Turning $1,000 into One Million: Successful Stock Investments
It’s true: you can potentially turn a $1,000 investment into a million dollars in the stock market. However, achieving such significant gains is neither quick nor common. Rarely do investments combine long-lasting performance with outstanding business success to reach this impressive milestone.
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I’ve identified four notable instances of $1,000 investments that have grown into million-dollar fortunes over time. While others may exist—especially over extended periods—this list is not a guarantee of future market-beating returns. Here are four stocks where a $1,000 investment turned into a million, assuming dividends were reinvested. I’ll detail the last possible investment dates to achieve a $1 million total return by the end of April 2025.
WMT Total Return Price data by YCharts
Walmart: August 1982
Walmart (NYSE: WMT) serves as an excellent example of steady growth leading to substantial returns. The retailer opened its first store in 1962, achieving its first billion-dollar sales in the 1980s amid widespread expansion. Last year, Walmart reported total sales of $681 billion, alongside $12.7 billion in free cash flow.
If you had invested $1,000 in Walmart stocks during summer 1982, you would now have a million dollars. Despite some slow periods, particularly in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, Walmart’s intermittent growth ultimately paid off. Presently, the stock is benefiting from Walmart’s success in e-commerce.
MSFT Total Return Price data by YCharts
Microsoft: January 1990
Microsoft’s growth was fueled by the rise of home computers, followed by the dot-com boom and more recently, advancements in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
AAPL Total Return Price data by YCharts
Apple: October 2002
Apple excelled in mobile computing, launching iPhones and iPads. Its retail strategy set a high standard, and the company continues to release highly regarded smartphone designs annually.
NFLX Total Return Price data by YCharts
Netflix: March 2003
The final example demonstrates the quickest turnaround among these four stocks. Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) transformed the video rental market before pivoting to streaming services. Netflix thrived during pandemic lockdowns but saw growth stabilize as entertainment options reopened. With a transition to ad-supported subscriptions, Netflix is once again approaching record highs.
The Million-Dollar Lesson: Patience Pays Off
These examples illustrate that a $1,000 investment can indeed become one million dollars, although even the fastest-growing option took over two decades. Walmart, for instance, outpaced the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) by a modest margin, still returning a thousand-fold increase over 38 years.
All successful paths to significant stock market returns share a common theme: unyielding patience over decades. The key is identifying stocks that can sustain consistent growth over the long term.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Netflix Right Now?
Before making an investment in Netflix, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team has recommended their outlines for the 10 best stocks for current investment, and Netflix was not included. The selected stocks show potential for remarkable returns in the near future.
If you had invested $1,000 in Netflix on December 17, 2004, when it was recommended, you’d have $611,271! Similarly, $1,000 invested in Nvidia on April 15, 2005, would yield $684,068!
Notably, the Stock Advisor has achieved an average return of 889%—deeply outperforming the S&P 500’s 162%.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025.
Anders Bylund holds positions in Netflix and Walmart. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Nasdaq, Inc.
