The 3G iPhone was expected to sell well and it did. Despite activation problems and stock depletions lines were constant at AT&T and Apple stores. People bought 8GB models but they were happy to get a 16GB version if nothing else was available. The same thing happened abroad. While most news covered the US situation, other countries played by the same scenarios. In three days the 3G iPhone sold worldwide. Over 1 million handsets were sold and the App Store had about 10 million application downloads in the same period. So how much money did Apple make in the first three iPhone days?

To keep it simple it’s estimated that Apple made about $330 million, according to Forbes analysts and $350 million, according to others.

The more complicated answer looks like this:

At least 1 million iPhones sold over the first weekend (Apple)
Cost to Apple: $174.33 parts plus $50 royalties for 8GB model; $16 more for 16GB model (iSuppli)
Cost to consumers: $199 (8GB), $299 (16GB) (Apple)
Cost to carriers: conservatively, $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB) (iSuppli)
Profit per phone: $274.67 (8GB) and $358.67 (16GB)
Models sold: 33% (8GB), 66% (16GB) (Piper Jaffray survey)

That means, according to Forbes:

333,333 8GB iPhones @ $274.67 profit each = $91,556,000
666,666 16GB iPhones @ $358.67 each = $239,113,000
Total profit to Apple: $330,669,000.

Not that bad for an estimate. Remember we don’t have the actual facts here and we’re just estimating. Actually we are reporting others estimations which can be incorrect if any of those numbers is wrong.
And there some costs which aren’t mentioned here: software and development, shipping and distribution, marketing, packaging and accessories, etc.

Nontheless, and I guess you knew that, Apple made a lot of money with the 3G iPhone. Let’s not forget 50 countries are still waiting to get in this frenzy.