Growth of $10,000: Yale Endowment Portfolio (David Swensen)
A $10,000 investment in the Yale Endowment Portfolio (David Swensen) at the start of 2007 would have grown to $35,048 by 2026 — about 3.5× the original stake over 19 years, based on historical data.
19-Year Growth of $10,000
What the numbers mean
Over this 19-year window the Yale Endowment Portfolio (David Swensen) compounded at roughly 6.79%per year. That growth was not a straight line: the strategy's worst peak-to-trough decline reached -42.2%, a reminder that even the steadiest allocations go through painful stretches.
Its best single year returned +28.6% (2009), while its worst year fell -31.5% (2008). Adjusted for inflation, the ending $35,048 is worth about $20,692 in 2007 dollars — the real purchasing power your money would have gained after rising prices are stripped out.
These figures assume the strategy's target weights (an institutional-style, equity-heavy portfolio built for investors with truly long time horizons.) rebalanced annual, with no additional contributions or withdrawals. To model your own contributions, withdrawal rate, or a different mix, open this allocation in the portfolio simulator.
Annual Returns
| '07 | '08 | '09 | '10 | '11 | '12 | '13 | '14 | '15 | '16 | '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25 | '26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -5 | -31 | +29 | +21 | +8 | +12 | +6 | +17 | -6 | +13 | +16 | -2 | +16 | +11 | +13 | -11 | +5 | +13 | +15 | +8 |
Hypothetical historical performance based on backtested data. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This site is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Full disclaimer