It's hard to believe, but it's real... a that's a genuine $10,000,000 bill!
Have you ever seen, or even imagined a ten million dollar bill before? Probably not!
Here in the U.S. having $10,000,000 would make you quite rich. But, in the poor African nation of Zimbabwe having a $10,000,000 bill would mean you had about $4.00.
Seriously. That $10,000,000 bill will buy you about four bucks worth of stuff in any market or store in Zimbabwe.
Why? Inflation. When a country's prints too much money, or when a country owes too much money, it's money becomes worth less... and less... and less... until it's almost completely and totally worthless! As the money becomes worth less (or worse, worthless) the prices of things naturally go up. Sometimes, way up! And so, today in Zimbabwe, to buy $4.00 worth of stuff (apples, socks, whatever.) will cost you $10,000,000. No kidding!
In the United States, currently inflation is growing at about 4% per year... that scares a lot of people. And it probably should. It basically means that something that will cost you $1.00 this year will cost you closer to $1.04 next year. Not too crazy... unless you imagine that happening over years and years. That explains a lot about why the things you like seem to cost you more every year.
But, in Zimbabwe inflation has been growing at 100,000% recently. That means that what cost $1.00 last year might cost you $100,000 $10,000 this year! Imagine! And Zimbabwe isn't alone. Many other countries around the world are experiencing similar rates of inflation. This short 3-minute slideshow features detailed pictures of some of the world's most inflated (worthless) money and short explanations about what's going on there.
