What is the Best Investment of All Time? 10 Stocks That Will Blow Your Mind

Have you ever thought about what would happen if you invested $10000 in the right stock 30 years ago? Well, grab your coffee and sit tight because I’m about to share something that might make you spit it out! We’re talking about turning that modest investment into $44.4 million. Yes, you read that correctly.

As someone who’s spent years researching investment opportunities, I’ve discovered that identifying truly exceptional investments isn’t just about looking at what’s hot right now. It’s about understanding which companies have the staying power and growth potential to deliver astronomical returns over decades.

The Top 10 Best-Performing Stocks of the Last 30 Years

Let me break down the absolute champions of long-term investing. According to data compiled by Creative Planning Chief Market Strategist Charlie Bilello, these 10 stocks have been nothing short of miraculous for patient investors:

*June 1995-May 2025
**IPO more recent than 30 years ago. Returns are since IPO.

These numbers are absolutely mind-blowing, Let’s dive deeper into what made these stocks the greatest investments of our generation

Monster Beverage Corp. (MNST): The Unbelievable Champion

If someone told you in 1995 that an energy drink company would become the best-performing S&P 500 stock over the next 30 years you’d probably laugh. But Monster Beverage has been the ultimate sleeper hit generating a total return of 444,868%!

What made Monster so successful? In 2015, they struck a game-changing deal with Coca-Cola, which took a 16.7% stake in Monster and became their primary global distributor. This partnership supercharged their distribution capabilities, helping them reach consumers worldwide.

Since its IPO, Monster shares have generated an average annual return of 32.6%. To put that in perspective, $10,000 invested in MNST stock in 1995 would now be worth more than $44.4 million. That’s enough to buy a luxury mansion, several exotic cars, and still have plenty left over for retirement!

Nvidia Corp. (NVDA): The Silicon Gold Mine

Nvidia went public in January 1999, and has since delivered a staggering 372,227% return. That’s an average annual return of 36.6% – the best of any S&P 500 stock over the past three decades.

What started as a company focused on graphics processors for gaming has evolved into a powerhouse driving artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and autonomous vehicles. Nvidia’s chips are the backbone of many cutting-edge technologies we use today.

If you had invested $10,000 in NVDA stock back in 1999, you’d be sitting on about $37.2 million today. That’s enough to retire several times over!

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN): From Books to Everything

Amazon’s journey from a small online bookstore to a $2.4 trillion market giant is legendary. Since its IPO in May 1997, Amazon has generated a total return of 273,347%.

Under Jeff Bezos’ leadership, Amazon has continuously expanded its business model, moving from books to becoming the “everything store,” and then adding cloud services (AWS), entertainment, grocery stores, and more. Their willingness to reinvent and expand has been key to their success.

A $10,000 investment in AMZN stock in 1997 would now be worth $27.3 million. That’s enough to fund a very comfortable lifestyle for generations!

Axon Enterprise Inc. (AXON): From Tasers to Tech

Formerly known as Taser International, Axon Enterprise provides law enforcement and military hardware and technology. Since going public in June 2001, the stock has generated a total return of 140,693%, representing an annual return of 35.3%.

Axon’s expansion from just selling Tasers to offering body-worn cameras, drone technology, and cloud-based software services for evidence management shows how successful pivots can create enormous value.

A $10,000 investment in Axon back in 2001 would now be worth $14 million. Not bad for a company many people haven’t even heard of!

Netflix Inc. (NFLX): The Streaming Revolution

Netflix has completely transformed how we consume entertainment. Since its IPO in May 2002, the company has generated a total return of 112,151%, or about 35.6% annually.

When Netflix went public, they were sending DVDs through the mail. Today, they have more than 300 million subscribers worldwide and are one of the largest media companies on the planet. Their willingness to cannibalize their own business model (moving from DVDs to streaming) and invest heavily in original content has driven their phenomenal growth.

A $10,000 investment in NFLX stock just 23 years ago would now be worth $11.2 million. That’s a lot of popcorn for movie nights!

Texas Pacific Land Corp. (TPL): Land as the Ultimate Asset

Sometimes the best investments are hiding in plain sight. Texas Pacific Land is one of the largest private landowners in Texas, with assets concentrated in the oil-rich Permian Basin. Its roots date back to the bankruptcy of railroad company T&P in 1888.

