The first Boeing 747 once cost $190,000,000 but today is nearly worthless
Published on Jan 26, 2026 at 12:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Jan 23, 2026 at 8:33 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The Boeing 747-100 was the original jumbo jet, the iconic one that turned long-haul flying into something the masses could actually access, but now it is worthless.
When Pan Am introduced it in 1970, the price tag was about $25 million, which works out to roughly $190 million in today’s money.
Decades later, that trailblazing plane has seen its value fall to virtually nothing, not because it failed, but because the world moved on.
What was once the most popular and famous passenger plane ever built is now a bit of scrap metal.
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The first Boeing 747 once cost $190,000,000
Boeing built 167 versions of the 747-100 airplane in 1970, and it quickly became a global status symbol for airlines.
A typical plane seated around 360 passengers, with some operators crowding in more than 450, a huge jump for the time.
One of the 747-100’s most iconic details was its separate upper deck.
Early on, it was often used for lounges; sometimes it was even used as a disco in the sky.
Over time, that space was converted into seating as airlines focused more on making money than good vibes.
The 747-100 also ended up in fleets all over the world.
Major operators included American, United, Qantas, KLM, and Iran Air, and even if you never flew on one, its impact was everywhere.
The jumbo jet lowered the cost per seat, made high-capacity international routes possible, and helped reshape international tourism and business travel into what we recognise today.
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Today, it is basically worthless
Despite that legacy and history, the original 747 has basically no commercial demand now, and no one wants to use it as it is old-fashioned.
Later models, especially the 747-400, overshadowed the first Boeing model with improved efficiency and updated technology, and, sadly, today, no 747-100s remain in passenger service.
There is also the harsh reality of the modern plane market: age and operating costs matter more than history.
One last known valuation from 2019 put a 747-100 at about $146.7 million, but that number does not reflect the pool of real-world buyers.
In practical terms, an aircraft no airline wants to fly is close to worthless.
And yet, the Queen of the Skies title started here: the first Boeing 747 may have crashed in value, but its place in aviation history is untouchable.
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As a Content Writer since January 2025, Daisy’s focus is on writing stories on topics spanning the entirety of the website. As well as writing about EVs, the history of cars, tech, and celebrities, Daisy is always the first to pitch the seed of an idea to the audience editor team, who collab with her to transform it into a fully informative and engaging story.
