From a Student's Bedroom to a Live Grid: A Short History
In August 2005, 21-year-old Alex Tew launched the Million Dollar Homepage to pay his way through university: one million pixels, sold in 10x10 blocks for $100 each. Word of mouth turned into BBC and CNN coverage, and the whole grid sold out within five months — the last 1,000 pixels went for $38,100 in a single eBay auction.
The format has resurfaced periodically ever since, usually as a nostalgia play. What makes a modern version work isn't copying the exact price point — attention and ad prices have both moved since 2005 — it's keeping the same three ingredients: a hard cap on supply, a transparent public price, and a grid people actually want to look at.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this the original Million Dollar Homepage?
- No — this is an independently run tribute site with its own live grid, pricing, and inventory.
- How do I buy pixels?
- Drag a rectangle on the live grid to select your spot, upload your image, and complete checkout — placement goes live after a quick human review.