On average, investors can expect about 3% to 10% annual returns, depending on your time horizon, the type of investment you make and the risk associated with that investment will all affect the interest earned on your million-dollar bank account. Most highly-rate bonds and bonds funds pay interest from 5% to 6%, which would earn between $50,000 and $60,000 per year on your $1 million investment. Short-term capital gains : Short-term capital gains are charged when you earn interest or dividends on an investment, or when you sell an investment you’ve held for less than one year.