If You Invested $1000 In Microsoft Stock When Bill Gates Explained The Internet To David Letterman, Here's How Much You'd Have Now

One of the largest companies in the world today is Microsoft Corporation MSFT, which has been helped by the growth of computers, technology and the internet.

Recently, a 1995 interview in which Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates explains the internet to David Letterman has gone viral.

What Happened: Gates has a long history with computers, creating a program that monitored traffic patterns in Seattle with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen at the age of 15.

In high school, Gates was also tasked with using his computer knowledge to create class schedules. In an episode of “The Late Show with David Letterman” that aired on November 27, 1995, Gates told Letterman he took advantage of the opportunity, making sure that, in a school whose student body was 80% boys and 20% girls, his classes had all girls in them. 

During the interview, Gates also explained Microsoft's vision and what the internet could do.

“There were a small group of people who saw what this chip could do as it became more powerful. This thing is going to reach out to the entire world,” Gates said at the time. “We’re not to that full realization, even today.”

When asked by Letterman if he knew anything about “this internet thing,” the billionaire businessman responded, “It’s become a place where people are publishing information, so everybody can have their own home page, companies are there, the latest information, it’s wild what’s going on, you can send electronic mail to people. It is the big new thing.” 

During the interview, Gates also told Letterman that Microsoft was working on making the computer a tool and that the company could eventually see the computer think on its own.

Gates' appearance on the late-night talk show at the time coincided with the release of his book, “The Road Ahead,” and Microsoft's release of Windows 95.

While some were skeptical of the internet back then, Gates's comments on its capabilities and future foreshadowed the company's astronomical growth in later years. 

Related Link: This Day In Market History: Microsoft Introduces Windows Operating System

Investing $1,000 in Microsoft: Letterman's interview with  Gates aired during late-night hours on November 27, 1995.

Microsoft stock opened at a split adjusted $3.57 the following morning. A $1,000 investment could have purchased 280.11 shares of MSFT at the time.

That same $1,000 investment would be worth $80,044.23 today, representing a return of 7904.4%.

While watching late-night talk shows doesn’t always pay off, viewers could have been pleasantly rewarded had they listened to Gates in this case. 

Microsoft continues to be one of the leaders in the computer and internet space.

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