What If You’d Invested £100 in Apple Back in 1980?
We have all had that thought at some point.
What if you had bought shares in Apple back when it first launched?
Instead of guessing or exaggerating, let’s break it down properly and see what £100 invested in Apple in 1980 could realistically be worth today.
A Quick Bit of Background
Apple went public in December 1980, just a few years after it was founded.
At the time, Apple was best known for the Apple II. Home computers were still niche, and there was no iPhone, no iPad, no App Store, and not even a Macintosh.
The IPO price was $22 per share.
What Would £100 Buy in 1980?
In 1980, $22 per share worked out at roughly £12 to £14 depending on exchange rates.
That means £100 would have bought you around eight Apple shares.
No clever strategy. Just a small punt on a young technology company.
The Power of Stock Splits
This is where the real growth happens.
Apple has split its shares several times over the years to keep prices accessible:
- 1987: 2 for 1
- 2000: 2 for 1
- 2005: 2 for 1
- 2014: 7 for 1
- 2020: 4 for 1
When you add those together, one original Apple share from 1980 became 56 shares.
Your original eight shares would now equal 448 shares.
No extra money added. No trading. Just time and splits.
What Would Those Shares Be Worth Now?
Apple shares currently sit at roughly £140 each. Prices move daily, but this keeps the maths simple.
That means:
448 shares × £140 = £62,720
The Final Result
£100 invested in Apple in 1980 would be worth over £60,000 today.
That is without reinvesting dividends, without adding more money, and without selling and buying again.
Just buying once and holding.
Why This Actually Matters
Apple did not make people rich overnight.
It rewarded patience, belief in long-term growth, and a willingness to sit through uncertainty.
The growth did not come from the share price being high all the time. It came from the company expanding, shares splitting, and each new share continuing to gain value.
Basically…
£100 in Apple in 1980 could be worth more than £60,000 today.
Not because of clever timing, but because of time itself.
Most people missed Apple not because it was a bad idea, but because it felt risky, expensive, or too early. That is often how the biggest winners start.
