They have evolved into highly prized collectibles, with some fetching staggering prices at auctions and private sales. This article will delve into the realm of the top 10 most expensive and valuable action figures that have ever been bought or sold.

Top 10 Most Expensive and Valuable Action Figures in 2026

Without further ado, here are the most valuable action figures in the world.

10. Scratch the Cat – $1,000

Scratch the Cat is not a very well-known character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. The feline convict is somewhat based on another character named Hallocat, and his action figure was only produced in very minimal numbers hence its price tag and rarity. He did make an appearance as the first boss in the 1993 video game Radical Rescue on the Game Boy. Some people are lucky enough to grab the figure for only hundreds of bucks but at the cost of missing accessories or box.

9. 8-back 1981 Skeletor – $1,650

He-Man’s skeletal nemesis had an action figure released in 1981 equipped with a purple ram-headed staff and a sword splashed in the same tint. An elastic spring is installed in its waist, allowing kids to twist Skeletor and deliver a powerful strike. There are cheaper versions of this Skeletor figure if it is a 12-back. If you are confused as to what 8-back and 12-back means, it is the number of the franchise’s characters displayed behind the package. So if you see eight Masters of the Universe characters then that’s an 8-back and that is pretty pricey.

8. Transformers Jetfire Super Valkyrie Fighter – $2,500

The Super Valkyrie Fighter was a mecha that appeared in the 1982 anime series Super Dimension Fortress Macross. Toy company Hasbro saw the popularity of the mecha in the east and realized that the western audiences might also find the design cool. Hasbro acquired the Valkyrie’s design from Japanese toy company Takatoku which led to the creation of the Transformer Jetfire. After Takatoku’s closure in 1984 plus the resurgence of Macross and its arrival on western shores, Jetfire was changed to Skyfire and went a cosmetic overhaul. The original Jetfire with the Valkyrie design can fetch a high price especially if the detachable armor is still complete and with a package.

7. He-Man with Battle Cat Set $7,000

He-Man leaps into the fray with his feline steed Battle Cat, who is originally known as the cowardly cat Cringer. This toy set was released in 1981 during the height of the original cartoon series. Individual pieces without a box can purchased for only triple digits or less. On the other hand, a complete set encased inside an unopened 8-back box is worth a fortune.

6. Mego Elastic Batman – $15,000

Toy company Mego was famous for their affordable dime store toys and action figures of known characters. In 1979 they ventured in the realm of stretch toys as the interest in 8” action figures waned. Mego manufactured the line of stretchable figures known as the Elastic Superheroes line, and Mego Elastic Batman was part of it. This caught the attention of Kenner, the toy company responsible for the famous Stretch Armstrong action figure, as these elastic superheroes were quite similar to their stretchy blonde. A lawsuit from Kenner, coupled by poor build quality, effectively axed the production of Elastic Superheroes. It is reported that only two Elastic Batman figures exist and they fetch quite a handsome price.

5. Vinyl Cape Jawa – $18,000

Jawas are the small caped humanoids who were responsible for bringing C-3PO and R2D2 to Luke Skywalker in A New Hope. The action figure version of these humanoids originally donned vinyl capes until Kenner decided to change the material to cloth for aesthetic purposes. The sudden switch of capes made the original Jawas rare as it took place only a few months after their release. There are a lot of fake vinyl cape Jawas out there as it is quite easy to do so: by equipping the Jawa with a vinyl cape obtained from a different action figure like a vintage Obi-Wan, then insert the figure to a 12-back card. Such deception however cannot easily fool eagle-eyed collectors.

4. 1978 Telescoping Lightsaber Darth Vader

This action figure is considered the ‘holy grail’ among collectors, primarily due to its rarity. Only a handful were made before Kenner Products decided to change the design, making it an extremely sought-after piece. It has been known to fetch up to $25,000 in mint condition.

3. Michael Lau Gardener “Uncle” – $35,000

Michael Lau is an artist responsible for the propagation of toys designed in urban vinyl style. His efforts earned him numerous awards and accolades. His Gardener line of figures is based on his comic strip of the same name featured in the magazine East Touch. The Uncle figure from his Gardener line features a man with a grocery bag and a skateboard. Only a few pieces of this figure were created by Lau hence its high value. He has other rare high-cost figures whose release in Asia was sponsored by Sony.

2. 1979 Boba Fett Prototype – $150,000

The bounty hunter Boba Fett is without a doubt one of the most popular characters in Star Wars. Kenner made an action figure of Boba Fett with a backpack that can fire a rocket, and showcased it during the New York Toy Fair in 1979. However production was cancelled due to safety concerns involving the backpack as its projectile could possibly hurt a child. The prototype was featured in the “The Pawn Awakens” episode of Pawn Stars in which the seller put it up for $150 grand. It was auctioned in eBay for the same price and now the item is no longer available. Maybe some lucky (and rich) individual got his / her hands on what could possibly be the holy grail of collectibles in a galaxy far far away.

1. G.I. Joe Prototype $200,000

The G.I. Joe toys from Hasbro were famous to boys as how Barbie was to the little girls, and these army men were responsible for the creation of the term “action figure”. Millions of action figures were sold and the 11” prototype itself rested in the home of its creator Don Levine for 40 years. It boasted 21 movable parts and came with a helmet and canteen. The olive green fatigues and backpack it wore were all hand-sewn. In August 2003 the prototype was auctioned and comic store businessman Stephen Geppi took home the prize for $200 grand.

There we go with the most expensive action figures. Do you know other action figures that cost a lot of dough? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Top 10 Most Expensive and Valuable Action Figures in 2026 appeared first on Gazette Review.

This article will provide insights into the top 10 highest-paid male volleyball players in the world.

Top 10 Highest Paid Male Volleyball Players in the World – 2026  Update

10. Ivan Zaytsev – $620,000

Ivan Zaytsev, often referred to as “the Zar” in the world of volleyball, is an Italian professional volleyball player of Russian descent. Born on October 2, 1988, in Spoleto, Italy, Zaytsev has made significant contributions to the sport, both at the national and international levels.

Zaytsev’s career in volleyball began at a young age, following in the footsteps of his father, Vyacheslav Zaytsev, who was a well-known volleyball player in his own right. His professional career took off when he signed with RPA-LuigiBacchi.it in 2004. Over the years, he has played for several leading clubs including M. Roma Volley, Lube Banca Macerata, Dinamo Moscow, and Sir Safety Perugia among others.

In terms of accomplishments, Ivan Zaytsev has an impressive list to his name. As an integral part of the Italian national team, Zaytsev led his team to victory in the 2015 European Championship. He was instrumental in securing the silver medal for Italy at the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to these, he has been a part of three World League bronze-winning teams and was awarded “Best Server” at the 2014 World Championship.

His club success is also noteworthy. With Dinamo Moscow, he won the Russian Championship in the 2012-13 season. During his tenure with Sir Safety Perugia, they clinched the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup in the 2017-18 season.

9. Aleksandar Atanasijevichane – $800,000

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Aleksandar Atanasijevichan’s journey in volleyball began at an early age. His natural talent and skill quickly propelled him into the professional arena, where he has been making his mark ever since. Atanasijevichan’s professional career took a significant upturn when he joined the Serbian Men’s National Volleyball Team. With his impressive performances and consistent scoring, he played a pivotal role in leading the team to several international victories.

One of the significant highlights of Atanasijevichan’s career was his extraordinary performance in the European Championship. His exceptional skills and strategic gameplay were instrumental in Serbia’s triumph, earning him widespread acclaim and recognition. Furthermore, he has consistently been a high scorer in numerous World Championships, contributing significantly to his team’s success on multiple occasions.

In addition to his team victories, Aleksandar Atanasijevichan has also earned numerous individual accolades that stand as a testament to his prowess on the court. He was named “Best Opposite Spiker” at the World Cup, an honour that acknowledges his powerful and precise attacks. He has also received the prestigious “Best Server” award multiple times, demonstrating his versatility and comprehensive mastery of the game.

8. Matt Anderson – $850,000

Anderson, who was born in Buffalo, New York, began his illustrious journey at Penn State University where he was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Year in his junior year.

Matt Anderson’s prowess on the court was not limited to his university years. Following graduation, he embarked on a professional volleyball career that has taken him across the globe and earned him a reputation as one of the sport’s top players.

Anderson’s first significant achievement came when he was named USA Volleyball’s Indoor Male Athlete of the Year in 2012. His stellar performance on the global stage continued when he led the US national team to win gold at the 2014 FIVB World League and then again at the 2015 FIVB World Cup. His commanding presence and formidable skills were instrumental in securing these victories.

In addition to his team accomplishments, Matt Anderson has also achieved personal recognition on numerous occasions. He was named Best Server at the 2014 World League and later the Best Outside Spiker at the 2015 World Cup. His crowning personal achievement came in 2016 when he was selected as USA Volleyball’s Male Indoor Player of the Year for the second time.

7. György Grozer – $870,000

György Grozer, a Hungarian-born German volleyball player, has made significant contributions to the sport and has accomplished remarkable feats in his illustrious career. Standing at 6’6″, Grozer is a formidable presence on the court, marked by his intimidating spike serves and powerful attacks. His exceptional athleticism combined with his strategic acumen has led him to become one of the most respected figures in international volleyball.

