What were the best and worst years for gold since 1998?

The best year was 1999, up about 20%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 17%. Across the window, 153 of 330 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 $6,015 over the same window, while gold reached $14,624. Gold came out ahead.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in gold since 1998

$1,000 put into gold at the end of 1998 would be worth about $14,624 today — a 14.6× return, or roughly 10.3% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 1998

19712025

How

You'd have

$14,624

from $1,000 invested — up 1362%.

Multiple14.6×

Per year10.3%

In today's $$14,624

ounces held3.47 ounces

The story behind the number

Best year+20%1999

Worst year−17%2008

Steepest drop−42%2011→2015

vs S&P 5002.43× aheadS&P 500 → $6,015

Gold since 1998 has been a remarkably smooth ride. $1,000 put in at the end of 1998 grew to $14,624 — a 14.6× return, or about 10.3% a year. That beat the S&P 500, which turned the same $1,000 into $6,015 — you'd have come out roughly 2.43× 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 1998?: $1,000 invested in gold at the end of 1998 would be worth about $14,624 today — a 14.6× return, or roughly 10.3% per year.
What were the best and worst years for gold since 1998?: The best year was 1999, up about 20%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 17%. Across the window, 153 of 330 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 $6,015 over the same window, while gold reached $14,624. 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 1998 →

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