What If Scenario

What If You Invested Your First Paycheck in Bitcoin?

The average American earns about $1,500 in their first paycheck. What if instead of spending it, you had invested it all in Bitcoin?

3 min read

First paycheck in 2015

Best

$1,500 invested in 2015

+31,041%

Worth today

$467,108

11.2 years

+66.6% annualized

First paycheck in 2020

$1,500 invested in 2020

+624.2%

Worth today

$10,863

6.2 years

+37.3% annualized

First paycheck in 2023

$1,500 invested in 2023

+192.7%

Worth today

$4,390

3.2 years

+39.2% annualized

First paycheck in S&P 500 (2015)

$1,500 invested in 2015

+292.1%

Worth today

$5,881

11.2 years

+12.9% annualized

First paycheck in Ethereum (2020)

$1,500 invested in 2020

+1066.2%

Worth today

$17,493

6.2 years

+48.1% annualized

Based on price data through 2026-03-01. Price return only (no dividends).

About this calculation

Average first paycheck estimate based on BLS median weekly earnings for workers aged 16-24.

Returns are based on price appreciation only (no dividends reinvested). Past performance does not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.

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