Since 1957, the S&P 500 has seen an average annual return of over 10.5%, according to Official Data. Someone who invested $100 at the start would have around $97,000 in August 2025 (a figure that doesn’t account for the erosion of the dollar over time). Trending Now: How To Start Investing With Less Than $1,000 Read Next: 6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives If you’re looking to build wealth over the long term, stocks might be worth the investment. However, there are ...