises in 2020 or 2021. Virtually all of the top-tier Owner's, Oceania, and Vista suites along with the newly introduced solo concierge veranda staterooms are sold out for the inaugural season. Nearly half of the available inventory of Vista's inaugural season was sold in one day with 30%; of all bookings coming from new to brand guests. The most in-demand destinations were the British Isles and Canada, the Mediterranean, Holy Lands, and Panama Canal.

About Oceania Cruises. Oceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's seven small, luxurious ships carry no more than 1,250 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired, small ships call on more than 450 marquee and boutique ports across Europe, Alaska, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, New England-Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Tahiti and the South Pacific in addition to the epic 180-day Around the World Voyages. The brand has an additional 1,200-guest Vista Class ship on order for delivery in 2025.

With headquarters in Miami, Oceania Cruises is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a diversified cruise operator of leading global cruise brands which include Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. With a combined fleet of 28 ships with nearly 60,000 berths, these brands offer itineraries to more than 490 destinations worldwide. The Company has nine additional ships scheduled for delivery through 2027, comprising of approximately 24,000 berths.

For the first time ever, a perennial powerhouse in college athletics is naming an official sportsbook partner. LSU Athletics and Caesars Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) announced today a multi-year partnership to make Caesars Sportsbook the exclusive gaming and sportsbook partner of the Louisiana State University athletics department. This landmark alliance with a Power Five athletics department, facilitated by LSU's third-party multi-media rights holder, Playfly Sports, focuses on unique alumni and fan engagement opportunities while expanding responsible sports gaming and education.

";LSU Athletics programs have always exemplified excellence, and at Caesars, we couldn't be happier to partner with such an iconic brand in college athletics,"; said Chris Holdren, Co-President of Caesars Digital. ";We have a proud legacy in Louisiana, and bringing LSU fans and alumni closer to the sports they love while also offering scholarship opportunities will help us build upon that.";

Caesars Sportsbook, the best-in-class sportsbook offering, will receive a multitude of marketing and sponsorship assets from LSU Athletics. Assets include naming rights for the new Caesars Sportsbook Skyline Club at Tiger Stadium, signage throughout Tiger Stadium beginning on Saturday, Sept. 18 for LSU's matchup against Central Michigan, as well as additional signage at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Alex Box Stadium and an exclusive presence on the LSU Sports Mobile App.

Broadcast and digital sponsorship rights, visibility for Caesars Sportsbook throughout all of LSU's 21 men's and women's sports programs are also included in the agreement, as well as opportunities for Caesars Sportsbook customers to attend LSU athletic events and access VIP hospitality at Tiger Stadium through their membership with the company's industry-leading loyalty program, Caesars Rewards.

";LSU has always taken pride in providing fans with unique, innovative, and world-class experiences, and our new partnership with Caesars Entertainment will do just that,"; said LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward. ";We share a clear vision of how athletics and entertainment can come together to enhance the fan experience, and we are excited to join with Caesars to make that vision a reality.";

This multi-year partnership strengthens Caesars' already established footprint in Louisiana, which includes the recent commitments to large-scale renovations transforming Harrah's New Orleans to Caesars New Orleans and Isle of Capri Lake Charles to Horseshoe Lake Charles. It also comes hot on the heels of the unveiling of the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans and the eve of sports betting launching in the Pelican State.

Caesars is committed to working with the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling, regulators and the community to provide responsible gaming resources to all eligible sports bettors in the state and driving awareness of the responsible gaming tools available on the Caesars Sportsbook app. In keeping with Caesars Entertainment's decades-long commitment to responsible gaming, the company will not market to students or fans under the age of 21 or highlight any gaming offers inside campus facilities.

In addition to providing a financial commitment to LSU, Caesars will also create an annual scholarship fund to support Louisiana-resident LSU students. The fund will benefit students pursuing majors in sports administration, commerce and leadership, paving the way for future Tigers in the industry.

";As a proud partner of LSU Athletics, we are focused on creating innovative partnerships to engage sponsors and unlock meaningful new revenue sources,"; said Michael Schreiber, Founder & CEO of Playfly Sports. ";Given the interest in and access to gaming, we are excited to responsibly bring Caesars Sportsbook and LSU together.";

Once sports betting launches in Louisiana, Tiger alumni and sports fans above the age of 21 in the state can enjoy Caesars Sportsbook's state-of-the-art product offerings. The easy-to-navigate Caesars Sportsbook app integrates mobile sports betting with Caesars Rewards, where every bet, win or lose, rewards the bettor with Tier Credits and Reward Credits that can be used to unlock unbeatable experiences within the Caesars portfolio of properties and partnerships.

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) is the largest casino-entertainment company in the US and one of the world's most diversified casino-entertainment providers. Since its beginning in Reno, NV, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Caesars Entertainment, Inc.'s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah's®, Horseshoe®, and Eldorado® brand names. Caesars Entertainment, Inc. offers diversified gaming, entertainment and hospitality amenities, one-of-a-kind destinations, and a full suite of mobile and online gaming and sports betting experiences. All tied to its industry-leading Caesars Rewards loyalty program, the company focuses on building value with its guests through a unique combination of impeccable service, operational excellence and technology leadership.

Playfly Sports is a full-service sports marketing company operating where sports marketing, media & technology converge. Playfly Sports drives outcome-based solutions for brands reaching approximately 83%;; of all US sports fans generating over 230bn impressions each year in pro, college, and high school sports. Utilizing the influence and durability of local sports fandom, Playfly Sports exclusive rights in the NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA, esports, and high school sectors drive value for our local, regional, and national brand partners. Playfly's insights-infused multimedia and tech platforms drive innovation through scaled linear, digital, in-venue, and experiential marketing and engagement assets. Playfly Sports has the unique ability to partner, innovate, and advance the aspirations of athletes, brands, academic institutions, and sports fans across the U.S. Playfly Sports is Igniting Brands through the Love of Fans.