Grozer’s accomplishments are numerous and impressive. He started his professional career in 2005 with the German club VfB Friedrichshafen, where he quickly established himself as a powerhouse player. During his time at VfB Friedrichshafen, Grozer played a pivotal role in leading the team to victory in the CEV Champions League in 2007. His next stint was with the Russian club Belogorie Belgorod, where he won the Russian Championship, Russian Cup, and once again the CEV Champions League.

Internationally, György Grozer has been just as influential. He was a part of the German national team that won a bronze medal at the 2014 World Championship and has represented Germany in multiple international tournaments including the European Championships and World Cup. Grozer has received several individual accolades as well, including being named ‘Best Server’ at the 2014 FIVB World Championship and ‘Most Valuable Player’ at the 2015 CEV Champions League.

6. Bartosz Kurek – $920,000

Bartosz Kurek, a Polish professional volleyball player, has achieved remarkable success with his performance in the sports industry. His journey to prominence began at a young age, and his dedication to the game has led him to become one of Poland’s most decorated athletes.

Kurek’s impressive list of achievements is a testament to his prowess on the volleyball court. Born on August 29,1988, Kurek started his professional career in 2005 with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. His exceptional performance caught the attention of many and he soon became a vital player for Poland’s national team.

One of the most significant accomplishments of Bartosz Kurek includes being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2018 World Championships. His contribution was instrumental in leading the Polish team to victory in this prestigious tournament. This achievement not only solidified Kurek’s position as one of the world’s top volleyball players but also marked a historic moment for Polish volleyball.

Not only that but Bartosz Kurek has also won numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career, including Best Opposite Spiker and Best Server awards in different leagues. He was also bestowed with the Gold Cross of Merit by the President of Poland for his outstanding sports achievements and for promoting Poland on an international level.

5. Robertlandy Simón – $950, 000

Robertlandy Simón, a Cuban volleyball player, has carved an impressive niche for himself in the realm of international volleyball. Born on 11 June 1987, Simón has been a pillar of strength and a symbol of exceptional talent for his teams. His remarkable height of 2.08 meters makes him a formidable player on the court, but it is his skill and strategy that truly sets him apart. Throughout his career, he has played for clubs in South Korea, Qatar, Brazil, and Italy, leaving an indelible mark with his performances.

His accomplishments are numerous and continue to grow with each passing year. Robertlandy Simón’s excellence in the game is evident from his numerous awards. He was named the Best Middle Blocker at the 2009 NORCECA Championship and received the same honor at the World Championship later that year. In 2010, he was declared the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the World League, further cementing his status as one of the most skilled players in the sport.

In addition to his individual accolades, Robertlandy Simón has also contributed significantly to team successes. He played a key role in Cuba’s silver medal finish at the 2010 World Championships and led his team to victory at the 2015 Pan American Games. Currently, he plays for Cucine Lube Civitanova in Italy where he continues to display his prowess on the court. His powerful attacks and solid defense are a spectacle to behold and a nightmare for opponents.

4. Earvin N’Gapeth – $1 Million

Earvin N’Gapeth is a renowned professional volleyball player who hails from France. Born on 12th February 1991, N’Gapeth has carved a niche for himself in the world of volleyball due to his exceptional skills and dynamic playing style. He is widely recognized as a versatile player, proficient in both offense and defense, and has been instrumental in leading his teams to numerous victories.

N’Gapeth’s career is adorned with a plethora of accomplishments. In the year 2015 and 2016, he was named the Best Outside Spiker by FIVB World League. He played a significant role in helping France win the gold at the 2015 World League, the European Championship in 2015, and the World Cup in 2017.

His individual brilliance has also been recognized on multiple occasions; he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the CEV Champions League in 2017 and the FIVB Club World Championship in 2019.

In addition to his national successes, N’Gapeth has achieved remarkable feats playing for clubs like Modena Volley and Zenit Kazan. With Modena Volley, he won the Italian Championship and Italian Cup in 2016. At Zenit Kazan, he played alongside other prominent players like Dmitry Muserskiy, contributing significantly to their victory in the Russian Championship and Russian Cup in 2020.

3. Dmitry Muserskiy – $1 Million

Born on October 29, 1988, Muserskiy is widely recognized for his exceptional height, standing at 2.18 meters (approximately 7 feet 2 inches), making him one of the tallest athletes in the world. However, it is not just his physical stature that sets him apart, but also his remarkable skill set and contributions to the game of volleyball.

Muserskiy’s professional career took off in 2006 when he joined Belogorie Belgorod, a prominent Russian volleyball club. His performance quickly propelled him into the international arena where he represented Russia in various tournaments. Among his most significant achievements is leading the Russian team to victory at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. His dominating performance in the final match against Brazil, where he scored a whopping 31 points, earned him immense recognition and praise.

In addition to his Olympic gold, Dmitry Muserskiy has also been an integral part of teams that have won numerous championships including the European Championship in 2013 and 2017, and the World League in 2011 and 2013. Moreover, he was a key player for Russia when they secured gold at the World Championship in 2011.

Alongside these team accomplishments, Muserskiy has also been lauded for his individual performances. He has been awarded the Best Middle Blocker at the World League (2011 & 2013) and was named Most Valuable Player at the Club World Championship in 2014.

2. Maxim Mikhaylov – $1.3 Million

Born on March 19, 1988, in Tayga, Mikhaylov has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of Russian volleyball in the international sports community.

Throughout his career, Mikhaylov has consistently demonstrated remarkable agility, strategic acumen, and unwavering determination. His accomplishments are a testament to his talent and dedication to his sport. As an integral part of the Russian national team, he has significantly propelled the team to victory in various international competitions. He took center stage as a leading player in the FIVB World League, where he earned gold medals in 2011 and 2013. Moreover, he led the Russian team to an impressive victory in the 2012 London Olympics, bringing home the gold medal.

Mikhaylov’s individual achievements are equally impressive. He was named Best Spiker at the World Cup in 2011 and was honored as Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2012 Olympics and the 2013 European Championship. His performances have also earned him numerous accolades in domestic leagues; he has been a vital player for Zenit Kazan since 2008, leading the club to multiple Russian Championships and CEV Champions League titles.

1. Wilfredo Leon Venero – $66 Million

Number one on our list is Wilfredo Leon. Born in Santiago de Cuba, he began playing volleyball at the age of seven. Coached by his mother, he eventually made his national debut in 2008 at the age of fourteen. By 2009, he had won the ‘Best Receiver’ title at the World League and a silver medal at the World U21 Championships.

While he initially played for Cuba, he eventually left to play for a Russian club in 2014, with whom he won multiple leagues and cups. And in 2018, he joined the Italian club, SIR Safety Perugia. He’s also a member of the Polish national volleyball team (he became elligible after receiving his Polish citizenship in 2015).

Known for his powerful serves and spikes, Leon, who hails from Cuba, is highly regarded in the world of volleyball. He plays for the Russian club Zenit Kazan, and his annual earnings are estimated to be around 1.4 million euros.

If anything, these top 10 highest-paid male volleyball players have contributed significantly to the popularity and growth of volleyball globally.

Over the years, they have showcased exceptional skills and talent, making them not only the highest-earning but also some of the most influential figures in the sport. Their success serves as a testament to the potential rewards and recognition that a career in professional volleyball can provide.

The post Top 10 Richest Male Volleyball Players in the World – 2026 List appeared first on Gazette Review.

As of 2026, there are more than 11,000 cards in the game, and like all collectible card games, some are worth more than others.

Curious to know which? Want to know how much they’re worth? Then be sure to keep reading- we’ll be listing the top ten below!

Top 10 Most Valuable Yu-Gi-Oh Cards in 2026

Without further ado, here are the most valuable Yu-Gi-Oh cards in 2026.

10. 2002 1st Edition LOB Monster Reborn

Monster Reborn is one of the most sought-after spell cards and was originally released as a Super Rare in the first set of booster packs, Legends of Blue-Eyes White Dragon (LOB) in the spring of 2002. The code at the top right-hand corner of the description indicates that it’s card number 118 from the set.

The spell card allows you to bring back any of the monsters that have gone to either player’s graveyards. This means you can special summon your opponent’s monster against them if you wish. It’s so mighty that it’s currently included in the Forbidden and Limited Card List, with the limitation that you can only have one copy in your deck (most cards are limited to three per deck).

In May 2021, a certified mint condition 2002 LOB Monster Record card was sold for a record-breaking $6,600 on eBay. It was also a first edition card, meaning that it was one of the first to have been printed in the set.

9. 2002 1st Edition LOB Exodia the Forbidden One

If you’ve ever watched the anime, you’ll know that Exodia is an immensely powerful monster. There’s a catch, though. It’s split up into five distinct cards: Exodia the Forbidden One, Left Leg of the Forbidden One, Right Leg of the Forbidden One, Left Arm of the Forbidden One, and Right Arm of the Forbidden One.

To summon Exodia, which will allow you to win the duel automatically, you must have all five cards in your hand at the same time.

In the TCG, the five cards were initially released as Ultra Rares in LOB. For this reason, they’re limited and super hard to find.

In November 2020, a first-edition PSA GEM Mint Exodia the Forbidden One was sold for $8,000. Interestingly enough, of the other four cards, the left leg sells for the most. In October 2020, one went for over $6,600. The other limbs are noticeably lower in price, which is probably a good thing for collectors.

