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Donald Trump's new Air Force One. US Air Force courtesy photo Any Air Force plane carrying a US president is called Air Force One. President John F. Kennedy was the first to use a jet designed specifically for a US president. President Donald Trump accepted a luxury jet from Qatar to serve as a new Air Force One. Nicknamed the "flying Oval Office," Air Force One has long functioned as the president's flying command center, office, and private quarters. Since the mid-20th century, US presidents have flown on special planes designated "Air Force One" while carrying out their official duties. The modern Air Force One is equipped with everything the president might need, including office spaces, two kitchens, a stateroom with sleeping quarters, and a fully functional operating room. A new Air Force One jet, a Boeing 747-8 donated by the Qatari royal family and accepted by President Donald Trump in May 2025, is bringing a new level of luxury — and a new color scheme — to the presidential plane. Here's how the design of Air Force One has changed through the years. Before presidents traveled on jet planes, the first-ever aircraft built for US presidents was a Douglas VC-54C Skymaster. The Douglas VC-54C known as "Sacred Cow." Museum of Flight Foundation/Corbis via Getty Images Nicknamed "Sacred Cow," the aircraft operated from 1944 to 1961, flying Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman. It featured an elevator shaft for Roosevelt's wheelchair, an executive conference room with a bulletproof window, and an electric refrigerator, which was a rare luxury for planes built in the 1940s. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to travel on a jet aircraft in 1959. Air Force One taking off from Heathrow Airport, at the end of President Eisenhower's state visit to the United Kingdom, 2nd September 1959 Terry Fincher/Mirrorpix/Getty Images Eisenhower's Boeing 707 Stratoliner, nicknamed "Queenie," featured a section for telecommunications, room for 40 passengers, a conference area, and a stateroom. President John F. Kennedy was the first to use a jet specifically designed for the US president, known as SAM 26000. President John F. Kennedy's pilot, Col. James B. Swindal, left, and Maj. Lewis Hanson, co-pilot, check Air Force One's cockpit before a presidential take-off from Andrews Air Force Base, 14 miles from the White House, May 13, 1963. The 600-mile-an-hour jet, Kennedy's most often-used plane, contains a living room, bedroom, bath and kitchen - and "The Button" of nuclear war which goes wherever the president goes. John Rous SAM 26000, a customized and modified version of a civilian 707-320B airliner, was known as a Boeing VC-137C. It included a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Raymond Loewy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy designed the plane's blue-and-white exterior. US President John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963, second from left) and First Lady, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (1929 - 1994), arrive at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, November 21, 1963. The President was assassinated in Dallas the following day. Air Force One is in the background. Kennedy Library Archives/Newsmakers/Getty Images The plane's design featured an American flag on the tail and presidential seals on the nose. After Kennedy's assassination in 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on board the SAM 26000 known as Air Force One. In the aftermath of the assasination of US President John F. Kennedy, American politician and Vice-President Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908 - 1973) takes the oath of office to become the 36th President of the United States as he is sworn in by US Federal Judge Sarah T. Hughes (1896 - 1985) (left) on the presidential aircraft, Air Force One, Dallas, Texas, November 22, 1963. Kennedy's widow, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy (later Onassis) stands beside him at right. Universal History Archive/Getty Images It marked the first and only time a presidential swearing-in ceremony took place on an airplane. Johnson met with Cabinet members on the presidential aircraft in 1966 in a small seating area. (Original Caption) Los Angeles, CA.: President Lyndon Johnson (R), confers with Vice-President Hubert Humphrey & cabinet members aboard Air Force One. L-R: Robert McNamara, Sec. Defense; Humphrey; Dean Rusk, sec. State; John Gardner, Sec. Health; Alexis Johnson, Sec. Deputy State; Maxwell Taylor, US Ambassador-Vietnam; & David Bell, AID director. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images The small alcove was decorated with a globe decal on the wall and curtains lining the windows. In 1972, Richard Nixon was the first president to use a Boeing 707 plane with the tail number 27000 as Air Force One. Standing behind the bar aboard Air Force One, President Richard Nixon speaks with military and civilian leaders while flying from Bangkok to Saigon for a short visit with commanders and troops stationed in Vietnam. Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images Nixon stood behind the plane's bar while meeting with military and civilian leaders en route to Vietnam. When President Gerald Ford took office after Nixon resigned, seats in the rear cabin were upholstered with striped fabric. (Original Caption) 1974 President Gerald Ford holds a mini news conference aboard Air Force One with pool reporters 10/19. Ford was enroute from Louisville, Kentucky to Washington D.C., after speaking at a fund raising dinner for Republican U.S. Senator Marlow Cook. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images Presidents would occasionally make their way back to the rear cabin to chat with reporters. Ford's office, just off the stateroom, also featured striped furniture. ATLANTA, GA. - FEBRUARY 4: (NO U.S. TABOID SALES) Onboard Air Force One, President Ford poses with Candice Bergen, who was on a photo assignment for Ladies' Home Journal February 4, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia . More than sixty photographers had turns at exclusive access to President Ford during his time in office, but none created a bigger stir than the famous Ms.Bergen, who was also the first female photographer to shoot a behind-the-scenes story on an American president. David Hume Kennerly/ Getty Images Ford is pictured with Candice Bergen, the first female photographer to shoot a behind-the-scenes story on an American president. President Jimmy Carter outfitted the press area with blue carpeting. (Original Caption) 1978 President Carter is interviewed aboard Air Force One by the Pres during the return leg of the European Trip. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images Carter talked to reporters on his way back from a trip to Europe in 1978. President Ronald Reagan used 27000 as his primary presidential aircraft. On board Air Force One , from left, American politician and US Secretary of State George P Shultz and National Security Advisor-designate Robert McFarlane, listen to US President Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004) , October 23, 1983.Their conversation concerned ongoing issues in Beirut. Bill Fitz-Patrick - White House via CNP/Getty Images In 1983, Reagan met with Secretary of State George P. Shultz and the national security advisor designate Robert McFarlane in a meeting space that featured a magazine rack, teal chair, wood-grain table, and photos of him and the first lady, Nancy Reagan. Reagan also hung pictures of himself in Air Force One's rear cabin. (Original Caption) Los Angeles, CA.: President Reagan With Reporters. President Ronald Reagan, in the rear cabin aboard Air Force One, chats with reporters on his way from Washington to California, 12/27, for a week's vacation. Reagan was asked if he was making any resolutions for the coming year. He chuckled and replied, "Yes. Not to make any New Year's resolutions." When the questioning began to turn serious, he held up his hand and said, "no questions until next year." 1981 Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images The photos showed Reagan toasting with a champagne glass and waving while boarding Air Force One. New blue-striped curtains matched the blue carpeting and furniture in another meeting area. President Ronald Reagan confers with Chief of Staff Donald Regan and Robert McFarlane aboard Air Force One. CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images The meeting room also included a television set. