S&P 500: $5000000 in 1974 → $1,131,312,034.49 in 2024

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Stock market returns since 1974

If you invested $5000000 in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 1974, you would have about $1,131,312,034.49 at the end of 2024, assuming you reinvested all dividends. This is a return on investment of 22,526.24%, or 11.35% per year.

This lump-sum investment beats inflation during this period for an inflation-adjusted return of about 3,443.48% cumulatively, or 7.33% per year.

If you used dollar-cost averaging (monthly) instead of a lump-sum investment, you'd have $1,248,164,936.57.

The graph below shows the performance of $5000000 over time if invested in an S&P 500 index fund. The returns assume that all dividends are automatically reinvested.

This chart shows the rate of gains and loss by month, including dividends:

Adjusting stock market return for inflation

The nominal return on investment of $5000000 is $1,126,312,034.49, or 22,526.24%. This means by 2024 you would have $1,131,312,034.49 in your pocket.

However, it's important to take into account the effect of inflation when considering an investment and especially a long-term investment. You can convert S&P returns to their real (inflation-adjusted) value using an inflation calculation based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI).

In the case of the returns described above, the CPI in 1974 was 49.300 and the CPI in 2024 was 314.796.

The ratio between these CPIs describes how relative buying power of a dollar has changed over 50 years.

Adjusted for inflation, the $1,131,312,034.49 nominal end value of the original $5000000 investment would have a real return of roughly $172,174,053.36 in 1974 dollars. This means the inflation-adjusted return is 3,443.48% as opposed to the original 22,526.24%.

For more information on inflation, see our U.S. inflation calculator for 1974.

Full monthly data

The table below shows the full dataset pertaining to a $5000000 investment, including gains and losses over the 605-month period between 1974 and 2024.

Note that data shown is the monthly average closing price. Returns include dividends.