8. 2003 First Edition MFC Dark Magician Girl

The Dark Magician Girl is one of Yugi’s favorite cards and is adored by fans. Given that, it’s not surprising to know it’s highly valuable. A level 6 monster, it comes with 2000 attacks and 1700 defense points. She made her anime debut when Yugi faced off against Arkana, a malevolent magician, in episode 62.

First released in October 2003, it was part of the North American-only Magician’s Force (MFC) set, which had a special focus on Spellcasters. The Dark Magician Girl was later released as part of the Master Collection Volume 2 compilation set and was made available in booster packs, in October 2005.

The Dark Magician Girl is also notable in that she has been censored for her breasts being too sexually suggestive (the size of her breasts was reduced and her cleavage was completely erased when she was brought over from Japan to the West). For this reason, there are several variants of her artwork. It’s the original, however, that fetches the highest price.

In November 2020, a PSA Gem Mint first edition Dark Magician Girl card was sold for $9,100.

7. 2002 First Edition Red-Eyes Black Dragon

The Red-Eyes Black Dragon is a powerhouse with 2400 attack and 200 defense points. It’s also Joey’s signature card, which has made it a fan favorite. He used it while dueling with Yugi at the Duelist Kingdom tournament, albeit under Malik’s control.

In fact, it was his popularity that spawned the release of the Starter Deck Joey (SDJ) in 2003. Unsurprisingly, the Red-Eyes Black Dragon was made available as the deck’s opening card. However, the Red-Eyes Black Dragon was available even before then, in Legends of Blue-Eyes White Dragon (LOB), as an Ultra Rare.

In October 2020, a flawless version of the card sold for nearly $10,000. Not long afterward, a first-edition copy of the 2002 original fetched more than $11,000. Needless to say, you might have to spend some money (potentially five digits) if you want to add such a card to your collection.

Fortunately, the later releases are much easier to get for those who aren’t worried about the first edition status.

6. 2008 Doomcaliber Knight From the Shonen Jump Championships Series

Shonen Jump created a series of North American tournaments called the Shonen Jump Championships in 2004. In total, seven different cards were handed out as prizes at the tournaments, including the Doomcaliber Knight. Seeing as how only a couple of the cards were given out each time, it’s easy to see why they’re so rare- and pricey.

The Doomcaliber Knight was the sixth tournament exclusive to be handed out. Between 2008 and 2009, only 68 copies were given away.

Despite being a four-star monster, it has 1900 attack and 1800 defense points, making it a powerhouse for players. Not only that but because it’s level four, you can normal summon it directly from your hand; you don’t need to sacrifice any monsters. It also comes with a quick effect- one that negates the effect of and destroys one of your foe’s monsters.

In March 2021, a PSA Near-Mint Doomcaliber Knight from the Shonen Jump Championships sold for more than $15,000. Given how rare and scarce they are, we wouldn’t be surprised if a mint version of the card fetched an even higher sum.

5. 2004 Cyber-Stein from the Shonen Jump Championship Series

Cyber-Stein is special in that it was the first-ever prize card to be handed out at the Shonen Jump Championships between 2004 and 2005. In total, it was given out in nine different tournaments, the first being the GenCol SoCal, a regional version of Gen Con which took place in Anaheim, California.

Two of these rare cards were given away at each tournament, with 18 copies released in total. Several years later, two extra copies were given out as prizes at the 2008 Costa Mesa Shonen Jump Championships, with one embedded with lucite, a special material for display. An additional 126 copies were released as part of a promotional event called Upper Deck Day in early 2009.

In other words, less than 150 copies of this rare card were made, making it one of the more expensive cards of all time.

A level 2 monster, it comes with a quick effect that lets you special summon any fusion monster from your deck as long as you pay 5000 life points. For this reason, players can only have one copy in their deck at a time.

In October 2020, a PSA GEm Mint copy of the card fetched over $30,000. Another copy sold for a similar amount not long afterward.

4. 2007 Crush Card Virus From the Shonen Jump Championships

Crush Card Virus was the fourth card to be given out at the Shonen Jump Championships. In total, only 40 copies were released between January and July 2007. As with Cyber-Stein, two additional copies were distributed at the 2008 Costa Mesa Shonen Jump Championships, one of which came with lucite. Another three (potentially more) were released accidentally at a sneak preview event, which brings the total to 46.

Unlike some of the other cards on our list, it’s not a monster card, but a trap card. Its use has also caused some confusion over the years as its description has been changed four times since it first come out. Put simply, the Crush Card Virus allows you to destroy high-attack monsters on your opponent’s field as well in their hand.

Given how powerful it is, it was included in the Yu-Gi-Oh Banlist for many years- that is, players weren’t allowed to use the card in official duels. Nowadays, however, you can have up to three in your deck as its effects have been balanced out.

In June 2020, a PSA Gem Mint version of the card sold for nearly $50,000. To date, only two copies of this rare card have ever been sold on the PSA website.

3. 2003 1st Edition LOB Dark Magician

The Dark Magician boasts 2500 attack and 2100 defense points and is Yugi’s signature card. A level 7 spellcaster, he’s one of the most powerful monsters in the trading card game. Given that, it’s not surprising to know that he’s also one of the most valuable.

As it is, the most sought-after version is the red variant, owned by Arkana, who made her debut in episode 60 of the anime. In the show, both duelists dueled with Dark Magicians but it was Yugi’s Dark Magician who defeated Arkana’s after combining the effect of his Dark Magician Girl, which gave the spellcasters an extra 600 attack points.

In June 2021, a version edition of the red variant of the Dark Magician sold for a staggering $85,000. Similar to the Red-Eyes Black Dragon, it was originally released as an Ultra Rare in the Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon set.

Yugi’s classic purple Dark Magician was also released as the opening card of the Yugi Starter Deck in 2002. As for Yugi’s Dark Magician, it was available only as a Dark Duel Stories promotional card, which came with the Game Boy Color game Yu-Gi-Oh Dark Duel Stories in 2002. In November 2020, one of these cards fetched nearly $10,000.

2. 2002 1st Edition LOB Blue-Eyes White Dragon

As most of you probably know, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon is Kaib’s signature card. It’s also one of the strongest monsters in the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise with 3000 attack and 2500 defense points. A level 8 monster, it requires the player to sacrifice two tributes for it to be summoned onto the field. In October 2020, a mint condition first edition sold for nearly $85,000, making it one of the most expensive Yu-Gi-Oh cards to have ever been sold.

Unsurprisingly, it was released as part of the Legends of Blue Eyes White Dragon set as an Ultra Rare Card. The artwork on the card, however, is different than the one that’s shown in the anime.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon with the same artwork as the anime was released in March 2002 as part of, you guessed it, the Starter Deck Kaiba (SDK). And similar to the Dark Magician, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon was also given out as a promotional card with the Yu-Gi-Oh Game Boy Color Dark Duel Stories Game.

In February 2021, one of these promotional game cards fetched over $25,000.

1. Tyler the Great Warrior

In 2002, a young fan named Tyler Gressle was battling a rare type of liver cancer. Upon hearing his story, the Make-A-Wish Foundation put him in contact with 4Kids Entertainment, who agreed to let him make his own Yu-Gi-Oh card. Not only that but they also gave Gressle and his family a tour of their facility in New York and it was there that they revealed the very card he created. They also gave him his very own TYL card set code.

A level 8 monster, Tyler the Greater boasts an amazing 3000 attack and 1500 defense points. As it is, the monster’s artwork is based on Future Trunks from the Dragon Ball franchise and can be seen throwing shuriken stars.

Not only is the monster powerful but the card itself also comes with an effect in which the opponent’s life points go down each time Tyler the Great destroys and sends one of the opponent’s monsters to the graveyard.

Interestingly enough, the effect is the same as Jaden Yuki’s signature card, Elemental Hero Flame Wingman.

And for those who are wondering- there’s a happy ending to this story. Not only did Gressle survive his battle with cancer, but it was confirmed via Instagram in 2015 that he still owns Tyler the Great.

The post Top 10 Most Valuable Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards – 2026 Update appeared first on Gazette Review.

Top 10 People With the Highest IQ Scores In History

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the list.

10. Stephen Hawking – IQ: 160

Stephen Hawking was a cosmologist and theoretical physicist, who at the time of his death, was the director of research at the University of Cambridge. Born into a family of doctors, he went to St. Albans School as a child after passing the eleven-plus a year yearly.

Despite his nickname of “Einstein”, however, he was not successfully academically—at least not in his early years. It wasn’t until later on that he began to show aptitude for scientific subjects, after which he began reading about mathematics at college. As it wasn’t possible to read mathematics at University College, Oxford, at the time, he decided to study chemistry and physics instead.

He later received a first-class BA degree in physics from Oxford, after which he began his graduate work at Trinity Hall. Not long afterward, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which sent him into a depression. However, the disease progressed much more slowly than his doctors had predicted and with encouragement from Dennis William Sciama, the founder of modern cosmology who also happened to be his supervisor as a doctoral student, he returned to work.

Throughout his career, he worked on gravitational singularity theorems, theories of relativity and quantum mechanics, and also predicted that black holes emit radiation. In 1988, he wrote a book titled, A Brief History of Time, which ended up being on the Sunday Times best sellers list for 237 weeks.

