However, not all inventors lived long enough to claim their fame and money. Some of them were, ironically, killed while using their own inventions. Today we’re taking a look at 10 people who are no longer alive thanks to products they’ve come up with! If this is a little to dark for your liking, we also have a more light hearted article covering 10 of the most clever inventions ever conceived as well!

10) Frederick Duesenberg

Frederick and his brother August founded a car company that they’ve named using their surname – Duesenberg. Duesenberg was founded in 1913, and was producing higher-class sports cars. Their company was making each car manually, and so-called “Duesy” cars were considered some of the best cars in the world during their existence. However, that didn’t help Frederick when he was flooring a Duesy on the Lincoln Highway. Due to high speeds, his car turned itself over and badly wounded the driver. Frederick Duesenberg died 23 days after the accident, due to injuries he sustained from it. Duesenberg stopped their car production 5 years after the accident, in 1937.

9) Ismail al-Jawhari

Ismail a-Jawhari is known as the author of “The Correct Language” Arabic dictionary, that featured around 40,000 entries. He is also known for attempting to fly in circa 1003, when attempted it using wooden wings and a rope. During his first (and only) flight attempt, he tried to leap off a mosque in Nishapur so that his invention would make him fly. Unfortunately, it was an unsuccessful attempt, and Ismail died by falling on the ground from the top of the mosque.

8) Franz Reichelt

Similar to al-Jawhari, Franz Reichelt also wanted to leap from tall buildings. However, unlike al-Jawhari who wanted to fly, Reichelt wanted to land safely using a parachute prototype. He was a tailor by profession and assumed that his hand-made parachute would be good enough to glide him to safety. Franz Reichelt, today known as the Flying Tailor, jumped from the Eiffel Tower in 1912, with his invention strapped to his back. Prior to that, he had several attempts where he used dummies, and they were successful. However, his attempt wasn’t. His parachute failed to deploy and he took a hard fall that left him dead at the spot.

7) William Bullock

William Bullock was an American inventor who lived during the 19th century. His most notable invention is the rotary printing press, that greatly increased the speed and efficiency of printing. During his career, he submitted 5 patents to the US patent office, one of which would end him. During an installation of the above-mentioned printing press, Bullock accidentally crushed his toe and contracted gangrene. He died during the amputation of his infected leg.

6) Thomas Midgley Jr.

Thomas Midgley Junior was an American mechanical engineer, inventor and a chemist. During the course of his career, he patented over a hundred products, and made important discoveries in chemistry. He is known for being one of the most important members of the team who developed tetraethyllead and chlorofluorocarbons. In 1940 he contracted polio which left him partially disabled and pinned to his bed. As an attempt to help patients (including himself) to lift up from a bed, he devised a system of ropes and strings that would make it easier for them to sit up. However, four years later he got tangled in the strings and ended up being strangled by them.

5) Alexandar Bogdanov

Alexandar Bogdanov was a (you guessed it) Russian philosopher, writer and a revolutionary mind. Born in 1873, he would become an important figure in the Bolshevik faction, and a rival to Vladimir Lenin. Oh and he was also trying to achieve eternal youth by using blood transfusion. He sincerely believed that he could achieve it, at least partially, and decided to be the test subject. Unfortunately for him, the blood he took was from a student infected with malaria and tuberculosis. The transfusion attempt killed Mr. Bogdanov in 1928.

4) Marie Curie

Marie Sklodowska Curie was famous for being both a renowned physicist and a chemist. Her research on radioactivity was, and still is, of great importance, and she was the first woman to ever win the Nobel Prize award. Oh yeah, she also won it twice. During her time (19th-20th century), the harmful effects of radiation weren’t as known as they are today, so she spent many years exposed to radioactive test tubes she carried around. She died from aplastic anemia caused by radioactive exposure. While she technically didn’t invent radiation, she was a arguably the most important person in the field, so we’re listing her in this list. Even today, her personal items such as her notebook, are too radioactive for anyone to handle without protection.

3) Karel Soucek

Karel Soucek was a professional stuntman who died while performing his job. He is best known for successfully going down the Niagra Falls in a barrel in 1984. Soucek invested $45,000 into the stunt, but made it back easily after gaining mass popularity. A year after that, he tested his new invention, a shock-absorbent barrel, by dropping in it from the roof of the Houston Astrodome. Unfortunately, the barrel didn’t land in a water tank where it was supposed to. It missed and hit the rim, leaving Karl Soucek fatally wounded. He did manage to get out of the barrel, but died shortly after.

2) Li Si

Li Si was the today’s equivalent of a Prime Minister in the Qin Dynasty from 246 BC until his death in 208 BC. Li Si is called one of the two most important figure in the Chinese history, because of his governmental skills that made Qin Dynasty extremely powerful. Unlike other people from this list who invented a product, Li Si invented a certain torture and execution method known as the Five Punishments. And sure enough, he died after his own torturing method was executed on him. The method included tattooing, cutting the nose without an anesthetic, amputation of one or both feet, castration, and finally – death. The last punishment was performed using various methods such as boiling the offender alive, cutting his body into four pieces, slowly slicing it, and more.

1) Max Valier

Max Valier was an  Australian pioneer in the rocketry industry who invented an alcohol-fueled rocket that would kill him during the initial test. He helped the founding of the Society for Space Travel association in Germany, that would one day make space flight a reality. Along with Fritz von Opel (the car manufacturer founder), he started working on liquid-powered cars and rockets. During a test of such a rocket in Berlin, Valier was killed. A rocket he was testing that day exploded and instantly killed its inventor.

Honorable Mentions:

• Michael Dacre, who died in 2009 during the test of his flying taxi device known as AVCEN Jetpod.
• Auriel Valicu, an airplane constructor died from a crash that happened while he was piloting his own, hand-made aircraft.
• Horace Hunly and several crew members drowned after a failed test of his combat submarine, the first one in the world.
• Jim Fixx, the author of The Complete Book of Running died from a sudden heart attack, caused by one of his daily jogging routines.
• Segway Inc. CEO, Jimi Heselden, died after driving his Segway off a cliff into his deathž

If you’re interested in more unusual deaths, you should go ahead and read our Top 10 Most Unusual, Bizarre & Weird Human Deaths list! If you think we should add some additional honorable mentions to this list let us know in the comment section below!

The post 10 Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions appeared first on Gazette Review.

10) The Wheel

The wheel was invented in 3500 B.C. Before this invention humans had a really difficult time with transporting things. They were limited on how much they can carry and they were loosing a lot of time. Although, the wheel is a great invention, the main problem was attaching the wheel to the non-moving platform. So, they came to the idea of a wheel-and-axle concept which had to be conducted very precisely. Well, the hard work really paid off and today we are using wheels in every day life. The wheel is implemented in everything and is vital for the modern way of life.