YearMonthReturn (%)Amount ($)CPI
19741-2.47%4,876,356.9546.60
197424.57%5,099,432.6747.20
19743-4.82%4,853,811.3947.80
19744-2.71%4,722,483.0548.00
197450.46%4,744,075.7648.60
19746-11.35%4,205,772.7749.00
19747-3.76%4,047,435.4149.40
19748-10.01%3,642,141.7850.00
197492.38%3,728,713.0450.60
1974103.74%3,868,295.1551.10
197411-6.09%3,632,645.2551.50
1974128.63%3,946,243.2351.90
1975110.81%4,372,734.6752.10
197524.97%4,590,218.9452.50
197531.49%4,658,476.8552.70
197546.71%4,971,183.3952.90
197552.89%5,115,080.4353.20
197560.43%5,137,177.5153.60
19757-7.00%4,777,767.6354.20
19758-0.85%4,737,028.4954.30
197594.97%4,972,518.5454.60
1975102.04%5,074,042.4354.90
197511-1.18%5,014,187.0955.30
1975129.55%5,492,805.4855.50
197614.18%5,722,302.4555.60
197620.80%5,768,218.6755.80
197631.10%5,831,406.6255.90
19764-0.38%5,809,056.3856.10
197650.90%5,861,371.7156.50
197662.67%6,017,598.1856.80
19767-0.56%5,983,862.2957.10
197682.44%6,129,741.8657.40
19769-3.11%5,939,216.3157.60
197610-0.37%5,917,440.5057.90
1976113.79%6,141,504.7458.00
197612-0.54%6,108,509.5558.20
19771-2.37%5,963,823.1658.50
19772-0.05%5,960,591.9259.10
19773-1.19%5,889,442.0459.50
197740.06%5,893,240.8560.00
197750.90%5,946,266.3460.30
197761.28%6,022,523.5660.70
19777-2.08%5,897,338.1661.00
19778-1.18%5,828,024.7361.20
19779-2.20%5,699,932.9561.40
1977100.98%5,755,857.3861.60
197711-0.08%5,751,244.6561.90
197712-3.39%5,556,256.9062.10
19781-0.97%5,502,250.5462.50
197820.27%5,516,868.1262.90
197834.83%5,783,332.4863.40
197845.50%6,101,665.6663.90
197850.67%6,142,763.7964.50
19786-0.06%6,138,937.4065.20
197877.33%6,588,807.5365.70
197880.40%6,615,142.3166.00
19789-2.77%6,431,671.3366.50
197810-5.44%6,081,939.4567.10
1978111.92%6,198,884.7167.40
1978124.19%6,458,327.1667.70
19791-1.06%6,390,065.5968.30
197922.34%6,539,667.3269.10
197932.43%6,698,640.2569.80
19794-1.89%6,571,833.3970.60
197952.42%6,730,716.5671.50
197961.42%6,826,349.6572.30
197975.01%7,168,645.7273.10
197981.54%7,279,075.1873.80
19799-3.35%7,035,042.9574.60
197910-0.32%7,012,359.5475.20
1979114.40%7,321,183.6075.90
1979123.31%7,563,694.9776.70
198014.40%7,896,183.8277.80
19802-8.78%7,203,070.5578.90
19803-1.16%7,119,367.2480.10
198045.04%7,477,908.4381.00
198056.86%7,991,093.6681.80
198064.97%8,388,207.7982.70
198073.50%8,682,187.9282.70
198082.84%8,928,398.0783.30
198093.32%9,225,246.7284.00
1980104.61%9,650,963.7584.80
198011-1.24%9,530,830.4785.50
1980120.01%9,531,782.3786.30
19811-3.07%9,239,139.9287.00
198124.14%9,621,945.4187.90
198131.29%9,746,433.5488.50
19814-1.62%9,588,807.4089.10
198150.86%9,671,039.9289.80
19816-2.02%9,476,047.4890.60
198170.80%9,552,098.8891.60
19818-8.30%8,759,018.3792.30
198191.73%8,910,308.2693.20
1981103.04%9,181,514.0393.40
1981111.18%9,289,797.9493.70
198112-4.80%8,843,504.9494.00
19821-1.91%8,674,249.4594.30
19822-2.74%8,436,181.0894.60
198235.47%8,897,582.3294.50
198240.57%8,948,267.1794.90
19825-5.27%8,476,638.1495.80
198260.24%8,497,308.1597.00
198270.79%8,564,774.8397.50
1982812.10%9,600,802.0497.70
198298.88%10,453,487.6597.90
1982104.50%10,923,885.8698.20
1982111.36%11,071,959.0398.00
1982123.93%11,506,616.8297.60
198312.13%11,751,709.4297.80
198323.87%12,205,985.2497.90
198334.20%12,718,317.8797.90
198344.42%13,280,977.7698.60
198351.75%13,513,860.2399.20
198360.71%13,609,556.3499.50
19837-2.41%13,281,949.0599.90
198383.31%13,722,090.82100.20
198390.65%13,810,999.90100.70
198310-1.14%13,653,357.94101.00
198311-0.13%13,635,864.24101.20
1983121.58%13,850,756.28101.30
19841-5.11%13,142,680.76101.90
198420.44%13,200,818.81102.40
198430.51%13,267,773.40102.60
19844-0.25%13,234,262.52103.10
19845-1.85%12,989,653.11103.40
19846-0.91%12,871,648.92103.70
198479.21%14,056,684.88104.10
198481.41%14,254,457.98104.50
19849-0.41%14,195,672.29105.00
1984101.29%14,378,214.73105.30
198411-0.71%14,276,480.72105.30
1984124.70%14,947,128.17105.30
198515.79%15,812,172.38105.50
19852-0.48%15,736,539.89106.00
198531.02%15,897,794.10106.40
198542.74%16,332,699.64106.90
198552.51%16,742,808.29107.30
198562.25%17,119,056.16107.60
19857-1.85%16,803,156.43107.80
19858-1.88%16,486,417.90108.00
198591.50%16,732,982.83108.30
1985106.42%17,807,326.60108.70
1985115.29%18,750,138.14109.00
1985120.75%18,891,088.29109.30
198615.70%19,967,360.10109.60
198626.18%21,201,896.29109.30
198632.74%21,783,130.66108.80
198640.49%21,890,266.67108.60
198653.13%22,576,141.27108.90
19866-1.80%22,168,887.19109.50
198672.28%22,674,527.10109.50
19868-2.46%22,117,587.26109.70
19869-0.09%22,097,709.59110.20
1986103.53%22,878,410.55110.30
1986111.71%23,269,388.75110.40
1986126.67%24,822,241.36110.50
198716.46%26,426,224.26111.20
198724.38%27,582,743.96111.60
19873-0.86%27,346,522.51112.10
