Amazon at the IPO: $1,000 into the "bookstore"
Amazon went public in May 1997 at a split-adjusted price of about $0.07. At the time it was an unprofitable online bookstore, and the IPO prospectus literally warned that losses would continue.
$1,000 at the May 1997 month-end close, held to today (2026-08): $3.54M. The S&P 500 turned the same $1,000 into $9,087 over the same span.
Amazon dropped 90%+ in the dot-com bust. The multiple you see above is the reward for the only hard part: not selling.
FAQ
How is this number computed?
The figure uses the same historical closing-price data as the calculators: the relevant ticker's month-end close at the scenario's start, compared with the latest available month-end close, with splits and dividends handled per the methodology page.
What if I change the amount?
Every figure scales linearly: double the starting amount and every dollar figure doubles. Use the ticker's calculator page for exact-date precision and dollar-cost averaging.
Is this investment advice?
No. These are historical calculations for entertainment and education. Past performance never guarantees future results.
Every figure is computed from the same historical data the calculators use (see methodology). Not financial advice.