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush began using new VC-25 planes with the tail numbers 28000 and 29000 as Air Force One. President George Bush gestures as he chats with reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington after a summit meeting with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in Helsinki, Finland. At right is UPI White House reporter Helen Thomas. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images VC-25 is the Air Force designation for the customized Boeing 747-200B planes. The presidential office was updated with a stately desk, gray carpeting, and leather chairs. The presidential office of Air Force One, the President of the United States' official air transport, 27th September 1990. Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images The plane also featured upgraded electronics and communications equipment. The staff and secretarial area was decorated with neutral whites and grays. The staff and secretarial area of Air Force One, the President of the United States' official air transport, 27th September 1990. Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images The staff area featured plenty of phones for official business. Air Force One is also known as the "flying Oval Office." The new plane's annex could also be configured for medical use. The Annex of Air Force One, the President of the United States' official air transport, in executive configuration, 27th September 1990. It can be converted for medical usage. Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images The annex is pictured in executive configuration, with seating for meetings. The new planes featured over 4,000 square feet of space, which President Bill Clinton often used to hold meetings. GRAND FORKS, UNITED STATES: US President Bill Clinton (L) and Federal Emergency Management Administration Director James Lee Witt (2nd-L), meet 22 April with a delegation from North and South Dakota Aboard Air Force One on the way to Grand Forks Air Force Base in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Clinton will tour the flooded town of Grand Forks by helicopter and then address area residents at the air base. Most of the 50,000 residents of Grand Forks have been evacuated from their homes because of the worst flooding this area has ever seen. LUKE FRAZZA/AFP via Getty Images Clinton met with a delegation from North and South Dakota in 1997 to address flooding in the area. In the guest area, Clinton's Air Force One featured tan chairs and blue carpeting. ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE,- OCTOBER 1: US President Bill Clinton (R) discusses nuclear waste management with senators Richard Bryan, D-NV (L), Max Baucus, D-MT (2nd L) and Harry Reid, D-Nev (2nd R) 01 October 1999 aboard Air Force One. DAVID SCULL/AFP via Getty Images Clinton met with members of Congress to discuss nuclear-waste management in 1999. President George W. Bush flew 27000 one last time in August 2001 before it was retired to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. 393980 02: US President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush sit aboard Air Force One as the plane flies over Texas August 29, 2001 on their return to Waco, Texas. Bush's roundtrip flightfrom Waco to San Antonio was the last mission for Air Force One, a Boeing 707. The jet was President Reagan's primary aircraft and will be retired to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA Rick Wilking/Getty Images The plane flew 444 missions and logged over 1 million miles, according to the Bush White House. When the World Trade Center and Pentagon were attacked on September 11, 2001, the Secret Service kept Bush in the air aboard the VC-25A with the tail number 29000. President George W. Bush talks on the telephone Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, as senior staff huddle in his office aboard Air Force One. Eric Draper, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library/Getty Images Bush insisted on returning to Washington, but the Secret Service refused since they were unsure if more attacks were coming. In a 2016 interview with Politico, Bush's assistant White House press secretary Gordon Johndroe described Air Force One that day as "the safest and most dangerous place in the world at the exact same time." Bush conferred with his chief of staff, Andy Card, in the stateroom, designed by Nancy Reagan. President George W. Bush confers with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, in the President's stateroom aboard Air Force One. Eric Draper, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library/Getty Images The president's suite included a small bed, a couch and carpeting in light pink, and a desk with a brown leather chair. Bush walked down a hallway arm-in-arm with Harriet Miers, the assistant to the president and staff secretary. President George W. Bush and Harriet Miers Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, aboard Air Force One. Eric Draper, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library/Getty Images The hallway was lined with a beige couch with side tables and lamps on either side. When President Barack Obama took office in 2009, Air Force One's conference room had been updated with a TV screen and leather chairs. IN FLIGHT - APRIL 5: In this handout provide by the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama (L) talks with his staff aboard Air Force One during the flight from Prague, Czech Republic en route to Ankara, Turkey on April 5, 2009 in flight. Obama is serving as the 44th President of the U.S. and the first African-American to be elected to the office of President in the history of the United States. Pete Souza/White House via Getty Images The plane has 85 phone lines as well as encryption and scrambling devices to ensure secure communication, CNBC reported. On the other side of the conference room, a decal that read "Air Force One" was displayed on wood paneling. President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel aboard Air Force One during the flight to Louisville, Ky., April 2, 2015. With the President, from left, are Personal Aide Joe Paulsen and Colin Kahl, National Security Advisor to the Vice President. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza Food and drinks are provided by the plane's galley kitchen. The plane's senior staff room featured more phones, a coat closet, and leather chairs. President Barack Obama talks with Chief of Staff Jack Lew, former President Bill Clinton, Justin Cooper, David Axelrod, and Senior Advisor David Plouffe aboard Air Force One en route to Manchester, N.H., Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza Obama met with his chief of staff, Jack Lew, his senior advisors David Axelrod and David Plouffe, and former President Bill Clinton in the senior staff room in 2012. The presidential office furniture was also updated, with mahogany chairs and sofas replacing the gray. President Barack Obama meets with, from left, Secretary of State John Kerry; National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice; Phil Gordon, White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region; and Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, in his office aboard Air Force One during the flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 28, 2014. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza The carpeting was updated to a subtle star pattern, which also appeared in the conference room. The plane's guest section was reserved for special visitors, such as members of Congress. President Barack Obama talks with the Congressional delegation aboard Air Force One April 19, 2009, during the flight from Port of Spain, Trinidad to Andrews AFB, following the Summit of the Americas. Participants include: Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Sen. Max Baucus. and Rep. Sam Farr, right. