The United States is home to over 24 million millionaires, according to UBS’s Global Wealth Report. This raises a simple question: how can anyone, even starting with just $10, realistically join their ranks? To find out, I asked ChatGPT for a plan. Its response outlined three approaches – ranging from slow-burn investment to high-risk gambles.
Realistic, Long-Term Growth
ChatGPT’s most conservative strategy is the stock market. Investing $10 now, then adding $100 monthly into an S&P 500 index fund with an average 10% annual return, could yield $1 million in roughly 35 to 40 years through compounding. This is a mathematically sound method, but it demands patience, consistent contributions, and acknowledges that market fluctuations can disrupt even the best-laid plans.
Key takeaway: Financial advisors strongly recommend determining investment goals (like retirement) before choosing stocks. A professional can tailor a plan to individual needs.
The AI also suggested launching a low-cost online business for $10 (domain registration). While technically feasible, success requires expertise, marketing, and a competitive edge in a saturated digital market.
Moderate Risk, High Effort
The next tier involves more active strategies. One is arbitrage: buying low in one market (eBay, Craigslist) and selling high elsewhere. This requires hustle and market awareness. Another is skill development: investing the $10 in an online course, then monetizing that skill.
Context matters: The World Economic Forum projects that 39% of workers will need reskilling by 2025 as jobs evolve. Acquiring marketable skills may not create overnight wealth, but it boosts long-term earning potential.
High-Risk, Low-Probability Plays
ChatGPT’s final options are essentially gambles. Investing in cryptocurrency or penny stocks carries immense risk with little guarantee of return. Buying lottery tickets or gambling the $10 away is even more likely to fail. The AI itself acknowledges these paths usually end in loss.
Bottom line: Turning $10 into $1 million isn’t impossible, but it requires either decades of disciplined investment, high-effort hustling, or pure luck. There are no shortcuts.