Hawking passed away at the age of 76 in 2018, after having lived with ALS for more than five decades.

9. Albert Einstein – IQ: 160

Albert Einstein is considered one of the most influential physicists of all time. Not only is he known for developing the theory of relativity, but he also made a number of contributions to the theory of quantum mechanisms, which is one of the main pillars of modern physics. In 1921, he received the Nobel Prize in PHysica for his discovery on the law of the photoelectric effect.

Even before that, he had published four groundbreaking papers, ones that introduced special relativity, explained Brownian motion, demonstrated mass-energy equivalence, and outlined the theory of the photoelectric effect. On top of that, he also investigated the quantum theory of radiation and the thermal properties of light, the former of which laid the foundation of the photon theory.

Born in the German Empire, he moved to Switzerland at the age of 16, after which he gave up his German citizenship. The following year, he enrolled in the physics and mathematics teaching program at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School. He then earned a Ph.D. from the University of Zurich in 1905. He also published hundreds of books and articles—both scientific and non-scientific—throughout his life.

He passed away at the age of 76 after having experienced internal bleeding secondary to an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

8. Andrew Wiles – IQ: 170

Andrew Wiles is an English mathematician who specializes in number theory. A Royal Society Research Professor at the University of Oxford, he’s perhaps best known for proving Fermat’s Last Theorem, an achievement that earned him a Copley Medal by the Royal Society in 2017 and an Abel Prize in 2016.

Born on April 11, 1953, Wiles grew up in Cambridge, England, where he attended The Leys School and King’s College School. At the age of ten, he came across Fermat’s Last Theorem while returning home from school. Both fascinated and intrigued, he stopped at the library to learn more about the theorem. Seeing as how it was unproven at the time, he sought out to become the first person to prove it.

After graduating from Merton College, Oxford, with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, he earned a Ph.D. from Clare College. Soon afterward, he became a Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University; it was around that same time that he began working on Fermat’s Last Theorem. After many years of work, he presented his proof to the public for the first time in 1993.

Since then, he has won numerous awards including a Fermat Prize, Wolf Prize in Mathematics, Schock Prize, Clay Research Award, Shaw Prize, and King Faisal Prize. For his contribution to the sciences, he was also appointed King Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in 2000.

7. Judit Polar – IQ: 170

Judit Polar is considered to be the strongest female chess player of all time. Born to a Hungarian-Jewish family, she was taught chess from a very early age, as part of an educational experiment carried out by their father. Trained by her sister in her early years, she quickly proved to be a chess prodigy. By the time she was five years old, she had won against a family friend without looking at the board.

The following year, she began playing in tournaments. She was also a member of the local chess club, where she had the chance to play with master level players. Later at the age of seven, she played a game of blindfold chest against a master, which she ultimately won.

Later in 1986, she participated in her first rated tournament in the United States, where she finished first. She then made her first International Master norm in 1988. By the time she was thirteen, she was considered one of the top 100 chess players in the world. Not long afterward, she received the grandmaster title after winning the Hungarian National Championships; she was fifteen years old at the time, making her the youngest player to have ever achieved such a feat.

After many decades of chess, she announced her retirement in August 2014. She’s currently the head coach of the Hungarian national men’s chess team.

6. Galileo Galilei – IQ: 185

Galileo Galilei was an Italian engineer, physicist, and astronomer. He’s often considered the “father” of modern physics, modern science, the scientific method, and observational astronomy. Not only did he study velocity and speed, but he also worked on the principle of relativity, projectile motion, and inertia. He also invented the thermoscope, a device that shows temperature changes, as well as various military compasses.

Throughout his life, he also used the telescope to observe celestial objects. His contributions include the telescopic confirmation of the phases of Venus, observation of Saturn’s rings, as well as Jupiter’s four largest satellites. He also analyzed sunspots and lunar craters.

He was also the one who stated that the Earth revolved around the sun, an idea that was met with opposition at the time. Despite his work, however, he was ultimately put under house arrest after defending his views as it appeared to attack Pope Urban VIII. During that period, he wrote the book Two New Sciences, which revolves around the strength of materials and kinematics.

He later passed away on January 8, 1642, at the age of 77, after having spent the latter half of his life under house arrest.

5. Leonardo Da Vinci – IQ: 180-220

Leonardo Da Vinci was a celebrated painter who’s best known for his works The Last Supper and Mona Lisa, the latter of which is often regarded as the most famous painting in the world. A polymath, he was also known for his notes on a variety of subjects including botany, painting, anatomy, palaeontology, and astronomy.

Not only that, but he was also known for his technological ingenuity. Throughout his life, he conceptualized armoured fighting vehicles, flying machines, concentrated solar power, as well as a ratio machine. As it is, however, few of his designs were feasible during his lifetime. Several of his smaller inventions, however, such as the automated bobbin winder, however, was manufactured.

On top of all that, he made substantial discoveries in civil engineering, anatomy, geology, tribology, hydrodynamics, and optics. However, they ultimately weren’t published. They also had minimal influence on subsequent science.

He died at the age of 67, on May 2, 1519, following a suspected stroke.

4. James Maxwell – IQ: 190 to 205

James Maxwell was a Scottish scientist and mathematician who worked on the theory of electromagnetic radiation—the first theory to describe magnetism light, and electricity as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. In fact, his equations for electromagnetism have been called the “second great unification” in physics, after Isaac Newton’s unification of gravity.

In 1865, he also published a paper where he demonstrated that magnetic and electric fields travel through space at the speed of light as waves. This ultimately led to his predication that radio waves existed. For this reason, he’s also considered the founder of modern electrical engeering.

Not only that but he also developed the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, and worked on the first durable color photograph. His discoveries would go on to lay the foundation for several physics fields including quantum mechanics and special relativity. In fact, many consider them to be of the same magnitude as those of Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton.

He eventually died on November 5, 1879, at the age of 48, from abdominal cancer. His mother had passed away at the same age from the same condition.

3. Chris Hirata – IQ: 225

Chris Hirata is an astrophysicist and cosmologist. At the age of thirteen, he won the gold medal at the International Physics Olympiad, an annual physics competition for high school students. He later studied at the California Institute of Technology, from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in Physics in 2001. He then completed his Ph.D. in astrophysics at Princeton University under the supervision of Uros Seljak.

After being a visiting scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study for several years, he became an assistant professor at Caltech in 2006. He later became a full professor before moving to Ohio State University, during which he joined the Ohio State Physics and Astronomy departments. While he primarily works in cosmology, he also has interests in large scale structure, dark energy, and cosmic microwave background. Not only that but he also has an interest in data analysis and statistics.

In 2010, he alongside Dmirtry Tseliakhovich, also made a discovery about the cosmological perturbation theory, which is based on the fact that the speed of sound is drastically decreased in baryonic matter.

2. Carl Gauss – IQ: 250 to 300

Carl Gauss was a German physicist and mathematician who made numerous contributions to the fields of science and mathematics. Born to working-class parents, his mother had never recorded the date of his birth, remembering only that he was born a few days before the Feast of the Ascension. Gauss later solved the puzzle around his birthdate after coming up with methods to determine the date in past and future years.

A child prodigy, he corrected one of his father’s mathematical errors at the age of three. By the time he was seven, had had managed to solve an arithmetic series faster than anyone else in a class of 100.

As a teenager, he made numerous groundbreaking discoveries in the field of mathematics. His magnum opus was later published in 1801; he was twenty one years old at the time. His aptitude for the sciences later attracted the attention of the Duke of Brunswick, who sent him to the University of Gottingen in 1795. During his time there, he rediscovered several theorems; he also showed that a polygon can be constructed by straightedge and compass if the number of sides are a power of 2 and are distinct Fermat primes.

Despite suffering several health conditions, he remained mentally active into his old age. Not only did he publish several articles, but he also taught himself Russian at the age of 62.

1. Nikola Tesla – IQ: 160 to 310

Nikola Tesla was an inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer, who made significant contributions to the design of the alternating current electricity supply system. Born and raised in modern-day Croatia, he studied physics and engineering in the 1870s without ever having received a degree.

He later emigrated to the United States in 1884, after which he worked at the Edison Machine Works for a short period. With the help of several partners, he eventually set up a number of laboratories in the New York area, where he developed a range of mechanical and electrical devices. He eventually obtained a patent for his alternating current induction motor, which earned him a significant amount of money.

In the 1890s, he also tested the possibility of wireless communication with the use of a power transmitter but ultimately ran out of funds before it was completed. Following that, he worked on a number of other inventions with varying degrees of successes. With the majority of his money gone, however, he spent the rest of his life living in a series of hotels. He died at the age of 86 on January 7, 1943.

The post Top 10 People with the Highest IQ Scores Ever- 2026 Update appeared first on Gazette Review.

Top 10 Richest Country Singers of 2026

10. Carrie Underwood – $150 Million

Carrie Underwood rose to fame after winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Shortly afterward, she released her single “Inside Your Heaven”, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was followed by her debut album, Some Hearts, which featured several crossover singles including “Before He Cheats” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Fast forward to 2026, and she has released a total of nine albums and has headlined a number of tours. Some of her most popular hits include “All-American Girl”, “Just a Dream”, “Temporary Home”, “Remind Me (with Brad Paisley)”, “Good Girl”, “Something in the Water”, and “Something’ Bad (with Miranda Lambert)”. She has also collaborated with many artists including Aerosmith, Keith Urban, Needtobreathe, David Bisbal, John Legend, and several others.

