Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, responsibilities to the board, and intense scrutiny. But what is it like to be a top executive when you’re off the clock?
Fortune’s series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
Today we meet Kelly Cook, the CEO of wedding chain business David’s Bridal.
Chances are if you’ve been in the market for an affordable wedding dress sometime over the past seven decades, David’s Bridal was a contender to find your dream outfit. Whether it be a fitted mermaid cut or flowing ball gown, the bridal chain has dressed more than 70 million customers over the past 75 years in operation. Two years after declaring bankruptcy, the business has made headway in its turnaround, including bringing veteran retail executive Cook on as CEO in April this year.
Cook took the helm of David’s Bridal after working her way up through marketing and technology roles for more than five years. But long before rising to be CEO of the business, Cook was amassing an impressive rolodex of brand expertise. In the 1990’s, she started off as a logistics analyst for Continental Airlines—ascending to director of customer relationship management role after four years.
People are her calling, so she took on employee and customer management at Waste Management for three years. And by 2009, Cook had stepped into the world of retail, acting as the chief marketing officer for several companies including DSW, Kmart, and Pier 1 Imports.
“I’ve always, always been attracted to turning ordinary brands into extraordinary ones,” Cook tells Fortune. “I’ve gone from planes, to trash, to shoes, to big box, to specialty [companies]. When I was one of the very few female execs at Waste Management we said, ‘We’re women of trash but don’t call us trashy women!’”
Now, the 58-year-old serial executive is a key ingredient in the revamp at the largest bridal retailer in America. Cook says the business is already on track to hit profitability this year, with revenues “in the hundreds of millions.” David’s Bridal now has an AI-enabled wedding planner called Pearl Planner, and its “Aisle to Algorithm” vision is aimed at making the company the largest retail, media, and planning business in the wedding industry.
I adore men’s jackets/blazers—I only get them at Goodwill.
When Cook isn’t spearheading the AI-led future of the wedding business, the Houston-based mom of five loves a good deal. She makes her own lunch everyday and buys men’s jackets at Goodwill. But she also craves the finer things in life, splurging on at least one big purchase yearly and “fab” custom-made suits from designers. She vacations three times a year and swears by hiring a private chef for her getaways, also cherishing her $199 wedding ring she’s held onto for decades.
“Being CEO of David’s is like being a wedding therapist, crisis negotiator, and fairy godmother all rolled into one,” Cook says. “We calm down brides who are one broken nail [away] from DEFCON 1, and explain to moms why ivory and champagne are different colors.”
The finances
If you have children, what do your childcare arrangements look like?
I have five children (including triplets), three of whom are married, and we have our first grandbaby.
We had four children under two, and a six-year-old. It was crazy. We couldn’t afford childcare, we lived paycheck to paycheck. My husband, Damon, moved to night shifts and I worked day shifts managing a call center. I only saw him long enough to get pregnant with baby number five (wink wink).
Because he moved to nights and I was days, we had a four-hour layover of childcare, and we were blessed to have an awesome nanny who had them for three hours a day until my mother-in-law got off work, then she had them for the last hour.
When all five children hit their teens, my husband resigned from his position so we had one parent at home. Less than one month after he resigned, I was furloughed from my job. Prayers, prayers, prayers. I was blessed to find a job within 90 days which bridged severance.
What are your living arrangements like: Swanky apartment in the city or suburban sprawling?
We have a home in Houston, a ranch outside of Lufkin, and an apartment in King of Prussia. It’s the best of all worlds.
Do you carry a wallet?
We only have one credit card, and no debt. My Scooby Snack of a husband is very good with money. I always have $2 bills on me. I’ve been giving them away for 20 years—to recognize great talent. Again, investing in people is everything.
What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Three pieces of advice:
1) Put something in savings with every paycheck…even if it’s $5.
2) At least once a year, splurge on something super nice for yourself.
3) Never saying “that’s not my job” is the best way to earn more money.
What’s the one subscription you can’t live without?
I don’t have any, but I can answer my favorite apps: TaskRabbit, Shipt, Akira, X, and Poshmark.
Where’s your go-to wristwatch from?
Rolex (a gift from my husband).
From now on, I will always hire a cook or chef on vacations. Last year, it was awesome not to be in the kitchen most of the day cooking for 12 people.
The necessities
How do you get your daily coffee fix?
Two must-haves every single day: STOK Cold Brew, and Gaggia Milano, our coffee machine.
I drink a large bottle of STOK every 2 days. Gaggia cappuccinos and jasmine hot teas are afternoon pleasures.
What about eating on the go?
Always eat lunch at my desk. I usually skip breakfast during the week, but brunch-baby-brunch on the weekends.
I make my own lunches—ginger salads are a fave. DoorDash saves my life at least five times a week. Usually, cafe lattes in the mornings and dinners at the end of busy weeks.
My favorite things to eat out: all Asian and Vietnamese food. I love it so much—and I’m so bad at cooking food
I adore men’s jackets/blazers—I only get them at Goodwill. For crazy fun pieces to add flair and drama to a work outfit—AKIRA. The best. And every winter, I buy every fur coat they offer. They are the best at fur coats.
