Apple is one of the top investments to reach $1 million – Rolling Out
According to a report by trading platform Taurex, Apple stands out as one of the top five investments leading to millionaire status with modest initial capital. The tech giant’s stock has shown remarkable growth from $7.39 per share in 2009 to $283 in 2025, marking a nearly 38 fold increase over 16 years.
The study evaluated various investment options, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Dogecoin, tech stocks such as NVIDIA and Apple, and traditional assets like gold and the S&P 500. Researchers calculated the amount of initial investment required for each asset to reach $1 million by 2025.
Investors who recognized Apple’s potential early would have needed to purchase 3,532 shares at the 2009 price, amounting to approximately $26,104 in initial capital. These holdings would now be valued at seven figures based on current valuations. The substantial returns indicate how patient investors in well-established technology companies can accumulate significant wealth over time.
When compared to other investments, Apple falls behind four other options that demanded smaller initial investments to reach millionaire status. NVIDIA Corporation leads the pack, requiring only $2,215 invested at its March 2006 price of $0.44 per share. The AI chipmaker’s current trading price around $198 showcases explosive growth that surpasses even Apple’s impressive performance.
Tesla secures the second spot, needing $3,846 invested at its launch price of $1.71 in June 2010. The electric vehicle manufacturer now trades around $444 per share. Bitcoin follows in third place, with investors requiring $4,483 when the cryptocurrency traded at $457.33 in September 2014. Bitcoin’s current value hovering around $87,000 has delivered exceptional returns to early adopters.
Surprisingly, Dogecoin, initially created as a joke cryptocurrency, ranks fourth. Investors needed just $7,959 at its launch in November 2017 at a fraction of a penny. The meme-inspired digital currency now trades around $0.16, transforming modest initial investments into substantial portfolios for those willing to explore unconventional assets.
Other major technology companies like Amazon, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Netflix demonstrated robust performance beyond the top five investments. Amazon required $28,000 invested at its January 2004 price of $6.70 to achieve millionaire status, while Meta needed $49,000 at its May 2012 IPO price of $31.41, now trading around $640. Netflix demanded $64,000 at its May 2002 price of $7.02 and now trades around $1,090 per share.
Cryptocurrency options like Solana and Binance Coin also made the list, necessitating $37,000 and $46,000, respectively, to reach seven figures. These digital assets underscore how the cryptocurrency sector provided wealth-building opportunities beyond Bitcoin, albeit with higher volatility and risk.
Investing has become more accessible to modern investors, enabling them to purchase stocks, cryptocurrencies, and gold directly from smartphones in under a minute. This accessibility resonates particularly with younger investors who prefer digital-first platforms. Cryptocurrency has captured the attention of younger demographics, with early adopters making profitable decisions, outperforming traditional investments like gold.
The study demonstrates how different asset classes could create millionaires through various paths. Technology stocks like Apple offer steady growth with profitable businesses and expanding product lines, while cryptocurrencies provide explosive yet volatile gains dependent on adoption and speculation. Each path requires different risk tolerances and investment horizons.
However, the analysis is retrospective and does not predict future outcomes. Past performance does not ensure future results, and many seemingly promising investments have failed. Assets like Apple benefited from hindsight not available to real-time investors, who also must navigate through significant volatility and market downturns. Diversification remains crucial despite these success stories, as concentrating wealth in single stocks or assets exposes investors to specific risks that could harm portfolios.