9) The Nail

Before the invention of the nail, humans were building the wood structures by interlocking boards geometrically, which was much more complex to do. The invention of the nail dates back to the Ancient Roman period, nearly 2000 years ago. Until the early 1800s and the invention of the nail making machines, the norm were hand-wrought nails. Crafting nails technology continued to advance. By the time Henry Bessemer developed a process of mass producing steel from iron, the old iron nails became past. Furthermore, we modified the first version of the nail and called it the screw, it is harder to insert but much more stronger.

8) The Compass

Mariners in the past had to navigate their ships by the stars. That method was very unsafe and complicated due to the lack of the navigation system on cloudy nights or during the day. The first compass was invented by the Chinese somewhere between 9th and 11th century. Soon, the technology was passed to Europeans and Arabs. The main component of the compass is a magnetised needle, which shows north magnetic pole. The invention of the compass was a real breakthrough that enabled safer navigation and increased over the sea trades.

7) The Printing Press

It is invented by the German, Johannes Gutenberg in 1440. It was one of the most influential inventions of the second millennium. The printing press is a device that transfers the ink by applying pressure to an inked surface, which is resting upon a paper. The device was usually used for texts and it really revolutionized the way of describing and conceiving the world. Also, a lot more people gained access to the books, which made big progress in education. Today, we have printing machines that are way faster and precise and affordable to everyone.

6) The Internal Combustion Engine

The contribution to the development of the internal combustion engine was made by many scientists and engineers. The final form of the engine was made by the end of the 19th century. It converts chemical energy into mechanical. When the fuel is combusted, it releases a high temperature gas, which expands and moves the piston by applying force on it. The Invention of the engine led us in the Industrial Age and enabled the invention of a variety of other machines. For example, all cars today have an internal combustion engine because of its high power-to-weight ratio. And when there is more power needed, like in jets or big ships, it appears in a form of a gas turbine.

5) The telephone

Although, there were numerous scientists and engineers who tried to make an electronic voice transmission, the first one who really did it was Alexander Graham Bell. In 1876, he was awarded a patent for electrical telephone. His inspiration for telephone came from teaching deaf, as well as his mother was deaf too. The invention took off quickly and it made communication and global bussiness much easier. There is an actual fun fact that Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, could not call anyone because everyone in his family were deaf.

4) The light bulb

The light bulb is the invention that literally changed the way of living. Many people played their part in inventing a bulb, but the credits were given to Tomas Alva Edison. He created a lighting system that was completely functional, including a bulb, a wiring and a generator. Before the existence of the light bulb, the only lightning that people had was the natural light and candles that were not really efficient. Due to that, people were forced to do everything during the day. Nowadays, we can stay up late and even do our jobs at night.

3) Penicillin

It is the most famous story in the history of discoveries. In 1928, the Scottish scientist, named Alexander Fleming, accidentally left the lid on the Petri dish filled with bacteria opened. It became contaminated with a mold and he noticed that the bacteria were dead wherever the mold was laying. That antibiotic mold was the fungus Penicillium.Through the next 20 years, chemists succeed to purify it and came up with the drug Penicillin. Penicillin is well known to fight a numerous variety of bacteria and is not harmful for the humans. In the 1940s the drug was mass produced and caused a big turn in medicine.

2) Contraceptives

Condoms, birth control pills and other forms of contraception were the beginning of a sexual revolution in the world. People nowadays are not having sex only for procreation, but they can have it just for leisure. Also, the fact is that in countries where contraceptives are used, there is a much less number of offspring by a woman. As a result, with a fewer mouths to feed, people can achieve higher standards and provide more for their families. Some contraceptives even stoped the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases. Scientists continued researches on contraceptives and there are many rumours today about creating a male birth control pill.

1) The Internet

Greatest invention of all time. This global networking system is used by billions of people around the world. The internet allows us to have the access to all the information we want, new ideas and much more. It gives us a great way of interacting with people, running a business, advertising, learning and so on. When it comes to the creation of the Internet, the credit is given to the computer scientist Lawrence Roberts. In the 1960s, Roberts worked with his team in the ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency), who built a network used to connect the agency computers, called ARPANET. ARPANET is the predecessor of the Internet we know now.

This is our top 10 list of greatest inventions. Do you agree with our choice? Is there any invention we missed to mention? We’ve been known to miss a couple here and there so be sure to share your opinion in the comment section below.

The post Top 10 Most Clever Inventions Of All Time appeared first on Gazette Review.

If anything, their athletic prowess is only matched by their dedication to the game and their charismatic personalities off the field.

Top 10 Hottest Female Field Hockey Players in 2026

Without further ado, here are the top ten hottest female field hockey players in the world.

10. Kathleen Sharkey

Born on July 30, 1990, in Moosic, Pennsylvania, Sharkey’s prowess and dedication to field hockey have been evident from a very young age. She began her journey in the sport during her schooling years and rapidly ascended the ranks due to her talent and hard work. Sharkey’s career in field hockey took off at Lake-Lehman High School where she was a four-time All-State First Team selection.

Her exceptional performances caught the attention of many, leading her to be recruited by Princeton University. Here, she not only continued her athletic prowess but also demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to academic excellence. During her time at Princeton, Sharkey became a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and was also named an All-American three times.

9. Frederique Matla

Born on December 28, 1996, in Vught, Netherlands, Matla has emerged as one of the most talented and dynamic players in the sport.

As a child, she joined the renowned Dutch club ‘s-Hertogenbosch at a very young age and was already playing for the senior team by the time she was 17. Through her consistent performance and exceptional skills, she quickly made her mark and caught the attention of national selectors.

Her debut for the Dutch national team came in 2017 during a match against Spain. Since then, Matla has been an integral part of the team, playing a pivotal role in many of their successes.

8. Sophie Polkamp

Born in 1984 in Groningen, Netherlands. She was one of the main factors in the Dutch great generation who were crowned World Champions in 2006 and runners-up in 2010. Also, she has a gold medal from both Beijing 2008 and the London 2012 Olympics. Considering that Netherlands won the Champions Trophy in 2007 and European Championship in 2011 she decided to retire from international hockey. The decision came shortly after another trophy win, but this time for her team Amsterdam HBC.

7. Eva de Goede

The Dutch midfielder was born in 1989 in a small town of Zeist. She is a regular international for Netherlands field hockey team and has achieved even more than Polkamp because she is actively playing for the Netherlands. Eva participated in three Olympic tournaments with the last one of them being Rio de Janeiro 2016, where the Dutch team won a silver medal.

