Here's How Much a $25,000 Investment in the S&P 500 Might Grow to Be Worth in 30 Years
Key Points
Investing in the S&P 500 can be a no-brainer move for the long haul.
The broad index has historically generated strong returns for investors.
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust makes it easy to track the index, and it has low fees.
- 10 stocks we like better than SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust ›
The stock market isn't doing all that well in 2026 as the S&P 500 is down 4% year to date. Investors are turning to safer investment options amid all the uncertainty in the world today. You might be tempted to do the same.
Historically, however, investing in the broad index has been a good move for investors, and it's paid off handsomely. Regardless of where you think the market will go in the short term, odds are that it'll go up in the long run. That's why, as long as you're a long-term investor who's willing to remain invested for years and even decades, it can still be a great idea to track the S&P 500.
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Here's how much your portfolio might be worth in 30 years, if you were to invest $25,000 in S&P 500 index funds today.
Image source: Getty Images.
Your portfolio could be worth well over $400,000
The S&P 500 has historically averaged an annual return of 10%. If it were to continue at that pace, that means you could expect an investment in a fund tracking the index to double roughly every seven years. And the longer you hold, the larger your investment will likely grow.
The table below shows you what a $25,000 investment in an S&P 500 index fund might grow to be over the long term, assuming the index continues to average a 10% return.
| Year | 10% Growth |
|---|---|
| 5 | $40,263 |
| 10 | $64,844 |
| 15 | $104,431 |
| 20 | $168,187 |
| 25 | $270,868 |
| 30 | $436,235 |
Table and calculations by author.
After a period of 30 years, your investment would be worth over $436,000. While it won't make you a millionaire, it can certainly help you build up a big nest egg for retirement. And best of all, it comes with minimal long-term risk.
Why investing in index funds is a great idea for any investor
The S&P 500 is a collection of the leading stocks in the world. And you can track it easily using exchange-traded funds (ETFs), such as the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY). The fund will give you exposure to the S&P 500, and it has a low expense ratio of just 0.09%. In order to ensure your portfolio balance is as large as it can be, it's critical to keep those fees low.
Investing in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust is an easy way to diversify your portfolio and give you exposure to a wide range of companies through just a single investment. It can be the ultimate no-brainer investment for the long term, as you can be confident that it'll end up rising in value over time.
Should you buy stock in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust right now?
Before you buy stock in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, consider this:
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David Jagielski, CPA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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