If you were asked to name the single best investment of the past few years, you might think of stocks, gold, maybe crypto.
But the best-performing “investment” wasn’t any of those.
Instead, it was a golfer: Scottie Scheffler.
Since the start of 2022, Scheffler has dominated the sport. He’s won 10 PGA Tour events, picked up two Masters green jackets, and earned more than $66 million in prize money.
If Scheffler were a stock, he’d look like Amazon in the early 2000s — a chart that just keeps climbing higher. In fact, Golf Digest reports that betting on Scheffler in recent tournaments has delivered better returns than the S&P 500, gold, even Bitcoin.
So, should you get out of stocks and put all your money on Scottie?
Startups vs. the Stock Market
It’s fun to think about “investing” in a golfer the same way you’d invest in the market.
According to Bill Speros of Bookies.com, Scheffler has provided a 65.9% ROI since 2022 — better than the S&P 500 (35.44%), the Nasdaq (31.83%) or even gold (56.43%). But to state the obvious, golf wagers aren’t a serious wealth-building strategy.
That being said, looking at Scheffler’s performance in financial terms is eye-opening. It’s a reminder that we should be looking for opportunities that most investors overlook.
Most folks invest mainly in stocks, bonds, and ETFs. If they’re adventurous, maybe they’ll add some bitcoin. But a different investment has quietly delivered far greater results: private startups.
According to Cambridge Associates, a financial advisor with clients including the Rockefeller Family and the Bill Gates Foundation, startup investments have produced average annual returns of 58% over the last twenty-five years.
To put that in perspective, the stock market has historically delivered about 7% to 10% annually. Which means startups have outperformed the market by six, seven, even eight times.
How is that possible?
The Advantages of Startups
Startups have several advantages that can make them uniquely profitable investments.
For example:
- Explosive Growth Potential — Unlike mature companies, startups can grow 10x, 100x, 1,000x in just a few years.
- First-Mover Advantage — They’re often creating entirely new markets, from ride-sharing to artificial intelligence.
- Uneven Playing Field — Because these companies aren’t listed on public exchanges, the few investors who do get in early have a chance at massive upside.
It’s the difference between getting into Uber when it’s just a few people in a makeshift office, valued at $5 million, … versus waiting until it IPOs with a $70 billion market cap.
The Bottom Line
Scottie Scheffler may be the best “investment” in sports right now. His dominance has been historic, and watching him play is like watching a money tree blossom.
But if you’re serious about long-term wealth creation, startups may be the smarter place to place your bets.
After all, Scheffler might cool off. But the startup market will keep producing new champions — companies like Uber, Airbnb, and SpaceX that can deliver explosive growth.
So in upcoming issues, not only will I show you exactly how to find these opportunities, but I’ll also show you how to build a portfolio of them, so you can maximize your profits while minimizing your risk.
Happy Investing
Best Regards,
Founder
Crowdability.com
