• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

3

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

3

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
NewslettersData Sheet

Which Tech Execs Deserve Some Candy, and Which Don’t

By
Aaron Pressman
Aaron Pressman
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Aaron Pressman
Aaron Pressman
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 1, 2019, 9:11 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

This is the web version of Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter on the top tech news. To get it delivered daily to your in-box, sign up here.

The day after Halloween is known for many things, from the required cleanup of toilet-papered trees to the sugar hangover of much of America’s youth (not to mention any adults who exacted the “parent tax” on their kids’ trick or treat bounties).

But we’re starting a new tradition this Nov. 1 at the Data Sheet. After a somewhat to very bonkers “Techtober,” it’s time to hand out some awards. In honor of last night, and one of my kids’ favorite treats, let’s call them the Not Exactly Redemptive Data Sheet awards–the NERDS.

Halloween Candy

Sour Patch Kids

Whether he was defending the right of politicians to lie via Facebook advertising, explaining why he’d included an often inaccurate alt-right web site among Facebook’s “trusted” news sites, getting spanked by lawmakers AGAIN (this time for for his Libra cryptocurrency plan), or offering a ham-handed defense of the First Amendment that included an all-new origin story for his company, it’s been quite the October for Mark Zuckerberg.

Butterfingers

We also award a Butterfingers (the mini size, not a whole bar, of course) to Hollywood scribe Aaron Sorkin, who used a New York Times op-ed in an attempt to land a few punches on Zuck for promoting dishonest discourse. Only Sorkin got Zuck’s age wrong. And the Gawker lawsuit wrong. And a Pew survey wrong. And he had to be corrected about the year his own movie, The Social Network, came out. There should be some sort of special double award for that one. Give the man a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, fun size, too.

Banana Laffy Taffy

Technically, Adam Neumann isn’t in charge of the company formerly known as WeWork anymore, and technically, the company withdrew its IPO on Sept. 30. But that shouldn’t stop us from reveling one more time in some more bananas revelations about Neumann’s time running the real estate startup. (And to my Data Sheet overlords: I am ready to drop everything and have a meeting with you in Maldives any time.) On the other hand, the laff’s on us. SoftBank’s October rescue package cashed out the former CEO to the tune of $1.2 billion. Maybe the real candy award for Neumann should be a huge sack full of 100 Grand bars.

Snickers

We won’t know for a year or more whether Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg deserved all the snickers they got in October. The former Sony execs now in charge of programming for Apple TV+ faced brutal reviews for some of their initial shows along with a heap of questions about their entire prestige play strategy. Today marks the first day regular people can watch the first few shows on Apple TV+ (including Snoopy in Space!), so we’ll begin to learn how well Erlicht and Van Amburg really did their jobs.

Bit-o-honey

Finally, let’s give Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey some kudos, but just a bit, for his Tweet storm revealing that his company would no longer accept political advertising. Dorsey was only giving up a tiny portion (0.3%) of Twitter revenue, but his principled stand was at least an attempt to protect the integrity of our elections.

Aaron Pressman

On Twitter: @ampressman

Email: aaron.pressman@fortune.com

This edition of Data Sheet was curated by Aaron Pressman.

NEWSWORTHY

I see what you did there. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the FBI and several other government agencies seeking records about the use of facial recognition programs. “These technologies have the potential to enable undetectable, persistent, and suspicionless surveillance on an unprecedented scale,” the organization warned in the suit.

Global race. In China, all of the major wireless carriers will begin offering super-fast 5G mobile service today. China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom are aiming for coverage in 50 cities by the end of the year.

Smell the burn. On Wall Street, Pinterest and Arista Networks crashed. At Pinterest, revenue rose 47% to $280 million, slightly less than analysts expected, and its full-year forecast also disappointed. The stock, which had gained 32% since its April IPO, plunged 21% in pre-market trading on Friday. At Arista Networks, the past quarter was fine, but guidance of just $540 million to $560 million of sales for the fourth quarter was far, far, far below Wall Street's forecast of $686 million. The stock, which had gained 16% this year, dropped 27% in pre-market trading.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

All kinds of companies in various sectors have funded incubators or backed startups. But beloved airline JetBlue Airways may have followed the traditional Silicon Valley model the most closely. The company set up a tech hub in Silicon Valley and started invited startups to pitch them for backing. Out of about 3,000 companies that asked, JetBlue has so far backed 28, reports Wall Street Journal reporter Agam Shah, who interviewed Eash Eash Sundaram, the airline's chief technology officer:

When you think about future-proofing JetBlue, you have your own challenges running a large $8 billion company in terms of the operational and commercial complexity. Innovation has been in our DNA, but the pace at which the innovation is happening today, it makes it incredibly difficult for the mother ship to just put a process in place to evaluate these startups and make sure there are focused teams around ingesting these startups within the company.

