$1 million in 1945 is worth $18,610,000 today

$1 million in 1945 has the same buying power as

$18,610,000 in August 2026

That is 1,761% more, an average inflation rate of 3.67% a year over 81 years.

Put the other way, $1 million today buys what $53,734.55 bought in 1945. Cash kept under the mattress since 1945 has lost 95% of its value.

$1 million from nearby years

$1 million inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1940$23,927,1430.7%
1941$22,787,7555.0%
1942$20,550,92010.9%
1943$19,363,0066.1%
1944$19,032,9551.7%
1945$18,610,0002.3%
1946$17,178,4628.3%
1947$15,021,52514.4%
1948$13,899,5858.1%
1949$14,074,790-1.2%
1950$13,899,5851.3%

How $1 million from 1945 grew

$0.00$5.0M$10.0M$15.0M$20.0M195019601970198019902000201020202026.625: $18.6M
$1 million from 1945 in each later year's dollars

$1 million of 1945 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 million spent on each of these in 1945 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$20,255,376
Rent$18,104,718
Gasoline$25,333,662
Medical care$49,832,185
Electricity$11,073,464
Clothing$4,355,159

Try a different amount or date

$1,000,000 in 1945 has the same buying power as

$18,610,000 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,761.0% in total, an average of 3.67% a year.

Questions

How much is $1 million in 1945 worth today?
$1 million in 1945 is worth $18,610,000 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1 million in 1945?
You would need $18,610,000 to buy what $1 million bought in 1945. That is 18.61 times as much.
How much buying power has $1 million lost since 1945?
Kept as cash, $1 million from 1945 buys only what $53,734.55 of 1945 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1945?
Prices rose 2.3% in 1945. Since then the average has been 3.67% a year.

Other amounts from 1945

$1 million in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1945