What if you bought Tesla on its IPO day?
This uses real data to show what would have happened if you had invested a lump sum in Tesla (TSLA) on June 29, 2010 — its Nasdaq IPO day — and held until now. As a single stock, be especially mindful of survivorship bias.
⚠️ Know the risk first
Tesla fell severely from its peak several times after listing. The final return only holds under the extreme assumption that you held through every crash without selling.
⚠️ This asset is an individual stock chosen as of today, so past returns can look better than they really were (survivorship bias).
What happened that day
Tesla listed on the Nasdaq on June 29, 2010. At the time it was a loss-making startup producing a small number of Roadsters, and many were skeptical that electric cars could go mainstream.
Why this date
Tesla's daily price data begins on its IPO day, so the 'bought right at listing' assumption can be computed precisely from that day's close.
Investment conditions
Asset · Tesla (TSLA) · lump-sum on IPO day, then held long-term
Method · Lump-sum (all at once)
Period · 2010-06-29 ~ 2026-07-01
Amount · $7,407
As of · 2026-07-01
Key metrics
These results do not reflect taxes. Based on historical data.
Risk & recovery
As important as returns. This service does not hide maximum drawdown or loss periods.
Maximum drawdown (MDD)
-73.6%
Largest drop from peak
Longest loss period
5months
Months in loss: 5
Recovery period
24months
Growth over time
Invested principal (dashed) and portfolio value (solid). Values below match the calculation.
Total invested $7,407 → Final value $1,978,047 (+26603.6%), Maximum drawdown (MDD) -73.6%
Why this period and asset
June 29, 2010 is Tesla's Nasdaq IPO day, which coincides exactly with the start of the data this service uses. At the time, Tesla was a loss-making company producing a small number of Roadsters, and many doubted electric cars would ever go mainstream. Over the following decade, the success of the Model S and Model 3 alternated with extreme volatility, sending the stock soaring and crashing several times.
Interpreting the result
If you bought on IPO day and never sold, the multiple in the metrics below can be startling. But throughout that journey Tesla suffered drawdowns far deeper than any index, several times over. The final number rests on the extreme assumption that you held through every crash without selling. Investing gradually each month instead of all at once would have reduced the risk of putting everything in at a peak — see the 'lump-sum vs monthly' comparison below.
Caveats & limits
This is an especially strong case of survivorship bias. Of the many companies that IPO'd in 2010, only a few survived and grew like Tesla; far more faded or disappeared. A good-looking result here may be the illusion of picking only the winner in hindsight. Figures use adjusted close and exclude exchange rates, fees, and taxes; always review the maximum drawdown and loss periods.
Event fact sources
- Nasdaq — Tesla Motors IPO (2010-06-29)
- Reuters, Tesla IPO coverage (2010-06)
Requested date vs actual trading date
If the event date is a holiday, the fill uses the next trading day's close. The 'effective trading date' below is the date actually used.
Data sources & limits
- Price data source: Yahoo Finance / FinanceDataReader
- Collected on: 2026-07-25
- Effective trading date: 2026-07-01
- Price basis: 复权收盘价(已反映股息与拆股)
- This asset is an individual stock chosen as of today, so past returns can look better than they really were (survivorship bias).
- Trading fees and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax.
- Based on historical data; does not guarantee future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Why use the IPO day as the buy date?
Reliable daily Tesla data begins on its IPO day, June 29, 2010. That lets us compute the 'what if you bought right at listing' assumption precisely from that day, which is why we chose this date.
Why is survivorship bias especially a problem for Tesla?
Very few companies that IPO'd in 2010 succeeded as much as Tesla; most were ordinary or vanished. Looking back while picking only the winner makes single-stock investing look far safer and flashier than it really is.
How far did it fall along the way?
Tesla dropped sharply from its peak several times after listing. Check the maximum drawdown metric below. The final return only appears if you held through all of those crashes without selling.
Are FX and taxes reflected?
No. Exchange rates, trading fees, and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax. This page only shows historical data and recommends no specific stock.
Related scenarios
📋 结果基于历史数据计算,过去的收益不代表未来的收益。
📋 本服务旨在帮助理解投资、供教育之用,并非投资建议。
⚠️ 以当前代表性资产计算,可能与当时的市场构成不同。