The company generates revenue from oil and gas activities, renewable energy, and grazing and hunting leases. Over 30 years, TPL has delivered a total return of 106,030%. A $10,000 investment in TPL stock in 1995 would now be worth $10.6 million.

This shows how sometimes, owning the right real estate in the right location can be just as lucrative as investing in cutting-edge technology.

NVR Inc. (NVR): Building Wealth Through Housing

NVR is one of the largest U.S. homebuilders, constructing and selling homes under the Ryan Homes, NVHomes, and Heartland Homes brands. Since going public in November 1993, NVR has generated a 98,151% return over the past 30 years.

That represents an average annual return of 25.8%, and a $10,000 investment in NVR stock 30 years ago would now be worth $9.8 million.

The housing market has had its ups and downs, but NVR’s disciplined approach to land acquisition and construction has allowed it to thrive through various market cycles.

Apple Inc. (AAPL): Innovation Pays Off

No list of great investments would be complete without Apple. Since going public in December 1980, Apple has been one of the most innovative technology companies of all time.

Under Steve Jobs’ leadership, and later with Tim Cook at the helm, Apple revolutionized personal computing, music, smartphones, and wearable technology. Their transition from focusing on hardware sales to services revenue in the past decade demonstrates their adaptability.

In the past 30 years, Apple has generated a total return of 64,587%, or about 24.1% annually. A $10,000 investment in AAPL stock back in 1995 would now be worth $6.4 million.

Ross Stores Inc. (ROST): Brick-and-Mortar Success

In an era where Amazon has destroyed many traditional retailers, Ross Stores stands out as a surprising success story. Over the past 30 years, Ross has generated a total return of 55,345%.

Their off-price business model, offering brand-name clothes at discount prices, has proven resilient against e-commerce disruption. In fact, Ross’s 68% total return in the past three years has actually outpaced the S&P 500.

A $10,000 investment in ROST stock in 1995 would now be worth $5.5 million. This shows that with the right business model, even traditional retail can be a winning investment.

Pool Corp. (POOL): Diving Into Profits

Rounding out our list is Pool Corp., the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies and equipment. Since going public in 1995, POOL has generated a total return of 45,990%, or an average annual gain of 23%.

While the company has struggled in the past three years with a loss of 9.6%, its long-term performance remains impressive. A $10,000 investment in POOL stock in 1995 would now be worth $4.6 million.

What Can We Learn From These Investment Champions?

Looking at these incredible success stories, several patterns emerge:

• Innovation is key: Companies like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Nvidia continuously reinvented themselves and their industries.
• Patience pays off: None of these stocks made investors rich overnight. The truly life-changing returns came to those who held for decades.
• Disruption creates wealth: Many of these companies fundamentally changed how their industries operate.
• Unexpected winners emerge: Who would have predicted an energy drink company would outperform tech giants?
• Market leaders dominate: Most of these companies became the dominant players in their respective markets.

What Could Be the Best Investment for the Next 30 Years?

While I can’t predict the future with certainty, I believe the next generation of market-beating investments will likely come from companies addressing major global challenges:

• Renewable energy and climate tech
• Healthcare innovations and longevity science
• Artificial intelligence and quantum computing
• Space technology and exploration
• Synthetic biology and food technology

The key is finding companies with visionary leadership, strong competitive advantages, and the ability to adapt as markets evolve.

Final Thoughts

The best investment of all time isn’t a single stock but rather the commitment to finding exceptional companies and holding them through thick and thin. While we can’t go back in time and buy Monster Beverage in 1995, we can learn from these success stories and apply those lessons to our investment decisions today.

Remember, investing is a marathon, not a sprint. The truly life-changing returns come to those who identify great businesses early and have the patience and conviction to hold them for decades.

What do you think might be the Monster Beverage or Amazon of the next 30 years? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Turning $10k into $100k “fast” is very difficult and often requires high risk; there is no guaranteed method. Options include high-risk investments like cryptocurrency, or a combination of a higher-risk, high-reward approach with a lower-risk strategy.