In a landscape where financial success often feels tied to timing, a new November 2025 analysis from Taurex shines a spotlight on the assets that delivered the most extraordinary returns for the smallest initial investment. Their study looked back across two decades of market history — from early tech IPOs to emerging cryptocurrencies — to determine exactly how much someone would have needed to invest at the very beginning to be a millionaire today.
The findings are nothing short of remarkable. From powerhouse tech firms to meme coins, the data reveals a clear truth: wealth favored those who were both bold and early.
NVIDIA: The Unmatched Wealth Machine
In first place — and by a wide margin — stands NVIDIA.
In March 2006, NVIDIA traded at just $0.44 per share. With a 2025 price of $198, its long-term performance eclipsed every other asset in the study. Taurex found that an investment of only $2,215 at that time could have purchased roughly 5,033 shares, now worth $1 million.
A 452x return over 19 years.
Few investments in modern history have transformed such a small amount of capital into seven figures with this level of reliability and scale.
Tesla: The Second Most Powerful Wealth Driver
Tesla earns the study’s second spot — and it’s easy to see why. When the electric vehicle company went public in 2010 at $1.71, few imagined its meteoric rise. Fast-forward to 2025, and Tesla sits at $444 per share, delivering investors an astonishing 260x return.
To reach $1 million today, an investor would have needed just $3,846 at Tesla’s IPO, enough to acquire about 2,250 shares. Those shares would now sit comfortably in seven-figure territory.
Bitcoin: The Most Profitable Cryptocurrency
While stocks dominated the first two positions, cryptocurrency makes a powerful entrance at #3. In September 2014, Bitcoin traded at roughly $457 — a fraction of its 2025 valuation of $102,000.
According to the Taurex report, an investment of $4,483 at that time would have purchased about 10 BTC, now valued at $1 million.
Bitcoin’s rise was not only dramatic — it was fast. In less than 11 years, early adopters saw gains that rivaled the biggest wins in traditional equities.
Netflix: From DVD Mailer to Millionaire Maker
Coming in fourth is Netflix, a company that redefined global entertainment and rewarded early shareholders handsomely in the process.
At its 2002 IPO, Netflix traded at $7.02 per share. By 2025, the stock soared to over $1,000. With a return of 156x, an early investment of $6,423 would be sitting at $1 million today.
Those initial dollars would have bought roughly 915 shares — the same shares that rode Netflix’s evolution from DVD envelopes to a streaming empire.
Dogecoin: The Meme That Made Millionaires
Rounding out the top five is none other than Dogecoin — the “joke” cryptocurrency that became a cultural and financial phenomenon.
Starting at just $0.0013 in 2017 and climbing to $0.16 in 2025, Dogecoin delivered a surprising 126x return. Despite its lighthearted origin, Dogecoin proved to be one of the fastest-growing assets on the list.
To hit $1 million today, an investor needed only $7,959 eight years ago — a sum that would have bought a staggering six million coins.
The Top 10 Millionaire-Maker Investments (Ranked by Lowest Starting Cost)
| Investment | Start Price | Start Date | 2025 Price | Required Investment | Units Bought |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | $0.44 | Mar 2006 | $198 | $2.2K | 5K |
| Tesla | $1.71 | Jun 2010 | $444 | $3.8K | 2.2K |
| Bitcoin | $457 | Sep 2014 | $102K | $4.4K | 10 |
| Netflix | $7.02 | May 2002 | $1K+ | $6.4K | 915 |
| Dogecoin | $0.0013 | Nov 2017 | $0.16 | $7.9K | 6M |
| Amazon | $6.70 | Jan 2010 | $249 | $26K | 4K |
| Apple | $7.39 | Nov 2009 | $270 | $27K | 3.7K |
| Solana | $4.93 | Apr 2020 | $158 | $31K | 6.1K |
| Binance Coin | $39.48 | Nov 2017 | $946 | $41K | 1K |
| Meta | $31.41 | May 2012 | $627 | $50K | 1.5K |
A New Era of Accessible Investing
A senior market analyst from Taurex summarized the findings:
“Investing has never been more accessible. Today, you can buy stocks, cryptocurrencies, or even gold in under a minute from your phone. And for those who recognized opportunities early — whether in tech giants or meme coins — the results speak for themselves.”
The data reflects a broader reality of modern markets: wealth creation no longer belongs exclusively to institutional players or elite investors. With digital platforms and frictionless trading, everyday investors can participate in some of the world’s biggest growth stories.
And in some cases, a few thousand dollars — deployed at the right moment — have rewritten financial futures.
