See what a lump-sum investment in the S&P 500 in any year from 1928 onward would be worth today — both the raw dollar amount and its real value adjusted for inflation.
Without inflation
$16,503
Nominal value in 2024 dollars
With inflation
$6,594
Real value in 1990 dollars
Total return
3201%
Avg annual
10.51%
Inflation
150%
The S&P 500 is an index of 500 of the largest publicly traded U.S. companies. This calculator uses historical annual total returns (including reinvested dividends) from 1928 through 2024. Your lump sum is invested at the start of your chosen year and grows by each year's total return. The inflation-adjusted figure divides the nominal value by the cumulative U.S. CPI inflation over the same period, so it's expressed in 1990 dollars.
Past performance doesn't guarantee future results — the S&P 500 had a great century, but any given decade can look very different. For the ideas behind this, read the compound interest and index fund concept pages. For the exact formulas and data sources, see the How We Calculate page.