🏀 The $13 Billion Lesson from the Lakers Sale
Why Time in the Market > Everything Else
Last week, news broke that the Los Angeles Lakers were valued at $10 billion in a potential sale.
Wild, right?
But then I saw a stat that made me pause:
If the original $67 million spent to buy the Lakers back in 1979 had just been invested in the S&P 500…
👉 it would be worth over $13 billion today!
Let’s be clear — I know it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison. Owning a pro sports team is about more than ROI.
But still… the math says something loud:
Time in the market can outpace almost anything — even owning the Lakers.
📈 The Power of Compounding (That Most People Underestimate)
We’ve all heard it before: “Invest early, stay invested.”
But this isn’t just theory. It’s reality.
From 1979 to 2024, the S&P 500 returned an average of ~11% annually.
That kind of compounding, over 45 years, turns millions into billions.
The key?
Not perfect timing.
Not meme stocks.
Not hot tips.
Just staying in the game long enough for the math to work.
🤔 So What Does That Mean for You?
You don’t need to own a franchise.
You don’t need $67 million!
But if you:
Invest consistently
Stay in during the good and bad years
Focus on long-term wealth, not short-term hype
…you’re already using the same force that turned a $67M investment into a $13B one: compound growth.
🧠 My Takeaway (And Why I Trade the Way I Do)
I’m a big believer in monthly income through options — that’s why I run the Wheel Strategy.
But my trades don’t replace investing — they support it.
I use the income I generate to:
Fund my retirement accounts
Reinvest into long-term holdings (like VOO, AAPL, etc.)
Build freedom, not just profits
Because at the end of the day, trading is a tool.
But time in the market is the engine.
🏁 Final Thought
Not everyone gets to buy a basketball team.
But everyone has access to the stock market.
The earlier you start, the longer you stay in, the better the outcome.
And if you’re already in the game — keep going. The market rewards patience more than anything.
Until next time,
– HL Financial Strategies