6. Kelsey Kolojejchick

Kelsey Kolojejchick was born on October 2, 1991, in Kingston, Pennsylvania. She started her sports career as a soccer player, but later transferred to playing field hockey. In college, she also did various other sports like softball, gymnastics, track and swimming. Kolojejchick attended University of North Carolina, where she was  a crucial player in the field hockey team and lead them to the National title on her first year in college. She debuted for the National team in 2012, and her first big competition was the 2014 World Cup where she scored 5 times.

5. Ellen Hoog

This AHBC’s midfielder was born 26 March 1986. Since her debut for the national team in 2004, she has represented Netherlands in 232 caps, scoring 60 goals. Her most important goals were in a shootout in 2012 Olympic tournament semifinals against New Zealand and in 2016 Olympics semi-final against Germany.

Hoog has gold medals from all four biggest field hockey international competitions. Two from Olympic Games (2008 and 2012), two from World Cup (2006, 2014), three from European Championship (2005, 2009, 2011) and two Champions Trophy golds (2004, 2005). She was FIH Player of the Year 2014.

4. Fatima Moreira de Melo

Maybe a surprise entrance on this list, considering that she’s retired and now aged 39, but this Dutch-born field hockey player of Portuguese descent (her father was a Portuguese diplomat in the Netherlands) has a very special lifestyle. Her first match for the Netherlands was in 1997 in a 2-1 victory against Germany. She ended her career after 191 appearances, scoring solid number of 30 goals.

In her club career, she has played for three Dutch teams: Tempo 34, HGC and HC Rotterdam. De Melo is a Master of Laws and has presented TV programs for various stations in the Netherlands. She even has a singing career and had been performing at many ceremonies before and after field hockey events. In 2006, she won individual award Rotterdam Sportswoman of the Year, after which she signed a sponsorship contract with Rabobank. Her boyfriend is a tennis player Raymond Sluiter. Now, after her career has ended, she plays online and live poker tournaments for TeamPokerStars.

3. Marsha Cox (Marsha Marescia)

She was born on January 13, 1983, in Durban, South Africa. Marsha comes from great field hockey family. Her father is a former player and now coach, Marian Marescia.

Marian Marescia is known to be one of the best South African hockey players which could not play for national team due to Apartheid. Since her debut in 2001, Marsha has collected over 300 caps for South Africa and is captaining the national team. She was selected three times for the IHF World XI  (2007, 2009, 2010). In 2013 she married her boyfriend, Dutch hockey coach Alexander Cox.

2. Anna Flanagan

This hockey player was born in Canberra in 1992. She is also known by her nickname Flanno. Her whole family played field hockey, so she started playing it aged 5, and was coached by her father many years later.

Anna’s father is a PE teacher so she developed interests in many sports, which is the reason why she has a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Canberra and was working for Fox Sports in Perth. She plays as a defender and is specialist in taking corner penalties. Now, she has 150 caps for Australia, debuting aged 18 in a test match against the Republic of Korea. Her favorite number is 9. In national league, she plays for ACT Strikers. She was crowned as the FIH Young Player of the Year 2012, which stands out as her biggest individual award. Flanagan is an ambassador for a Donar Mate (Organ Donation), National Breast Cancer Association and Cerebral Palsy ACT.

1. Luciana Aymar

Now retired, this Argentinian field hockey player is ex-number one in the World. She was born in Rosario in 1977 and is nicknamed ‘La Maga’ (The Magician) due to her amazing pace and dribbling skills and a lot of people drew a comparison with her and two most famous Argentinian soccer players, Rosario-born Lionel Messi and Diego Armando Maradona.

She is the only player in history to win eight FIH Player of the Year awards. Aymar is famous for being first female field hockey athlete flag bearer, representing Argentina in 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Also, Mayer is second Argentinian in history who have won four Olympic medals. She started her club career in Fisherton, after proving herself, she went to Rosario. After Rosario, she spent two years in Europe, more precisely in Germany (Rot-Weiss Cologne) and Spain (Real Club de Polo Barcelona) and then returned to her homeland to play for Quilmes and GEBA. Luciana was declared ‘Legend of Hockey’ in 2008 by the International Hockey Federation.

The post Top 10 Hottest Female Field Hockey Players – 2026 List appeared first on Gazette Review.

Following her stint on The Voice, Melanie Martinez decided to take control of her musical career rather than waiting for record deals. She began writing and producing her music and in 2014, released her debut EP “Dollhouse”. The EP’s unique sound and Martinez’s lyrical storytelling quickly resonated with listeners, helping her gain a loyal fan base.

In 2015, Melanie Martinez’s debut album “Cry Baby” was released, which further skyrocketed her fame. The album was a conceptual masterpiece that told the story of a character named Cry Baby and included hits like “Pity Party” and “Soap”. The album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), indicating over one million units sold.

Melanie Martinez continued to push boundaries with her music and visuals. Her sophomore album “K-12” was accompanied by a full-length feature film that she wrote and directed, showcasing not only her musical talent but also her abilities as a filmmaker.

Her music is also known for tackling serious issues like mental health, body image, and toxic relationships. With each song and album release, Melanie continues to evolve as an artist while maintaining the distinct style that made her famous.

Melanie Martinez Snapchat Name – Private

While Melanie does use Snapchat, she doesn’t want to make her username public, unfortunately. So Melanie Martinez’s Snapchat might as well be nonexistent. However, if you check her Twitter, she posts her snaps often over there. So that’s a consolation prize for all of her fans. It’s not the same experience, but hey, at least it’s something.

Melanie Martinez – Other Social Media Accounts

While you won’t be following Martinez on Snapchat, there are other sites that you can follow her on. Here they are:

Melanie Martinez Facebook Account – Melanie is very popular on Facebook, where her official page has more than 2 million likes.

Melanie Martinez Twitter Username – Melanie’s Twitter username is @MelanieLBBH.

Melanie Martinez Instagram Username – She has over 14 million followers on her official Instagram page, @littlebodybigheart. Similar to her Twitter, she is not very active on Instagram either. Bummer.

Melanie Martinez YouTube Channel – Her YouTube channel has nearly 15 million followers and hosts all of her music videos.

The post Melanie Martinez Snapchat Username & Snapcode – 2026 Updates appeared first on Gazette Review.

Born in Florida on January 23, 1998, Xxxtentacion had a challenging childhood marked by school expulsions and criminal charges. However, it was during these turbulent times that he discovered his love for music and began to channel his emotions into his songs.

His journey into the spotlight began on the popular audio distribution platform SoundCloud, where he began posting his music in 2013. Xxxtentacion was not an immediate sensation; it took time for audiences to connect with his intense and often dark lyrical content. However, once they did, his popularity skyrocketed.

His track “Look at Me!” became a breakthrough hit in 2017. The song’s raw energy and aggressive style resonated with listeners, propelling Xxxtentacion into the mainstream. The popularity of “Look at Me!” was amplified by its controversial nature – the song was widely criticized for its explicit lyrics and violent themes. Despite the controversy, or perhaps because of it, Xxxtentacion’s fame continued to grow.

