$1 million in 1928 is worth $19,589,474 today

$1 million in 1928 has the same buying power as

$19,589,474 in August 2026

That is 1,859% more, an average inflation rate of 3.08% a year over 98 years.

Put the other way, $1 million today buys what $51,047.82 bought in 1928. Cash kept under the mattress since 1928 has lost 95% of its value.

$1 million from nearby years

$1 million inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1923$19,589,4741.8%
1924$19,589,4740.0%
1925$19,141,7142.3%
1926$18,925,4241.1%
1927$19,251,724-1.7%
1928$19,589,474-1.7%
1929$19,589,4740.0%
1930$20,058,683-2.3%
1931$22,038,158-9.0%
1932$24,451,095-9.9%
1933$25,767,692-5.1%

How $1 million from 1928 grew

$0.00$5.0M$10.0M$15.0M$20.0M194019601980200020202026.625: $19.6M
$1 million from 1928 in each later year's dollars

$1 million of 1928 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 million spent on each of these in 1928 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$21,498,037
Rent$13,647,325
Electricity$7,889,491
Clothing$5,470,080

Try a different amount or date

$1,000,000 in 1928 has the same buying power as

$19,589,474 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,858.9% in total, an average of 3.08% a year.

Questions

How much is $1 million in 1928 worth today?
$1 million in 1928 is worth $19,589,474 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1 million in 1928?
You would need $19,589,474 to buy what $1 million bought in 1928. That is 19.59 times as much.
How much buying power has $1 million lost since 1928?
Kept as cash, $1 million from 1928 buys only what $51,047.82 of 1928 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1928?
Prices rose -1.7% in 1928. Since then the average has been 3.08% a year.

Other amounts from 1928

$1 million in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1928