One of the best-selling female country artists of all time, she has sold more than 70 million records worldwide. Her work has also earned her a number of accolades including 12 Billboard Music Awards, 8 Grammy Awards, and 17 American Music Awards. Not only that but she has also been inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Time Magazine has also listed her as one of the most influential people in the world.

9. Luke Bryan – $160 Million

Luke Bryan began his career writing songs for Billy Currington and Travis Tritt. It wasn’t until 2007 that he signed with Capitol Nashville and launched his own music career. His debut album I’ll Stay Me was released soon afterward. Produced by Jeff Stevens, it spawned three singles, “All My Friends Say”, “Country Man”, and “We Rode In Trucks” and reached number two on the US Top Country Albums chart.

Since then, he has followed up with several additional albums including Doin’ My Thing, Crash My Party, Tailgates & Tanlines, Spring Break…Here to Party, Kill the Lights, What Makes You Country, and Born Here Live Here Die Here, the most recent of which came out in 2020. Some of his most noteworthy singles include “Rain Is a Good Thing”, “Someone Else Calling You Baby”, “That’s My Kind of Night”, Kick the Dust Up”, “Play It Again”, and “Strip It Down.” In total, he has released more than two dozen number-one hits.

And like many artists, he has made several appearances on television. For one thing, he co-hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards alongside Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton from 2013 to 2017. He has also appeared in The Voice, American Idol, and Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time.

8. Faith Hill – $165 Million

Faith Hill is a successful country singer with many awards under her name including five Grammy Awards and six American Music Awards. She launched her music career in the early 90s with the albums It Matters to Me and Take Me As I Am, both of which were major hits.

From there, she gained mainstream attention with her next two albums, Breathe and Faith, the former of which became one of the best-selling country albums of all time. Then in 2001, she recorded “There You’ll Be” for the film Pearl Harbor, for which she received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Since then, she has released four additional albums—Cry, Fireflies, Joy to the World, and The Rest of Our Life, the latter of which was a collaboration with Tim McGraw. She has also appeared in a number of TV shows including The Stepford Wives, CMT Crossroads, The Voice, and The World’s Best.

In 2021, she also made a guest appearance in the drama series Yellowstone. She later reprised her role in the prequel 1883, which ran from December 2021 to February 2022.

7. Kenny Chesney – $185 Million

Kenny Chesney is a country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Throughout his career, he has recorded over 20 albums including In My Wildest Dreams, Me and You, All I Need to Know, Everywhere We Go, I Will Stand, and No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems.

His most recent studio album, Here and Now, was released on May 1, 2020 and consisted of twelve tracks including “Here and Now”, “Knowing You”, “Happy Does”, “Tip of My Tongue”, and “Guys Named Captain.” Praised by critics, it topped both the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums charts and has since received gold certification from the RIAA.

Some of his most popular songs include “Me and You”, “That’s Why I’m Here”, “You Had Me From Hellow”, “How Forever Feels”, “The Good Stuff”, “There Goes My Life”, “The Woman with You”, and “Anything But Mine.” He has also headlined many tours since the late 90s. In fact, he just recently embarked on the Here and Now Tour in support of his latest album, which consisted of 41 shows across North America.

6. George Strait – $ 300 Million

George Strait, aka the “King of Country”, is considered one of the most influential singers of all time. He began his career in the early 80s with the single “Unwound” and eventually came out with several albums including Strait Country, Strait From the Heart, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, and Right or Wrong, all of which were commercial hits.

Several years later, he won his first Grammy Award for the album Troubadour, which spawned the singles, “I Saw God Today”, “River of Love”, and “Troubadour.” By then, he had also been elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame and had received the CMA Entertainment of the Year Award several times.

Nowadays, he also holds the record for the most number one singles, albums, platinum albums, and gold albums, in the history of country music.

Fast forward to 2026, and he has more than 30 albums to his name. His most recent project, Honky Tonk Time Machine, came out in 2019 and featured 13 tracks including “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar”, “Sometimes Love”, “The Weight of the Badge”, “Take Me Away”, and “God and Country Music (ft. Harvey Strait)”. Praised by critics, it entered the Billboard 200 at number four with 51,000 album equivalent units. Not only that, but it also charted in Canada and in Australia.

5. Toby Keith – $365 Million

Toby Keith launched his music career in the early 90s with the albums Toby Keith, Blue Moon, Boomstown, and Dream Walkin’, all of which have received gold or higher certification from the RIAA. His 1993 single “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” also topped the music charts and became the most-played country song of the decade.

Several years later, he released his next breakthrough hit, “How Do You Like Me Know”, which became the number one country song of the year. A series of albums soon followed including Unleashed, Pull My Chain, and Shock’n Y’all, the latter of which spawned the singles “I Love This Bar”, “Whiskey Girl”, and “American Soldier.”

After Dreamworks Records Nashville closed in 2005, he launched his own label, Show Dog Nashville, through which he released ten albums including White Trash With Money, Drinks After Work, That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy, Peso In My Pocket, and American Ride.

In 2006, he also made his acting debut in the film Broken Bridges. He later co-starred in the 2008 comedy Beer for My Horses alongside comedian Rodney Carrington.

And in 2021, he received the National Medal of Arts award from President Donald Trump.

4. Taylor Swift – $400 Million

Taylor Swift made her debut in 2006 with her eponymous studio album, Taylor Swift, which topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for 24 weeks. Not only did it earn her her first Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist, but it also spawned two hit singles—“Teardrops on My Guitar” and “Our Song”.

Several albums soon followed including Fearless and Speak Now, both of which were commercial successes, as were their singles “You Belong With Me”, “Love Story”, and “Back to December.”

Since then, he has come out with many chart-topping tracks including “Blank Space”, “Shake It Off”, and “Bad Blood.” She also released two indie folk and alternative rock-style albums, Evermore and Folklore in 2020.  An upcoming tenth album titled, Midnights, has also been announced and is set to be released later this fall.

Not only is she one of the best-selling singers of all time with more than 200 million records sold worldwide, but she has also won 11 Grammy Awards, 34 American Music Awards, and 29 Billboard Music Awards, among many other accolades. That’s not all, she has also been named Artist of the Decade and Woman of the Decade by many publications

3. Garth Brooks – $400 Million

Garth Brooks is the only singer to have released nine albums, all of which have received diamond certification in the United States. One of the world’s best-selling artists, he has sold over 170 million records worldwide and has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fam, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

His first album, Garth Brooks, was released in 1989 through Capitol Nashville. Not only did it peak at number two on the Top Country Albums Chart, but it also reached number 13 on the Billboard 200. It also spawned four hit singles—“If Tomorrow Never Comes”, “The Dance”, “Not Counting You”, and “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”.

By 2020, he had released a total of eleven studio albums. Some of his number one hits include “The Dance”, “Friends in Low Places”, “What She’s Doing Now”, “She’s Every Woman”, “The River”, More Than a Memory”, and “The Thunder Rolls.”

More recently in 2021, he released “That’s What Cowboys Do”, which peaked at number 33 on the US Country Albums chart.

In 2016, he also joined the eleventh season of The Voice as one of the show’s mentors.

2. Shania Twain – $400 Million

Shania Twain, also known as the “Queen of Country Pop”, is one of the best-selling female country singers of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Born and raised in Ontario, she released her self-titled debut album in 1993. However, it wasn’t until the release of her second album, The Woman In Me, that she rose to fame. Not only did it earn her a Grammy Award, but it also spawned a number of hit singles including “Any Man of Mine.”

Her next album, Come On Over, was even more successful. It spawned twelve singles, including “That Don’t Impress Me Much”, “You’re Still the One”, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman”, and “From This Moment On”, and earned her four Grammy Awards.

Since then, she’s released two additional albums—Up! and Now, the most recent of which came out in 2017. Some songs from those projects include “Forever and for Always”, “Don’t!”, “She’s Not Just a Pretty Face” and Life’s About to Get Good.”

In 2011, she also had her own documentary series titled, Why Not? With Shania Twain. Some of her other television credits include RuPaul’s Drag Race, Fairfax, and more recently, Not Just a Girl.

1. Dolly Parton – $500 Million

Dolly Parton began her career writing songs for other artists. It wasn’t until 1967 that she made her debut with the album, Hello, I’m Dolly. A commercial success, it spawned three singles—“The Little Things”, “Something Fishy”, and “Dumb Blonde.”

By the end of the decade, she had released half a dozen albums including Just Between You and Me, Just the Two of Us, Just Because I’m a Woman, Always, Always, and My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy.

In total, she has won 11 Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, 4 People’s Choice Awards, and 3 American Music Awards throughout her career. That’s not all, she has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame

Fast forward to 2026, and she has released 48 solo albums, the most recent of which came out on March 4, 2022. Not only that, but she has also appeared in a number of films including Frank McKlusky, C.I., Gnomeo & Juliet, and Joyful Noise.

