Apple Incorporated (NASDAQ: AAPL) is the world's largest company by market capitalization. As of July 2015, Apple recorded a market capitalization of $710 billion, over double the market capitalizations of Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) and Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated (BRK-B), and over triple the market capitalization of Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated (NYSE: WMT). An investment of $990 on Apple's initial public offering (IPO) date on Dec. 12, 1980 would have generated over $300,000 after stock splits and excluding dividends.

How Much Money You Would Have if You Invested in AAPL

If you had invested $990 right after Apple's IPO, assuming that you could purchase each share of Apple at its IPO price of $22, you would have 45 shares. After Apple's four stock splits, you would have over 2,500 shares of AAPL.

1987 Two for One Stock Split

Apple's first stock split occurred on June 16, 1987. On the day before, its stock price closed at $78.50 per share. Thereafter, Apple issued a two for one stock split, and shares of Apple opened at $41.50 on June 16, 1987. Those 45 shares bought on the IPO date were worth $3,532.50, a profit of $2,452.50, as of the market close on June 15, 1987. Since Apple issued a two for one stock split, you would own 90 shares, at $41.50 per share. The investment was worth a total of $3,537 at the close of the market on June 16, 1987.

2000 Two for One Stock Split

Apple's second stock split occurred on June 21, 2000. The day before, Apple closed at $101.25 per share. The initial investment had grown to a value of $9,112.50, or $101.25 multiplied by 90 shares, which is a 820.45% return on the initial investment. On June 21, 2000, after Apple issued another two for one stock split, so those 90 shares of Apple become 180 shares. Apple closed at $55.62 per share on June 21, 2000, when the investment would have been worth over $10,000.

2005 Two for One Stock Split

On Feb. 25, 2005, Apple closed at $88.99 per share. On Feb. 28, 2005, it issued another two for one stock split, so those 180 shares would double to become 360 shares. On Feb. 28, 2005, Apple closed at $44.86 per share. The initial investment of $990 would have been worth $16,149.60, a return on investment (ROI) of 1,531.27%.

On Sept. 18, 2012, Apple topped $700 per share, with a high of $702.33. The initial investment would have been worth $252,838.80 at the high on Sept. 18, 2012. Over 22 years, the initial investment generated a tremendous return on investment of 25,439.27%.

2014 Seven for One Stock Split

Apple issued its fourth stock split – this time, a seven for one stock split – on June 9, 2014. Apple closed at $645.57 per share on June 6, 2014. Thereafter, your 360 shares would have become 2,520 shares. On June 9, 2014, Apple closed at $93.70 per share. The total position would yield $236,124 at the close, which was a decrease of $16,714.80 since its last stock split in 2012.

Present-Day Value From an Apple IPO Investment

As of July 24, 2015, Apple closed at $124.50 per share. Currently, the initial investment of $990 would be worth $313,740, which is 2,520 shares multiplied by $124.50 per share. The ROI is an immense 31,590.90%.

You would have also benefited from the dividends that Apple paid out since its IPO. In 2014 alone, Apple's dividend payment of $1.85 per share would have grown the investment by $2,696.40, since it had paid out two cash dividends (43.57 cents per share and 47 cents per share) before the seven for one stock split and two cash dividends (both 47 cents per share) after the split.