Apple IPO anniversary: A $1000 investment 44 years ago would have made your richer by 249,900% by now

Apple’s astonishing journey since its initial public offering (IPO) 44 years ago is a story that stands out- in a landscape dominated by financial headlines. On Thursday, Apple marked the 44th anniversary of the tech giant's initial public offering just days after its market capitalization reached a new all-time high that emphasized its growth over the last four decades.

Apple went public on December 12, 1980 at $22.00 per share. The stock has split five times since the IPO, so on a split-adjusted basis the IPO share price was $0.10, as per reports. That’s a remarkable return for a company that has been in the tech space for long. And people who have held on since day 1 have been handsomely rewarded.

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Apple shares reach all-time high

On Wednesday, Apple shares reached $250.42 during Wednesday's trading session, an-all time high. It followed a record close of $247.70 at the end of Tuesday's trading day. Apple's market capitalization of $3.74 trillion remains near its all-time high.

Apple's stock surge coincides with the 44th anniversary of its IPO. Investors who bought Apple stock at that time — which was priced at $22 per share at the time of IPO — and held it for four decades would have seen massive growth in the value of that investment, reports Fox News.

Fitz-Gerald Group Chief Investment Officer Keith Fitz-Gerald analyzed Apple and explained why Palantir stock is on a path to $100 per share on ‘Varney & Co.’. Keith Fitz-Gerald said "Apple is the sleeper stock of 2025".

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How much would a $1,000 investment be worth today?

According to a report in Fox News, the split-adjusted basis for an Apple share at the time of the IPO was $0.10 per share. If an investor had bought $1,000 worth of Apple shares at the time of the company's IPO, they would have acquired a total of 45 shares.

Apple conducted a trio of two-for-one stock splits in 1987, 2000 and 2005, as well as a seven-for-one split in 2014 and a four-for-one split in 2020.

Taken together, those splits increased Apple's share count by a factor of 224, meaning that the initial 45 shares bought for $1,000 44 years ago would have grown into 10,080 shares.

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Based on Thursday's closing price of $247.96, that means the initial $1,000 investment would now be worth nearly $2.5 million — or $2,499,436.80, to be precise — without accounting for the reinvestment of dividends, which Apple started offering to shareholders in 2012.

What is driving Apple's Success?

As Apple recently celebrated its IPO anniversary, its market value neared an astronomical $3.74 trillion. The innovative strategies have positioned Apple as a global leader in technology and investments.

Apple’s consistent market leadership is underpinned by several core features. Innovation at the forefront, ecosystem integration, brand reputation and loyalty and strategic financial maneuvers have helped Apple positioned itself a strategic player in the tech world.