What were the best and worst years for gold since 1996?

The best year was 1999, up about 20%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 17%. Across the window, 168 of 354 years finished lower than they started.

What was the biggest drop along the way?

The steepest decline was about 42%, from a peak in 2011 to a low in 2015, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2016.

Would I have done better in S&P 500?

No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $10,045 over the same window, while gold reached $11,453. Gold came out ahead.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in gold since 1996

$1,000 put into gold at the end of 1996 would be worth about $11,453 today — a 11.5× return, or roughly 8.6% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 1996

19712025

How

You'd have

$11,453

from $1,000 invested — up 1045%.

Multiple11.5×

Per year8.6%

In today's $$11,453

ounces held2.72 ounces

The story behind the number

Best year+20%1999

Worst year−17%2008

Steepest drop−42%2011→2015

vs S&P 5001.14× aheadS&P 500 → $10,045

Gold since 1996 has been a remarkably smooth ride. $1,000 put in at the end of 1996 grew to $11,453 — a 11.5× return, or about 8.6% a year. That beat the S&P 500, which turned the same $1,000 into $10,045 — you'd have come out roughly 1.14× ahead of simply buying the index.

The ride mattered as much as the destination. The strongest single year was 1999, up 20%; the worst was 2008, down 17%.

Holding on took nerve: the position fell as much as 42% from its 2011 peak to its 2015 low, before climbing back above that high by 2016.

Common questions

How much would I have if I'd invested $1,000 in gold in 1996?: $1,000 invested in gold at the end of 1996 would be worth about $11,453 today — a 11.5× return, or roughly 8.6% per year.
What were the best and worst years for gold since 1996?: The best year was 1999, up about 20%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 17%. Across the window, 168 of 354 years finished lower than they started.
What was the biggest drop along the way?: The steepest decline was about 42%, from a peak in 2011 to a low in 2015, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2016.
Would I have done better in S&P 500?: No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $10,045 over the same window, while gold reached $11,453. Gold came out ahead.

The chart above shows the whole journey, not just the destination. Try switching to a bit each year to see how spreading your buying would have changed the outcome — or skip the latte to find out what a small daily habit could have grown into instead.

Compare gold head-to-head since 1996 →

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