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Official White House photo by Pete Souza The chairs featured a subtle polka-dot pattern, and the tables folded down to make more space. The rear cabin for members of the press looked like a standard commercial airliner. US President Barack Obama arrives to brief traveling journalists on board Air Force One on April 28, 2010. Obama met more Americans yet to feel the nascent economic recovery, on a heartland tour to fire up the Democratic campaign to avoid a drubbing in November's mid-term elections. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images Journalists can wander the rear cabin freely, but they aren't allowed to walk forward to speak to the president — the president has to come back to them. President Donald Trump proposed new paint colors for the exterior of Air Force One in 2019. WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 20: A model of the proposed paint scheme of the next generation of Air Force One is on display during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office of the White House June 20, 2019 in Washington, DC. The two leaders were expected to discuss the trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Alex Wong/Getty Images As part of the Air Force's Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program to update Air Force One planes, Trump proposed a red, white, and navy-blue color scheme for the new models, and kept a miniature rendering in the Oval Office. The Air Force ultimately rejected Trump's darker color scheme because it would have been more costly and caused overheating issues. Los Angeles, CA - February 03: United States President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden land safely aboard Air Force One at LAX in Los Angeles on Saturday February 3, 2024. The President is in town to meet with leaders of the Black entertainment industry and secure their vote in his re-election campaign. Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images Instead, President Joe Biden selected a baby-blue color scheme similar to the current model. The new VC-25B Air Force One planes are expected to be ready by 2027, according to the Air Force. The long-delayed project has already cost Boeing over $2 billion due to various manufacturing and supply-chain issues. In Biden's Air Force One, the conference room had the same star carpeting as the plane's presidential office. President Joe Biden meets with Director of Communications Kate Bedingfield, Counselor to the President and COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients and Press Secretary Jen Psaki in the conference room on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, prior to disembarking Air Force One at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz Plain beige carpeting continued down the hallway. The placard in the conference room was updated to read "Aboard Air Force One" with an image of the iconic aircraft. President Joe Biden participates in a phone interview with Univision Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, aboard Air Force One en route to Houston. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz Biden took his first overseas trip as president in June 2021, visiting Europe for the G7 summit. In his second, non-consecutive term, Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America while flying above it on Air Force One. US President Donald Trump speaking to press beside a large map that says "Gulf of America." ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images Trump signed a proclamation establishing the name change in his Air Force One office in February 2025. In May 2025, the Trump administration accepted a gifted Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar to serve as a new Air Force One. Qatar is offering to give the US a Boeing 747 jet. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images The luxurious plane previously functioned as a Qatari private business jet. It features a large primary bedroom with loveseats and an en-suite bathroom, guest bedrooms, office space, a dining room, and a salon lounge with plush couches. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a May 2025 briefing that the Qatari royal family donated the jumbo jet to the US Air Force and that it was being "retrofitted to the highest standards" to serve as Air Force One. Some estimates put the cost of upgrading the jet for the office of the president at $1 billion, but the US Air Force secretary said in June 2025 that it will cost less than $400 million to retrofit. Trump, who had pressured Boeing to deliver its new Air Force One planes sooner and criticized the project's "failure" to complete them on time, said he'd be "stupid" to turn down the Qatari plane, worth an estimated $400 million. In July 2025, he said the plane could be ready as soon as February 2026, but that deadline has since passed. Trump appeared to still be holding out for his preferred Air Force One colors, with the model plane back on display in the Oval Office during his second term. WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 14: A proposed model of the new Boeing Air Force One, on a table during a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Nayib Bukele, El Salvador's president, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, April 14, 2025. Bukele said a Maryland man deported to his country by Trump's administration would not be returned to the US, even as the Supreme Court has called for Trump's administration to facilitate his release. (Photo by Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Images The model Air Force One is one of many design changes Trump has made to the Oval Office and the White House at large. In June 2026, Trump unveiled the retrofitted and redecorated Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar with his long-awaited red, white, and navy livery. JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - JUNE 19: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks after touring the newest aircraft in the presidential fleet at Andrews Air Force Base on June 19, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The Qatari royal family gifted the lavish $400 million, 13-year-old Boeing 747-8 to the U.S. Air Force to be used as the new Air Force One. Alex Wong/Getty Images After completing its commissioning flights, the former Qatari jet will serve as a Bridge Air Force One aircraft, filling in as the presidential plane until Boeing's new VC-25B Air Force Ones are complete, according to the Air Force. When Trump leaves office, the plane will become the property of the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation. While revealing the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on June 19, Trump called the new Air Force One "the world's most luxurious plane" and said it is "representative of our country." Read the original article on Business Insider

