Over the past several decades, three tech giants—Apple, Amazon, and Berkshire Hathaway—have generated extraordinary returns for investors. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), which went public at a split-adjusted price of $0.10 per share on December 12, 1980, has seen a $1,000 investment in its IPO balloon to approximately $2.28 million today, driven by a market capitalization of $3.47 trillion. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), listed on May 15, 1997 at $0.075 per share, has transformed a $1,000 investment into roughly $2.55 million, supported by a market cap of $2.01 trillion. Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), under Warren Buffett’s leadership since 1965, turned a $1,000 investment from its IPO at $290 on March 16, 1980, into about $2.36 million, with a current market cap of $980 billion.
Apple’s revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% from fiscal 1997 to fiscal 2023. Amazon’s revenue surged with a CAGR of 37% from its IPO to 2023. Berkshire Hathaway’s operating earnings also demonstrated resilience, growing at a CAGR of 17% over the same period. These companies exemplify how innovative business strategies and market adaptability can yield substantial long-term gains for investors.
