Hugh: First-Generation iPhone Sells for Nearly $40,000 at Auction

Every so often, you see stories of fairly common items in pristine condition fetching astronomical prices at auctions and it makes you wonder what could have been if you just kept the one you owned in the box. The latest example is an iPhone that sold for nearly $40,000. When the first generation of iPhones went on sale in 2007, the price tag was $599. This week, a brand new, factory-sealed, first-release iPhone in flawless condition sold at auction for $39,339

Here’s a bonus little tidbit I learned about that original iPhone today: out of the box it had 16 pre-installed apps and the App Store had not been developed yet. I think it’s safe to say smartphones have come a long way in 15 years.