How to Read This Table
Early on, most of your balance growth comes from your own contributions, since there isn't much invested yet for compound growth to act on. As the balance builds, a bigger share of each year's growth comes from compounding rather than new money going in — which is why the later years often add more per year than the earlier ones, even with the exact same monthly contribution.
Not Just for $1 Million
Change the target amount to whatever number you're actually working toward — $500,000, $2 million, or your own specific goal. The table and timeline recalculate automatically for any target, not just the classic millionaire milestone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from the Automatic Millionaire Calculator?
The Automatic Millionaire Calculator gives you a single target date for reaching $1 million with live sliders. This calculator shows the full year-by-year table along the way — for any target amount, not just $1 million — so you can see exactly how the balance builds each year, and how much comes from contributions versus growth.
Why does growth start out small and then accelerate?
Early on, most of your balance growth comes from your own contributions, since there isn't much invested yet for compound growth to act on. As the balance grows, a bigger share of each year's growth comes from compounding rather than new contributions — which is why the later years in the table often add more per year than the earlier ones, even with the same monthly contribution.
What if I want to reach a number other than $1 million?
Just change the target amount field to whatever number you're working toward — $500,000, $2 million, or any figure. The table and timeline adjust automatically.