₹300. That’s it.
In 1993, while most people were busy figuring out dial-up internet and floppy disks, someone quietly made a purchase that would become one of the most ridiculous ROI stories ever told.
He bought AI.com.
Price paid: roughly ₹300.
Price sold (2025): ~₹634 crore.
Yes.
Not crypto.
Not stocks.
Not real estate.
A domain name.
Back Then: “What even is AI?”
Let’s rewind to the early ’90s.
Artificial Intelligence was not a buzzword.
There were no ChatGPT debates.
No AI startups raising millions.
No LinkedIn gurus shouting “AI will change everything.”
Buying AI.com in 1993 probably sounded like:
“Why would you spend money on that?
Sounds like a sci-fi hobby.”
Which is exactly how great investments often look in the beginning:
confusing, boring, or outright stupid.
Fast Forward to 2025: Jackpot 🎯
Now AI is everywhere.
• Startups
• Big Tech
• Automation
• Content
• Healthcare
• Finance
• Your camera app
• Probably your fridge next
And suddenly…
AI.com is no longer “just a domain.”
It’s a prime digital asset.
Scarce.
Memorable.
Category-defining.
Result?
₹300 → ₹634 crore.
That’s not appreciation.
That’s financial absurdity.
The Real Lesson Isn’t Luck
It’s tempting to call this luck.
But zoom out.
This story highlights three brutally honest truths about investing:
1️⃣ The Best Investments Feel Dumb Early
When something is obvious, it’s usually already expensive.
In 1993:
AI = niche academic concept
AI.com = weird purchase
In 2025:
AI = trillion-dollar industry
AI.com = elite asset
Early conviction always looks irrational.
2️⃣ Digital Assets Are Real Assets
We’re trained to respect:
✔ Real estate
✔ Gold
✔ Stocks
✔ Bonds
But domains?
Many still treat them like side hobbies.
Yet domains are:
• Scarce
• Ownable
• Transferable
• Income-generating
• Brand-defining
AI.com didn’t just “exist.”
It became strategic real estate on the internet.
3️⃣ Patience Is the Ultimate Multiplier
Most people don’t fail at investing because of bad picks.
They fail because they:
❌ Panic sell
❌ Lose conviction
❌ Chase trends
❌ Want instant returns
Holding an asset for three decades requires insane patience.
That patience created ₹634 crore.
Meanwhile, The Rest of Us…
Let’s be honest.
While this guy held AI.com:
We were:
• Ignoring domain renewals
• Saying “₹8,000 is too expensive”
• Buying gadgets that depreciated instantly
• Saving files named FINAL_v6_REALFINAL.doc
And yes…
Many of us let incredible domains go because:
“Too costly.”
Today those same domains sit parked with ads, silently judging our financial decisions.
Investment Wisdom Hidden in Plain Sight
This isn’t just a fun internet story.
It’s a reminder:
Sometimes massive wealth isn’t built through complex strategies.
But through:
✔ Seeing potential early
✔ Owning scarce assets
✔ Holding longer than everyone else
✔ Ignoring noise
Final Thought 💭
We obsess over:
Stocks
Crypto
Startups
Real estate
But occasionally…
The real alpha renews quietly at ₹999/year.
Over to You 👇
What’s a “small” decision that turned out:
💰 Surprisingly valuable
OR
😭 Painfully expensive?
Drop your story in the comments.