$1,000 in S&P 500 10 years ago = $4,001
If I'd invested $1,000 in S&P 500
| Investment | Worth today | Gain |
|---|---|---|
| 1 years ago | $1,298 | +30% |
| 3 years ago | $1,947 | +95% |
| 5 years ago | $2,029 | +103% |
| 10 years ago | $4,001 | +300% |
| since inception (1984) | $42,670 | +4167% |
Return by year (S&P 500)
| Year ▼ | Return i ↕ | $1,000 invested at year start i ↕ |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (YTD) | +12% | $1,124 (+12%) |
| 2025 | +16% | $1,298 (+30%) |
| 2024 | +17% | $1,517 (+52%) |
| 2023 | +28% | $1,947 (+95%) |
| 2022 | -9% | $1,768 (+77%) |
| 2021 | +15% | $2,029 (+103%) |
| 2020 | +29% | $2,617 (+162%) |
| 2019 | +6% | $2,776 (+178%) |
| 2018 | +3% | $2,849 (+185%) |
| 2017 | +15% | $3,271 (+227%) |
| 2016 | +22% | $4,001 (+300%) |
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to invest in S&P 500? Is now a good time?
We don't predict the future. But over 10 years S&P 500 returned +15%/yr on average (best year 2020, worst 2022) — $1,000 would have become $4,001. That's the past, not a guarantee, but it puts "too late?" in perspective. Year-by-year returns are in the table above.
What return does S&P 500 give on average per year?
Over the last 10 years, S&P 500 returned on average +15%/yr (price performance, excluding dividends). Best year: 2020 (+29%), worst: 2022 (-9%). Past returns don't guarantee future ones.
How much would $1,000 invested in S&P 500 5 years ago be worth?
About $2,029 today (+103% over 5 years). The 1, 3, 5 and 10-year breakdown is in the table above. Price performance, excluding dividends.
Is S&P 500 a good long-term investment?
This isn't advice. Historically, S&P 500 has risen over the long run (+15%/yr over 10 years), but with down years (worst: 2022). A broad index investment is judged over time and by diversification, not by timing — decide based on your horizon and risk tolerance.