Big Tech Earnings Rush: Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Report Results

Wednesday marked the busiest stretch of Big Tech earnings season, with four of the Magnificent Seven reporting results. Microsoft topped estimates on $82.9 billion in revenue, driven by 40% Azure growth, while Alphabet beat on revenue with cloud jumping 63% past $20 billion. Amazon also exceeded expectations, with cloud revenue expanding 28% year over year and topping estimates, while Meta beat on revenue ($56.3 billion, up 33%) and net income ($26.8 billion, up 61%), but missed on user growth.

LIV Golf is set to lose backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund after this season, marking a major blow to the breakaway circuit, per the Wall Street Journal. The league is expected to inform players and staff of the funding shift this week. The development comes on the heels of LIV canceling its planned New Orleans event, with organizers now exploring a possible rescheduling later in the year.

Stephen Curry turned his “Sneaker Free Agency” into a $1.72 million charity haul for the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, featuring 81 game-worn pairs sold via Sotheby’s. The top sales skewed heavily toward Nike Kobe models, which claimed six of the 10 highest prices. Leading the pack was a Nike Hyperdunk 2010 “Christmas Day PE” at $121,600, followed by the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16” at $76,800, with several other pairs clustering around $70,000.

Big Boi is set as an executive producer on We Ran The City, a documentary about the 1996 Summer Olympics. Directed by Jami McCoy, the film explores Atlanta’s transformation leading up to the Games, highlighting crime, politics, and rapid growth through multiple perspectives. The team is also developing a companion scripted series, 96, expanding on the same era.

Chanel has been crowned the world’s hottest brand in Lyst’s Q1 2026 Index, debuting at No. 1 amid surging demand under creative director Matthieu Blazy. Saint Laurent and Dior followed, with Gucci jumping into the top five. Meanwhile, Zara emerged as the quarter’s breakout brand.

Disney will reportedly keep ESPN in-house, shelving plans for a potential spinoff under new CEO Josh D’Amaro. The decision underscores ESPN’s continued role as a “core” asset, despite years of cord-cutting pressure. Disney plans to expand ESPN across cable, bundled streaming with Disney+ and Hulu, and its standalone service as it leans further into its direct-to-consumer strategy.

AJ Dybantsa continues to build his brand ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, unveiling a signature logo with Nike as part of an expanded partnership. The design features a star formed by five Swooshes, reflecting his initials and “pressure creates diamonds” mindset. The projected top pick averaged 25.5 points at BYU and has already earned millions through NIL deals.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is tracking for a massive $75M–$80 million domestic debut, with upside nearing $100 million, and up to $190 million globally, easily topping the original’s opening. The sequel reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt, capitalizing on the franchise’s lasting cultural impact as it heads for a dominant No. 1 box office launch.

FIFA has approved a 15% increase in 2026 World Cup prize money, raising the total pool to $871 million for the 48-team tournament. The decision follows concerns from national federations over higher operational costs for the expanded event across North America. The boost also increases development funding for all 211 member associations. Previous record payouts had already been set, including $50 million for the winning team.

Erykah Badu is set to perform alongside George Clinton in a tribute to Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain at the Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on May 8 in Los Angeles. Janet Jackson will also make an appearance at the event celebrating the induction of Rhythm Nation 1984. The gala will honor 14 inducted recordings spanning artists from Radiohead to Selena, with multiple live performances celebrating landmark albums across genres.

Lids is leaning into the upcoming World Cup with its “Wear Many Caps” campaign starring Jameis Winston and Paul Wall. The spot blends humor, culture, and sport, highlighting global fandom through comedic videos set in an auto shop. Lids is also rolling out World Cup apparel, including jerseys, host-city tees, and hats, positioning itself as a one-stop destination for fans ahead of the tournament.

The CW has struck new streaming partnerships with ESPN and Roku to expand distribution of its growing sports and entertainment lineup. The deals will bring 800 hours of CW sports programming to ESPN’s app and next-day CW entertainment content to Roku. The agreements reflect CW’s shift toward live sports and broader digital reach through third-party platforms rather than building its own standalone streaming service.

Uber is expanding into travel and AI services, unveiling hotel bookings, shopping tools, and voice-powered ride ordering at its annual Go-Get event on Wednesday. The company is partnering with Expedia to offer 700,000+ hotels directly in-app, moving into competition with Booking Holdings and Airbnb. New AI features, powered in part by OpenAI, allow users to book rides via voice, reinforcing Uber’s push toward becoming an all-in-one “super app.”

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