She’s also the co-owner of The Dollywood Company, which manages various entertainment venues including the Splash Country water park, the Dollywood theme park, and several dinner venues.

The post The Top Ten Richest Country Singers – 2026 List appeared first on Gazette Review.

Top 10 Most Handsome Men in the World

Without further ado, here’s the cream of the crop of handsome men in 2026.

10. Noah Mills

Noah Mills is a Canadian actor and model. Over the years, he has been featured in numerous advertisements for Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, and Gap Inc. In 2014, he was featured in Vogue Magazine’s list of “Top 10 Male Models of All Time.”

Born on April 26, 1983, in Toronto, Ontario, he spent his early years in Baltimore, Maryland, before attending boarding school in Australia and Canada. After graduating, he planned on studying psychology in college. Before he could do that, however, he was scouted as a model.

He subsequently moved to New York, where he booked his first runway show. Since then, he has modeled for numerous fashion brands including Gucci, Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana.

In 2010, he also made his acting debut in the short film The Best Man. That same year, he made a small appearance in the comedy Sex and the City 2.

And in 2017, he joined the cast of The Brave, playing the role of Sergeant Joseph McGuire. Some of his other television credits include The Enemy Within, 2 Broke Girls, The Baker and the Beauty, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Since 2021, he has also been starting in NCIS: Hawai’i. In the show, the plays the role of Jesse Boone, a former homicide detective who’s familiar with the islands’ hiking trails.

9. Chris Evans

Chris Evans is best known for playing Captain America/Steve Rogers in the Marvel film series. He has also starred in Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Snowpiercer, and Knives Out, among other films. In 2014, he also made his directorial debut in Before We Go, which he also starred in.

On television, he has starred in the miniseries Defending Jacob and in the drama Gifted. He has also performed on Broadway; he made his debut in the revival of Kennth Lonergan’s Lobby Hero in 2018.

Born on June 13, 1981, in Boston, Massachusetts, he grew up in Sudbury where he attended acting camp as a child. Prior to graduating high school, he spent the summer in New York, where he studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

He eventually made his acting debut in a short educational film titled, Wild About Life. He later landed a lead role in the comedy drama, Opposite Sex, which also starred Milo Ventimiglia, Kyle Towards, Margot Finley, and Allison Mack.

However, it wasn’t until he landed his first comic book role in the mid-2000’s that his popularity soared. Nowadays, he’s one of the world’s highest-paid actors.

8. Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise has received numerous accolades including three Golden Globe Awards and three Academy Award nominations. As of 2026, his films have grossed more than $10 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-earning box office stars of all time.

He first rose to prominence in the 1983 comedy film, Risky Business. A series of films soon followed including Top Gun, The Color of Money, Born on the Fourth of July, and Rain Man. He’s also known for playing Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible film series. In fact, he’s currently working on the latest sequel, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, which will be coming out in 2023 and 2024 (the film is split into two parts).

Other notable roles include Minority Report, The Last Samurai, Oblivion, Vanilla Sky, Edge of Tomorrow, and Collateral.

More recently, he was a producer for the action drama film, Top Gun: Maverick, which he also starred in. In it, he plays the role of Pete Mitchell aka “Maverick”, a flight instructor and test pilot for Top Gun. Other cast members include Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly, and Glen Powell.

7. Idris Elba

Idris Elba is an English producer, musician, and actor. He’s perhaps best known for playing Stringer Bell in the crime drama The Wire. He has also starred in the series Luther and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and is the creator of the semi-autobiographical comedy drama In the Long Run, which stars Idris Elba, Madeline Appiah, Bill Bailey, Jimmy Akingbola, and Kellie Shirley..

On the big screen, he portrays Heimdall in the Marvel Cinmatic Universe films including Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, and a few others. He also starred in Beast of Nation and Pacific Rim, the former of which earned him a BAFTA and Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Some of his other film credits include Zootopia, The Jungle Book, Yadie, and Finding Dory. He also lent his voice to Knuckles the Echidna in the 2022 animated film, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. In 2016, he was included in Time Magazine’s List of “Top 100 Most Influential People In the World”. That same year, he was appointed an Officer of the OBE for his services to drama.

Outside of acting, he also performs as a DJ under the stage name Idris or DJ Big Driis. He’s also collaborated with a number of artists including K. Michelle, Pharoahe Monch, Lime Cordiale, Emanuel, and Macklemore.

6. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio rose to fame in the late 90s for his portrayal of Jack in the epic film, Titanic. The highest-grossing film at the time, it earned him several accolades including a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor, two MTV Movie Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Since then, he has starred in numerous other films including Catch Me If You Can, The Aviator, Body of Lies, Inception, The Great Gatsby, The Wolf of Wallstreet, and Before the Flood. More recently, he starred in the political comedy Don’t Look Up, which was released on December 10, 2021.

He has also produced numerous films including Out of the Furnace, Runner Runner, The Ides of March, Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski, and Kid 90. He is also working on Killers of the Flower Moon, which is set to be released sometime in 2023. Not only is he a producer for the film, but he will also be starring in it alongside Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, and Jesse Plemons.

That’s not all, he has also worked on a number of television series over the years including Growing Pains, Greensburg, The Right Stuff, Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt.

5. David Beckham

David Beckham is one of the most well-known football players in the world. Throughout his professional career, he has played for Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, AC Milan, as well as the England National Team.

Born on May 2, 1975, in London, England, he grew up in Ridgeway Park where he developed a passion for the sport at a young age. By the time he was fifteen, he had been named Under-15 Player of the Year.

A British cultural icon, he was the runner-up in the 1999 Ballon d’Or and was named one of the world’s greatest living players by Pele in 2004. More recently in 2021, he was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

Outside of football, he has also appeared in a handful of films including Goal!, Goal II: Loving the Dream, and Goal III: Taking on the World. In 2018, he also appeared in the promo for Deadpool 2.

As of 2026, he’s also the co-owner and president of Inter Miami CG. Not only that, but he’s also the co-owner of the Salford City Football Club, which plays their home games at Moor Lane.

4. Hrithik Roshan

Hrithik Roshan is a well-known Indian actor who takes on a variety of roles. If anything, he’s both a style icon and sex symbol in India. For several years, he was included in Eastern Eye Magazine’s list of “50 Sexiest Asian Men.” Not only that, but he was named Bollywood’s “Best Dressed Man” by the Indian edition of QC. And in 2006, he was one of only a few Bollywood actors to receive a miniature doll release in the UK.

Throughout his career, he has starred in numerous moves including the box-office hits Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai, Fiza, and Koi…Mil Gaya, the latter of which earned him two Filmfare Awards. Some of his other film credits include Krrish, Kris 3, Dhoom 2, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and Agneepath.

More recently, he played the role of Anand Kumar in the biographical film Super 30, for which he received a Firmware Award nomination for Best Actor. That same year, he starred in the action thriller film War alongside Vaani Kapoor, and Tiger Kapoor.

In 2011, he also made his television debut n the dance reality series Just Dance,.

3. Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattison is an English actor who has starred in numerous independent and big-budget films. Not only has he been featured in Forbes Magazine’ Celebrity 100 list but he was also included in Time Magazine’s list of “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2010.

Born on May 13, 1986, in London, England, he began acting at the age of fifteen with a local theatre club. He later made his film debut in the fantasy film Harry Potter and the Globe of Fire.

However, it wasn’t until the late 2000s that he gained worldwide recognition after playing Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga movies, which grossed more than $3 billion worldwide.

Since then, he has starred in several films including Water for Elephants, Remember Me, The Lost City of Z, Cosmopolis, and The Lighthouse. Earlier this year, he also played the role of Batman in the superhero film of the same name. Premiered on March 1, 2022, it has since grossed more than $770 million at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing movies of the year.

Besides acting, he’s also a talented singer who has recorded several soundtracks for films. In October 2020, he also made a cameo appearance during Haim’s performance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

2. Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd was named the “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine in 2021. An accomplished actor, he has appeared in numerous films over the past few decades including Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, Wet Hot American Summer, The 40-Year Old Virgin, Wanderlust, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

He’s also known for playing Ant-Man in the Marvel film series (Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers: Endgame, Captain America: Civil War).

On top of his film career, he has appeared in many television series including the popular sitcom Friends, where he played the role of Mike Hannigan. Some of his other television credits include Parks and Recreation, Reno 911!, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, and Great Job. In 2019, he also played a dual role in the comedy series, Living with Yourself, for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination.

And last year, he starred in the psychological comedy-drama mini series, The Shrink Next Door, which is based on the podcast of the same name.

For his work in Hollywood, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015. He was also named Man of the Year by Hasty Pudding Theatricals in 2018.

1. Kim Taehyung

Kim Tae-Hyung, also name as “V”, is a South Korean singer and songwriter, who’s also the vocalist of the popular boy band BTS. In 2016, he released his first solo track, “Stigma”, under the band’s name. Since then, he has come out with two additional singles—“Inner Child” and “Singularity”. He’s also known for his work on the songs “Inner Child”, “Sweet Night”, and “Christmas Tree”, all of which charted in South Korea.

In 2016, he also hosted the reality TV show, Celebrity Bromance alongside Kim Min-jae. And more recently in 2022, he appeared in the reality show In the Soap: Friendship Trip, which is spin-off of the original In the Soop series, which featured the popular boy band.

