Economic uncertainty, as we’re seeing from nervousness about tariffs and the stock market, causes obvious deep unease throughout the population.
And ultimately, stability is a major goal for Americans — a stable paycheck and not needing to worry about whether you can afford groceries or your mortgage or your rent … or even just the price of eggs.
These are not those times, it would seem.
Between tariffs and trade wars, nobody’s quite sure how things will pan out — but there are a few publicly traded American companies that seem reliable and have been around for a long time.
There’s also a matter of money, like how much you’d have made if you’d invested $100 in each company when they started (this will get rapidly depressing).
Here are 10, organized by IPO date.
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a major American pharmaceutical firm known for developing life-changing medicines. Founded in 1876, it’s headquartered in Indianapolis and has played a key role in advancing treatments for diabetes, cancer, and mental health. Its innovations, including insulin and Prozac, have shaped modern healthcare around the world.
IPO: 1952
What your $100 would be worth: $749,421.89
Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway is a multinational conglomerate led by Warren Buffett, known for its disciplined investment strategy. Originally a textile company, it evolved into a powerhouse holding firm with stakes in insurance, energy, railroads, and major brands like Apple and Coca-Cola. It’s famed for long-term growth and Buffett’s legendary leadership.
IPO: 1965
What your $100 would be worth: $6,545,421.83
Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is a global tech giant known for revolutionizing personal technology. Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, the company began with personal computers and later changed the game with the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple is celebrated for its sleek design, innovation, and loyal customer base.
IPO: 1980
What your $100 would be worth: $2,295,887.40
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft is one of the world’s most influential tech companies, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. It became a powerhouse by creating the Windows operating system, which became the standard for personal computers. Microsoft also developed Word, Excel, and later Xbox and Azure.
IPO: 1986
What your $100 would be worth: $320,848.01
Amazon.com, Inc.
Amazon was started in 1994 by Jeff Bezos. It started as an online bookstore and grew into a massive platform that sells nearly everything. It’s known for fast shipping (provided you’re willing to pony up some money) and cloud services (via Amazon Web Services). Amazon transformed global retail and logistics. It’s now one of the most powerful companies in the world.
IPO: 1997
What your $100 would be worth: $237,722.38
NVIDIA Corporation
NVIDIA, founded in 1993, started out making graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming. Over time, it became a leader in visual computing and AI hardware. Its chips now power everything from video games to data centers and self-driving cars. NVIDIA’s tech is at the heart of today’s AI revolution.
IPO: 1999
What your $100 would be worth: 111,957.63
Google LLC (Alphabet)
Google, founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, started as a search engine built in a Stanford dorm room. It quickly grew into one of the most powerful tech companies in the world, known for its clean interface and smart algorithms. Today, under parent company Alphabet, Google powers everything from online ads and Android phones to AI, cloud computing, and autonomous driving
IPO: 2004
What your $100 would be worth: $4,600.51
Broadcom
Broadcom is a global tech company known for designing and supplying a wide range of semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions. Its roots go back to the 1960s, but the modern Broadcom was formed through a series of mergers, including its 2016 acquisition by Avago Technologies. Today, Broadcom plays a major role in powering data centers, networking, broadband, and mobile devices, with its chips found in everything from smartphones to servers.
IPO: 2009
What your $100 would be worth: $4,035.79
Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook)
Meta Platforms Inc., formerly Facebook Inc., is a major American tech company founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates. Originally a social networking site, it has grown into a digital empire that includes Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. In 2021, the company rebranded as Meta to reflect its shift toward building the “metaverse”—a virtual world aimed at blending digital and physical experiences. Meta remains a dominant force in online communication, social media, and advertising.
IPO: 2012
What your $100 would be worth: $1,069.9
