The S 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) tracks the performance of 500 large-cap American businesses. Its constituents span all 11 market sectors and the index covers about 80% of the total market capitalization of the U.S. stock market.

That scope and diversity make the S 500 an excellent benchmark for the broader U.S. economy, which itself is the largest and (arguably) the most innovative economy on the planet. Indeed, 15 of the 20 largest companies in the world were created in the U.S., and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has called America the "most prosperous economy the world has ever seen."

The S 500 has been a consistent moneymaker since its inception in 1957. The index has never failed to produce a profit over any rolling 20-year period, and it returned 1,680% over the last three decades, which is equivalent to 10.06% per year. That means $150 invested weekly since 1993 would be worth $1.3 million today. And that sum would grow into $3.5 million by 2033, assuming the pace of investment and rate of return remain constant.

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Source Fool.com