FOR YOUR WEEKEND READING PLEASURE

A few longer reads that I came across this week:

A Cybersecurity Firm’s Sharp Rise and Stunning Collapse (New Yorker)
Tiversa dominated an emerging online market—before it was accused of fraud, extortion, and manipulating the federal government.

I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb (Vice)
While searching for the person who grifted them in Chicago, the writer discovered just how easy it is for users of the short-term rental platform to get exploited.

The Drone Wars Are Already Here (Bloomberg Businessweek)
The skies of Syria, Yemen, and Libya swarm with armed and dangerous unmanned aerial vehicles. And the technology is spreading farther and farther afield.

A Road Trip in Mongolia: Bizarre in the Best Way (Wall Street Journal)
Surprisingly, you can tackle Mongolia’s vast and varied geography in one manageable road trip. Expect detours and impromptu homestays.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

The Mobile Price Wars Are On. Here’s How Much You Can Save By Aaron Pressman

Exclusive Analysis: Apple and Disney Are Serious Threats to Netflix By Lance Lambert

HPE’s CEO: China ‘Needs the West to Continue to Teach Them’ By David Z. Morris

Why China’s Digital Currency Is a ‘Wake-Up Call’ for the U.S. By Naomi Xu Elegant

These ‘Secret’ Recession Signs May Provide Clues to When the Next Downturn Is Coming By Erik Sherman

Theme Parks Turn to Tech to Attract Future Guests By Dale Rutledge

BEFORE YOU GO

If we are giving out awards, how about one for the best costume. I'll take your nominations, but the early front runner has to be Sen. Mitt Romney's grandson, Thomas. Embracing grandpa's recently-unmasked Twitter alter ego, Thomas dressed as Pierre Delecto. Genius! Hope he got plenty of KitKats and no Necco Wafers.

Aaron Pressman

On Twitter:@ampressman

Email: aaron.pressman@fortune.com

If You Like This Email...

Share today’s Data Sheet with a friend.

Did someone share this with you? Sign up here. For previous editions, click here.

For even more, check out Eye on A.I., Fortune's weekly newsletter at the intersection of artificial intelligence and industry. Sign up here. 

Photo by Carlos Osorio—Toronto Star via Getty Images

About the Author
By Aaron Pressman
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Newsletters

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Newsletters

Image of colored bar charts with one being pushed up.
NewslettersEye on AI
AI is minting billion-dollar companies faster than before
By Beatrice NolanJune 30, 2026
15 hours ago
Meet the only Black woman chair of the board in the Fortune 500
NewslettersMPW Daily
Meet the only Black woman chair of the board in the Fortune 500
By Emma HinchliffeJune 30, 2026
17 hours ago
The VCs betting founders need a village, not a blank check
NewslettersTerm Sheet
The VCs betting founders need a village, not a blank check
By Allie GarfinkleJune 30, 2026
21 hours ago
Gulf bond markets extend their rally despite uncertain outlook
NewslettersFortune Gulf Brief
Gulf bond markets extend their rally despite uncertain outlook
By Melissa HancockJune 30, 2026
21 hours ago
A close-up view of a woman wearing a striped shirt and jeans, sitting and using a smartphone with one hand in a casual setting.
NewslettersFortune Tech
U.S. Supreme Court limits use of ‘geofence’ warrants
By Andrew NuscaJune 30, 2026
23 hours ago
Why Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe wants his EV company to be compared to Apple, not Tesla
NewslettersCEO Daily
Why Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe wants his EV company to be compared to Apple, not Tesla
By Diane BradyJune 30, 2026
23 hours ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
6 days ago
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Success
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
By Sydney LakeJune 29, 2026
2 days ago
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
4 days ago
'Humanity has chosen to become idiots': This Brown professor switched to take-home exams after a mass shooting and discovered mass cheating
AI
'Humanity has chosen to become idiots': This Brown professor switched to take-home exams after a mass shooting and discovered mass cheating
By Catherina GioinoJune 29, 2026
1 day ago
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
Commentary
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
By Marc AndersenJune 30, 2026
20 hours ago
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
Environment
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
By Catherina GioinoJune 28, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.