It's tough to think of a single household that isn't familiar with Apple Inc. Whether it's MacBooks, iPhones, iPods, iPads, or AirPods, this global powerhouse has cemented itself as one of the most recognizable names in computer software and consumer devices. Given that reputation, it probably won't shock anyone that on this day in 2018, after 42 years of operation, Apple made history as the first company ever valued at $1 trillion.
Fun Facts:
- Back in 1976, cofounders Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak launched Apple. The very first product they created was a circuit board known as the Apple I.
- Over 1.2 billion iPhones have been sold across 18 iterations since the original model debuted. The device alone accounts for more than 60% of Apple's yearly revenue.
- When Apple shares first began trading in 1989, they were priced at a mere $.051. By the time the company hit the $1 trillion milestone, its 4,829,926,000 shares were valued at $207.05 each.
- While Apple celebrated, Facebook was having the polar opposite experience — enduring the worst single-company day in US stock market history. Its shares had plunged 20% the week before, wiping out more than $120 billion in value.
- Way back in 1901, US Steel became the first company to achieve a $1 billion valuation.
- At the time of Apple's achievement, Amazon, Google and Microsoft were all racing toward the $1 trillion threshold themselves.
- In a remarkable feat, Apple doubled its valuation to $2 trillion almost exactly two years later, in August 2020.
- When Apple crossed the $3 trillion mark in January 2022, it once again left Microsoft, Amazon and Google trailing behind. At that point, Microsoft stood at $2.6 trillion, Google at $2 trillion, and Amazon at $1.75 trillion.
- Had you put $10,000 into Apple stock back in December 1980, your investment would now be worth over $6 million.