‘I could pay my bills off the gold’: Local residents keep finding remaining gold from the California Gold Rush

Core Insights - Ray Dalio emphasizes the importance of gold as a diversifier in investment portfolios, especially during economic downturns [1][5][6] - Gold has seen a significant price increase of over 70% in the past year, attracting renewed interest from local prospectors [2][4] - Experts suggest that a 25% allocation to gold in investment portfolios is reasonable, viewing it as an insurance policy against dollar weakness [7] Gold as an Investment - Gold is regarded as a safe haven asset, not subject to unlimited printing by central banks, making it a hedge against inflation [5] - JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon predicts that gold prices could rise to $10,000 per ounce, with the current spot price around $4,484 [8] - Gold IRAs offer investors the opportunity to hold physical gold within a retirement account, combining tax advantages with the protective benefits of gold [9] Market Trends - The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis reports that the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar has significantly declined, with $100 in 2025 equating to $12.05 in 1970 [11] - Real estate has also been highlighted as a strong asset for wealth preservation, with housing prices increasing by over 225% in the last 30 years [12] - The current economic environment has made homeownership more challenging, prompting individuals to seek alternative income streams, such as gold prospecting [13]