198740.17%27,393,785.77112.70
198754.50%28,626,079.73113.10
198763.12%29,519,813.67113.50
198776.45%31,425,025.79113.80
19878-3.03%30,472,713.71114.40
19879-11.85%26,860,513.10115.00
198710-12.30%23,555,752.91115.30
198711-1.33%23,241,355.71115.40
1987124.25%24,228,309.69115.40
198813.33%25,034,764.77115.70
198823.23%25,843,903.13116.00
19883-0.89%25,614,919.86116.50
19884-2.19%25,054,397.02117.10
198856.00%26,557,209.76117.50
19886-0.31%26,475,700.28118.00
19887-1.72%26,020,719.25118.50
198881.93%26,522,182.43119.00
198893.80%27,530,454.21119.80
198810-2.02%26,974,270.88120.20
1988112.33%27,601,679.82120.30
1988123.51%28,571,232.49120.50
198913.30%29,514,040.87121.10
19892-0.16%29,466,328.76121.60
198933.56%30,516,744.15122.30
198944.12%31,772,600.38123.10
198953.39%32,850,524.73123.80
198962.80%33,770,396.93124.10
198974.69%35,354,482.75124.40
198980.46%35,515,535.54124.60
198990.29%35,617,200.85125.00
198910-1.81%34,971,264.87125.60
1989112.74%35,928,325.69125.90
198912-2.21%35,133,869.26126.10
19901-2.53%34,245,971.82127.40
199022.71%35,173,067.47128.00
199030.20%35,242,001.67128.70
199043.85%36,599,144.74128.90
199053.17%37,759,321.95129.20
199060.17%37,823,408.41129.90
19907-7.86%34,850,024.47130.40
19908-4.34%33,337,163.75131.60
19909-2.32%32,565,152.08132.70
1990102.98%33,536,835.87133.50
1990114.59%35,075,038.21133.80
199012-0.69%34,834,714.19133.80
1991111.61%38,877,901.06134.60
199123.04%40,061,585.54134.80
199132.26%40,966,508.05135.00
19914-0.18%40,893,227.69135.20
199150.35%41,035,131.66135.60
199160.78%41,355,405.07136.00
199172.68%42,463,288.81136.20
19918-0.30%42,334,582.19136.60
199190.18%42,411,481.27137.20
1991100.02%42,418,180.23137.40
1991110.94%42,814,849.53137.80
1991127.36%45,965,177.28137.90
19921-0.60%45,688,997.35138.10
19922-1.01%45,226,452.00138.60
199230.26%45,345,987.08139.30
199242.07%46,283,901.02139.50
19925-1.33%45,668,731.25139.70
199261.91%46,541,978.27140.20
199270.94%46,980,273.33140.50
199280.38%47,157,946.77140.90
19929-1.18%46,600,513.58141.30
1992102.76%47,885,244.55141.80
1992113.27%49,451,666.62142.00
1992120.14%49,522,329.70141.90
199311.72%50,376,217.15142.60
199322.15%51,459,382.80143.10
19933-1.34%50,768,929.02143.60
199340.72%51,136,863.78144.00
199350.87%51,579,290.97144.20
199360.06%51,610,756.26144.40
199371.76%52,520,378.19144.40
199381.35%53,232,014.50144.80
199391.24%53,893,106.57145.10
1993100.01%53,897,172.66145.70
1993110.89%54,375,337.50145.80
1993121.74%55,319,228.16145.80
19941-0.08%55,277,350.93146.20
19942-1.42%54,490,301.97146.70
19943-3.35%52,666,850.78147.20
199441.06%53,224,193.44147.40
199451.11%53,813,967.04147.50
19946-0.52%53,534,739.72148.00
199473.08%55,184,722.14148.40
199480.82%55,635,837.99149.00
19949-0.44%55,388,811.18149.40
199410-0.37%55,183,936.91149.50
199411-1.03%54,617,911.82149.70
1994122.45%55,956,692.01149.70
199513.82%58,093,730.49150.30
199522.56%59,579,866.94150.90
199533.22%61,495,689.18151.40
199543.35%63,554,417.33151.90
199553.18%65,574,444.83152.20
199563.55%67,900,685.14152.50
199570.51%68,249,099.95152.50
199583.72%70,786,372.43152.90
199590.91%71,432,345.83153.20
1995102.36%73,116,995.82153.70
1995113.39%75,595,031.69153.60
1995120.16%75,717,933.94153.50
199615.90%80,188,618.76154.40
19962-0.20%80,027,682.48154.90
199630.20%80,185,370.67155.70
199642.35%82,073,596.33156.30
199651.28%83,122,983.73156.60
19966-3.48%80,233,159.63156.70
199673.08%82,700,933.15157.00
199682.02%84,374,574.17157.30
199694.12%87,850,382.89157.80
1996105.05%92,288,656.13158.30
1996111.20%93,394,484.16158.60
1996123.26%96,436,846.92158.60
199714.36%100,642,615.66159.10
19972-0.62%100,014,922.38159.60
19973-3.41%96,609,167.82160.00
199749.22%105,514,437.47160.20
199755.34%111,145,558.72160.10
199765.74%117,520,784.12160.30
199770.35%117,929,508.67160.50
199781.19%119,335,237.85160.80
199791.65%121,298,750.94161.20
199710-1.15%119,901,336.81161.60
1997112.63%123,060,277.27161.50
1997120.24%123,352,038.79161.30
199816.40%131,249,231.72161.60
199825.31%138,222,335.94161.90
199833.41%142,929,739.89162.20
19984-0.22%142,612,639.43162.50
199850.12%142,778,721.92162.80
199864.47%149,157,598.78163.00
19987-6.97%138,759,811.84163.20
19988-4.90%131,962,731.63163.40
199891.29%133,666,181.42163.60
19981010.97%148,335,221.77164.00
1998114.10%154,423,054.95164.00
1998125.05%162,217,847.53163.90
19991-0.07%162,109,631.87164.30
199922.92%166,848,922.90164.50
199934.25%173,940,039.00165.00
19994-0.10%173,768,131.02166.20
19995-0.61%172,705,074.68166.20
199964.52%180,515,467.05166.20
19997-3.77%173,702,117.10166.70
19998-0.60%172,663,349.54167.10
19999-1.27%170,466,258.18167.90
1999107.11%182,579,504.59168.20