My custom-made suits?! Only INDOCHINO. Such a fab, quality suit.
Shoes—anywhere and everywhere.
For tulle and sequins—David’s Bridal. I’ve bought at least 12 gowns and cut them off for crop tops, flare skirts, silk overlays, etc. It’s so fun and creative.
Faded, old Levi’s (which I wear at least once a week)—only eBay. There’s an eBay seller who has the best selection for the price. And for men’s leather bomber jackets, which I love, Buffalo Exchange.
Being CEO of David’s is like being a wedding therapist, crisis negotiator, and fairy godmother all rolled into one.
Are you the proud owner of any futuristic gadgets?
My bluetooth Ray Bans. I love music—and it’s awesome when I’m buzzing around the ranch in our Kubota.
The treats
How do you unwind from the top job?
Answer: What’s one amazing thing I did today? What did I learn today from my mistakes? What’s something I’m grateful for that happened today?
A nice meal with Damon. Go for a walk. Read.
What’s the best bonus treat you’ve bought yourself?
Extra dark tint for my truck windows. That Texas heat!
How do you treat yourself when you get a promotion?
When I became CEO, Scooby Snack bought me a new wedding ring. The one he bought me 32 years ago when he proposed cost $199—and that was like a million dollars to us. The CEO ring was more, but I cherish them both the same.
I bought a custom red leather jacket with small silver spikes on it, all handmade from this incredible Etsy seller. I can’t wait to wear it with a delicate, frilly cotton dress or ripped Levi’s and [Louboutins].
Take us on holiday with you, what’s next on your vacation list?
I take three a year: two with our whole family, and one with just Damon.
Our family tradition is to rent a huge AirBnb at the beach. Such amazing fond memories. It’s a splurge but definitely worth it. Last year, it was in Cozumel [Mexico], and the owners/host company were outstanding.
From now on, I will always hire a cook or chef on vacations. Last year, it was awesome not to be in the kitchen most of the day cooking for 12 people.
Fortune wants to hear from business leaders on what their “Good Life” looks like. Get in touch: emma.burleigh@fortune.com
SpaceX is preparing to sell insider shares in a transaction that would value Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite maker at as much as $800 billion, people familiar with the matter said, reclaiming the title of the world’s most valuable private company.
The details, discussed by SpaceX’s board of directors on Thursday at its Starbase hub in Texas, could change based on interest from insider sellers and buyers or other factors, said some of the people, who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public. SpaceX is also exploring a possible initial public offering as soon as late next year, one of the people said.
Another person briefed on the matter said that the price under discussion for the sale of some employees and investors’ shares is higher than $400 apiece, which would value SpaceX at between $750 billion and $800 billion. The company wouldn’t raise any funds though this planned sale, though a successful offering at such levels would catapult it past the record of $500 billion valuation achieved by OpenAI in October.
Elon Musk on Saturday denied that SpaceX is raising money at a $800 billion valuation without addressing Bloomberg’s reporting on the planned offering of insiders’ shares.
“SpaceX has been cash flow positive for many years and does periodic stock buybacks twice a year to provide liquidity for employees and investors,” Musk said in a post on his social media platform X.
The share sale price under discussion would be a substantial increase from the $212 a share set in July, when the company raised money and sold shares at a valuation of $400 billion. The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times earlier reported the $800 billion valuation target.
News of SpaceX’s valuation sent shares of EchoStar Corp., a satellite TV and wireless company, up as much as 18%. Last month, EchoStar had agreed to sell spectrum licenses to SpaceX for $2.6 billion, adding to an earlier agreement to sell about $17 billion in wireless spectrum to Musk’s company.
The world’s most prolific rocket launcher, SpaceX dominates the space industry with its Falcon 9 rocket that lifts satellites and people to orbit.
SpaceX is also the industry leader in providing internet services from low-Earth orbit through Starlink, a system of more than 9,000 satellites that is far ahead of competitors including Amazon.com Inc.’s Amazon Leo.
Elite Group
SpaceX is among an elite group of companies that have the ability to raise funds at $100 billion-plus valuations while delaying or denying they have any plan to go public.
An IPO of the company at an $800 billion value would vault SpaceX into another rarefied group — the 20 largest public companies, a few notches below Musk’s Tesla Inc.
If SpaceX sold 5% of the company at that valuation, it would have to sell $40 billion of stock — making it the biggest IPO of all time, well above Saudi Aramco’s $29 billion listing in 2019. The firm sold just 1.5% of the company in that offering, a much smaller slice than the majority of publicly traded firms make available.
A listing would also subject SpaceX to the volatility of being a public company, versus private firms whose valuations are closely guarded secrets. Space and defense company IPOs have had a mixed reception in 2025. Karman Holdings Inc.’s stock has nearly tripled since its debut, while Firefly Aerospace Inc. and Voyager Technologies Inc. have plunged by double-digit percentages since their debuts.
