100 Million Dollar is a [sh..] load

15 Jan, 2025

Re-published from my original 2022 post. I updated the post, and re-posted it because I could.

How Much is $100 Million, Really?

People often talk about billions as if they're incomprehensible sums—and they are. But let’s not overlook how massive $ 100 million is. It’s a staggering amount of money, too.

Breaking It Down: $100 Million

Earning $100 Million

Let’s say you’re doing well, earning a comfortable $ 120,000 per year—roughly $ 50,000 more than the average American household income¹. To accumulate $100 million at that rate, you’d have to work for approximately 833 years. Spoiler alert: you’re not living that long.

Spending $100 Million

Now imagine you somehow came into $ 100 million and decided to spend it all. Let’s say you’re a big spender, blowing $4,000 every single day. At that rate:

• You’d spend 4,000 × 365 days = 1,460,000 per year.
• It would take you 100,000,000 ÷ 1,460,000 ≈ 68.5 years to run out of money.

Even at this outrageous pace, you’d still need close to seven decades to burn through it all. And that’s assuming you don’t earn another penny—unlikely, because money tends to make more money.

Living Off the Interest

Suppose you wisely invested $ 75 million in a basic savings account and splurged the remaining $ 25 million on whatever your heart desires. If the bank offers you 2% annual interest (and let’s pretend taxes don’t exist), those $ 75 million would generate:

• 2% of 75,000,000 = 1,500,000 per year.

That’s more than enough to fund your $ 1,460,000 annual spending habit indefinitely. In short: you’d be set for life without ever touching your principal investment.

Spending $100 Million at Once

Still, $100 million isn’t completely untouchable. In today’s mind-boggling economy, a single purchase could drain your fortune. For instance:

• A superyacht like the “Illusion Plus” will set you back $89 million, plus taxes and delivery fees.
• A Boeing 757 can be yours for roughly $100 million, according to Aero Corner.
• CNBC once showcased luxury homes priced well over $100 million.
• And let’s not forget other indulgent options—private islands, art collections, or rare cars.

The Bottom Line

$100 million is undeniably a mind-blowing amount of money. It’s not a billion, sure, but it’s enough to live multiple lifetimes of luxury. So if you ever find yourself with that much, don’t forget to share some with me. Thanks in advance!

Disclaimer

All figures here are rough estimates, and the math is intentionally simplified. For exact calculations, consult a financial advisor—or a calculator.