🧠 Inventions of 2002
Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
1 
Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
2 
Smartphone with Touch Interface
3 
Web Services APIs
4 
Social Networking Platform (Friendster)
5 
Online Payment Expansion
6 
Wi-Fi Security Standard (WPA)
7 
Digital Audio Streaming
8 
Medical Robotic Surgery Expansion
9 
High-Definition Digital Television
10 
Location-Based Mobile Services
HEADLINES ON October 13, 2002
Full News Archive
- Headline: Democrats Shift Focus in New Jersey Senate Race. Impact: The Democrats winning the New Jersey Senate seat led to a series of events where every pizza place in the state suddenly became a political hotspot, forever changing the way we think about toppings and political debates.. Fact: The last time a New Jersey Senate seat was empty, it was filled with the hopes and dreams of a thousand aspiring politicians. Spoiler: they were all disappointed..
- Headline: Simms and Texas Suffer Upset Loss. Impact: Simms' unraveling led to an existential crisis in Texas football, leading to an annual event where fans contemplate their life choices while crying into their barbecue.. Fact: In Texas, it's not just football; it's a religion. And just like any good religion, there are a lot of rituals that involve crying when the team loses..
- Headline: Whoosh! A Show of Dominance at Lunch. Impact: Richard Conniff’s book on the rich sparked a trend of wealthy people trying to fit in by pretending to be low-key, leading to an awkward explosion of 'humble' bragging that still haunts social media today.. Fact: Fun fact: The rich have their own field guide. Spoiler: it mainly involves how to make others feel bad about themselves while sipping overpriced lattes..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 2002, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
NFLX
Netflix
Price in 2002
$0.12
Value in 2025
$785,671
Netflix - If you invested $1,000 in 2002, it would be worth $785,671 today (785.7x return)
Rank #2
AAPL
Apple
Price in 2002
$0.35
Value in 2025
$779,032
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 2002, it would be worth $779,032 today (779.0x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Ultimates #1
$25
Y: The Last Man #1
$300
New X-Men #128
$50.00
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 2 #1
$30
Spider-Man: Blue #1
$200
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Beyblade (Metal Series)
$250.00
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
$150.00
LEGO Bionicle
$150.00
Bratz Dolls
$150.00
RoboSapien
$200.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
$400.00
Metroid Prime
$22.98
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
$100.00
Kingdom Hearts
$120.00
Battlefield 1942
$50.47
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon 1st Edition Blue-Eyes White Dragon
$10,000
2002 Pokémon Neo Destiny Shining Charizard
$250,000
2002 Topps Chrome Tom Brady Refractor
$200,000
2002 Magic: The Gathering Set Foil Charmed Griffin
$20
2002 FIFA World Cup Ronaldo Panini Sticker
$28,800