Opened my Roth IRA in 2009, when I was in college, with $3,000.
By 2013, I'd managed to contribute another couple thousand and my balance was $17,000.
Between 2013 and 2016, I'd started to max out the IRA and contribute, and eventually max, to my 403(b). Total in the market: $83,000. Edited to add: found MMM in 2015
From 2016 to 2020, I married and continued maxing: both of our IRAs and my 403(b). Total in the market: $332,997
One year later, September 2021, continued maxing, total in the market: $480,000
*in the market = VTSAX, Vanguard Target Retirement accounts, and the like.
**We've never earned more than $120,000 combined in one year
I cannot wait to eclipse half a million invested in the market, at which point we will hit $1million in 10 years even if we stopped investing altogether...and $2million in 20 years. Amazing.