He was also well-known for his tumultuous personal life as much as for his music. He faced multiple legal issues throughout his career and his life was tragically cut short when he was shot dead in June 2018.

Despite his untimely death, Xxxtentacion’s influence remains apparent in the world of music. His raw emotionality and willingness to push boundaries have left a lasting impact on both fans and fellow artists alike. His story serves as a reminder of the power of music as a form of expression and the potential it has to connect with audiences on a profound level.

Xxxtentacion Snapchat Username – theheroinfather

@theheroinfather

Prior to his death, he was active on Snapchat under the username @theheroinfather.

Xxxtentacion – Other Social Media

The rapper was also active on other platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Xxxtentacion Facebook Account – X used the name @BadVibezForever as his Facebook handle.

Xxxtentacion Twitter Username – He was also active on Twitter under the username @xxxtentacion.

Xxxtentacionn Instagram Username –  @xxxtentacion

Xxxtentacion YouTube Channel – You can find his former YouTube channel here.

The post Xxxtentacion Snapchat Username & Snapcode – 2026 Updates appeared first on Gazette Review.

The Top 10 Richest Female Rappers of 2026

Without further ado, let’s take a look at who they are.

10. Eve – $10 Million

Eve rose to prominence in the late 90s with the release of her debut album, Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady. A commercial success, it reached the top of the Billboard 200, making her the third rap artist to achieve such a feat.

Since then, she has released three additional albums- Scorpion, Eve-Olution, and Lip Lock. Some highlights include “Let Me Blow Ya Mind (ft. Gwen Stefani)”, “Gangsta Lovin (ft. Alicia Keys)”, “Tambourine”, and “Who’s That Girl”, all of which charted in the US. For her work, she has received numerous accolades including a Teen Choice Award, Grammy Award, MTV Video Music Award, and BET Award.

Aside from music, she’s also an accomplished actress. In 2002, she starred in the comedy film Barbershop alongside Ice Cube, Sean Patrick Thomas, Troy Garity, and Anthony Anderson. She later reprised her role as Terri Jones in the sequels Barbershop 2: Back in Business and Barbershop: The Next Cut.

That’s not all, she also starred in the UPN sitcom, Eve, which ran from 2003 to 2006. Some of her other television credits include Glee, Single Ladies, Daytime Divas, and Empire. She also co-hosted The Talk, which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2020. And more recently, she starred in the ABC musical drama, Queens, though it was canceled after one season.

9. Iggy Azalea – $10 Million

Iggy Azalea is an Australian rapper. She moved to the United States at the age of sixteen to pursue a music career. In 2011, she released the songs “Two Times” and “Pussy”, both of which became smash hits. Not long afterward, she released her debut mixtape, Ignorant Art.

Three years later, she released her first full-length album, The New Classic through T.I.’s Grand Hustle label. While it received mix reviews from critics, it peaked among the top five on several music charts worldwide. It also spawned five singles- “Black Widow”, “Fancy”, “Bounce”, “Change Your Life”, and “Work.”

Since then, she has released two additional studio albums- In My Defense and The End of an Era, the latter of which came out in 2021. Praised by critics, it reached number 36 on the US R&B Albums chart. She has also opened for a number of artists including Tyga, Rita Ora, Pitbull, Beyonce, and Nas.

Not only is she the first female rapper to be featured on XXL’s “Top 10 Freshman List”, but she has also received three Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, a People’s Choice Awards, four Teen Choice Awards, and an MTV Music Video Award. On Youtube, her music videos have also accumulated more than 3.4 billion times.

8. M.I.A. – $14 Million

M.I.A. is a British rapper that’s known for combining elements of hip hop, alternative, dance, and electronic with eclectic instruments. Originally a visual artist and designer, she began her music career at the age of 27. In 2004, she released two singles “Galang” and “Sunshowers”, both of which were met with praise.

She later released her debut album, Arular, in 2005. Recorded in West London, it consisted of 13 tracks including “Bucky Done Gun”, “Sunshowers”, “One For the Head Skit”, “Freedom Skit”, and “Fire Fire”. Not only did it receive widespread acclaim, but it also reached number three on the US Top Electronic Albums chart.

Since then, she has released four additional albums including Maya, Matani, Kala, and AIM. She has also embarked on a number of tours (mainly to support her albums).

More recently in 2021, she announced that a sixth album called MATA is in the works. She later released the lead single “The One”, on May 26, 2022.

For her services to music, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2019. She’s also the first rapper of South Asian descent to receive a Grammy Award and Academy Award nomination in the same year.

7. Salt – $14 Million

Cheryl James, better known as Salt, is best known as a member of the rap trio Salt-N-Pepa. Their debut album, Hot, Cool, & Vicious, came out in 1986 and was an immediate hit in numerous countries. Not only did it chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but it also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Performance.

Since then, they’ve released four other albums- A Salt with a Deadly Pepa, Blacks’ Magic, Very Necessary, and Brand New. Some of their most popular tracks include “Let’s Talk About Sex”, “Do You Want Me”, “Expression”, and “Shake Your Thang.”

As of 2026, they’ve sold more than 15 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling hip-hop groups of all time.

In 2008, they also starred in a reality TV series titled, The Salt-N-Pepa Show, which premiered on the VH1 network. And more recently, they reunited for an eponymous biopic, which was released on Lifetime on January 23, 2021. Not only did the trio star in the film, but they also served as executive producers of the series.

6. Sandra Denton – $15 Million

Sandra Denton, also known as Pepa, is another member of Salt-N-Pepa. As a teen, she became inspired by rock music while attending high school in Logan, Utah. She eventually formed the rap trio and together, they rose to prominence with the release of their debut album, Hot, Cool, and Vicious.

Outside of her work with Salt-N-Pepa, she’s also an actress. Over the years, she has appeared in numerous films including Who’s the Man?, First Time Felon, Linc’s, 3 A.M., Book of Love, Let’s Talk About Pep, and The Perfect Holiday. She also lent her voice to the anthology series, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales For Every Child, in 1997.

From 2016 to 2020, she was also an executive producer on Growing Up Hip Hop, a reality series that followed the lives of children of famous hip hop artists, in which she also starred. And earlier this year, she competed in an episode of Celebrity Family Feud and was featured in the podcast, The Lohdown with Lindday Lohan.

