April 29, 2008

The annual Boston Marathon gained 531% last week on our Movers and Shakers chart. Established in 1897, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the most well-known road racing events. This year, the male winner Robert Cheruiyot won his fourth Boston Marathon, and Dire Tune beat out Alevtina Biktimirova by two seconds in the closest finish in the history of the women's race.

Star Jones made headlines this week, gaining 464% after she announced that she and Al Reynolds filed for divorce. "The dissolution of a marriage is a difficult time in anyone's life that requires privacy with one's thoughts," Jones said in the statement. "I have committed myself to handling this situation with dignity and grace and look forward to emerging from this period as a stronger and wiser woman." Jones, 46, and Reynolds, 39, a banker, were married in 2004 in a lavish wedding, with supplies and services donated by corporate "sponsors" in return for publicity. Tabloid newspapers referred to her as "Bridezilla."

Curiosity about U.S. stimulus checks piqued last week, gaining 200%. The rebate check is in the mail; or so says the IRS. Depending on annual income, rebates will range from $600 for individuals to $1,200 for married couples. Tina Fey also gained 180% with her new movie Baby Mama debuting at number one in the box office this weekend, raking in $18.2 million.