Gold vs Stocks: A 10-Year Reality Check

Imagine you threw $1,000 into gold a decade ago. Fast forward to today: that stack would be worth around $2,360. Sounds pretty solid, right?

Here's the thing though. Gold climbed 136% over those 10 years (averaging 13.6% annually). Meanwhile, the S&P 500? It crushed it with a 174% jump (17.41% per year), not even counting dividends.

Why the gap? Simple: gold doesn't *do* anything. It doesn't generate cash flow or revenue like stocks or real estate. It just sits there looking shiny.

But that's kinda the point. Gold's real job is playing defense. When geopolitical chaos hits or inflation spirals (like 2023, when gold popped 13.08%), money floods into it. It's the ultimate portfolio insurance—when everything else tanks, gold typically holds ground or rises.

The kicker? Gold's track record is wildly uneven. The 1970s saw insane 40%+ annual returns. Then 1980-2023? Just 4.4% per year. You win some, lose some.

Bottom line: Don't expect gold to match stock returns. But in a financial apocalypse scenario? That's when gold's boring, non-correlated nature becomes your secret weapon.