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Chip and Joanna Gaines are selling their castle. Lisa Petrole/Magnolia Chip and Joanna Gaines are selling the castle they renovated in Waco, Texas, for almost $2.7 million. Called the Cottonland Castle, the historic home has four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. They previously put the castle up for auction in 2023. Chip and Joanna Gaines are selling off a fairytale space. The "Fixer Upper" couple owns several properties in their home city of Waco, Texas, including a 135-year-old castle they bought in 2019. They renovated the space for their show, "Fixer Upper: The Castle," and they previously tried to auction off the castle in 2023. Three years later, it's back on the market for nearly $2.7 million. Check out the historic property. Chip and Joanna Gaines bought a castle in 2019. Lisa Petrole As Joanna shared in a blog post, Chip had wanted to buy the Waco, Texas, property called Cottonland Castle for over 20 years before they finally purchased it in 2019. They spent the next several years restoring and renovating it, as they documented for their Magnolia series, "Fixer Upper: The Castle."  They completed the renovation in 2022, and they allowed groups to tour the property for $50 per ticket before the show aired later that year. They put the home up for auction in July 2023. Magnolia After offering tours of the property in 2022, Chip and Joanna decided to auction it in July 2023. Chip and Joanna's company, Magnolia Realty, partnered with Concierge Auctions to auction off the castle from July 20 to July 27, 2023. They said in a statement at the time that they hoped the person who bought the property would turn the castle into "a well-loved home once again," The Wall Street Journal reported. However, the auction sale never went through, and they reopened the home for tours six months later, according to Country Living Magazine. "Magnolia is pleased to share that the Historic Waco Castle is staying in the Magnolia family," Magnolia told the outlet in a statement at the time. "A prospective buyer and Magnolia mutually agreed not to close, and the unique property will not be sold at this time. This decision is made with much enthusiasm and anticipation as the beloved Castle's story continues with Magnolia." Three years after they first attempted to auction the home, Chip and Joanna put the castle up for sale. Magnolia On June 18, the Gaineses listed three of their properties in Waco for sale through their company, Magnolia Realty, including the castle. Representatives for the couple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the listings. In addition to the castle, Chip and Joanna listed the Hillcrest Estate, a rental property, for $1.7 million, and the Gristmill, a landmark the couple restored, for $935,000. The castle is the most expensive listing of the bunch, with the couple hoping to sell it for $2.699 million. "As Magnolia looks ahead to new opportunities in the hospitality space, the timing feels right for these three properties to begin their next chapter," Magnolia Realty said in an Instagram caption about the listings. The castle was first purchased in 1890. Lisa Petrole According to Waco History, the original buyer abandoned the castle after beginning work on it in 1890, and it was abandoned again by a second owner in 1908.  Alfred Abeel then bought the property in 1913 and worked with architect Roy E. Lane to finish construction of the home, keeping German castles in mind in its design. Different people owned the property throughout the 20th century, and it fell into disrepair after becoming a historical site in 1977. By the time Chip and Joanna bought the property, it needed a lot of work.  The 6,176-square-foot house sits on less than an acre of land. Lisa Petrole The castle has four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms.  As befits a castle, it also features a tower. The dining room features restored paneling and historic wallpaper, along with dramatic details such as a large chandelier and an ornate fireplace. Chip and Joanna wanted to maintain some of the house's original features while making it work for a modern dweller. Lisa Petrole For instance, Joanna explained in "Fixer Upper: The Castle" that the kitchen was originally in the basement, which she didn't think would work for a modern dweller. The kitchen now sits on the main floor, so it's more functional. However, they maintained the original mahogany paneling on the walls, blending old and new. The area also features a butler's pantry with additional appliances. The couple transformed every room in the house. Lisa Petrole The basement was also completely refinished, and it now includes an entertainment room, guest room, laundry room, and game room (photographed above).  The castle also has a conservatory and a library, as well as seven fireplaces. The primary bedroom includes the castle's original flooring. Lisa Petrole The upstairs houses a built-in library and three of the home's four bedrooms, each decorated by Joanna. Some of the home's vintage charm is most obvious upstairs, like the diamond-paned windows and antique tile in the bathrooms, as detailed in the home's listing. The castle is listed for almost $2.7 million. Lisa Petrole The listing states that the home will come furnished, so the future owners can buy a space designed and decorated by Chip and Joanna. "All furnishings, accessories, and decor have been thoughtfully curated to complement the home's design and are included with the purchase, creating a truly turnkey opportunity," it said. You can learn more about the castle here. Read the original article on Business Insider

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Uber is the largest shareholder in Lime heading into its IPO. Bloomberg/Getty Images Uber is the largest shareholder in scooter rental service Lime. Lime filed a prospectus on Monday detailing plans for an IPO, targeting a price of $24 to $26 per share. Uber also has an option to double down on its investment, according to the filing. Uber has a lot riding on scooters. The ride-hailing company, which was an early investor in scooter rental business Lime, is the company's largest shareholder, according to a prospectus detailing plans for an initial public offering that Lime filed on Monday. Uber owns about 14 million shares, or a 24% stake ahead of the IPO, according to the S-1 securities filing. Uber's stake would be worth about $350 million if Lime prices its IPO at $25 a share, the midpoint of the $24 to $26 target range the company shared in its filing. Lime said Uber has shown interest in buying up to $20 million in additional Lime common stock as part of the IPO, according to the prospectus. Uber did not respond to a request for comment. Precisely how much Uber stands to make on its Lime investment remains to be seen. The companies have not publicly shared how much Uber has invested in Lime over the years. Lime could revise its planned price per share before it goes public. Uber also faces restrictions on how many shares of Lime stock it can sell over the next two years — and thus how much it can cash out — as part of the IPO terms. Lime and Uber go way back. Wayne Ting, Lime's CEO, previously served as chief of staff to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Uber also invested in some of Lime's fundraising rounds, including leading a $170 million round announced in May 2020. Many Lime users find a scooter or bike to ride through Uber's app. Such trips accounted for about 14% of Lime's revenue in 2025, according to the prospectus. That relationship has helped Lime acquire new customers. "By leveraging Uber's existing infrastructure and rider network, we tap into an existing rider base that can drive awareness without upfront marketing costs," Lime wrote in the filing. The relationship between Lime and Uber might serve as a model. Uber has struck partnerships with around a dozen self-driving car providers over the past few years, from Waymo in the US to Baidu in Asia and the Middle East. Uber, which already has millions of riders signed up to use its app, can match those robotaxi services with riders, Khosrowshahi has said. "I do think the aggregator model certainly would be helpful for all of those companies to succeed," he told the "Stratechery" podcast last year. Do you have a story to share about Lime or Uber? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider

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This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. For those of you enjoying your summer unaware of Anthropic’s latest feud with the US government, here’s a recap: In April the company said it had built an AI model called Mythos…

