How long does it take to double your money? (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to double your money? ›

It's an easy way to calculate just how long it's going to take for your money to double. Just take the number 72 and divide it by the interest rate you hope to earn. That number gives you the approximate number of years it will take for your investment to double.

How the Rule of 72 Works. For example, the Rule of 72 states that $1 invested at an annual fixed interest rate of 10% would take 7.2 years ((72/10) = 7.2) to grow to $2. In reality, a 10% investment will take 7.3 years to double (1.10^7.3 = 2).

The Rule of 72 is a calculation that estimates the number of years it takes to double your money at a specified rate of return. If, for example, your account earns 4 percent, divide 72 by 4 to get the number of years it will take for your money to double. In this case, 18 years.

One of those tools is known as the Rule 72. For example, let's say you have saved $50,000 and your 401(k) holdings historically has a rate of return of 8%. 72 divided by 8 equals 9 years until your investment is estimated to double to $100,000.

If you pursue a medium-term objective and want your money to be doubled in 5 years, you must seek out investments that offer annualized returns of at least 14.5% (72/5= 14.4). The returns must be higher after adjusting for inflation. Mutual funds are good investment options that can help you generate such returns.

Going from 1 million to 2 million in a decade is easy. Even if you don't add anymore money, that is an 8% per year compounded return. If you add money, it might be a 4%-5% per year return, or even less, if you are earning well. How would you turn 10 million into 100 million dollars?

How the Rule Works. To use the Rule of 72, divide the number 72 by an investment's expected annual return. The result is the number of years it will take, roughly, to double your money.

If your employer offers a 401(k) with matching contributions, it's entirely possible to double your $1,000 investment. How much money your company matches will vary, but many offer to match half or even all of your contributions. If they offer 100% matching, you can double your money in no time.

To turn $5,000 into more money, explore various investment avenues like the stock market, real estate or a high-yield savings account for lower-risk growth. Investing in a small business or startup could also provide significant returns if the business is successful.

What will 50k be worth in 20 years? ›

Assuming an annual return rate of 7%, investing $50,000 for 20 years can lead to a substantial increase in wealth. If you invest the money in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other securities, you could potentially earn a return of $159,411.11 after 20 years.

“By the time you hit 33 years old, you should have $100,000 saved somewhere,” he said, urging viewers that they can accomplish this goal. “Save 20 percent of your paycheck and let the market grow at 5% to 7% per year,” O'Leary said in the video.

As a very basic example, if you had $5,000 in your 401(k) today, and it grew at an average rate of 5% per year, it would be worth $10,441 in 20 years—more than double. If you withdraw those funds early, however, you're not only facing a stiff tax penalty, you're losing all of that additional growth.

Turning $5,000 into $10,000 usually involves some level of risk. One option could be investing in stocks, but keep in mind that the stock market can be unpredictable. Another approach could be exploring different investment opportunities, like real estate or starting a small business.

nm97 wrote: A sum of money doubles itself in 7 years. In how many years it becomes four fold? If the initial amount of money is x dollars, then 7 years later, it will be 2x dollars, and in another 7 years, it will be 4x dollars. Thus, it takes 14 years to quadruple the initial amount money.

If you earn 7%, your money will double in a little over 10 years. You can also use the Rule of 72 to plug in interest rates from credit card debt, a car loan, home mortgage, or student loan to figure out how many years it'll take your money to double for someone else.

Similarly, if you want to double your money in five years, your investments will need to grow at around 14.4% per year (72/5). If your goal is to double your invested sum in 10 years, you should invest in a manner to earn around 7% every year. Rule of 72 provides an approximate idea and assumes one time investment.

In short, the average stock market return since the S&P 500's inception in 1926 through 2018 is approximately 10-11%. When adjusted for inflation, it's closer to about 7%. [Since we're talking citations in this post: Investopedia.]