Aside from that, he’s also hosted numerous events including the 2014 Show! Music Core, 2016 Inkigayo, and 2017 Inkigayo Super Concert in Daejeon.

The singer, who was named “The Most Handsome Man in the World” according to a survey conducted by Nubia Magazine, also has two Guinness World Records under his belt—one for reaching 1 million followers on Instagram in the shortest amount of time and another for reaching 10 million followers on Instagram in the shortest amount of time.

The post The Top 10 Most Handsome Men in the World – 2026 Update appeared first on Gazette Review.

Humanity has a special fascination with giants, when the tallest man that ever lived, Robert Pershing Wadlow stepped outside, he was followed by crowds of curious and excited onlookers who just wanted to catch a glimpse of the uniquely tall Alton giant as he carried his eight feet eleven-inch frame along on his size 37AA feet, but even though Robert Wadlow died in 1940 aged just 22 years old, there have always been those larger than life men who the rest of us can only look up to.

But who exactly are the ten tallest giants in the World now in 2026? Follow my relatively tiny size 13’s as we follow in the footsteps of the tallest men alive today.

10. Morteza Mehrzad – 8 Feet 1 Inch

Morteza Mehzrad is the tallest man in Iran. He’s also the tallest Paralympian in recorded history. Born with acromegaly, he grew much quicker than his peers. By the time he was 16, he measured 6 feet and 2 inches.

Following a bicycle accident, which resulted in a pelvic fracture, however, his right leg stopped growing. As a result, his legs are of different lengths (his right left is approximately 15 centimeters shorter). Despite that, he is able to get around with a wheelchair, walking stick, or crutches.

In 2011, he was spotted by Hadi Rezaei, an Iran national head coach. He later encouraged Mehzrad to play sitting volleyball. Fast forward to 2016, and he was chosen for Iran’s national team after undergoing several training sessions. In 2020, he won the gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Previously, he had won the gold medal in sitting volleyball at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. He also won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games, which took place in Jakarta.

9. Brahim Takioullah – 8 Feet 1 Inch

Brahim Takioullah is the second-tallest living person in the world. Born in Guelmim, Morocco, he was diagnosed with acromegaly after being asked to get a blood test for his unusual size. Allegedly, he grew 3.3 feet during a single growth spurt.

After graduating from university, he traveled to Paris, where he underwent surgery for his condition. The treatment was successful and the doctor was able to remove a tumor from his pituitary gland, which brought his growth hormone levels back to normal.

He currently works for an attraction near the city of Beauvais, where visitors can take photos with Brahim.

8. Bernard Coyne – 8 Feet 1.7 Inches

Benard Coyne was born in Anthon, Iowa. Like Robert Wadlow, he was still growing at the time of his death. It’s said that he suffered from eunuchoid gigantism, which led him to grow at an extraordinary rate throughout his adulthood.

Some sources say he may have reached a height of 8 feet 4 inches at the time of his death but this has never been confirmed. Rather, his World War I draft card, dated August 1918, had listed his height as 8 feet.

Following his death, he was buried in a specially-made, extra-large coffin in Anthon, Iowa.

7.  Don Koehler – 8 Feet 2 Inches

Don Koehler was born in Denton, Montana. His father was 6 ft 2 inches and his mother was 5 ft 10 inches. His twin sister was also of average height.

At the age of 10, he began growing at an extraordinary rate. At his peak, he had a standing height of 8 feet and 2 inches. His twin sister measured 5 feet 9 inches, which gave them a record difference of 2 feet 5 inches, which has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Due to his tall stature, he had difficulty finding socks that fit him. Fortunately, he was able to find a hosiery company that custom-made socks for him.

For over two decades, he worked as a salesman for a manufacturing company. If anything, he often used his size as an advantage (potential customers would want to meet with him out of curiosity).

As he grew older, he suffered from kyphosis, which resulted in a curvature of the spine. He later died in 1981 of a heart condition.

6. Väinö Myllyrinne – 8 Feet 3 Inches

Väinö Myllyrinne was born in Helsinki, Finland, and is considered the tallest soldier to have ever served in the Finnish Defense Forces. At the age of 20, he underwent his conscript training in the Viipuri Heavy Artillery Regiment. He was 7 feet 3 inches tall at the time.

He later traveled around Europe as a virus performer and professional wrestler. He later returned to Finland in 1939 to serve in the army during the Winter War. It was then that he experienced a second growth spurt, which brought him to a height of 8 feet 3 inches.

He later relocated to Järvenpää, a town in the Uusimaa region, where he ran a chicken far. He died at the age of 54 in Helsinki.

5. Hồ Văn Trung – 8 Feet 5.25 Inches

Hồ Văn Trung was born in Ca Man, Vietnam in 1984. The first of four children, he moved to the Ngoc Hien district as a teen, where he worked as a shrimp farmer to support his family.

According to his parents, he was 5 feet 7 inches at the age of 17. After developing a prolonged fever, however, he experienced abnormal height growth. By the time he was 27, he measured 7 feet 8.5 inches and weighed 244 pounds.

And he only continued to grow, something that doctors attributed to pituitary gland disease.

In 2018, he suffered from kidney failure, which sent him to the hospital. At the time, he was 8 feet 2.5 inches tall and was still growing. He later died in 2019 at the age of 35. He was buried in his hometown in an extra-large coffin.

4. Jack Earle – 8 Feet 7 Inches

Jack Earle was a sideshow performer and silent film actor. Born in Denver, Colorado, he was small for his age up until his seventh birthday. He later grew at an extraordinary rate due to acromegalic gigantism. By the time he was ten years old, he was over 6 feet tall.

Despite his height, he decided to pursue a career in acting. He went on to appear in several silent films including Jack and the Beanstalk and Hansel and Gretel. He was also involved with the movie making business and had worked as a sideshow performer for the Ringling Bros.

His acting career eventually came to an end after he fell from scaffolding. Not only did he break his nose, but he also eventually lost his sight. Doctors later diagnosed him with a pituitary tumor. Some speculate that the x-ray treatments he had received may have stopepd his growth. At the time, he measured 8 feet and 6.5 inches tall.

He eventually died on July 18, 1952, at the age of 46.

3. John F. Carroll – 8 Feet 7.75 Inches

John F. Carroll suffered from acromegalic gigantism, a hormonal condition in which the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone. He also suffered severe spinal curvature, which affected his stature.

At the age of 27, he had a standing height of 8 feet and 1/4 inches. However, his true height would have been closer to 8 feet 8 inches, assuming normal curvature of the spine. Allegedly, his extraordinary growth had started at the age of 16. At one point, he even grew eight inches in one year.

Due to his worsening spinal condition, however, he measured 7 feet 10.5 inches at the time of his death. He was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery in New York.

2. John Rogan – 8 Feet 6 Inches

John Rogan was born in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The son of a former slave, he began to grow very rapidly as a teen due to the overproduction of growth hormones. His maternal grandfather was also said to have been a giant so his condition could have very well been inherited.

By the time he was fifteen, however, he could no longer stand or walk due to ankylosis, a condition in which the joints become abnormally rigid. At the time, his feet measured 13 inches in length and his hands measured 11 inches in length.

Despite that, he was able to make a living by selling postcards and portraits at a train station. Some of his drawings have even been published. He passed away on September 12, 1905, at the age of 38.

1. Robert Wadlow – 8 Feet 11 Inches

Robert Wadlow is the tallest person in recorded history. At the time of his death, he was 8 feet 11 inches and weighed nearly 440 pounds. His coffin was equally as large; it was 10 feet 9 inches long, 2 feet 8 inches wide, and weighed over 1,000 pounds.

Born in Alton, Illinois, he was the oldest of five children. Taller than his father at the age of eight, his elementary school had to make a special desk for him so that he could sit in class. By the time he graduated high school, he was 8 feet 4 inches. And he continued to grow throughout his adulthood. In fact, there was no indication that he had stopped growing by the time of his death.

As for his shoe size, it was a whopping 37AA, which is equivalent to 47cm or 19.5 inches! And of course, it had to be custom-made.

The reason for his extraordinary height? He had a condition called hypertrophy of the pituitary gland, which resulted in abnormally high levels of growth hormone.

The post Top 10 Tallest Men In The World – 2026 Update appeared first on Gazette Review.

Murder, burglary, theft. Every country on the planet has had to wrestle with how best to deal with the darker side of humanity. Whether through mass incarceration, rehabilitation, or exceedingly harsh punishments, many countries have tried to develop strategies to help curb such acts from occurring. Here, we list the ten countries that need to work on said strategies a bit more.

10. Jamaica

Jamaica is plagued with gang activity, government corruption, and high levels of violent crime (e.g. sexual assault). What’s worse, is that the Jamaican police force is understaffed with limited resources.

Travelers are advised to specifically avoid Spanish Town, St. Catherine, as it has a strong reputation for sexual assault, drug trafficking, gang turf wars, and gun crime. In fact, shootings occur on a regular basis in the town. For that reason, it should be avoided at all costs.

Other dangerous places in Jamaica include Tivoli Gardens, Grants Pen, Cassava Piece Road, and Montego Bay (Rose Heights, Norwood, Canterbury, Flankers).