1999112.81%187,707,671.24168.30
199912-0.12%187,484,425.58168.30
20001-2.48%182,838,416.58168.80
200023.94%190,043,993.73169.80
200031.42%192,751,484.73171.20
20004-2.84%187,279,667.15171.30
200053.16%193,204,222.26171.50
200060.85%194,847,119.80172.40
200070.94%196,678,119.80172.80
20008-1.08%194,554,683.31172.80
20009-5.21%184,410,155.11173.70
200010-0.77%182,985,468.50174.00
200011-3.32%176,910,215.98174.10
2000120.46%177,715,171.00174.00
20011-2.14%173,918,716.80175.10
20012-9.08%158,127,066.03175.80
200130.45%158,836,572.09176.20
200146.88%169,763,468.78176.90
20015-2.39%165,708,409.78177.70
20016-2.66%161,300,189.64178.00
20017-2.05%158,000,247.01177.50
20018-11.25%140,229,446.12177.50
200193.18%144,694,395.86178.30
2001105.05%152,006,015.22177.70
2001111.47%154,234,498.47177.40
200112-0.30%153,775,358.97176.70
20021-3.35%148,619,625.91177.10
200224.95%155,969,268.74177.80
20023-3.51%150,487,834.62178.80
20024-2.82%146,243,518.79179.80
20025-5.92%137,584,500.76179.80
20026-10.76%122,782,473.38179.90
200271.14%124,180,708.92180.10
20028-4.76%118,272,525.86180.70
20029-1.37%116,655,689.92181.00
2002106.63%124,384,802.20181.30
200211-1.04%123,097,343.25181.30
200212-0.22%122,823,430.05180.90
20031-6.41%114,944,508.46181.70
200321.31%116,447,865.58183.10
200335.29%122,603,135.37184.20
200345.31%129,116,073.47183.80
200355.70%136,481,093.02183.50
200360.60%137,294,384.96183.70
20037-0.17%137,066,031.30183.90
200383.16%141,398,936.50184.60
200392.03%144,266,265.14185.20
2003101.21%146,012,732.66185.00
2003113.06%150,486,285.82184.50
2003124.93%157,912,725.91184.30
200411.09%159,628,703.80185.20
20042-1.57%157,130,200.55186.20
200430.97%158,651,436.22187.40
20044-2.56%154,583,211.38188.00
200452.86%159,000,700.05189.10
20046-2.24%155,441,024.78189.70
20047-1.39%153,284,171.53189.40
200482.78%157,549,494.42189.50
200490.10%157,711,132.81189.90
2004104.77%165,240,098.40190.90
2004112.73%169,746,934.97191.00
200412-1.35%167,456,672.70190.30
200511.68%170,271,965.56190.70
20052-0.26%169,836,770.74191.80
20053-2.41%165,745,541.42193.30
200541.34%167,959,687.34194.60
200552.18%171,622,380.00194.40
200561.81%174,724,953.85194.50
200570.31%175,266,633.04195.40
200580.28%175,756,837.13196.40
20059-2.62%171,144,591.70198.80
2005103.96%177,924,557.15199.20
2005112.14%181,739,492.68197.60
2005121.47%184,405,193.40196.80
20061-0.02%184,374,508.79198.30
200621.49%187,114,568.00198.70
200630.80%188,608,362.45199.80
20064-0.79%187,124,701.85201.50
20065-2.71%182,061,494.80202.50
200660.72%183,372,411.56202.90
200672.29%187,574,865.75203.50
200682.53%192,322,711.09203.90
200693.62%199,276,933.20202.90
2006102.00%203,265,745.93201.80
2006112.15%207,632,432.75201.50
2006120.69%209,070,965.30201.80
200711.60%212,407,838.34202.42
20072-2.47%207,153,099.86203.50
200734.18%215,812,637.82205.35
200743.39%223,132,469.73206.69
200750.34%223,902,056.95207.95
200760.57%225,188,642.17208.35
20077-4.20%215,728,224.53208.30
200783.07%222,361,314.00207.92
200792.99%229,013,548.06208.49
200710-4.81%218,006,446.88208.94
2007111.24%220,705,848.15210.18
200712-6.64%206,061,579.50210.04
20081-1.56%202,838,847.10211.08
20082-2.63%197,511,009.39211.69
200834.24%205,892,986.65213.53
200842.56%211,169,209.04214.82
20085-4.25%202,201,735.27216.63
20086-6.08%189,910,960.27218.82
200872.11%193,919,097.43219.96
20088-4.85%184,518,798.97219.09
20089-20.19%147,257,838.36218.78
200810-8.61%134,585,788.96216.57
200811-0.35%134,113,100.44212.43
200812-1.10%132,643,815.49210.23
20091-6.70%123,753,355.17211.14
20092-5.69%116,714,961.75212.19
2009312.32%131,096,287.69212.71
200946.66%139,827,066.71213.24
200952.87%143,838,510.94213.86
200961.28%145,676,252.47215.69
200978.12%157,506,249.41215.35
200983.65%163,255,768.19215.83
200992.40%167,178,980.93215.97
2009102.09%170,680,253.30216.18
2009112.23%174,479,352.70216.33
2009121.36%176,846,981.48215.95
20101-2.90%171,721,118.89216.69
201025.94%181,926,566.13216.74
201034.09%189,363,597.19217.63
20104-5.88%178,224,479.37218.01
20105-3.54%171,908,980.71218.18
20106-0.16%171,635,519.92217.97
201070.86%173,117,784.14218.01
201083.37%178,953,852.15218.31
201094.58%187,145,351.17218.44
2010102.49%191,806,981.78218.71
2010113.71%198,930,186.96218.80
2010123.46%205,817,534.28219.18
201113.15%212,302,564.75220.22
20112-1.11%209,940,781.57221.31
201132.22%214,603,530.46223.47
201140.66%216,018,271.69224.91
20115-3.66%208,106,386.09225.96
201163.10%214,561,296.13225.72
20117-10.40%192,245,533.23225.92
20118-0.79%190,728,244.95226.55
201193.02%196,486,151.32226.89
2011101.77%199,958,302.19226.42
2011111.55%203,067,155.99226.23
2011124.78%212,778,960.48225.67
201214.16%221,636,115.89226.67
201222.88%228,027,740.87227.66
