About

Putting enormous fortunes into perspective

Spend a Billion is a free, interactive thought experiment. It turns wealth figures that are difficult to imagine into a simple question: what could that money buy?

How it works

Choose a public figure, browse the fictional shop, and build a receipt. The simulator subtracts each purchase from an estimated fortune so you can compare everyday prices, luxury goods, companies, infrastructure, and charitable projects on the same scale.

Our estimates

Fortunes and product prices change over time. Figures shown here are approximate snapshots compiled for education and entertainment; they are not live financial data, valuations, offers, or investment advice. Every simulator page displays the date of its wealth snapshot.

Editorial approach

We aim to use recognizable examples, clear calculations, and neutral descriptions. Profiles do not imply endorsement by, affiliation with, or approval from the people and companies mentioned.