Guy Laliberte

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, who blasts off for the International Space Station this week, is an irreverent space enthusiast who has made headlines for splashing the cash on modern art.

The 46-year-old tycoon is the founder of Japan's largest online fashion mall and is the country's 30th-richest person, according to business magazine Forbes.

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte announced on May 24 he intends to try to buy back the world's most famous circus troupe, which is struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic.    

Laliberte, a former stilt-walker-turned-millionaire who co-founded the troupe in 1984, sold his last remaining stake in Cirque in February.

Space tourism no longer looks that far. At this point, 573 is the number of people who flied into the space, but projections suggest that it will increase many times over. Over time, it seems more and more realistic that not only the wealthiest will be able to live out what has been reserved for seriously trained astronauts for decades.

People love to follow the lives of individuals who are rich and powerful. This has been a way of life since the ancient times. The most powerful and wealthy people from centuries ago are still remembered. Some people see these individuals as inspiration to succeed in life, and others just want the scoop on how these rich individuals live.

American private equity firm TPG and China's Fosun on April 20 bought Canadian entertainment juggernaut Cirque du Soleil for an undisclosed sum as the carnival looks to expand in Asia.

The circus troupe's founder Guy Laliberte retains a small stake of the Montreal-based company he started in 1984 and will continue providing "strategic and creative input."