Peak, bottom, and how long it took to get back to break-even, plus what $10,000 would have been worth at each bottom.
Data as of September 10, 2026
Worst fall on record
October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009, falling for 1 year 5 months
Every fall of 10% or more that Total US market (VTI) has had since June 15, 2001.
Back at that peak on March 13, 2012
What $10,000 was worth at the bottom
As of September 9, 2026
In an ordinary year it moves about ±19.1% around its own trend.
Total return with dividends reinvested. Monthly lows; the line touches 0 % only at a new high.
| Year | Worst reading | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | -21.8% | September 21, 2001 |
| 2002 | -34.7% | October 9, 2002 |
| 2003 | -31.9% | March 11, 2003 |
| 2004 | -8.5% | August 12, 2004 |
| 2005 | -7.0% | April 20, 2005 |
| 2006 | -8.5% | June 13, 2006 |
| 2007 | -10.1% | November 26, 2007 |
| 2008 | -51.2% | November 20, 2008 |
| 2009 | -55.5% | March 9, 2009 |
| 2010 | -29.0% | July 2, 2010 |
| 2011 | -22.0% | October 3, 2011 |
| 2012 | -10.1% | June 4, 2012 |
| 2013 | -5.7% | June 24, 2013 |
| 2014 | -7.6% | October 15, 2014 |
| 2015 | -12.1% | August 25, 2015 |
| 2016 | -15.1% | February 11, 2016 |
| 2017 | -2.7% | April 13, 2017 |
| 2018 | -20.1% | December 24, 2018 |
| 2019 | -16.7% | January 3, 2019 |
| 2020 | -35.0% | March 23, 2020 |
| 2021 | -5.2% | December 1, 2021 |
| 2022 | -25.4% | October 12, 2022 |
| 2023 | -20.6% | January 5, 2023 |
| 2024 | -8.6% | August 5, 2024 |
| 2025 | -19.3% | April 8, 2025 |
| 2026 | -8.9% | March 30, 2026 |
| Peak | Bottom | Fall | Peak to bottom | Peak to recovery | Your amount at the bottom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PeakOctober 9, 2007 | BottomMarch 9, 2009 | Fall-55.5% | Peak to bottom1 year 5 months | Peak to recovery4 years 5 months | Your amount at the bottom$4,455 |
| PeakFebruary 19, 2020 | BottomMarch 23, 2020 | Fall-35.0% | Peak to bottom1 month | Peak to recovery6 months | Your amount at the bottom$6,500 |
| PeakJuly 2, 2001 | BottomOctober 9, 2002 | Fall-34.7% | Peak to bottom1 year 3 months | Peak to recovery2 years 6 months | Your amount at the bottom$6,534 |
| PeakJanuary 3, 2022 | BottomOctober 12, 2022 | Fall-25.4% | Peak to bottom9 months | Peak to recovery1 year 11 months | Your amount at the bottom$7,464 |
| PeakSeptember 20, 2018 | BottomDecember 24, 2018 | Fall-20.0% | Peak to bottom3 months | Peak to recovery7 months | Your amount at the bottom$7,995 |
| PeakFebruary 19, 2025 | BottomApril 8, 2025 | Fall-19.3% | Peak to bottom2 months | Peak to recovery4 months | Your amount at the bottom$8,070 |
| PeakJune 23, 2015 | BottomFebruary 11, 2016 | Fall-15.1% | Peak to bottom8 months | Peak to recovery1 year | Your amount at the bottom$8,487 |
| PeakApril 2, 2012 | BottomJune 4, 2012 | Fall-10.1% | Peak to bottom2 months | Peak to recovery5 months | Your amount at the bottom$8,994 |
Depth is measured from the previous all-time high, and “peak to recovery” runs from that high back to it — not from the bottom, which gives a much shorter number.
The worst fall was -55.5%, from October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009 — $10,000 invested at that peak was worth $4,455 at the bottom. It took 4 years 5 months from that peak to close back at it, on March 13, 2012. Today it sits 2.3% below its all-time high.
Computed from daily closing prices with dividends reinvested, snapshotted September 10, 2026.
The tool opens with Total US market (VTI) already loaded. Change the symbol or the amount and it recomputes from the same data.
This page shows what actually happened to a real price series — nothing more. An asset that recovered every time so far carries no promise that it will again, and the next fall will not be the last one. Prices exclude trading costs, spreads, currency conversion and taxes, all of which make a real-world fall worse than the one drawn here. Nothing on this page is investment advice; do your own research or speak to a regulated adviser before investing.
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