SpaceX executives have repeatedly floated the idea of spinning off SpaceX’s Starlink business into a separate, publicly traded company — a concept President Gwynne Shotwell first suggested in 2020.
However, Musk cast doubt on the prospect publicly over the years and Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen said in 2024 that a Starlink IPO would be something that would take place more likely “in the years to come.”
The Information, citing people familiar with the discussions, separately reported on Friday that SpaceX has told investors and financial institution representatives that it’s aiming for an IPO of the entire company in the second half of next year.
A so-called tender or secondary offering, through which employees and some early shareholders can sell shares, provides investors in closely held companies such as SpaceX a way to generate liquidity.
SpaceX is working to develop its new Starship vehicle, advertised as the most powerful rocket ever developed to loft huge numbers of Starlink satellites as well as carry cargo and people to moon and, eventually, Mars.
The National Park Service will offer free admission to U.S. residents on President Donald Trump’s birthday next year — which also happens to be Flag Day — but is eliminating the benefit for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.
The new list of free admission days for Americans is the latest example of the Trump administration downplaying America’s civil rights history while also promoting the president’s image, name and legacy.
Last year, the list of free days included Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth — which is June 19 — but not June 14, Trump’s birthday.
The new free-admission policy takes effect Jan. 1 and was one of several changes announced by the Park Service late last month, including higher admission fees for international visitors.
The other days of free park admission in 2026 are Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Constitution Day, Veterans Day, President Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27) and the anniversary of the creation of the Park Service (Aug. 25).
Eliminating Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, which commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Americans were emancipated, removes two of the nation’s most prominent civil rights holidays.
Some civil rights leaders voiced opposition to the change after news about it began spreading over the weekend.
“The raw & rank racism here stinks to high heaven,” Harvard Kennedy School professor Cornell William Brooks, a former president of the NAACP, wrote on social media about the new policy.
Kristen Brengel, a spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association, said that while presidential administrations have tweaked the free days in the past, the elimination of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is particularly concerning. For one, the day has become a popular day of service for community groups that use the free day to perform volunteer projects at parks.
That will now be much more expensive, said Brengel, whose organization is a nonprofit that advocates for the park system.
“Not only does it recognize an American hero, it’s also a day when people go into parks to clean them up,” Brengel said. “Martin Luther King Jr. deserves a day of recognition … For some reason, Black history has repeatedly been targeted by this administration, and it shouldn’t be.”
Some Democratic lawmakers also weighed in to object to the new policy.
“The President didn’t just add his own birthday to the list, he removed both of these holidays that mark Black Americans’ struggle for civil rights and freedom,” said Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. “Our country deserves better.”
A spokesperson for the National Park Service did not immediately respond to questions on Saturday seeking information about the reasons behind the changes.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon called out slow bureaucracy in Europe in a warning that a “weak” continent poses a major economic risk to the US.
“Europe has a real problem,” Dimon said Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum. “They do some wonderful things on their safety nets. But they’ve driven business out, they’ve driven investment out, they’ve driven innovation out. It’s kind of coming back.”
While he praised some European leaders who he said were aware of the issues, he cautioned politics is “really hard.”
Dimon, leader of the biggest US bank, has long said that the risk of a fragmented Europe is among the major challenges facing the world. In his letter to shareholders released earlier this year, he said that Europe has “some serious issues to fix.”
On Saturday, he praised the creation of the euro and Europe’s push for peace. But he warned that a reduction in military efforts and challenges trying to reach agreement within the European Union are threatening the continent.
“If they fragment, then you can say that America first will not be around anymore,” Dimon said. “It will hurt us more than anybody else because they are a major ally in every single way, including common values, which are really important.”
He said the US should help.
“We need a long-term strategy to help them become strong,” Dimon said. “A weak Europe is bad for us.”
The administration of President Donald Trump issued a new national security strategy that directed US interests toward the Western Hemisphere and protection of the homeland while dismissing Europe as a continent headed toward “civilizational erasure.”
JPMorgan has been ramping up its push to spur more investments in the national defense sector. In October, the bank announced that it would funnel $1.5 trillion into industries that bolster US economic security and resiliency over the next 10 years — as much as $500 billion more than what it would’ve provided anyway.
Dimon said in the statement that it’s “painfully clear that the United States has allowed itself to become too reliant on unreliable sources of critical minerals, products and manufacturing.”
Investment banker Jay Horine oversees the effort, which Dimon called “100% commercial.” It will focus on four areas: supply chain and advanced manufacturing; defense and aerospace; energy independence and resilience; and frontier and strategic technologies.
The bank will also invest as much as $10 billion of its own capital to help certain companies expand, innovate or accelerate strategic manufacturing.
Separately on Saturday, Dimon praised Trump for finding ways to roll back bureaucracy in the government.
“There is no question that this administration is trying to bring an axe to some of the bureaucracy that held back America,” Dimon said. “That is a good thing and we can do it and still keep the world safe, for safe food and safe banks and all the stuff like that.”
Politics8 years ago