This year’s brief (like all our previous briefs) is free to enter and has been devised by The Sharks for ONE reason only - to give young creatives the best opportunity to come up with something creative, memorable, original and entertaining.

 

The judge/s will be looking for all these things (particularly originality!) and anything (too far) off brief will not be considered. The product you will be selling will be…

 

‘HAPPINE$$’.

 

Here’s a bit of background...

 

As of March 2026, there are (according to Forbes) 3,428 billionaires in the world (a significant increase from previous years). These billionaires control a total combined net worth of $20 trillion. What does $20 trillion mean in real terms? 

 

Well a single $20 trillion investment in the planet right now could fundamentally transform global society by eliminating extreme poverty, achieving net-zero emissions, and providing universal healthcare and education. This amount (roughly 20% of global GDP) could finance a total energy transition by 2030, drastically reduce climate change risks and provide 50 years of food security for the entire world.

 

What are we trying to achieve?

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The world’s billionaires are distant to most of us and almost seem like a different species. But they're not, like us most of them are simply looking for things to make them happy.

 

However, given many of them don't look in the least bit happy (see Musk, Trump, Bezos, Zuckerberg etc) it could be suggested that none of them have found true happiness.

 

Maybe they've been looking in the wrong places. 

 

Gold Palaces, private islands, rockets to Mars and vast mountains of cash don't appear to be having the desired effect.

 

We believe we may have the answer.

 

’HAPPINE$$’

 

And what is ‘HAPPINE$$’?

 

Simply put, it's all about the joy you (a billionaire) can bring to others. HAPPINE$$ would be a fund set up by billionaires to achieve two things.

 

1) To bring happiness to millions of vulnerable and poor people around the world.

 

2) To bring REAL happiness and fulfilment to 3,428 billionaires

 

A simple sum…

 

We don’t expect billionaires to approach us with their entire fortunes and say “here’s the lot.” 

 

But if each year, the controllers of that $20 trillion dollar pot contributed 5% of it, that would be $1 trillion a year.

 

A figure that, if donated each year, would genuinely change lives and the planet for the better.

 

And it would allow those donating to discover that it truly IS better to give than to receive.

 

Brief

 

To persuade the world’s billionaire community to join the HAPPINE$$ fund and to be remembered as a saint rather than a sinner.

 

Media:

 

We’re looking for a double page spread to appear in Forbes magazine. What is Forbes? Here’s how they describe themselves…

 

“Forbes is an iconic global media brand that has symbolized success for over a century. Fuelled by journalism that informs and inspires, Forbes spotlights the doers and doings shaping industries, achieving success and making an impact on the world. Forbes connects and convenes the most influential communities ranging from billionaires, business leaders and rising entrepreneurs to creators and innovators. Our brand reaches more than 140 million people monthly worldwide through its trusted journalism.”