Top 20+ American inventions that earned millions
If you’ve ever tried inventing something, you know how hard it is to come up with a truly unique and successful idea. These 20 inventions were both unique and successful—and extremely profitable (though not always for the person who invented them).
The telephone
Alexander Graham Bell received his patent for the telephone in March 1876, which kicked off one of the longest patent battles in history, as others challenged his claim to be its sole inventor. Bell and his investors became millionaires; he went on to financially support other scientists and continued his work with the deaf. His invention revolutionized communications around the world.
The electric clothes-washing machine
The first electric clothes-washing machine was invented in 1911 by Lou Upton and his uncle Emory, who started the Upton Machine Company, now known as Whirlpool, a global corporation. Its invention changed the task of doing laundry from a days-long process to a relative pleasure for housewives and servants. Fun fact: model Kate Upton is Lou’s great-granddaughter.
Crocs
Everyone from gardeners to kindergartners wears Crocs! Friends and avid sailors Scott Seamans, George Boedecker, and Lyndon Hanson bought a design for rubber clogs from a Canadian company in 2002 and adapted it to create a shoe that’s adored by nurses, cooks, and people who like comfy feet. By their second year in business, they had sold $12.3 million worth of Crocs.
