In January 1999, few believed that a small graphics chip company from California could one day reshape the global economy.
That company was NVIDIA, and its founder — the visionary Jensen Huang — who built an empire that now stands at $5 trillion in market capitalization.
🏁 The Beginning
- IPO Date: January 22, 1999
- Ticker: NVDA
- Exchange: NASDAQ
- IPO Price: $12 per share
- Total raised: $42 million
Back then, NVIDIA was just one of many startups chasing the gaming hardware boom.
Today, it’s the beating heart of artificial intelligence.
🔄 The Evolution
Over the years, NVIDIA executed a series of stock splits that rewarded long-term believers:
- 2-for-1 — June 2000
- 2-for-1 — September 2001
- 2-for-1 — April 2006
- 3-for-2 — September 2007
- 4-for-1 — July 2021
- 10-for-1 — June 2024
One share from 1999 became roughly 480 shares today.
💰 The Result: How Much You’d Have Now
Let’s break it down. If you invested in NVIDIA at its IPO and held through all splits and price growth:
| Investment | Value Today (approx.) |
|---|---|
| $10,000 | ≈ $8 million 💸 |
| $20,000 | ≈ $16 million 💸 |
| $50,000 | ≈ $40 million 💸 |
| $100,000 | ≈ $80 million 💸 |
That’s a growth of over 78,000% — and that’s before dividends.
🧠 The Lesson
Jensen Huang didn’t just build a company — he built an ecosystem of innovation.
When others laughed at the idea of GPUs for AI, he reinvested everything into research, chips, and software.
And those who believed in him early didn’t just buy stock — they bought into a vision.
While most people look for “safe” returns, the real fortunes come from recognizing revolutions before they’re obvious.
⚙️ The Reality Check
$10,000 twenty years ago sounds small — but most people still won’t invest that much in breakthrough technology today.
They’ll overthink, doubt, or wait for “stability.”
Meanwhile, innovators like NVIDIA create new trillion-dollar industries out of silicon and code.
💬 My Advice
The next NVIDIA is already out there — somewhere between AI, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure.
Don’t wait for the headlines to confirm it — by then, the real money is already made.
You don’t have to be a billionaire to invest like one.
You just have to think like one — early, bold, and realistic.
With experience and realism,
George Zimmerman
Your Broker & Market Partner






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