5. Lil’ Kim – $18 Million

Lil’ Kim, also known as the “Queen of Rap”, began her career with Junior M.A.F.I.A., after being discovered by fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G. She later released a solo album titled, Hard Core, in 1996, which spawned three smash hits- “Crush On You”, “Not Tonight (Ladies Night), and “No Time.” Not long afterward, she released a remake of LaBell’s “Lady Marmalade”, which peaked at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

As of 2026, she has released a total of five albums, the most recent of which came out in 2019. Not only that, but she has also headlined three tours- The Notorious K.I.M. Tour, the 2010 Tour, and the Return of the Queen Tour. And in 2016, she participated in the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour, which featured several other artists including Puff Daddy, Faith Evans, French Montana, 112, and The Lox.

She also has a number of television credits to her name. For one thing, she has appeared in numerous reality shows including The Game, The Apprentice, Dancing with the Stars, Dancing with the Stars, American Gangster: Trap Queens, and Celebrities Undercover. Not only that, but she has also appeared in the films Zoolander, Those Who Walk In Darkness, Nora’s Hair Salon, and Superhero Movie, among others.

And last year, she starred in the movie, Miracle Across 125th Street, alongside Nick Cannon and Teyana Taylor.

4. Bahamadia – $32 Million

Bahamadia rose to fame in the mid-90s with the release of her debut album, Kollage. A mix of jazz rap and alternative hip hop, it featured 15 tracks including “I Confess”, “WordPlay”, “Rugged Rugs”, “True Honey Buns (Dat Freak Shit)”, and “Biggest Part of Me.” Not only did it chart on the Billboard 200, but it also peaked at number three on the Heatseekers Albums chart and at number thirteen on the Top R&B Albums chart.

Four years later, she released the EP, BB Queen, through Good Vibe Recordings. Met with positive reviews, it peaked at number 25 on the Independent Albums Chart. Some highlights from the album include “Special Forces (ft. Rasco, Planet Asia, DJ Revolution, and Chops)”, “Pep Talk”, “Commonwealth (Cheap Chicks)”, and “Beautiful Things (ft. Dwele).”

Since then, she has released a third album titled, Good Rap Music. She’s also collaborated with numerous artists including Towa Tea, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Jedi Mind Tricks, among others.

In 2016, she also made a guest appearance in the fifteenth season of Project Runway– a reality series in which contestants compete to create the best clothes with a limited amount of time and materials (her son was a contestant on the show).

3. Missy Elliott – $50 Million

Missy Elliott rose to prominence in the mid-90s as a member of the R&B girl group Sista. She later joined the Swing Mob collective, with whom she recorded several tracks. After many appearances and collaborations, she launched her solo music career with her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly. Upon its release, it entered the Billboard 200 at number three, which was the highest-charting debut for a female rap artist at the time.

A number of studio albums soon followed including Da Real World, Miss E…So Addictive, Under Construction, This Is Not a Test!, and The Cookbook. She’s also received a number of accolades including four Grammy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Hall of Fame. Not only that, but she’s also the first female rapper to have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. That same year, she was inducted into the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame.

And like many artists, she has also appeared in many television programs over the years including My Super Sweet 16, America’s Best Dance Crew, The Voice, Star, and Eve. In 2016, she also made a cameo in the animated sitcom American Dad!. In terms of more recent TV appearances, she was featured in the mini-series documentary, Janet Jackson earlier this year.

2. Queen Latifah – $60 Million

Queen Latifah is one of the most prominent female rappers in the world. In 1989, she released her debut album All Hail the Queen, which spawned five hit singles- “Wrath of My Madness”, “Ladies First”, “Dance For Me”, “Mama Gave birth to the Soul Children”, and “Come Into My House.”

It was later followed by Nature of a Sista’, which featured elements of R&B, jazz, reggae, house music, and new jack swing. Some highlights from the album include “Nuff of the Ruff’ Stuff”, “Bad as a Mutha”, “That’s the Way We Flow (ft. Safari Sister Swatch)”, and “How Do I Love Thee.”

Since then, she has come out with five other albums including Black Reign, Order in the Court, Trav’lin’ Light, The Dana Owens Album, and Persona.

Not only that but she’s also starred in numerous films throughout her career. Some of her credits include Bringing Down the House, Beauty Shop, What Happens in Vegas, Stranger than Fiction, Steel Magnolias, Miracles from Heaven, and The Tiger Rising.

That’s not all, she also starred in the musical drama, Star, which ran from 2016 to 2019. And since 2021, she’s been playing Robyn McCall in the crime drama, The Equalizer. Aside from that, she’s also appeared in Entourage, Let’s Stay Together, Single Ladies, When the Streetlights Go On, and Spin City.

1. Nicki Minaj – $75 Million

Nicki Minaj, aka the “Queen of Rap”, is one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 100 million records sold worldwide. She originally gained recognition in the late 2000’s after releasing a number of mixtapes. It wasn’t until 2010, however, that she rose to fame with the release of her debut album, Pink Friday. Not only did it top the  the Billboard 200, but it also earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album in 2012.

Two years later, she released her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which spawned six hit singles- “Starships”, “Been in the Trap”, “Right by My Side”, “Va Va Voom”, “Automatic”, and “Pound the Alarm.” To support the album, she also embarked on a concert tour, which brought her across Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

Since then, she’s come out with two new albums- The Pink Print in 2014 and Queen in 2018. Some highlights include “Anaconda”, “Only (ft. Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, and Drake)”, “Bed of Lies (ft. Skylar Grey)”, “Regret In Your Tears”, and “MotorSport (with Cardi B and Migos), all of which charted on the Billboard 200 and on the Top R&B Albums chart.

Not only is she a three-time Guinness World Record holder, but she’s also received five MTV Video Music Awards, eight American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, six MTV Europe Music Awards, and twelve BET awards.

She’s also appeared in a handful of films including Ice Age: Continental Drift, Barbershop: The Next Cut, The Other Woman, and The Angry Birds Movie 2.

The post Top 10 Richest Female Rappers – Highest Paid In 2026 appeared first on Gazette Review.

Top 10 Most Valuable Companies in the World in 2026

And that’s exactly what I will reveal to you today.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 most valuable companies in 2026, ranked by their estimated brand value.

10. NVIDIA – 596.8 Billion

NVIDIA is a California-based company that specializes in artificial intelligence hardware and software. Some of their products include graphic processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPU), data processing units, tablet computers, laptops, chipsets, and drivers.

As of 2026, the company has over 22,400 employees across 57 locations, which is almost a 20% increase from 2021.

9. Taiwan Semiconductor – 627.55 Billion

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a multinational company that—as their name implies—specializes in semiconductors. Founded in 1987, they sell central processing units, graphic processing units, microprocessors, motherboards, and more.

As of 2020, they have over 56,000 employees. This number will be going up, however, for they recently announced that they’ll be hiring more than 8,000 engineers in 2022.

8. Meta Platforms (Formerly Facebook, Inc.) – 627.69 Billion

Meta Platforms is the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Oculus, Giphy, and more. Founded in 2004, they recently rebranded themselves as “Meta” after changing their name to the metaverse in 2021.

