Gold
15 Greatest Gold Heists of All Time
The 15 Greatest Gold Heists of All Time
Gold is valuable and extremely rare, and therefore the yellow metal is usually protected at all costs. However, there have been multiple occurrences in history where evildoers have breached security measures and bullion has fallen into the wrong hands.
Today we count down the stories of everyday henchmen, terrorist groups, and nation states that have all stolen large swaths of gold loot. This includes notable worldwide events such as the Spaniards’ metal extraction from the New World, famous and recent ISIS raids on banks in the Middle East, and two significant transfers of wealth in WWII that occurred through the use of force.
It’s times like these when we are reminded how important it is to have proper security measures in place for our own personal wealth. For a good primer, JMBullion goes through the basics here on securing precious metals.
Below is also a video version of the infographic detailing the greatest gold heists!
Mining
Gold vs. S&P 500: Which Has Grown More Over Five Years?
The price of gold has set record highs in 2024, but how has this precious metal performed relative to the S&P 500?
Gold vs. S&P 500: Which Has Grown More Over Five Years?
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on Apple or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Gold is considered a unique asset due to its enduring value, historical significance, and application in various technologies like computers, spacecraft, and communications equipment.
Commonly regarded as a “safe haven asset”, gold is something investors typically buy to protect themselves during periods of global uncertainty and economic decline.
It is for this reason that gold has performed rather strongly in recent years, and especially in 2024. Persistent inflation combined with multiple wars has driven up demand for gold, helping it set a new all-time high of over $2,400 per ounce.
To put this into perspective, we visualized the performance of gold alongside the S&P 500. See the table below for performance figures as of April 12, 2024.
| Asset/Index | 1 Yr (%) | 5 Yr (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Gold | +16.35 | +81.65 |
| 💼 S&P 500 | +25.21 | +76.22 |
Over the five-year period, gold has climbed an impressive 81.65%, outpacing even the S&P 500.
Get Your Gold at Costco
Perhaps a sign of how high the demand for gold is becoming, wholesale giant Costco is reportedly selling up to $200 million worth of gold bars every month in the United States. The year prior, sales only amounted to $100 million per quarter.
Consumers aren’t the only ones buying gold, either. Central banks around the world have been accumulating gold in very large quantities, likely as a hedge against inflation.
According to the World Gold Council, these institutions bought 1,136 metric tons in 2022, marking the highest level since 1950. Figures for 2023 came in at 1,037 metric tons.
See More Graphics on Gold
If you’re fascinated by gold, be sure to check out more Visual Capitalist content including 200 Years of Global Gold Production, by Country or Ranked: The Largest Gold Reserves by Country.
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