History·27 April 2026·5 min read
Zimbabwe — the 100 trillion dollar banknote
In 2008, Zimbabwe printed banknotes with dizzying figures. One had 14 zeros and wasn't enough for a loaf of bread.
One of the worst hyperinflations in history hit Zimbabwe in 2007–2009. The state printed money endlessly, and prices sometimes doubled within hours.
The banknote with 14 zeros
It reached a 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollar banknote — barely enough for a bus ticket. In the end, the country abandoned its own currency. The same lesson, once again: limitless printing kills money.
You can be a "trillionaire" and still go hungry. Big numbers don't mean value.