As of 2026, the company has over 77,800 employees, which is a significant increase from the past year. Their stocks, however, have been going down due to weaker-than-expected revenue growth over the past several months. However, that doesn’t change the fact that they’re still one of the most valuable companies in the world.

7. Berkshire Hathaway – 713.46 Billion

Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate holding company that’s based in Omaha, Nebraska. They own several companies including Dairy Queen, Helzberg Diamonds, GEICO, Fruit of the Loom, Shaw Industries, and BNSF Railway, among many others. At one point, they also acquired large holdings of American Airlines, United Airlines, and other US airlines, however, they were sold in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of May 2026, they closed at over $500,000 a share.

6. Tesla – 872.9 Billion

Tesla is the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the world. In 2021 alone, they sold more than 936,000 cars, which is almost a 90% increase from 2020. Aside from vehicles, they also make solar roof tiles, solar panels, and batteries, all of which provide sustainable energy.

As of 2026, there are over 655 retail stores and service centers around the world, many of which are in the United States.

5. Amazon – 1.56 Trillion

Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. The company started out as an online marketplace that sold books but has since expanded to sell almost everything else from video games to apparel.

In 2021, they made over $469 billion, making them the largest Internet company by revenue in the world. As of 2026, Amazon operates in over a dozen different countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and Ireland.

4. Alphabet Inc. – 1.773 Trillion

Alphabet is a conglomerate holding company based in Mountain View, California. They’re also the parent company of Google, and many other subsidiaries including Fitbit, Nest, Looker, Waze, YouTube, DoubleClick, and Mandiant.

Not only that, but they have a market share of 91.9% in the search engine segment worldwide.

As of 2026, the company is headed by Sundar Pichar, who is the CEO of both Alphabet and Google.

3. Saudi Aramco – 1.987 Trillion

Saudi Aramco aka the Saudi Arabian Oil Company is a natural gas company that’s based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Owned by the Saudi government, they have the second-largest proven crude oil reserves in the world (over 270 billion barrels).

As of 2026, they have over 66,800 employees worldwide. Not only that, but they also have subsidiaries in the US, Russia, Japan, China, Great Britain, and several other countries. However, 98.5% of the company’s stake is held by the local government.

2. Microsoft – 2.211 Trillion

Microsoft is one of the largest technology corporations in the world. Aside from Microsoft Windows, their line of operating systems, they’re also known for the Microsoft Office suite, which is used by more than a billion people worldwide.

They also produce hardware products including the Microsoft Surface, Xbox video game console, HoloLens smart glasses, Microsoft Band smart bands, and many others.

As of 2026, the company employs more than 181,000 people worldwide, more than half of which are located in the United States.

1. Apple Inc – 2.752 Trillion

Apple is the most valuable company in the world. Founded by Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Wozniak in 1976, the company initially sold personal computers but has since diversified into a wide range of products including the iPad, Apple TV, Smart Watch, and iPhone. In fact, the iPhone is the most used smartphone in the world. The last that we’d checked, there were more than one billion of these devices active worldwide.

As of May 2026, the company has a market cap of $2.595 trillion. At one point, they even hit the $3 trillion mark (they were the first publicly traded US company to achieve such a feat).

In the United States alone, there are over 270 retail stores. They also operate in Canada, the United Kingdom Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, Italy, Australia, and South Korea, among many other countries.

The post The Richest Companies In The World 2026 – Top 10 List appeared first on Gazette Review.

But to drink yourself to death, you really have to love drinking (or have some serious issues). And here are 10 people who did exactly that. Without further ado, let’s take a look at 10 people who literally drank themselves to death, one way or another.

10) Amy Winehouse (1983-2011)

Amy Winehouse was known for her deep contralto vocals and expressive lyrics. A singer ever since she was a young girl, she went on to sign her first record deal at the age of 19. Her debut album Frank was later released in the fall of 2003. Three years later, she dropped her second album Back to Black, which topped the music charts in the UK, France, Germany, and New Zealand, among several other countries.

By the end of the 2000s, she had become an international star with numerous awards to her name including five Grammys (Record of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, Song of the Year)

At the same time, she struggled with substance abuse and mental illness. In 2007, she was hospitalized after experiencing an overdose of cocaine, heroin, ketamine, ecstasy, and alcohol. She also admitted to having problems with depression and self-harm.

Unable to fight her demons, she later died from alcohol intoxication on July 23, 2011, at the age of 27. According to the coroner, her blood alcohol content was more than five times the legal amount at the time of her death. Many musical artists went on to pay tribute to Winehouse including Lady Gaga, Bruna Mars, Rihanna, Adele, and Nicki Minaj.

9) Francis Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)

F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. During his lifetime, he published several novels including, ‘The Great Gatsby’, which has since become a classic American title. It wasn’t until his death, however, that he received critical acclaim.

Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he and his family lived in New York for a few years before moving to New Jersey, where his literary potential first became apparent. After graduating from secondary school, he enrolled at Princeton University and began writing stories and poems on the side.

His first novel, ‘This Side of Paradise’ was published in 1920. Two years later, he released his second title, ‘The Beautiful and Damned’, which allegedly was based on the early years of his marriage. During that period, he also wrote for numerous popular magazines including Collier’s Weekly, Esquire, and The Saturday Evening Post.

And in 1925, he wrote the American classic, ‘The Great Gatsby’. While it received positive reviews, however, it was a commercial failure. The Great Depression didn’t help either and Fitzgerald soon found himself struggling financially.

Desperate to get himself back on his feet, he moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a screenwriter. He also indulged himself in alcohol. At one point, he drank nearly 40 beers a day.

And that took a toll on his health. On December 20, 1940, Fitzgerald lapsed into consciousness during the premiere of This Thing Called Love. He was later pronounced dead by officials. He was 44 years old.

8) Verne Troyer (1969-2018)

Verne Troyer is best known for portraying Mini-Me in the spy film series Austin Powers. Born with cartilage-hair hypoplasia, he stood 2 ft 8 inches tall. However, his parents never treated him any different than his siblings.

In 1994, he made his acting debut as a stunt double in the film Baby’s Day Out. He also appeared in the movies Jingle All the Way, My Giant, Dunston Checks In, and Men In Black.

Several years later, he was asked to portray the role of Mini-Me in the second Austin Power film. Impressed by his acting, Mike Myers, the co-creator of the series actually rewrote the script to give him more screen time. Troyer later reprised his role in the sequel Powers in Goldmember, which came out in 2002.

He also played supporting roles in the popular films The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Harry Potter and the Sorcerous Stone. He made several appearances as himself as well in the reality series Welcome to Sweden and The Surreal Life.

Health-wise, however, he’d struggled with depression and alcohol abuse for many years. In fact, he had talked about it several times on television.