Ty Burrell, Hilary Swank, and Glen Powell have all moved out of Los Angeles. Getty Nearly 250,000 people moved out of California from 2024 to 2025, per the most recent census data. It's not just regular people: Celebrities have left Los Angeles for places like Texas and Florida. Here are 28 celebrities who left LA — plus where they moved and why.  California is the US state with the most people moving out, with an estimated 229,077 people leaving for other states from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, according to the latest Census data. New York was second with 137,586 people leaving. While California still leads the country in residents leaving, it was much more severe in previous years. Between 2022 and 2023, nearly 700,000 chose to leave California. The increased threat of wildfires, coupled with a growing affordability crisis, is prompting them to choose other places across the country. Recently, even some of the richest people in the world decided they wanted out, as a proposed tax caused several prominent billionaires to abandon the state. Several celebrities have also decided California is no longer the place for them. Actor Matthew McConaughey left Los Angeles for a family situation in 2012 but later decided to stay, while Amanda Seyfried ditched the Hollywood scene, moving to a farm in upstate New York. Some movers have chosen states like Florida, Texas, and New York, while others have chosen different countries entirely. Former California residents told Business Insider that their reasons for leaving the state included high taxes, expensive home prices, and challenging social and political conditions. Some celebrities remained tight-lipped when sharing details of their moves, simply saying they're looking for a fresh start. Other high-profile actors, however, admitted that the fast-paced, stressful scene in Hollywood can be another motivation. Los Angeles, in particular, is experiencing an exodus of wealthier people in search of places where their money goes further. Take Gus Lira, a managing partner at a private jet charter company, who had a condo in Malibu overlooking the ocean. California taxes were wearing him down, so he decided to move to Nevada. "For me, really the main reason, and for many of the people that I know, is just taxes," Lira told Business Insider in January. "You can't get ahead when you get $100 and they take $60." Business Insider compiled a list of 28 celebrities — some in celebrity couples — who left California for greener pastures, presented in alphabetical order by last name. We tried to include both where they moved to and why they left LA. Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake left LA to shield their kids from the glare of the paparazzi. Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images The power couple has dealt with the paparazzi for most of their professional careers. But they had enough of their kids also having to endure it. Since 2018, Biel, Timberlake, and their two kids have lived predominantly at their properties in Tennessee and Montana. "You get hammered on the East Coast. You kind of get hammered on the West Coast. That's why we don't really live there anymore," said Biel in a May 2024 episode of SiriusXM's "Let's Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa," seemingly referring to her former home of LA. "We're just trying to create some normalcy for these kids." Ty Burrell moved to Utah to enjoy the outdoors. Ty Burrell. Paul Archuleta/Getty Images Once the popular sitcom "Modern Family" wrapped in 2020, Ty Burrell felt he no longer needed to be in California. Burrell, along with his wife and two daughters, moved to Salt Lake City after the ABC show finished in 2020. "We moved here right after [Modern Family] ended, and I don't have any regrets. It's been lovely and a great place to raise the kids," Burrell told People in 2025. Burrell's wife, Holly, is a Utah native, and though Burrell was raised in Oregon, he didn't consider himself an outdoorsman until moving to Utah. "So at first, when we moved here, it almost felt like cosplay, like we were pretending to be people who were outdoorsy, and now we really truly love it," he said. Dean Cain left LA for Las Vegas because of the "incredible taxation" and "horrible regulations for business" in California. Jamie McCarthy/ Getty Images Dean Cain, best known for playing Clark Kent/Superman in "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," was fed up with how things were run in California. The actor split for Vegas in 2023. "It's the most ridiculous large government, incredible taxation, horrible regulations for business," he told Fox News Digital in 2023. "Very anti-business." Cain said California's personal income tax felt especially high. "I moved to Las Vegas. I live in Nevada now," he added. "I have 10 times as nice a house. I'm not kidding. Ten times as nice a house as I had in Malibu. The house is absolutely stunningly built. Gorgeous, beautiful. Everything is brand new." Kelly Clarkson didn't just move from LA to New York — she took her daytime talk show with her. Kelly Clarkson in April 2024 Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Image Kelly Clarkson felt she had a new lease on life when she moved to New York City last year. After finalizing her divorce from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock in 2022, she didn't just take her kids east. She also brought "The Kelly Clarkson Show" — it started taping in New York in season 5. "I was very depressed for the last three years — and maybe a little before that, if I'm being honest. I think I really needed the change," the Grammy winner told People. "I needed it for me and my family as well. My kids are thriving here. We're just doing so much better, and we needed a fresh start." George and Amal Clooney left LA so their kids could "get a fair shake at life" — they are now French citizens. George Clooney and Amal Clooney. Dave Benett/WireImage The Clooneys have lived the quieter life in Italy and France for years, but always had a home in LA, an English-style estate that George bought from Stevie Nicks back in 1995. They finally sold that house in 2024 and now spend most of their time at their farmhouse in France with their twins, Ella and Alexander. George told Esquire in 2025 why they left. "I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood," he said. "I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life." "I don't want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi," he added. "I don't want them being compared to somebody else's famous kids." In late December 2025, George and Amal became French citizens. Jesse Eisenberg moved to his wife's hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. Getty Images Actor and director Jesse Eisenberg took the pandemic as an opportunity to leave Los Angeles. Eisenberg, his wife, and their son packed up an RV and drove to his wife's hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. "We have driven cross-country a lot, but we thought it would be prudent to isolate in an RV instead of stopping at hotels," Eisenberg told The Hollywood Reporter in 2020. Initially, Eisenberg moved to Indiana to help take care of his late mother-in-law after she got sick and also help out at a domestic violence shelter where she worked. But Eisenberg was happy to be in Indiana. "I've lived in Indiana for a decade on-and-off and that's where I feel the most comfortable," Eisenberg told CBS News in February. "I'm not somebody who wants to surround myself in an industry that just feels kind of unstable." Chris Evans wanted to be closer to family in Massachusetts. Chris Evans Arturo Holmes/Getty Images Silverscreen superhero and Massachusetts native Chris Evans listed his Los Angeles home in May for $6.99 million, The Wall Street Journal reported, cementing his abandonment of California. "After over a decade of amazing memories in his LA home, Chris is planning to move to the East Coast to be closer to family," Evans' listing agent Scott Moore said in a statement to People. Evans married his wife, Alba Baptista, in Cape Cod, and now they both spend most of their time in Massachusetts. Walton Goggins moved to New York after the pandemic. Walton Goggins and Nadia Conners at the 2Emmys. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images "The White Lotus" star Walton Goggins and his wife, Nadia Conners, moved to New York's Hudson Valley during the pandemic in 2021. But, he told Architectural Digest in February, the move was less about California, and more about New York. "We weren't running away from Los Angeles," he said. "We were running toward something." "The pandemic opened windows of self-perception and possibility," he added. "It was an opportunity to do something different, not to start over from scratch but to change, to evolve." Goggins, who was raised in Georgia, chose to live in a 1920s home upstate that resembles a hunting lodge — with an abundance of wood paneling and wood flooring — instead of the glitzy surroundings of Los Angeles. John Goodman left LA in the late '80s. John Goodman. Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty John Goodman figured out a long time ago that Los Angeles wasn't for him and has been living in New Orleans since the late 1980s. Like many, the Emmy winner first visited Crescent City to party. In the late 1970s, he showed up with his fraternity pals. A few years later, as an actor, he was shooting the movie "Everybody's All-American" alongside Dennis Quaid, Jessica Lange, and Timothy Hutton when he met his future wife, Anna Beth. He's been attached to the city ever since. "I used to come down here every time I'd get a few dimes to rub together, and it felt like I was missing something unless I was here," he told "Today" in 2023. "I consider myself very lucky to be here." Adrian Grenier left California to work on a farm in Texas. Adrian Grenier. Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images Adrian Grenier, known mostly from his "Entourage" fame, left California for Texas in 2020. Grenier traded the glitzy life of Hollywood for a farm 45 minutes outside Austin, Texas, where he prefers a quieter lifestyle outside the spotlight. "I don't miss anything about that world. Listen, if you go on Instagram long enough, you're going to find some FOMO somewhere, but everyone is just pretending they're living their best life," he told Life Magazine in 2021. "Ultimately, I know that I am, so I don't even tell anybody about it." Josh Hartnett has been living in the English countryside since the pandemic. He left Hollywood after dealing with a stalker. Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty The actor recently gained renewed attention thanks to movies like "Oppenheimer" and "Trap," but don't expect to find him hanging out on the Sunset Strip. Since the pandemic, he's ditched LA for the English countryside. Hartnett and his wife, British actor Tamsin Egerton, have lived in Hampshire since COVID hit, bringing up their four kids. He's living in the UK on a marriage visa, so he can only leave the country for work for around 180 days a year. After spending his early career in the Hollywood spotlight, Hartnett told The Guardian he loves the village country life where "nobody cares" who you are. "This is all brand new to me," he said. "I never would have expected it. And time passes quickly. With four children, you have so much to do. In a way, less is happening. But more of the important stuff is happening." Being outside Hollywood is also safer for Hartnett. He told The Guardian that when he lived in LA, he had experiences with stalkers. "People showed up at my house. People that were stalking me," he said. "A guy showed up at one of my premieres with a gun, claiming to be my father. He ended up in prison. There were lots of things. It was a weird time. And I wasn't going to be grist for the mill." Chris Hemsworth moved his family back to his homeland of Australia right when his Marvel fame hit. Chris Hemsworth. JB Lacroix/WireImage/Getty Hemsworth figured out LA wasn't for him right around the time the first "Thor" movie came out in 2011. "We kind of were set up in LA and not enjoying it, you know?" Hemsworth said on the "SmartLess" podcast in February 2026, referring to him and his wife, fellow actor Elsa Pataky. "Like nothing was shooting there. We were filming kind of everywhere else and then you'd come home, and then paparazzi and all the sort of the trappings of, you know, living in that space." Hemsworth and Pataky moved with their two young children to Hemsworth's native Australia and have been there ever since. "You know, when you come back from work, you wanna go on a holiday? Like coming home for me is — it feels like a holiday," Hemsworth said. "We have a big farm and horses and motorbikes and surf." Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban moved to Tennessee to be closer to the country music scene. Getty/David Becker A year after Nicole Kidman tied the knot with country-music star Keith Urban, the two got the heck out of LA. In 2007, they moved to Nashville, where the Australian Oscar winner dove headfirst into Urban's world. "That country-music community is a very warm community," she told People in 2016. "It's very protective. Keith's been a part of it for decades now. It's his home, it's our home." In September, Kidman filed for divorce from Urban. Lindsay Lohan left LA for Dubai and now has privacy, peace, and space. Lindsay Lohan. Leon Bennett/Getty Lohan has lived on both coasts, but she currently prefers to be in the United Arab Emirates, where she lives with her husband, financier Bader Shammas, and their two-year-old son. In a May 2025 profile in Elle, Lohan said that when she was living in Los Angeles, she would be "stressed" about the paparazzi taking photos of her while at the park with her son. Living in New York, there's a "different kind of energy" but not as much space. Living in Dubai, she gets it all. "I get the privacy, I get the peace, I get the space," she said. "I don't have to worry there; I feel safe." Eva Longoria and her family split time between Mexico and Spain. Eva Longoria. James Devaney/GC Images/Getty The star and producer made the decision a few years ago to move out of Los Angeles. She now splits her time between Mexico and Spain. She told Marie Claire in 2024 that she left Hollywood behind because it felt like that "chapter in my life is done now." While on "Live with Kelly and Mark" in April, Longoria said she loves traveling to the Andalucía region of Spain to enjoy the small beach bars and restaurants. Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O'Connor moved back home to Pittsburgh. Ethan Miller/Getty Images Actor Joe Manganiello returned to his hometown of Pittsburgh due to concerns about rising crime in Los Angeles. Manganiello's fiancée, Caitlin O'Connor, told Fox News Digital in January that they'd been thinking about leaving California for a while. "The crime in Los Angeles is at an all-time high," O'Connor told Fox News Digital. "We were thinking about it for a long time, and the right house happened to come up. We went to look at it in Pittsburgh, and it was perfect for us." O'Connor, who also grew up in a Pittsburgh suburb, said that the community aspect of living in a smaller town is unlike what they've experienced in big cities like Los Angeles. "Pittsburgh is the perfect place to start fresh," she said. "All of our neighbors are so nice, generous, and helpful. In a big city, you don't have that kind of community that we have here." Matthew McConaughey headed to Texas to help his family. Matthew McConaughey. John Nacion/Getty A few years before the McConaissance led to Matthew McConaughey's best actor Oscar win, he and his wife, Camila Alves, fled Hollywood for his home state of Texas. The two settled in Austin in 2012 after buying a 10,800-square-foot mansion. According to a profile in Southern Living, it was initially because of a "family crisis," as he needed to help his mother and two brothers. That led to the couple deciding to stay put to raise their three children there. "Ritual came back," McConaughey said of being back in Texas. "Whether that was Sunday church, sports, dinner together as a family every night, or staying up after that telling stories in the kitchen, sitting at the island pouring drinks and nibbling while retelling them all in different ways than we told them before." Aaron Paul left LA after the fires and landed in Paris. Aaron Paul. Edward Berthelot/Getty Images "Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul left California — and the US as a whole — for Paris, he told the Daily Mail in November 2025. The California wildfires were the impetus for leaving California, but he was done with Los Angeles in general, he said. "When the fires happened in LA, we just knew that we were done with LA, so we sold our house in LA and moved to Paris," he told the Daily Mail. Paul put his home in Los Angeles's Los Feliz neighborhood on the market in July 2025 for nearly $10 million, and has since cut the price by almost $2 million. "This is Us" star Chrissy Metz packed up for the Southern hospitality of Nashville. Chrissy Metz. Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images After 21 years on the grind in LA, Metz packed up and left town when the pandemic hit. She now resides in Nashville. "There's a lot going on," "The Hunting Wives" star told People in April 2025. "There's obviously great music, great food. I grew up in the South, so I'm used to sort of that hospitality — it feels more communal here. In LA it was always like, 'Oh, you have an audition? What's it for? Oh, you have an audition? What for?' It was all very dog eat dog!" Glen Powell moved to Texas after making it big in LA. Glen Powell. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Glen Powell left Los Angeles and returned to his home state of Texas in 2024. Powell, who had a breakout role in "Top Gun: Maverick," has lived in Los Angeles for more than 15 years, but told The Hollywood Reporter in 2024 that he's done enough in Hollywood and he feels he can now live elsewhere. "It's like I've earned the ability to go back to my family," he said. Not only does living in Texas allow Powell to be closer to family, but he's also finishing his degree at the University of Texas. "I think this is going to be good for my head, heart, and soul," he said. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively left LA after just six months of dating. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic When you know, you know. After less than a year of dating, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively packed up their stuff and left Hollywood for the suburbs of New York City. In 2012, after six months of dating, the couple bought a $2.3 million home in Pound Ridge, New York. "We don't live in LA. We live on a farm in New York," said the "Deadpool" star in a 2015 interview. "And we don't lead a wild and crazy life. It's not that hard. It's not a big deal." Julia Roberts hasn't lived in LA for decades. Julia Roberts at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty The Oscar winner realized many years ago that Los Angeles wasn't for her. Roberts moved to a 32-acre ranch in Taos, New Mexico, in 1995. The "Pretty Woman" star told Oprah back in 2003 that in New Mexico, everything is "clear." "Around here, I come and go like it's nothing," she said. "Los Angeles is such a town of show business, and I'm a terrible celebrity. I find it difficult — it's the beast that must be fed." Amanda Seyfried headed to Upstate New York for a taste of the simple life. Amanda Seyfried attends the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on January 15, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images With movies like "Mean Girls" and "Mamma Mia!" in her filmography, you would think Amanda Seyfried would want to lay her head down somewhere glamorous. But she actually prefers life on a farm. Seyfried spends most of her time on a farm in the Catskills, a mountain range north of New York City, that she purchased in 2014, Architectural Digest reported in 2023. "It's insane how much I can feel so accomplished and successful here without having to be in a successful movie," she told The New York Times in 2020. Sylvester Stallone wanted a new start in Florida. Sylvester Stallone Rachel Luna/WireImage/Getty Images After decades of living in Los Angeles — including in his first dingy apartment on Balboa Boulevard, which would become the inspiration for his iconic character Rocky Balboa — Sylvester Stallone packed up and left town in 2023. This was first revealed in early 2024, during season two of his reality series "The Family Stallone". "After a long, hard consideration, your mother and I have decided, time to move on and leave the state of California permanently, and we're going to go to Florida," Stallone said. "We're going to sell this house." Stallone and his wife, Jennifer Flavin, gave multiple reasons for the relocation, including the desire for a fresh start after their children moved out of the family home. Rod Stewart went back to his roots in England. Mike Marsland / Getty Images The legendary rocker decided that at 79 years old, it was time to stop traveling across the pond. In 2023, he put his sprawling 38,500-square-foot Beverly Hills property, which he has lived in since 1975, on the market. Selling the home is bittersweet for Stewart: "I don't want to sell it, and the kids don't want me to sell it either," he told People in 2023. "There's too many fond memories. I've lived [in LA] since 1975, and I adore the place." But he said he's making England a more permanent home since wrapping up his latest world tour and Las Vegas residency. Eric Stonestreet left Hollywood for Kansas City to get away from the "douchebaggery" of the business. Eric Stonestreet. Kyle Rivas/Getty "Modern Family" star Eric Stonestreet did not mince words when he explained why he's been living in Kansas City since the acclaimed show ended after 11 seasons in 2020. In a September 2024 interview with long-form interview journalist Graham Bensinger, he said a big reason he left LA was to get away from all the fake people in Hollywood. "What I realized it does is it highlights everything great about our business, the entertainment business," the actor said on what it's like to no longer live in LA. "And it highlights all the douchebaggery of our business. It amplifies it. Because I'm here, I'm dealing with people from here, and I'm going into the store and having all these authentic, real moments, and then I go to Hollywood, and you're reminded of some of the types of people that you deal with." Hilary Swank moved to a Colorado ski town. Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images The Oscar winner is loving her new life in the mountains of Telluride, Colorado, on 168 acres with five rescue dogs. She and her husband, Philip Schneider, bought the land in 2016, broke ground in 2018, and finally completed the home in 2020. A year later, she put her LA home on the market and has been living it up in the great outdoors. "I have been looking for land since I was in my mid-20s," Swank told Architectural Digest in 2022. "I find nature to be my happiest place, and animals are my other happiest place. And to be with both of them is everything to me." Mark Wahlberg moved his family to Las Vegas for a "fresh start." Mark Wahlberg. Mat Hayward/Getty Boston-born Mark Wahlberg set out to LA years ago to make it as an actor. Over his career, he realized he rarely stayed there to make any of his movies. So, in 2022, he packed up and moved his family to Las Vegas. He told The Talk in October 2022 that in Nevada his four kids can more easily pursue their hobbies, including golfing, riding horses, and playing basketball. "We came here to just kind of give ourselves a new look, a fresh start for the kids, and there's a lot of opportunity here," Wahlberg told The Talk. "I'm really excited about the future." 