IDC calculated that the US spent an estimated $134 billion ($245 billion) preparing for Y2K, and another $13 billion ($24 billion) fixing problems in 2000 and 2001. Worldwide, $308 billion ($562 billion) was estimated to have been spent on Y2K remediation.
I was at a friend’s NYE party from 1999 to 2000. Someone flipped the breaker off as the countdown hit zero and we had a proper ‘oh shit’ moment until our eyes adjusted and we could see a bit of light from the neighbors’ peaking in (just one tiny window at the top of the wall as it was a basement).
That’s hilarious