If You Invested $1000 In Google When Maps Was Launched 18 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have

Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google Maps is amongst the most-used navigation apps in the world, allowing users to do everything from simply navigating to their destinations to discovering speed traps and reporting incidents. However, the journey was not always this smooth when it launched 18 years ago.

Launched in February 2005, a few months after Google launched its IPO, Google Maps is amongst the most downloaded apps globally, with billions of users and downloads. The app's impact on navigation has been massive – in 2020, Google revealed that over 621 million miles were driven every day 2020.

From Nowhere To Everywhere

Google Maps is currently available in more than 250 countries worldwide – while there are 195 UN-recognized countries, others are "dependencies."

Besides satellite data, Google also uses a dedicated fleet to obtain high-resolution street-level data and imagery. This allows users to use Street View in Google Maps to explore a street on the other side of the planet from within the comfort of their room in the U.S.

Here's an interesting tidbit: Google used 70,000 sheep to capture high-resolution imagery of the 18 islands that make up the Faroe Islands.

See Also: If You Invested $1000 In Apple When Steve Jobs Returned To Apple 28 Years Ago, Here’s How Much You’d Have

User contributions are another factor that helps Google Maps remain updated with the latest information. Google calls these users "Local Guides."

The company says it receives over 200 contributions every second and 50 million updates daily.

Now, here’s a look at how Google stock has fared since Google Maps was launched 18 years ago in February 2005.

Goog stock

Google stock price from Feb. 8, 2005, till today

Google’s stock, adjusted for stock splits and other corporate actions, was $4.947456 on Feb. 8, 2005.

Its stock price today is $141.76, which is an increase of 2,765% during this period.

GOOG 1000

Value of a $1,000 investment in Google stock and the Nasdaq and S&P 500 indices, respectively, from Feb. 5, 2005, to today

If you had invested $1,000 in Google stock on Feb. 8, 2005, today, you would have $28,653.

Likewise, if you had invested $1,000 in an index fund replicating Nasdaq, you would have $7,560.

A similar $1,000 investment in an index fund replicating the S&P 500 would be worth $4,163.

The Future Of Navigation

Google Maps is a constantly evolving beast with a life of its own, thanks in large part to being updated continuously with the latest satellite data and contributions from users in the form of data from their devices as well as their manual updates.

In May 2023, Google announced the introduction of AI to add an "Immersive View" for routes, allowing users to preview their journeys in detail, including visualizations like bike lanes, weather changes, and traffic simulations.

Initially rolling out in 15 cities, this feature offers a comprehensive view of your route, helping you plan and be prepared.

Google also added the ability for users to integrate 3D aerial videos in their apps using a new "Aerial View API."

Photorealistic 3D Tiles, still in an experimental phase, grants access to high-resolution 3D imagery from Google Earth. This empowers developers to create unique and engaging 3D experiences within their own applications.

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