In the early days of the internet, few could imagine the potential goldmine in online domain names. But in 1994, an American man named Chris Clark made an accidental yet life-changing investment: he bought the domain name pizza.com for just $20. Over a decade later, this small decision would make him a millionaire.
A Surprising Payoff
Clark initially bought pizza.com with modest hopes. Running a consulting business, he thought the domain might help him secure a contract with a pizzeria. When that idea didn’t pan out, he chose to keep the domain active as a directory for pizza-related links. Little did he know this $20 investment would eventually soar in value.
In 2008, Clark was inspired by the recent high-profile sale of vodka.com for $3 million. Curious to see what his own domain might fetch, he put pizza.com up for auction. To his amazement, bids flooded in, starting at just $100 but quickly climbing into the millions. When the auction closed, Clark had sold pizza.com for a remarkable $2.6 million—a payday that was beyond his wildest dreams.
The Value of Simple Domains
The sale of pizza.com is a reminder of the value placed on short, generic domains, especially those tied to universally popular products. Big brands and companies often snap up such domains as a way to easily drive traffic to their main sites. In fact, names like business.com and vodka.com have fetched millions in similar sales.
Clark himself was taken aback by the unexpected fortune. “It was like finding a treasure on the beach,” he shared. His family celebrated with a pizza party, fittingly paying tribute to the unexpected success of his small but tasty investment.
A Missed Opportunity?
Clark, now retired, has sometimes wondered if he should have held onto more domains during the internet’s early days. But he’s not dwelling on it. His investment in pizza.com paid off in a way few could ever dream, and he now enjoys a comfortable retirement, thanks in part to a decision made decades ago on a $20 whim.