CNBC has a great slide show displaying the physical dimensions of $1 Trillion. Definitely something to keep in mind as we watch our political leaders propose new spending programs while failing to manage existing inefficiencies and financial waste. A great visual tool for any age, and perhaps a good starting point for conversations with young adults regarding spending and fiscal discipline in our country.
If denominated in $100 bills, $1 trillion would be enough to fill 4.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools, with a total volume of 398,000 cubic feet.
Review the other pages of the slide show to also see what our debt looked like at $11 Trillion. It is now more than $12 Trillion.
If consolidated into a single stack of $1 bills, it would measure about 749,666 miles, which is enough to reach from the earth to the moon twice (at perigee), with a few billion dollars left to spare.