Suppose that for your fifth birthday in 2001, instead of a shiny new bike, your parents bought you 10 shares of Apple Computer Inc. stock for $216 (each share of Apple stock was worth $21.60 on January 1, 2001). Those 10 shares, adjusted for two stock splits that would turn the 10 shares into 140 shares, would be worth over $15,000 today. Would you rather have that bike or a brand new car today?
Kristoffer Tripplaar / Alamy