20123-0.04%227,940,610.70229.39
20124-3.09%220,895,075.33230.09
20125-1.15%218,349,455.95229.82
201262.92%224,727,633.15229.48
201273.39%232,340,732.95229.10
201283.02%239,360,132.40230.38
20129-0.22%238,840,398.33231.41
201210-2.84%232,063,316.47231.32
2012112.18%237,111,935.55230.22
2012124.27%247,233,678.35229.60
201312.33%253,001,694.10230.28
201322.72%259,889,548.90232.17
201331.45%263,667,800.84232.77
201344.57%275,728,677.40232.53
20135-1.12%272,646,651.06232.95
201363.25%281,519,874.06233.50
201370.25%282,230,791.35233.60
201381.19%285,596,301.36233.88
201392.12%291,643,945.56234.15
2013103.86%302,901,384.48233.55
2013111.52%307,510,518.73233.07
2013120.97%310,486,629.09233.05
20141-0.13%310,082,885.01233.92
201422.72%318,524,176.22234.78
201430.20%319,166,715.85236.29
201441.53%324,056,460.86237.07
201453.20%334,414,335.32237.90
201461.50%339,416,578.42238.34
20147-0.43%337,967,436.55238.25
201481.78%343,976,611.85237.85
20149-2.65%334,872,982.96238.03
2014105.71%353,979,670.76237.43
2014110.63%356,223,504.36236.15
201412-1.11%352,269,261.10234.81
201512.83%362,229,315.40233.71
201520.06%362,429,858.05234.72
201530.88%365,613,476.97236.12
201540.98%369,192,481.63236.60
20155-0.44%367,584,648.15237.81
20156-0.08%367,291,940.14238.64
20157-2.42%358,387,323.53238.65
20158-4.51%342,234,464.61238.32
201594.32%357,009,134.84237.95
2015102.93%367,478,320.38237.84
201511-1.10%363,425,145.33237.34
201512-6.42%340,094,625.62236.53
20161-0.55%338,224,414.40236.92
201626.36%359,744,712.31237.11
201632.83%369,930,021.36238.13
20164-0.30%368,804,082.98239.26
201651.07%372,737,342.48240.23
201663.30%385,028,128.70241.02
201671.20%389,645,605.42240.63
20168-0.44%387,936,342.21240.85
20169-0.51%385,973,458.28241.43
2016101.20%390,609,619.25241.73
2016113.95%406,022,933.52241.35
2016121.44%411,860,060.26241.43
201712.58%422,471,409.41242.84
201721.75%429,861,519.63243.60
20173-0.15%429,199,515.24243.80
201741.69%436,463,173.39244.52
201751.78%444,216,627.15244.73
201760.99%448,604,972.54244.96
201770.25%449,716,639.26244.79
201781.65%457,151,638.30245.52
201792.73%469,653,817.34246.82
2017101.59%477,119,288.54246.66
2017112.88%490,876,957.83246.67
2017124.86%514,742,896.09246.52
20181-2.89%499,883,882.80247.87
201820.06%500,206,698.97248.99
20183-1.66%491,883,400.05249.55
201841.96%501,532,288.74250.55
201852.11%512,129,514.32251.59
201861.58%520,224,960.53251.99
201872.45%532,974,659.48252.01
201881.68%541,927,289.24252.15
20189-3.85%521,068,582.90252.44
201810-2.08%510,250,634.72252.89
201811-5.56%481,867,881.10252.04
2018121.74%490,231,355.41251.23
201915.83%518,806,463.39251.71
201921.95%528,912,927.22252.78
201933.72%548,605,517.07254.20
20194-1.53%540,202,040.62255.55
201951.40%547,790,524.34256.09
201963.83%568,756,351.07256.14
20197-3.13%550,929,172.25256.57
201983.09%567,926,590.28256.56
201990.01%567,982,262.71256.76
2019104.43%593,164,848.13257.35
2019112.47%607,811,985.60257.21
2019123.35%628,151,790.69256.97
202010.12%628,918,618.40257.97
20202-18.92%509,941,624.81258.68
202034.32%531,964,036.96258.12
202045.89%563,282,703.36256.39
202056.51%599,942,673.03256.39
202063.48%620,799,289.45257.80
202075.89%657,386,125.72259.10
20208-0.63%653,264,297.38259.92
202091.73%664,539,648.08260.28
2020103.95%690,816,320.52260.39
2020114.26%720,245,651.58260.23
2020122.80%740,378,676.55260.47
202112.49%758,825,422.71261.58
202120.82%765,058,093.49263.01
202136.02%811,125,960.34264.88
202140.76%817,292,395.55267.05
202151.81%832,088,843.38269.20
202163.07%857,619,005.51271.70
202172.19%876,359,368.89273.00
20218-0.08%875,618,855.47273.57
202190.45%879,578,194.39274.31
2021104.74%921,311,928.53276.59
2021110.27%923,757,123.87277.95
202112-2.05%904,802,062.86278.80
20221-2.90%878,539,550.90281.15
20222-0.89%870,697,850.91283.72
202230.12%871,727,902.40287.50
20224-7.87%803,099,115.78289.11
20225-3.37%776,039,615.69292.30
202260.46%779,645,757.97296.31
202276.45%829,912,590.69296.28
20228-7.28%769,516,497.43296.17
20229-3.09%745,729,394.77296.81
2022105.29%785,141,895.74298.01
2022110.01%785,226,985.15297.71
2022121.38%796,035,291.49296.80
202313.15%821,086,296.36299.17
20232-2.59%799,857,709.09300.84
202334.00%831,821,793.10301.84
202340.74%837,958,102.95303.36
202354.94%879,371,556.91304.13
202363.88%913,456,367.62305.11
20237-1.00%904,343,391.34305.69
20238-0.95%895,719,779.25307.03
20239-3.04%868,513,969.89307.79
2023104.60%908,480,583.26307.67
2023115.18%955,496,697.06307.05
2023122.91%983,319,201.58306.75
202414.20%1,024,611,444.83308.42
202423.28%1,058,240,422.41310.33
20243-1.01%1,047,561,420.14312.33
202442.52%1,073,925,534.28313.55
202455.34%1,131,312,034.49314.07
Click to show 594 more rows