On April 21, 2018, Troyer died at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 49 years old. According to the LA coroner’s office, his official cause of death was suicide secondary to alcohol poisoning.

7) Cory Monteith (1982-2013)

Cory Monteith is best known for his portrayal of Finn Hudson in the musical drama Glee. He also appeared in the films Sisters & Brothers and Monte Carlo.

Growing up, however, he had a troubled adolescence. By the time he was 13, he was using both marijuana and alcohol. And by the time he was 16, he had dropped out of school altogether. Dependant on drugs and alcohol, he turned to petty crimes to fund his addictions. Fortunately, he was able to turn things around after attending a rehabilitation program.

After working various jobs here and there, he made his acting debut in the TV series Stargate Atlantis. He also played minor roles in Smallville, Flash Gordon, and Supernatural.

It wasn’t until 2009, when he was cast in Glee, that he rose to stardom. He ultimately played the role of the star quarterback for four seasons, up until his death.

In July 2013, just a few months after another stay in rehab, he was found dead in his hotel room in Downtown Vancouver. According to reports, hotel staff had entered his room after he failed to check out after a seven-night stay. His official cause of death was later determined to be ‘mixed drug toxicity’ consisting of alcohol and heroin.

The following September, an extended tribute for the actor played during the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards.

6) Dolores O’Riordan (1971-2018)

Dolores O’Riordan was the lead singer for the alternative rock band the Cranberries. Known for her deep mezzo-soprano voice, she had released several albums with the group including No Need to Argue, To the Faithful Departed, and Bury the Hatcher, all of which topped multiple music charts. By the mid-90s, they had reached international stardom with millions of record sales worldwide.

Fast forward to the 2000s and she had released two solo albums: Are You Listening and No Baggage, both of which received favorable reviews.

Her success came with a cost, however. In addition to depression, which she’d struggled with for many years, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2015. And her mental health issues were only made worse with alcohol use.

In January 2018, she traveled to London to meet with the representatives of BMG to talk about a new Cranberries album. Ultimately, it was during that trip that she was found unresponsive in her hotel room. She was later pronounced dead by officials.

The official cause of death was determined to be accidental drowning caused by alcohol intoxication. Several prescription drugs were found in her system as well.

She was later buried at Saint Ailbe’s Roman Catholic Church in County Limerick.

5) Billie Holiday (1915-1959)

Billie Holiday is considered to be one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. As a child, however, she lived a difficult life. A child of poverty, she was raised mainly by her mother-in-law and frequently skipped school.

After a difficult childhood, she began singing in various nightclubs as a teen. Ultimately, it was there that she caught the attention of John Hammond, who liked her voice. She subsequently landed a recording deal with Brunswick Records in 1935. By the 1940s, she had recorded numerous hits, most of which had found their way onto music charts.

While she was a talented singer, however, she was also a hardcore alcoholic (her drink of choice was gin and port wine). She also smoked and used heroin throughout her life. And in 1959, her lifestyle had caught up to her; she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.

That same year, she was diagnosed with heart disease and on July 17, 1959, she died of heart failure and pulmonary edema, both of which were caused by the cirrhosis.

Following her death, she received four posthumous Grammy Awards for Best Historical Album. She was also inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and Grammy Hall of Fame.

4) Alexi Laiho (1979-2020)

Alexi Lailo was best known as the lead singer of the death metal band Children of Bodom. He also played the guitar for Bodom After Midnight, which they’d put together just a few months prior to his death.

Born in Espoo, Finland, Lailo had always been one for music. He took up violin at the age of 7 and began playing the guitar at the age of 11. After a short stint with an experimental band, he formed Children of Bodom (then known as IneartheD) with Jasaka Raatikainen in 1993. Some of their best hits include Downfall, Hate Me!, You’re Better Off Dead!, In Your Face, and Blooddrunk, all of which peaked at number one in Finland. He’d also recorded three albums with Sinergy, a Finnish heavy metal band whom he’d played the guitar for.

However, he’d always had a rocky relationship with alcohol. While he swore off drinking while on tour, he’d still drink when he’s not on the road.

On December 29, 2020, it was announced that he had died of alcohol-induced liver degeneration, something that was caused by his years of excessive drinking. Several songs that he’d recorded with Bodom After Midnight were later released posthumously. Instead of replacing Laiho, however, it was announced that the group would be disbanding.

3) Peter Cook (1937-1995)

Peter Cook was a comedic actor and satirist. Born in Torquay, he attended college in Cambridge and after graduating, created the comedy stage revue Beyond the Fringe. He also started a comedy club in Soho, Central London, which remained open until 1964.

However, he’s perhaps best known for his television projects. Aside from Not Only…But Also, which earned him a British Academy Television Award, he also appeared in the films Bedazzled and The Wrong Box. At one point in the late 1970s, he even co-presented Saturday Night Live.

While he’d always been a drinker, it wasn’t until the 70s that his problems became apparent. According to his wife, he would be drunk every night. Aside from wine, which he would drink several bottles of, he would also drink vodka and several glasses of lager a day.

The long-term drinking took its toll, however, and on January 9, 1995, he died from a gastrointestinal haemorrhage, a complication that likely resulted from his years of drinking. He was 57 years old. He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and his ashes were buried in an unmarked plot not far from his Perrins Walk home.

2) Veronica Lake (1922-1973)

Veronica Lake was a television and film actress. During the 1940s, she played numerous femme fatale roles with Alan Ladd, which brought her to stardom. She also appeared in in the films I Married a Witch and Sullivan’s Travels and had many stage credits to her name.

Due to her alcoholism, however, her career began to decline by the late 1940s. As a result, she only appeared in one film in the 1950s. She later returned to the big screen in the thriller Footsteps in the Snow, but it would fail to restart her career. In 1970, she played her final film role in the horror movie Footsteps in the Snow.

A few years later, after returning from an autobiography tour, she visited the doctor for stomach pains. She was subsequently diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and checked into the University of Vermont Medical Centre. Despite the doctor’s best efforts, she died of acute kidney injury and acute hepatitis on July 7, 1973. A memorial service was held and her ashes were scattered in the waters off Miami.

1) Jeff Hanneman (1964-2013)

Jeff Hanneman was the lead guitarist of the thrash metal brand Slayer, which he’d helped establish back in 1981. Born in Oakland, California, he grew up in Long Beach where he often joined his brothers in constructing plane models. He was later introduced to heavy metal music through his sister Mary, who was a fan of Black Sabbath.

By the time he was 17, he’d formed the Slayers with Kerry King, Tom Araya, and Dave Lombardo. The group started out as a cover band before starting to compose their own music. Their debut album Show No Mercy was later released in 1983. They eventually recorded several others, many of which have received gold certification in the US. They later disbanded in 2019 after embarking on a farewell tour.

