Comment by exmadscientist

Are you trying to get to a working simulator, a working core in HDL/FPGA, a thoroughly debugged and validated core in HDL, a fast core in HDL, a validated fast core in HDL, or functioning silicon in hand?

I'd guess low six figures for the beginning of that list and mid eight figures for the end. Real silicon also needs all the uncore stuff, which is easy if you don't care how it performs and very very hard if you do.