1 Million Dollars: What It Gets You in Search

Last updated on September 14th, 2024 at 01:14 am

As I work on my dream of being financially solvent, I find myself Googling many odd terms.

Are you curious about what happens when you type “1 million dollars” into a search engine these days? Spoiler alert: people are still pretty obsessed with imagining what it’s like to have a million bucks. I hadn’t actually Googled the term myself—until today.

Here’s what came up on page one, along with some commentary:

Piles of Money on Google Images

Many people are curious about how much space $1 million in cash takes up. You’ll find images of it stacked, spread, and, of course, glamorously posed. It’s a well-known fact that our brains love visualizing big numbers, and what better way to make “millionaire status” real than to see it in pictures?

What’s my takeaway from those images? GERMS. Yes, seriously—germs. Cash is one of the dirtiest things you touch on a daily basis. Have you ever seen someone stick a dollar bill in their mouth because they ran out of hands to hold it? Gross, right? That’s why I’m all for digital payments—whether it’s tapping your phone or using a contactless debit card, it’s cleaner and way less likely to harbor germs.

Speaking of debit cards, I remember when some banks tried charging $5 a month just to use them. Honestly, that’s a small price to pay to avoid the biohazard that is paper money.

The Million Dollar Homepage: Still Around?

Believe it or not, a guy actually made $1 million by selling 1 million pixels for $1 each on a webpage. Genius, right? He paid for his college education and skipped the debt, which is a dream for a lot of people nowadays. But why would I give this guy my dollar in 2024? There are countless ways to make money online now—cryptocurrency, NFTs, content creation. The pixel thing feels like a relic of the early 2000s.

This reminds me of all the weird money-making gimmicks out there. Like those companies that offer to sell you a square inch of land in Scotland so you can become a “Lord” or “Lady.” Or services where you can pay to name a star. What are you really buying? Something you could just make up yourself for free.

Inflation: A Million Isn’t What It Used to Be

Here’s the hard truth: $1 million doesn’t go as far as it once did. The cost of everything has skyrocketed thanks to inflation, from groceries to housing. These days, being a millionaire isn’t the life-altering status symbol it used to be. According to Forbes, we have more millionaires than ever, but that also means the bar for wealth has shifted.

Think of it like empty calories—$1 million might look impressive, but once you start spending it or investing it (especially in today’s volatile market), it doesn’t hold as much value as it appears. It’s not the golden ticket it used to be.

Prove the Paranormal, Win $1 Million

Saving the best for last: did you know you can still win $1 million if you can provide concrete, scientific proof of a paranormal event? The James Randi Educational Foundation used to offer this reward to anyone who could prove the existence of the supernatural. The challenge officially ended in 2015 but remains one of the most famous “million-dollar” offers ever.

As someone who’s had their fair share of unexplained experiences—like the time a deer appeared out of nowhere and crashed into my car just after I told a story about it happening to a friend—I’m intrigued. But, of course, I’ve got no quantifiable proof. And that’s the catch, isn’t it? No proof, no payday.

So, it looks like I’ll just have to stick to buying lottery tickets. Hey, somebody’s gotta win, right?

Jayne Speich

Jayne Speich is co-founder of Business Growth Advocate, which is dedicated to the survival and growth of small businesses in the new era.