In May 2013, it was announced that Hanneman had died in a hospital near his home. The official cause of death, according to reports, was alcohol-related cirrhosis. While he’d always been a drinker, his family and friends had been unaware of the severity of his condition.

The post 10 Celebrity Alcoholics Who Drank Themselves To Death appeared first on Gazette Review.

For those who are wondering, those who are just starting out in the NBA are typically paid $60,000 to $100,000 per year. As a newbie, however, they’re rarely involved in playoff games due to lack of experience; it isn’t until they’ve been with the league for many years that they’re assigned to playoffs and finals. Until then, they are only assigned to regular games.

For veteran NBA referees, however, playoffs and finals are an additional source of income on top of their yearly salary. Depending on their tenure status, they can earn upward of $29,000 per semifinal/final game and $9,000 per playoff match.

Who are these highly-decorated referees? How much do they make? Keep reading to find out!

10. Eric Lewis – $500,000

Originally from Daytona Beach, Deric Lewis was a member of the basketball team at Mainland High School and Bethune Cookman College. After graduating, he refereed college and high school basketball, the latter of which he did for six years.

With the NBA, he has officiated more than 930 regular-season games, including 46 playoffs. He also spent a few seasons officiating in the NBA G League in addition to working in the USBL.

For the 2021-22 season, it’s estimated that he earned $500,000. While his per match fees and play-off fees are the same as the other referees listed on this page ($7,000 and $9,000 respectively), his semifinal and final match fees are a little lower at $25,000 (as opposed to $29,000).

9. Marc Davis – $550,000

Marc Davis is one of the league’s top performers, having worked over 21 seasons as an NBA official. Over the years, he has refereed nearly 1,300 regular-season games and over 130 playoff games, including 12 Finals. He also called the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans in 2014.

In addition to working with the NBA, he has three years of collegiate basketball experience and three years of CBA officiating experience. He was also given the Honorary Nate Humphries Award by the Chicago Public League Coaches Association in 2000.

It’s estimated that he earns $550,000 as a full-time NBA referee.

8. Tom Washington – $550,000

Tom Washington has been a referee with the NBA for over 28 seasons. Throughout the years, he’s officiated more than 1,600 regular-season games and has worked 172 playoffs, including four NBA Finals. He also called the 2004 All-Star Game in Los Angeles and the 2017 All-Star Game in New Orleans. His most memorable game was his first NBA Finals—the match between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics during Game 4 of the 2008 Finals.

Outside of the NBA, he has one year of collegiate officiating experience and two years of CBA officiating experience. He has also refereed several years of high school basketball in his hometown of Philadelphia.

Like most veteran referees, he makes $7,000 per match in fees and has a yearly salary of $550,000.

7. Pat Fraher – $550,000

Pat Fraher has been with the NBA for over 18 seasons. Over the years, he has refereed more than 1,100 regular-season games and 50 playoff games. He also called the NBA All-Star Game in New York in 2015.

Prior to refereeing for the NBA, he officiated in the CBA, where he worked the All Star and Finals games. He also spent several years in the WNBA and has 10 years of experience refereeing high school basketball. As a teen, he also played football and golf while he was a student at Hastings High School in Minnesota.

It’s estimated that he makes $550,000 per year from refereeing, including bonuses from officiating playoff and final games.

6. Ken Mauer – $550,000

Ken Mauser is one of the longest-tenured NBA referees, having worked there since the 1986-87 season. A 1977 University of Minnesota graduate, he officiated for nine years at the collegiate level and six years in the CBA before working for the NBA.

Throughout his career, he has officiated more than 1,935 regular-season games and 210 playoff games, including 19 NBA Finals. He also refereed Michael Jordan’s first game back from retirement when the Indiana Pacers went up against the Chicago Bulls in 1995.

Due to the vaccine mandate, however, he was ‘forced’ to end his 36-year career with the NBA in 2022. Prior to that, he’d been earning at least $550,000 a year.

5. Scott Foster – $550,000

Scott Foster has been officiating since the 1994-95 season. Over the course of his 28-year NBA career, he has officiated 1,700 regular-season games and has called 14 NBA Finals, including the one between the Bucks and Suns in 2021. His most memorable assignment, however, is Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

Outside of the NBA, he has two years of collegiate officiating experience in the Big South and Southern conferences and two years of CBA officiating experience. He has also refereed high school basketball for six years in Maryland.

As of 2021-22, he earns $550,000 a year.

4. Rodney Mott – $550,000

Rodney Mott joined the NBA in 1998. Prior to that, he worked with the Los Angeles Pro-Am League and the CBA; he also refereed college and high school basketball.

Throughout his 23 seasons as an NBA referee, he has officiated over 1,2500 regular-season games and 35 playoff games. In 2013, he also worked at the NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas.

A senior referee, he makes an annual salary of $550,000, which is among the highest in the NBA.

3. Tony Brothers – $550,000

Tony Brothers has been a referee in the NBA for nearly three decades, since the 1994-95 season. He wears the uniform number 25 and has officiated more than 1,400 regular season games including 170 playoffs and 9 NBA Finals. His most memorable assignment, according to his official profile, was Game 2 of the 2012 Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat, which was also his first NBA Finals Game.

Prior to working in the NBA, he officiated in the CBA, where he took part in three CBA finals and one All-Star Game. He also refereed high school basketball for seven years in Virginia.

One of the highest-paid NBA referees in the 2021-22 season, his yearly earnings is estimated at $550,000.

2. Sean Corbin – $550,000

Sean Corbin has worked as an NBA official for over 24 years. Originally from Baltimore, he attended Coppin State University, where he played basketball and baseball.

At the age of 32, he landed a referee position at the the NBA. By then, he had several years of collegiate officiating experience in the Southeastern, Southern, Big East, Metro Atlantic, and Mid-Eastern Athletic conferences. Throughout his career, he’s refereed over 1,330 regular-season games and nearly 80 playoff games. He also worked at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2007 NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas.

As with most top-paid referees, his yearly salary is around the $550,000 mark (he earns $7k per match and $29K per semifinal and final match).

1. James Capers – $550,000

James Capers has officiated more than 1,300 games throughout his NBA career. A former salesman, he refereed high school basketball for several years before getting into the NBA with Xerox.

Since then, he’s worked 135 playoff games, including 10 Finals. He also officiated the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, California in 2018. What’s interesting, is that his father, James Capers Sr. was also a former NBA official. In fact, it was partly due to him that he got into refereeing in the first place.

In terms of salary, it’s estimated that he brings in $550,000 a year. From play-off matches alone, he earns $9,000 per game in fees. Given that, it’s not surprising to know that he’s at the top of our list.

The post Top 10 Highest Paid NBA Referees in 2026 appeared first on Gazette Review.