If you held $10,000 in cash vs gold since 2000, here's what happened.

Sources: gold spot price (XAU/USD), US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI, S&P 500 total return index. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

What this shows: Cash doesn't disappear — but inflation silently erodes what it can buy. Gold, despite sharp swings, has preserved and grown purchasing power over the long run. This is why central banks hold gold, and why retail investors worldwide are adding it to their portfolios.

Should you personally invest in gold?

The chart above shows the macro case. But how much of your portfolio should be in gold? That depends on your age, risk tolerance, and investment goals.