A Million Dollars vs. Lifetime Apple Products: Which Is Better?
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Chapter 1: The Dilemma
When faced with the choice of receiving a million dollars in cash or enjoying a lifetime supply of Apple products, which option would you lean towards? And which one truly offers more value?
As I browsed through the latest Apple Macs and HomePods—gawking at the steep prices, especially in Ireland—a whimsical thought crossed my mind: would it be more advantageous to win $1 million or to have endless access to Apple products? Mathematics isn't my favorite subject, but out of sheer curiosity, I decided to crunch some numbers. While this may seem like a pointless endeavor, curiosity only spells trouble for cats, and I’m no feline. At the very least, I’d gain insight into how much one would need to spend on Apple products over an entire adult life, say 72 years.
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To make this analysis more engaging, I will focus on the standard models rather than the high-spec options (excluding SE devices). From each product category, I’ll select only one item: one desktop and one laptop. This brings us to a list that includes:
- Mac mini: avoiding the iMac, Mac Studio, or Pro models.
- MacBook Air: excluding the Pro series.
- iPad: no mini, Pro, or Air versions.
- Studio Display: just the base model.
- iPhone: standard size, not the mini.
- Apple Watch: standard model, excluding SE or Ultra.
- AirPods: basic model, omitting Pro or Max.
- Apple TV 4K: in base configuration.
- HomePod mini: just one, not in a stereo pair.
- AirTag: a single unit, not a pack.
- Magic peripherals: a mouse, keyboard, and Apple Pencil.
In 2023, the total cost for these items amounts to $5,758, surprisingly less than I anticipated given Apple’s reputation. This figure represents the yearly expenditure for one of each item. To project this over 72 years, we find ourselves with a staggering total of $414,576. However, this estimate has its flaws for several reasons:
- Apple does not release every product annually. For example, monitors tend to have a less frequent release schedule.
- While Apple launches at least one product from almost every category yearly, you might occasionally receive a higher-end model instead of the standard option. For instance, you could end up with a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air.
To adjust for these uncertainties, I’ll assume that 66% of the time my earlier calculation holds true. For the remaining 34%, I’ll divide it into two scenarios: one for when you receive a Pro Mac, and another for when you get a new Apple display.
Calculating the Pro machine scenario gives us:
- $1,299 x 12 = $24,000 for the Mac Studio.
- For the laptop, I’ll calculate the cheapest 14” MacBook Pro, bringing in another $24,000.
- For the display scenario, averaging the current Studio Display and Pro Display XDR prices gives us $39,600.
By deducting 34% from the initial cost of the laptop, desktop, and display, we’re left with $388,464. Adding the results from the Pro machine and display scenarios raises our total to $476,064! While not a massive difference, it gives a more accurate reflection of Apple’s product launch patterns.
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Now, let’s consider a hypothetical situation where Apple provides only the highest-end models without any customizations. A quick calculation suggests that if each product were released annually, we could reach a total of $1,033,128, just above the million-dollar threshold. However, this estimate feels unrealistic. After some rough adjustments, I’ll reduce this figure by 25%, resulting in $774,846.
Here’s where creativity comes into play.
Regardless of whether this figure aligns with your expectations, let’s assume you have no choice: you can only receive a lifetime supply of Apple products. Apple would randomly select from both high-end and standard models, leaving you to accept whatever comes your way. This would average out to about $625,455 worth of Apple gear.
Your task now is to elevate this figure to $1 million. It’s simpler than it sounds.
You might be tempted to sell the products at a slight discount—say, making a total of $500K and reinvesting that money. However, this would only yield you about $6,944 each year, which isn’t particularly feasible without engaging in riskier investments like stocks or crypto. Instead, here’s my plan:
While possessing these devices, I would review them both in written articles and video formats. Producing just one review per device could easily yield 11 articles and 11 videos. If I averaged $100 income per year from each, this would generate $1,100 annually, totaling around $79,200 over 72 years. I’ll round this up to $100K, as tech content often generates income beyond the initial year. This leaves us with $600K, still $400K shy of a million.
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The good news is that tech content typically earns significantly more than $100 annually. Additionally, content creators are not limited to one review per device. Common practice includes initial impressions and follow-up reviews at 6 or 12 months. This effectively doubles your content output. Furthermore, comparison reviews can be created, especially with access to the latest products each year.
Estimating $600 in income per device is quite realistic, leading to $6,600 yearly. Over 72 years, that sums up to an impressive $475,200!
By combining the sale of your lifetime Apple devices with content creation, reaching the $1 million milestone is indeed feasible. Adding the potential $475K from content to the $500K from selling the devices brings you just $25K short of that million-dollar goal. Over 72 years, I’m confident you could find a way to bridge that gap.
Surprisingly, as I sat down to write this article, I had no idea where the calculations would lead me. It started as a fun thought experiment, and regardless of the outcome, I would have been satisfied. Oddly enough, I find myself leaning towards the lifetime supply of Apple products over the cash option. While not the most financially prudent decision, it certainly sounds more exciting.
What about you? Did you think it was possible to reach the $1 million mark with Apple products, or would you prefer the cash?
Nota Bene: This article is based on numerous assumptions, including longevity to age 90, Apple’s continued presence in the market, and stable inflation rates. None of the scenarios presented here should be taken as financial advice.
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