What were the best and worst years for S&P 500 since 1996?

The best year was 2020, up about 13%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 17%. Across the window, 135 of 354 years finished lower than they started.

What was the biggest drop along the way?

The steepest decline was about 52%, from a peak in 2007 to a low in 2009, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2012.

Would I have done better in gold?

$1,000 in gold over the same window would be about $11,453, versus $10,045 in the S&P 500.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in S&P 500 since 1996

$1,000 put into the S&P 500 at the end of 1996 would be worth about $10,045 today — a 10.0× return, or roughly 8.2% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 1996

19932025

How

You'd have

$10,045

from $1,000 invested — up 905%.

Multiple10.0×

Per year8.2%

In today's $$10,045

shares held13.54 shares

The story behind the number

Best year+13%2020

Worst year−17%2008

Steepest drop−52%2007→2009

vs gold1.14× behindgold → $11,453

S&P 500 since 1996 has been a remarkably smooth ride. $1,000 put in at the end of 1996 grew to $10,045 — a 10.0× return, or about 8.2% a year. For contrast, gold — the classic play-it-safe alternative — turned the same $1,000 into $11,453 over the identical window.

The ride mattered as much as the destination. The strongest single year was 2020, up 13%; the worst was 2008, down 17%.

Holding on took nerve: the position fell as much as 52% from its 2007 peak to its 2009 low, before climbing back above that high by 2012.

Common questions

How much would I have if I'd invested $1,000 in S&P 500 in 1996?: $1,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the end of 1996 would be worth about $10,045 today — a 10.0× return, or roughly 8.2% per year.
What were the best and worst years for S&P 500 since 1996?: The best year was 2020, up about 13%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 17%. Across the window, 135 of 354 years finished lower than they started.
What was the biggest drop along the way?: The steepest decline was about 52%, from a peak in 2007 to a low in 2009, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2012.
Would I have done better in gold?: $1,000 in gold over the same window would be about $11,453, versus $10,045 in the S&P 500.

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 S&P 500 head-to-head since 1996 →

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