If You Invested $1,000 in Apple vs. Bitcoin in 2015, Here’s Which One Made You Richer
Written by
Lydia Kibet
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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In 2015, Apple and bitcoin were both known, but for very different reasons. Apple was one of the most valuable tech companies in the world, while bitcoin was still a relatively new digital asset that many people didn’t fully understand or trust.
However, if you had invested $1,000 in either one back then and held on through December 2025, the gains would look very different. Here’s how a $1,000 investment in Apple stock compares to bitcoin and which one would have made you richer.
How a $1,000 Investment in Apple Stock Performed Since 2015
On Jan. 2, 2015, Apple stock opened at $27.85. By Dec. 12, 2025, it had climbed to $278.28. If you invested $1,000 at the start of 2015, you would have bought about 35.9 shares of Apple stock.Â
Fast forward nearly 11 years, and those shares would be worth roughly $9,990. That’s nearly a 10 times return, not counting dividends Apple paid along the way. In reality, dividends would have pushed the total return even higher if you reinvested them.
How a $1,000 Investment in Bitcoin Performed Since 2015
Bitcoin tells a very different story. On Jan. 1, 2015, bitcoin opened at $320.43 per coin. With $1,000, you could have purchased approximately 3.12 bitcoins. By Dec.12, 2025, bitcoin’s price had surged to $90,270.41. Your $1,000 would now be worth approximately $281,000.
This explosive bitcoin growth came from increasing interest, limited supply and growing institutional adoption. However, it also came with extreme volatility. Stomaching massive ups and downs isn’t something most investors would do.
Both investments grew significantly since 2015, but bitcoin would have made you richer than Apple.Â
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