Imagine stepping into a time machine, traveling back to the early days of Silicon Valley, and buying a handful of shares from companies that would later reshape the world. Few stories in financial history are as compelling—or as humbling—as those of Apple and Microsoft. These two tech giants did not merely sell computers and software; they rewrote the rules of wealth creation. And for the ordinary investor, their journeys remind us of the staggering rewards that come not from speculation, but from vision, patience, and persistence.
A Thought Experiment: What If You Bought Apple at Its IPO?
On December 12, 1980, Apple Computer Inc. (as it was known then) went public at $22 per share. It was one of the largest IPOs since Ford in 1956, and more than 4.6 million shares were sold. For those who believed in Steve Jobs and his ragtag crew of engineers, Apple wasn’t just a bet on computers—it was a bet on the future itself.
Let’s imagine that you had purchased 1,000 shares of Apple at that IPO. That would have cost you $22,000. Adjusted for stock splits, dividends, and subsequent growth, those shares today would have multiplied beyond imagination. Apple has split its stock multiple times: a 2-for-1 split in 1987, 2000, and 2005; a 7-for-1 split in 2014; and a 4-for-1 split in 2020. If you had held on, your original 1,000 shares would have multiplied into a staggering 224,000 shares.
Now, fast forward to today. Apple trades above $200 per share. At that price, those 224,000 shares would be worth nearly $45 million. Yes, forty-five million dollars from a single $22,000 investment—if only one had had the foresight, patience, and courage to hold through the ups and downs.
The Microsoft Story: A Similar Miracle
Microsoft went public a few years later, on March 13, 1986, at $21 per share. Like Apple, it quickly became a dominant force in technology. Imagine you invested $21,000 to buy 1,000 shares at the IPO. Those shares would have gone through nine stock splits (seven 2-for-1 splits and two 3-for-2 splits) between 1987 and 2003. Your 1,000 shares would have turned into 288,000 shares.
Microsoft now trades above $300 per share. That means your original $21,000 would be worth about $86 million today. Yes, nearly double what Apple’s IPO investors would have earned. Together, these two examples form one of the most remarkable testimonies in modern finance: the power of investing early and holding for the long haul.
Patience Pays: Why Most Investors Miss Out
It’s easy to look back and say, “If only I had bought Apple or Microsoft.” But the truth is, at the time, nobody knew these companies would change the world. Apple had moments of near-bankruptcy in the 1990s. Microsoft faced antitrust lawsuits and competition that threatened its dominance. Investors often panic when a stock drops 20% or 50%. The temptation to sell is overwhelming, especially when friends and analysts are predicting doom.
Yet those who stayed the course—who ignored the noise and focused on the bigger picture—were rewarded beyond imagination. The lesson here is clear: true wealth in the stock market often comes not from timing the market, but from time in the market.
But Could Everyone Really Afford 1,000 Shares?
Here’s where the story becomes more grounded. Not everyone in 1980 or 1986 could afford to spend $20,000 on a single stock. Adjusted for inflation, $22,000 in 1980 would be nearly $80,000 today. For the average household, that was a small fortune — well beyond reach.
But here’s the twist: you didn’t need 1,000 shares to change your life. Even if you had bought just 100 shares of Apple ($2,200 at IPO), those shares would have turned into 22,400 shares today—worth about $4.5 million. A $2,200 investment could have given you financial independence.
And what if you only had enough for 10 shares ($220)? Those would be worth $450,000 today. Not generational wealth, perhaps—but enough to pay off a mortgage, fund a retirement, or send children to college without debt.
The same logic applies to Microsoft. Just 100 shares ($2,100 at IPO) would now be worth about $8.6 million. Even 10 shares would be worth $860,000. It’s the kind of wealth that can transform lives—not from gambling or speculation, but from long-term faith and patience.
The Psychology of Small Beginnings
One of the greatest obstacles to investing is the belief that “I don’t have enough to make it matter.” Too often, people assume that unless they can invest thousands, it’s not worth it. But Apple and Microsoft prove the opposite: even the smallest seed, planted in fertile ground, can grow into a mighty tree.
Consider this: if you invest just $100 a month in strong companies or index funds, over decades, the compounding effect can still make you a millionaire. The question is not whether you have enough money to start, but whether you have the discipline to begin and the patience to continue.
Why This Matters Today
The past is not a guarantee of the future. Nobody can say which company today will become the next Apple or Microsoft. Will it be Tesla? Nvidia? Some startup in artificial intelligence or biotechnology? Nobody knows for sure. But the principle remains: long-term investing in strong, innovative companies can create astonishing wealth.
In a world obsessed with short-term trading, “meme stocks,” and get-rich-quick schemes, the real winners are often those who quietly buy, hold, and let time work its magic. Apple and Microsoft are extreme cases, but they embody a truth as old as finance itself: patience is a form of power.
Reframing Wealth: From Dreams to Decisions
It’s tempting to dismiss these stories as “what ifs.” But the deeper lesson is not about hindsight. It’s about mindset. Nobody in 1980 knew that Apple would invent the iPhone. Nobody in 1986 knew that Microsoft would dominate personal computing. What people did know was that these companies had visionary leaders, innovative products, and a chance to shape the future. Some people bet on that vision—and their patience made them wealthy.
For the rest of us, the challenge is not to regret the past but to act in the present. The question isn’t “What if I had bought Apple?” The question is “What decisions am I making today that my future self will thank me for?”
Lessons for the Modern Investor
- Start Small: You don’t need to invest thousands at once. Even a few shares, held patiently, can grow into something significant.
- Think Long-Term: Short-term market swings are inevitable. The big gains come to those who endure the storms.
- Focus on Innovation: Companies that create new markets, not just compete in old ones, tend to deliver exponential growth.
- Trust Compounding: Every reinvested dividend, every year of growth, multiplies your wealth. Time is your ally.
- Don’t Fear Volatility: Apple once lost 80% of its value in the 1990s. Microsoft faced a decade of stagnation. Patience turned those setbacks into fortunes.
The Numbers That Inspire
| Company | IPO Year | IPO Price | 1,000 Shares at IPO | Value Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 1980 | $22 | $22,000 | ≈ $45 million |
| Microsoft | 1986 | $21 | $21,000 | ≈ $86 million |
These numbers are not just statistics. They are reminders of what vision, courage, and patience can do. They remind us that while not everyone can be a Steve Jobs or a Bill Gates, anyone can be an investor who participates in their success.
A Millionaire in the Making
Maybe you couldn’t afford 1,000 shares of Apple or Microsoft back in the 1980s. Maybe you weren’t even born yet. That’s okay. The point isn’t to dwell on what might have been—it’s to realize what could still be. The next Apple or Microsoft may already be trading on the market, quietly building the future. The opportunity is not gone. It has simply moved.
The ultimate lesson? You don’t need to start with millions to end with millions. You only need to start. Whether it’s 1,000 shares, 100 shares, or even 10 shares, the principle is the same: invest, hold, and let time multiply your patience into prosperity.
The stock market is not merely a place for numbers — it’s a place where vision becomes value, and where patience is rewarded beyond imagination. Apple and Microsoft are not just companies; they are parables of what’s possible. And the question now is simple: when the future looks back, will you be part of the story?