9. Brazil

Brazil has one of the highest crime rates in the world. In 2020, the homicide rate was 23.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, which was actually a decrease from 2019. Violence between rival gangs is also a massive problem, as are corruption, drug trafficking, and domestic violence.

Feira de Santa, in particular, is dangerous for travelers. For one thing, they have the highest homicide rate in Brazil (61.21 per 100,000 inhabitants). Not only that but there’s also high drug trafficking activity in the region, which is often carried out by different gangs.

8. El Salvador

Organized crime is a massive problem in El Salvador. In fact, it’s often referred to as the murder capital of the world. As of 2026, there are 25,000 gang members at large with another 43,000 in prison.

Some of the largest gangs in the area include Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), the latter of which is often public in its violence. Aside from drug trafficking, they’re also involved with human smuggling, murder, and extortion, among many other illegal activities.

Property crimes such as car theft and robbery are also common due to high unemployment rates and low wages.

7. Guyana

Guyana is known for violent crimes such as murder and armed robbery. In fact, its homicide rate is three times higher than that of the US. Criminal gang activity is also common. Not only are they involved with human trafficking, but they also participate in prostitution, robbery, gun-running, and drug trafficking.

Georgetown is particularly dangerous to travelers as the area is prone to heavy gang activity. Attacks on foreigners are also uncommon.

6. Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago have long been troubled by gang activity. In 2021, the murder rate was 32 per 100,000 inhabitants. Gang-related violent crime is particularly high in and around the city center of Port of Spain, including Morvant, Laventille, and Barataria.

For example, many crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, rape, murder, theft, and robbery take place in taxis and private vehicles. Pickpocketing is also a common problem for visitors.

Currently, the Caribbean island nation has a Level 2 travel advisory, which means that travelers should exercise increased caution.

5. Honduras

Honduras has a crime index of 74.54, making it one of the deadliest countries in the world. In 2012, the country experienced nearly 20 homicides per day, most of which were carried out by criminal gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18.

Weak law enforcement has also made it easy for criminals to smuggle weapons and drugs. To make matters worse, Honduras is a major drug route to the United States.

As of 2026, the US has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for the Central American country, indicating that visitors should reconsider visiting the area.

4. Afghanistan

Afghanistan has the fourth-highest crime rate in the world. In 2020, the country supplies more than 80% of the world’s illicit opium. The Taliban had pledged to stamp out the illegal drug trade after regaining control of the company in 2021, however, it’s proven to be difficult.

Not only that, but many are involved with kidnapping, money laundering, and murder. Corruption is also an issue among government officials. High unemployment rates also add fuel to crimes such as robbery and assault.

3. South Africa

South Africa has a notably high rate of homicides, assaults, and other violent crimes. This is due to several factors including poverty, social exclusion, inequality, and the normalization of violence.

They also have one of the highest rape rates worldwide. According to a survey, more than one in four men admitted to committing rape.

Many brutal and violent gangs are also based in South Africa including the Numbers Gang (the 26s, 27s, and 28s), which has one of the most fearsome reputations in the country.

2. Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea has a reputation for violence and crime. This is especially true for the capital, Port Moresby, and in the cities of Mt Hagen and Lae, which have become hotspots for many forms of violent criminal behavior such as sexual assault, carjacking, theft, breaking and entering, and murder. Human trafficking also occurs extensively throughout the country, specifically in Port Moresby, and most victims are under the age of 18.

On the Economist Intelligence Unit’s liveability index, it ranks 136th out of 140 countries.

What’s worse, is that local law enforcement services are typically unreliable. In fact, corruption is a major problem among state officials.

1. Venezuela

Venezuela is considered the most dangerous country in the world. In fact, they’ve been in a state of crisis for many years, roiled by mass protests, political turmoil, a soaring drug trade, and food and medicine shortages. They also have one of the highest homicide rates in the world. In 2021, there were nearly 41 homicides per 100,000 residents.

Corruption is also common among authorities. According to one survey, only 24% of Venezuelans were confident in their local police and only 17% felt safe walking home at night.

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First, the definition of rape is different depending on where you are. It changes the meaning of the stats by a fair bit, and I will do my best to explain each of the ten countries’ official positions on the issue as and when they come up. Second, no matter what else is said in this article, it is always horrible, always damaging, and for some of us, always on our minds. What makes this all the worse is the reporting rate of the crime is far lower than the actual rate of the crime. So a look at these figures is, on average, only a fifth of the picture.

So let’s take a look down the list.

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Rape Crime Rates

10. Finland

Nearly 47% of Finnish women have suffered sexual or physical abuse, according to a survey done by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. In fact, they were one of the last countries in the EU to criminalize marital rape—it only became illegal in 1994.

To make matters worse, more than 1 in 10 women were sexually assaulted before they turned 15 years old. And over 20% have experienced physical and or sexual violence from a previous or current partner. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of them reported the incident to the police.

9. Zimbabwe

One woman is sexually assaulted every 90 minutes in Zimbabwe.

During the first three months of 2021, more than 1,500 cases of rape were reported, and out of these cases, nearly 800 involved children between the ages of 11 and 16; another 276 involved those between the ages of 5 and 10. However, it’s believed that the actual number is higher as many cases go unreported.

8. Australia

Like most first-world nations, Australia has a far higher rate of reported incidence than, say, Panama. Their 28.6 per 100,000 is high, and the real figure is likely higher, but it is also mitigated by the fact that far more people in Australia are willing to report their crimes to the police.

Not to mention the fact that the police are far more likely to do something about it than in many other nations. Australia also includes sexual assault in their rape statistics in most of their jurisdictions, something I am very much in favor of. There is also the fact that over the last few years the figure has been shrinking, rather than growing, an encouraging trend.

7. Canada

Violent crimes have gone up significantly in Canada over the past few years. According to the Department of Justice, young people between the ages of 15 and 24 have the highest rate of sexual assault and the perpetrator is often a friend, neighbor, or acquaintance of the victim. However, more than 80% of cases go unreported—often because the victim feels ashamed or embarrassed.

And of those that are actually reported to the police, less than half result in a guilty verdict. This is worrying as sexual assault is the only violent crime that’s not declining in Canada.

6. New Zealand

The sexual assault rate in New Zealand is significantly higher than in other countries. According to the Minister of Justice Report, a woman is raped every two hours and 1 in 3 girls are likely to be raped before the age of 16. However, less than 10% of sexual offenses are reported to the police, and only 13% end in a conviction.

In 2013, a group of teenage boys who called themselves the “Roast Busters” boasted on social media about their sexual activity with drunk and underage girls. The police have since arrested two men connected to the gang and a warrant has been issued for a third who is overseas.

5. India

Sexual violence is a huge problem in India. Between 2018 and 2021, rape cases have gone up by nearly 33%. Altogether, 2,984 cases were reported in 2020, and 2,950 were reported in 2019. However, the actual number is likely much higher. According to Madiha Kark, over 50% of sexual assault cases are unreported in India.

Of the total cases of crimes against women, nearly 40% occurred in New Delhi, followed by Mumbai, Jaipur, and Prune. And the majority of perpetrators (94%) are known to the victims (e.g. relatives, neighbors, parents).

4. England and Wales

Sexual violence has increased significantly in England and Wales over the past decade. In 2021, more than 67,000 rapes and sexual offenses were recorded, marking a 13% increase from 2020; it’s also the highest recorded annual figure to date. It’s also estimated that 250,000 teenage girls are suffering sexual abuse at any one time.

At the same time, rape prosecution rates have fallen. According to government data, less than 1.5% of cases are persecuted. Why do so few cases go to court? Many victims often withdraw their complaints after being asked to hand over their phones as evidence. Even if they do choose to present it, the CPS must determine that there’s enough evidence to charge the suspect.

3. The United States

Nearly one in five women have experienced some form of sexual violence during their lifetime. Child sexual abuse is also a massive problem. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 females are sexually assaulted for the first time between the ages of 11 and 17. What’s more, is that 1 in 8 is sexually assaulted before the age of 10.

According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, only 384 cases are reported to the police out of 1,000. Out of them, only 57 results in an arrest, with 11 being referred for prosecution and 6 resulting in incarceration.

2. Sweden

Sweden has the second-highest number of rape cases in the world, with 53.2 per 100,000 people. In fact, their rape and sexual molestation rates have been climbing steadily since 2015. In 2021, more than 3,000 individuals were convicted of rape, most of whom had an immigrant background.

The good news is that rape conviction rates have also gone up since the country changed the legal definition of rape to ‘sex without consent’ in 2018. And unlike other countries, offenders do not have to prove the threat or use of violence or coercion.

1. South Africa

South Africa is the rape capital of the world. That might sound a little sensationalist, but it’s true. In 2021, there were nearly 10,000 rape cases – an increase of 7.1% from the third quarter of 2020. To make matters worse, they also have the lowest conviction rates of all serious crimes – including rape – in the world.

That is an insane figure. But again, it is not all that surprising when you consider the history behind the country; so many of the people are only a generation removed from being ill-educated, tribal, second-class citizens.

What’s more, is that 90% of the population does not have equal rights with the ruling elite, which puts them behind other parts of the world. Add in the AIDS endemic, approximately 11% of the population has the disease and the belief that sex with a virgin will cure it, and we again have compounding factors driving people to commit the most heinous of crimes. Like Botswana, baby rape is a massive problem.

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