Remember, returns are based on the average closing price across the entire month. Some losses are offset by dividend returns.

Dollar-cost averaging

Dollar-cost averaging is an alternative to investing the full lump-sum of $5,000,000.00 up-front. Instead, the capital is invested over a period of time.

Consider a strategy in which $5,000,000.00 was invested in the S&P 500 over a period of no more than 24 months beginning in 1974. This would result in a final amount of $1,248,164,936.57, including dividend reinvestments. In this particular case, dollar-cost average returns are greater than the returns of a lump-sum investment (which ends with $1,131,312,034.49).

YearMonthContribution ($)Amount ($)
19741208333.33202,567.37
19742208333.33429,062.55
19743208333.33606,081.91
19744208333.33791,730.13
19745208333.331,003,962.31
19746208333.331,074,061.58
19747208333.331,233,343.06
19748208333.331,296,499.90
19749208333.331,539,687.16
197410208333.331,812,558.18
197411208333.331,896,911.88
197412208333.332,286,054.36
19751208333.332,763,102.46
19752208333.333,118,434.05
19753208333.333,375,476.89
19754208333.333,823,623.51
19755208333.334,147,954.51
19756208333.334,374,409.87
19757208333.334,261,426.55
19758208333.334,430,895.57
19759208333.334,869,096.37
197510208333.335,180,370.30
197511208333.335,324,425.18
197512208333.416,060,155.81
19761-6,313,357.47
19762-6,364,016.36
19763-6,433,730.98
19764-6,409,072.18
19765-6,466,791.14
19766-6,639,154.21
19767-6,601,933.74
19768-6,762,881.17
19769-6,552,676.30
197610-6,528,651.26
197611-6,775,859.04
197612-6,739,455.79
19771-6,579,824.78
19772-6,576,259.78
19773-6,497,760.86
19774-6,501,952.04
19775-6,560,454.52
19776-6,644,588.32
19777-6,506,472.56
19778-6,429,999.77
19779-6,288,677.42
197710-6,350,378.27
197711-6,345,289.09
197712-6,130,161.11
19781-6,070,576.46
19782-6,086,703.88
19783-6,380,691.27
19784-6,731,904.99
19785-6,777,248.13
19786-6,773,026.52
19787-7,269,363.61
19788-7,298,418.50
19789-7,095,996.85
197810-6,710,141.27
197811-6,839,165.77
197812-7,125,405.96
19791-7,050,093.67
19792-7,215,147.72
19793-7,390,540.92
19794-7,250,636.21
19795-7,425,930.38
19796-7,531,441.38
19797-7,909,093.12
19798-8,030,928.81
19799-7,761,690.56
197910-7,736,664.19
197911-8,077,386.59
197912-8,344,946.90
19801-8,711,778.43
19802-7,947,073.68
19803-7,854,724.68
19804-8,250,299.49
19805-8,816,491.48
19806-9,254,623.41
19807-9,578,968.67
19808-9,850,609.80
19809-10,178,119.86
198010-10,647,809.09
198011-10,515,267.27
198012-10,516,317.49
19811-10,193,448.09
19812-10,615,793.45
19813-10,753,139.92
19814-10,579,232.62
19815-10,669,958.91
19816-10,454,825.77
19817-10,538,732.49
19818-9,663,734.91
19819-9,830,651.50
198110-10,129,870.04
198111-10,249,338.56
198112-9,756,948.08
19821-9,570,210.24
19822-9,307,551.85
19823-9,816,611.09
19824-9,872,531.17
19825-9,352,187.71
19826-9,374,992.73
19827-9,449,428.01
19828-10,592,466.18
19829-11,533,225.45
198210-12,052,210.96
198211-12,215,578.57
198212-12,695,132.04
19831-12,965,540.18
19832-13,466,738.02
19833-14,031,989.35
19834-14,652,766.22
19835-14,909,703.06
19836-15,015,283.59
19837-14,653,837.84
19838-15,139,441.72
19839-15,237,534.20
198310-15,063,609.45
198311-15,044,308.82
198312-15,281,397.00
19841-14,500,184.56
19842-14,564,327.67
19843-14,638,197.99
19844-14,601,225.78
19845-14,331,350.73
19846-14,201,157.91
19847-15,508,595.91
19848-15,726,796.94
19849-15,661,939.29
198410-15,863,336.49
198411-15,751,094.40
198412-16,491,012.84
19851-17,445,407.22
19852-17,361,962.67
19853-17,539,872.79
19854-18,019,699.59
19855-18,472,168.26
19856-18,887,278.65
19857-18,538,749.74
19858-18,189,295.37
19859-18,461,327.93
198510-19,646,640.36
198511-20,686,834.64
198512-20,842,343.49
19861-22,029,783.12
19862-23,391,834.20
19863-24,033,104.10
19864-24,151,306.16
19865-24,908,024.55
19866-24,458,705.32
19867-25,016,572.63
19868-24,402,106.64
19869-24,380,175.80
198610-25,241,515.14
198611-25,672,877.38
198612-27,386,123.70
19871-29,155,781.53
19872-30,431,757.83
19873-30,171,137.13
19874-30,223,282.20
19875-31,582,859.46
19876-32,568,906.93
19877-34,670,907.87
19878-33,620,231.75
19879-29,634,927.94
198710-25,988,820.00
198711-25,641,948.81
198712-26,730,844.99
19881-27,620,598.59
19882-28,513,312.62
19883-28,260,677.73
19884-27,642,258.65
19885-29,300,296.49
19886-29,210,367.93
19887-28,708,392.02
19888-29,261,651.20
19889-30,374,067.08
198810-29,760,435.74
198811-30,452,649.57
198812-31,522,347.07
19891-32,562,537.85
19892-32,509,897.58
19893-33,668,810.08
19894-35,054,383.34
19895-36,243,646.19
19896-37,258,531.74
19897-39,006,237.33
19898-39,183,925.22
19899-39,296,091.51
198910-38,583,436.99
198911-39,639,352.35
198912-38,762,836.75
19901-37,783,228.63
19902-38,806,083.72
19903-38,882,138.11
19904-40,379,460.11
19905-41,659,471.70
19906-41,730,177.63
19907-38,449,673.71
19908-36,780,550.02
19909-35,928,797.49
199010-37,000,846.22
