jump to navigation

How much is a trillion dollars? February 6, 2009

Posted by Bob in Finance, Politics.
Tags: ,
trackback

With the economic stimulus package estimated to cost around one trillion dollars, there have been numerous (and some humorous) ways to put that number in perspective. Here’s one that I particularly liked.

First – the math:

  • 1 (one)
  • 10 (ten)
  • 100 (one hundred)
  • 1,000 (one thousand)
  • 10,000 (ten thousand)
  • 100,000 (hundred thousand)
  • 1,000,000 (one million)
  • 10,000,000 (ten million)
  • 100,000,000 (hundred million)
  • 1,000,000,000 (one billion)
  • 10,000,000,000 (ten billion)
  • 100,000,000,000 (hundred billion)
  • 1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion)

Now the analogy:

  • If someone spent one million dollars per day each and every day since Jesus was born, it would take another 731 years (beyond today) before one trillion dollars was spent.
  • $1,000,000,000,000 / $1,000,000 per day = one million days
  • one million days / 365 = 2740 years
  • 2740 – 2009 = 731 (years remaining)

Comments»

1. Daren - February 7, 2009

Thanks Bob. This is a good illustration. NOW I AM MAD AGAIN.

2. Dave - August 17, 2009

Anybody got change for a nickel?