When Netflix (NFLX) went public in 2002, its shares were priced at $15 each. Today, after multiple stock splits and phenomenal returns, a single share purchased back then would be worth over $11,000. It’s safe to say the streaming giant has made some early investors exceedingly wealthy. How much potential does Netflix still have to help create a new wave of millionaires by 2026? Here’s the investment thesis.
The company currently has two major revenue growth opportunities: the experiences business and video podcasts.
Beyond just profiting from streaming movies and TV shows to households, Netflix can learn from Disney’s playbook and monetize its valuable intellectual property through immersive experiences.
Disney’s experiences segment encompasses consumer products, cruise lines, and theme parks both domestically and internationally. In fiscal 2025, this division reported a record $10 billion in operating income, an increase of $723 million from the previous year, accounting for more than half of Disney’s total annual operating income.
Now, Netflix is beginning to translate some of its IP into real-world experiences. In late 2025, the company opened Netflix-themed experience venues in Dallas and Philadelphia. Each location offers different experiences, both feature dining inspired by Netflix shows, and sell Netflix-branded merchandise. The company hasn’t publicly disclosed the financial results of this new venture yet, but it plans to expand this experiment by adding a new venue in Las Vegas in 2027.
Another massive potential revenue growth engine for Netflix is video podcasts, which helps expand its total addressable market. While the company already has 325 million household subscribers, YouTube’s 2.5 billion monthly active users suggest there’s a much larger audience still to be captured.
Beyond the potential to attract new subscribers, a podcast platform offers Netflix a pathway to expand its nascent advertising business. This advertising business generated $1.5 billion in revenue in 2025. Furthermore, opportunities exist in sponsorship and licensing deals, as well as launching and hosting podcasts related to Netflix’s movies and shows.
During the company’s earnings call in January, co-CEO Ted Sarandos noted that the company’s podcasting business is still in its very early stages, but he is “very pleased” with the initial results.
In the coming year, the stock price could face further headwinds as investors continue to worry about the massive $82 billion fee Netflix might pay for the potential acquisition of the Warner Bros. business from Warner Bros. Discovery. Netflix has also paused its stock buyback program to free up more capital to fund this acquisition.
For long-term investors, the good news is that the company’s expansion into experiences and podcasts shows it continues to innovate and adapt. This bodes well for its long-term profitability, and that’s even before considering the potential benefits from a possible acquisition of Warner Bros.’ business or the revenue possibilities from Netflix’s nascent gaming division.
It’s possible for Netflix to create a new group of millionaires among investors in 2026, but similar to those who bought around the time of its IPO, it will require investors to have strong conviction and hold steady through the volatility along the way.