199011-38,697,929.05
199012-38,432,782.03
19911-42,893,588.53
19912-44,199,535.45
19913-45,197,927.15
19914-45,117,077.68
19915-45,273,638.88
19916-45,626,993.23
19917-46,849,309.98
19918-46,707,309.29
19919-46,792,151.25
199110-46,799,542.15
199111-47,237,183.31
199112-50,712,907.52
19921-50,408,201.05
19922-49,897,879.51
19923-50,029,761.35
19924-51,064,552.15
19925-50,385,841.66
19926-51,349,286.13
19927-51,832,852.56
19928-52,028,877.84
19929-51,413,867.53
199210-52,831,298.00
199211-54,559,515.37
199212-54,637,477.22
19931-55,579,562.46
19932-56,774,607.99
19933-56,012,837.43
19934-56,418,776.07
19935-56,906,901.43
19936-56,941,616.77
19937-57,945,193.30
19938-58,730,334.31
19939-59,459,710.40
199310-59,464,196.47
199311-59,991,750.82
199312-61,033,135.69
19941-60,986,932.97
19942-60,118,589.95
19943-58,106,795.00
19944-58,721,705.42
19945-59,372,396.57
19946-59,064,327.94
19947-60,884,736.58
19948-61,382,448.06
19949-61,109,905.92
199410-60,883,870.24
199411-60,259,380.59
199412-61,736,443.00
19951-64,094,215.59
19952-65,733,854.65
19953-67,847,561.63
19954-70,118,935.23
19955-72,347,610.81
19956-74,914,127.83
19957-75,298,530.30
19958-78,097,876.94
19959-78,810,572.75
199510-80,669,229.77
199511-83,403,221.26
199512-83,538,818.05
19961-88,471,278.66
19962-88,293,719.31
19963-88,467,695.07
19964-90,550,955.02
19965-91,708,733.36
19966-88,520,420.14
19967-91,243,089.29
19968-93,089,600.22
19969-96,924,424.24
199610-101,821,125.49
199611-103,041,174.18
199612-106,397,781.73
19971-111,037,963.14
19972-110,345,435.60
19973-106,587,901.61
19974-116,412,994.06
19975-122,625,752.24
19976-129,659,472.88
19977-130,110,414.48
19978-131,661,341.03
19979-133,827,664.83
199710-132,285,912.19
199711-135,771,138.72
199712-136,093,036.20
19981-144,805,927.98
19982-152,499,282.17
19983-157,692,912.55
19984-157,343,058.88
19985-157,526,295.97
19986-164,564,045.24
19987-153,092,273.81
19988-145,593,125.09
19989-147,472,523.72
199810-163,656,725.13
199811-170,373,368.90
199812-178,973,283.41
19991-178,853,890.18
19992-184,082,701.25
19993-191,906,256.75
19994-191,716,592.43
19995-190,543,733.30
19996-199,160,858.91
19997-191,643,759.96
19998-190,497,698.38
19999-188,073,670.08
199910-201,438,090.30
199911-207,095,943.85
199912-206,849,639.20
20001-201,723,745.24
20002-209,673,584.43
20003-212,660,731.41
20004-206,623,731.33
20005-213,160,232.07
20006-214,972,824.04
20007-216,992,947.52
20008-214,650,181.86
20009-203,457,828.20
200010-201,885,986.11
200011-195,183,222.46
200012-196,071,321.06
20011-191,882,732.18
20012-174,459,966.23
20013-175,242,756.98
20014-187,298,289.76
20015-182,824,384.85
20016-177,960,840.89
20017-174,320,048.12
20018-154,713,706.20
20019-159,639,839.34
200110-167,706,673.81
200111-170,165,336.47
200112-169,658,772.58
20021-163,970,505.30
20022-172,079,290.67
20023-166,031,680.76
20024-161,348,970.74
20025-151,795,565.17
20026-135,464,640.54
20027-137,007,299.44
20028-130,488,861.82
20029-128,705,023.35
200210-137,232,473.46
200211-135,812,033.23
200212-135,509,827.62
20031-126,817,094.44
20032-128,475,732.89
20033-135,266,778.77
20034-142,452,436.41
20035-150,578,186.76
20036-151,475,483.40
20037-151,223,543.15
20038-156,003,992.90
20039-159,167,487.12
200310-161,094,346.78
200311-166,029,971.99
200312-174,223,486.99
20041-176,116,707.75
20042-173,360,134.80
20043-175,038,498.47
20044-170,550,067.84
20045-175,423,837.67
20046-171,496,484.54
20047-169,116,850.52
20048-173,822,737.42
20049-174,001,071.39
200410-182,307,701.72
200411-187,280,048.17
200412-184,753,225.36
20051-187,859,309.02
20052-187,379,163.05
20053-182,865,351.80
20054-185,308,196.24
20055-189,349,207.39
20056-192,772,245.22
20057-193,369,874.30
20058-193,910,711.44
20059-188,822,068.48
200510-196,302,334.65
200511-200,511,313.80
200512-203,452,354.00
20061-203,418,499.99
20062-206,441,579.14
20063-208,089,667.19
20064-206,452,759.70
20065-200,866,575.43
20066-202,312,896.41
20067-206,949,420.91
20068-212,187,669.86
20069-219,860,191.62
200610-224,261,007.70
200611-229,078,728.37
200612-230,665,846.54
20071-234,347,384.26
20072-228,549,885.32
20073-238,103,864.53
20074-246,179,759.81
20075-247,028,837.48
20076-248,448,313.73
20077-238,010,732.21
20078-245,328,951.63
20079-252,668,293.07
200710-240,524,271.51
200711-243,502,493.17
200712-227,345,622.13
20081-223,790,014.60
20082-217,911,866.04
20083-227,159,615.37
20084-232,980,817.29
20085-223,087,095.68
20086-209,526,809.98
20087-213,948,946.50
20088-203,577,693.86
20089-162,468,059.09
200810-148,487,117.27
200811-147,965,604.89
200812-146,344,557.91
20091-136,535,804.44
20092-128,770,417.34
20093-144,637,186.40
20094-154,269,765.13
20095-158,695,550.31
20096-160,723,111.64
20097-173,775,025.64
20098-180,118,410.60
20099-184,446,850.88
200910-188,309,768.69
200911-192,501,276.00
200912-195,113,456.50
20101-189,458,144.99
20102-200,717,710.02
20103-208,922,909.92
20104-196,633,235.75
