The national debt just hit $40 trillion. But how much is $40 trillion? | CNN Business

The US national debt has topped a record $40 trillion.

It’s a grim milestone in the history of the nation’s fiscal health. America’s debt burden is rising faster than estimates just a few years ago, exacerbated by persistent deficits and soaring interest payments.

And the national debt keeps rising, adding nearly $7 billion each day, according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a fiscal watchdog group.

However, it can be difficult to wrap your head around the gigantic number. Just how big is $40 trillion?

All told, 40 trillion is 1 billion, 40,000 times over.