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I tried to order the same dishes at Olive Garden and Carrabba's to see which chain I preferred. Abigail Abesamis Demarest I dined at Olive Garden and Carrabba's to see which Italian-food-serving chain had better dishes. Olive Garden's take on fettuccine Alfredo, chicken Parmigiana, and lasagna came out on top. I thought Carrabba's bread was good, but Olive Garden won this taste test for me. As someone who grew up in the suburbs, restaurant chains like Olive Garden and Carrabba's always had a special place in my heart. Some get a bad rep and, sure, they may not always be the most authentic, but sometimes there's comfort in knowing exactly what to expect. Plus, they can have some pretty great dishes. Both chains serve tons of Italian-American classics, and I was curious which had the better bites and dining experience. So, I headed to both an Olive Garden and Carrabba's in the Panama City Beach area of Florida and tried ordering almost the same meal at each. Here's how they compared. First, I stopped by Olive Garden for an early dinner. Abigail Abesamis Demarest I started this taste test with my local Olive Garden since I was more familiar with it. The Italian-inspired chain has more than 900 locations worldwide (most in the US) and is known for its "Italian generosity," in part because its meals come with unlimited breadsticks and salad. Olive Garden felt welcoming when we stepped inside. Abigail Abesamis Demarest I thought the Tuscan-themed exterior of Olive Garden was warm and inviting. The restaurant's interior seemed pretty basic, with glowing digital-order tablets at each table. Still, an effort seemed to be made to warm things up with artificial plants, brick accents, and yellow curtains. My husband and I were greeted and seated immediately as an instrumental of "That's Amore" played overhead. At Olive Garden, we started with the house salad and breadsticks that came free with an entrée. Abigail Abesamis Demarest After we ordered our entrée to share, our waitress brought out chilled salad plates, a massive bowl of Olive Garden's house salad, and three breadsticks. She offered to grate cheese onto the salad, which we declined, and said she could bring out more breadsticks if we wanted them. I was surprised by how generous the salad portion was, especially since we just ordered one entrée. We also could've asked for more at no extra charge. The salad came topped with red onions, tomatoes, olives, pepperoncinis, and croutons. I thought it was crispy and refreshing, and the chilled plates were a nice touch, especially in the Florida heat. The buttery breadsticks were warm, just a touch salty, and perfect for sopping up soups and sauces. Olive Garden's Tour of Italy was a combo plate of classics. Abigail Abesamis Demarest For an entrée, we ordered Olive Garden's Tour of Italy, which came with fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna classico, and chicken Parmigiana. The dish felt like a perfect opportunity to try a little bit of everything, and it felt like a solid deal at only $21. Since my partner and I ordered it to share, our server asked whether we wanted the kitchen to divide the dish into two portions. I appreciated the offer, but we opted to have it served as-is and split it ourselves. I thought the lasagna classico had a nice mixture of textures and flavors, with classic Italian seasonings and tomato sauce. It featured a meat sauce made with pan-seared beef and Italian sausage, along with Parmesan, mozzarella, and Romano cheeses. The fettuccine Alfredo was creamy without being greasy and was exactly what I expected from a saucy pasta dish. I thought it was good, but it wasn't my favorite out of everything on the plate. For me, the clear winner on the plate was the chicken Parm. The chicken was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, with just the right amount of cheese and homemade marinara sauce on top. The tiramisu at Olive Garden was a creamy, dreamy ending to a lovely meal. Abigail Abesamis Demarest We followed up our Olive Garden feast with some tiramisu that cost us $9. The dessert has always been a must-order for us when we've done takeout, so we already knew we loved it. The restaurant served it with whipped cream and a fine dusting of cocoa powder. The tiramisu was creamy and sweet, with just the right amount of coffee flavor and bitterness from the espresso-dipped ladyfingers. When the meal was finished, our server packed up our leftovers from the Tour of Italy, along with two breadsticks, and handed us the check with two chocolate mints. A few days later, we headed to Carrabba's for dinner. Abigail Abesamis Demarest Carrabba's is a smaller Italian-American restaurant chain with around 200 US locations, 66 of which are in Florida. Like Olive Garden, Carrabba's has a family-centric vibe. According to the chain's website, the Sicilian-American founders' family recipes have been on the restaurant's menu for years. Carrabba's didn't feel quite as welcoming as Olive Garden. Abigail Abesamis Demarest I appreciated that the Carrabba's I visited had outdoor patio seating, an open kitchen, a main dining room, and a bar area. However, I didn't find the interiors quite as warm as Olive Garden's, with white tables and bright overhead lights. Perhaps it didn't feel as cozy because the restaurant was so empty, which I found surprising for a Wednesday night. Carrabba's bread, which was included with the entrée, was my favorite part of the meal. Abigail Abesamis Demarest At Carrabba's, we were served complimentary bread, along with a small dish of dried spices. Our server poured some olive oil from a cruet already on the table onto the spices. The loaf of bread was warm and fluffy had a crisp crust on the bottom that I enjoyed. It was nice to dip pieces of it into the seasoned olive oil, which elevated the flavor. A house salad was also complimentary with my entrée, but it didn't impress me much. Abigail Abesamis Demarest Carrabba's house salad featured carrots, shredded red cabbage, olives, sliced pepperoncinis, and a side of creamy Parmesan dressing. It wasn't bad, but I didn't find Carrabba's house salad as flavorful or as texturally or visually appealing as Olive Garden's. It was also considerably smaller than the family-style salad we got at Olive Garden. Carrabba's Italian Classics trio had some hits and misses. Abigail Abesamis Demarest Carrabba's Italian Classics trio, which cost me $25.50, had similar dishes to Olive Garden's three-part entrée and came with fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna, and chicken Parmesan. Carrabba's entrée presentation wasn't as impressive as Olive Garden's, either, and overall, the flavor was a bit of a letdown for me. The lasagna was made with two different sauces (pomodoro and meat) and had Romano, ricotta, and mozzarella. Despite its many ingredients, I thought the dish was flat, lacked distinct layers, and mostly tasted like basic tomato sauce. The fettuccine was cooked well, and the Alfredo sauce was creamy with a nice flavor from the Romano cheese. I thought it was OK, but nothing too memorable. Carrabba's chicken Parm came topped with the same pomodoro sauce used in the lasagna, along with Parmesan, Romano, and mozzarella. The chicken was crispy and had a pleasant smoky flavor, but I thought the cheese on top was over-toasted and a bit goopy. The tiramisu at Carrabba's was served with elegant chocolate shavings. Abigail Abesamis Demarest I had high hopes for Carrabba's tiramisu, which sounded delicious on paper and cost us $9.80. According to the menu, the ladyfingers had been dipped in liqueur-laced espresso and layered with sweetened mascarpone, Myers's rum, and chocolate shavings. When we got the dish, I noticed the chocolate shavings were also sprinkled on top. But for me, the dessert — particularly the cream — had what I'd describe as a somewhat artificial flavor. I honestly enjoyed the chocolate shavings more than the tiramisu. We scraped the plate clean at Olive Garden despite being pretty full, but at Carrabba's, we left about half of the tiramisu on the plate. From the food to the service to the atmosphere, Olive Garden won every category for me. Abigail Abesamis Demarest I came into this taste test as a slightly bigger Olive Garden fan, and my affinity for the chain felt validated by my dining experiences. I was a big fan of the portions, which seemed larger than Carrabba's, and appreciated the small added touches like chilled salad plates, extra breadsticks packed with leftovers, mints with the check, and even our server's offer to split our shared entrée. At the time of writing, prices were comparable, though I appreciated that Olive Garden's were lower. Since then, prices of both have shifted: Olive Garden's Tour of Italy would now cost $23, whereas the Italian Classics Trio would be a whopping $28.50. Ultimately, I enjoyed the flavors of each dish at Olive Garden and definitely plan on returning to the Italian-American restaurant chain when I get the chance. This story was originally published on October 13, 2023, and most recently updated on June 22, 2026. Read the original article on Business Insider

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