20105-189,665,411.01
20106-189,363,704.53
20107-190,999,071.40
20108-197,437,945.24
20109-206,475,541.90
201010-211,618,671.01
201011-219,477,630.06
201012-227,076,369.54
20111-234,231,237.00
20112-231,625,505.89
20113-236,769,868.80
20114-238,330,738.26
20115-229,601,636.21
20116-236,723,272.10
20117-212,102,520.32
20118-210,428,511.77
20119-216,781,150.66
201110-220,611,939.03
201111-224,041,905.45
201112-234,756,839.50
20121-244,528,848.01
20122-251,580,662.14
20123-251,484,532.31
20124-243,711,265.57
20125-240,902,709.88
20126-247,939,687.22
20127-256,339,141.95
20128-264,083,573.20
20129-263,510,155.94
201210-256,033,071.20
201211-261,603,160.72
201212-272,770,375.50
20131-279,134,167.98
20132-286,733,467.36
20133-290,901,973.88
20134-304,208,614.99
20135-300,808,247.02
20136-310,597,982.73
20137-311,382,330.47
20138-315,095,463.06
20139-321,767,766.72
201310-334,187,983.35
201311-339,273,193.78
201312-342,556,705.74
20141-342,111,259.05
20142-351,424,448.85
20143-352,133,356.23
20144-357,528,161.63
20145-368,955,898.02
20146-374,474,821.41
20147-372,875,998.08
20148-379,505,859.41
20149-369,461,919.25
201410-390,542,131.47
201411-393,017,730.01
201412-388,655,054.07
20151-399,643,879.57
20152-399,865,136.22
20153-403,377,590.25
20154-407,326,269.29
20155-405,552,363.14
20156-405,229,421.40
20157-395,405,049.44
20158-377,583,766.27
20159-393,884,508.04
201510-405,435,052.81
201511-400,963,226.45
201512-375,222,903.91
20161-373,159,519.10
20162-396,902,642.54
20163-408,139,989.30
20164-406,897,753.05
20165-411,237,277.83
20166-424,797,575.90
20167-429,891,990.49
20168-428,006,177.96
20169-425,840,548.30
201610-430,955,577.03
201611-447,960,928.21
201612-454,400,970.13
20171-466,108,362.55
20172-474,261,795.18
20173-473,531,412.54
20174-481,545,331.89
20175-490,099,637.72
20176-494,941,254.07
20177-496,167,744.53
20178-504,370,702.54
20179-518,164,228.13
201710-526,400,805.75
201711-541,579,500.84
201712-567,910,545.15
20181-551,516,748.56
20182-551,872,908.31
20183-542,689,898.19
20184-553,335,417.88
20185-565,027,227.91
20186-573,958,850.49
20187-588,025,462.25
20188-597,902,806.63
20189-574,889,610.37
201810-562,954,279.37
201811-531,639,879.10
201812-540,867,214.32
20191-572,393,837.17
20192-583,544,194.82
20193-605,270,826.74
20194-595,999,357.56
20195-604,371,653.64
20196-627,503,034.71
20197-607,834,491.60
20198-626,587,568.16
20199-626,648,990.98
201910-654,432,678.58
201911-670,592,714.76
201912-693,033,412.60
20201-693,879,445.73
20202-562,613,351.91
20203-586,910,452.82
20204-621,464,015.48
20205-661,910,583.10
20206-684,921,473.57
20207-725,287,353.88
20208-720,739,783.05
20209-733,179,761.55
202010-762,170,544.10
202011-794,639,622.50
202012-816,852,181.96
20211-837,204,287.34
20212-844,080,728.93
20213-894,906,932.81
20214-901,710,297.37
20215-918,035,066.15
20216-946,202,231.54
20217-966,878,281.79
20218-966,061,280.95
20219-970,429,578.87
202110-1,016,473,978.68
202111-1,019,171,737.56
202112-998,258,813.62
20221-969,283,654.18
20222-960,631,987.21
20223-961,768,432.43
20224-886,050,997.73
20225-856,196,529.48
20226-860,175,149.18
20227-915,634,028.92
20228-848,999,640.16
20229-822,755,574.35
202210-866,238,981.47
202211-866,332,859.74
202212-878,257,553.01
20231-905,896,069.14
20232-882,474,787.05
20233-917,740,432.32
20234-924,510,559.88
20235-970,201,597.86
20236-1,007,807,019.10
20237-997,752,766.05
20238-988,238,423.50
20239-958,222,533.73
202310-1,002,317,287.36
202311-1,054,189,682.34
202312-1,084,885,965.54
20241-1,130,443,272.98
20242-1,167,545,778.21
20243-1,155,763,744.80
20244-1,184,851,000.87
20245-1,248,164,936.57
Click to show 594 more rows

Data Sources

The information on this page is derived from Robert Shiller's book, Irrational Exuberance and the accompanying dataset, as well as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly CPI logs.

Note that S&P index value for the current quarter is based on a moving average of closing prices, per Robert Shiller's methodology. The inflation data used is based on annual CPI averages.


Ian Webster

About the author

Ian Webster is an engineer and data expert based in San Mateo, California. He has worked for Google, NASA, and consulted for governments around the world on data pipelines and data analysis. Disappointed by the lack of clear resources on the impacts of inflation on economic indicators, Ian believes this website serves as a valuable public tool. Ian earned his degree in Computer Science from Dartmouth College.

Email · LinkedIn · Twitter


S&P 500 from 1974 to 2024
Start Value
Average monthly close
$96.11
End Value
Average monthly close
$5,509.01
Change in price+5,631.98%
+8.43% / yr
Change incl. dividends+22,526.24%
+11.35% / yr
Change incl. dividends, inflation-adjusted+3,443.48%
+7.33% / yr
Final amount, nominal
($5000000 base)
$1,131,312,034.49
Final amount, inflation-adjusted
($5000000 base)
$177,174,053.36