What were the best and worst years for gold since 1993?

The best year was 1999, up about 20%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 17%. Across the window, 191 of 390 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?

Yes — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $15,921, versus $10,788 for gold over the same window.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in gold since 1993

$1,000 put into gold at the end of 1993 would be worth about $10,788 today — a 10.8× return, or roughly 7.6% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 1993

19712025

How

You'd have

$10,788

from $1,000 invested — up 979%.

Multiple10.8×

Per year7.6%

In today's $$10,788

ounces held2.56 ounces

The story behind the number

Best year+20%1999

Worst year−17%2008

Steepest drop−42%2011→2015

vs S&P 5001.48× behindS&P 500 → $15,921

Gold since 1993 has been a remarkably smooth ride. $1,000 put in at the end of 1993 grew to $10,788 — a 10.8× return, or about 7.6% a year. The S&P 500 actually did better over the same years, turning that $1,000 into $15,921 — about 1.48× what this returned.

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 1993?: $1,000 invested in gold at the end of 1993 would be worth about $10,788 today — a 10.8× return, or roughly 7.6% per year.
What were the best and worst years for gold since 1993?: The best year was 1999, up about 20%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 17%. Across the window, 191 of 390 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?: Yes — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $15,921, versus $10,788 for gold over the same window.

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 1993 →

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