Double, treble, 10x: What does it take to multiply your money

Magic of compounding

We all want to grow our money — double it, treble it, maybe even turn Rs 1 lakh into Rs 10 lakh someday. But how much returns should you aim for to meet these goals? The answer depends on one thing — time.

Let’s say you want to double your money. If you're in a hurry and want to do it in two years, you'll need a massive 41 percent return a year, which is not just unrealistic but also comes with high risk. But if you're patient and give your investment 10 years, you only need an annual return of 7.2 percent to get there. Wait 20 years, it drops to just 3.5 percent.

The big takeaway? The longer you stay invested, lower the return you will need each year. That’s the magic of compounding. Your money grows on its own money. And the more years you give it, the more powerful the growth gets.

The right approach is to choose the right product and stay invested for a longer duration.

Let’s say you're aiming higher and want to grow your money five times. You’ll need an annual return of 71 percent if you're giving yourself three years. That’s nearly impossible without massive risk. But spread it over 10 years and the return needed drops to 17.5 percent. If you can hold for 20 years, just 8.4 percent annually can get you there.

Annual return required to multiply your wealth

10x and beyond

Want to turn Rs 1 lakh into Rs 10 lakh? If you’re not in a rush and can invest for 20 years, a return of 12.2 percent annually is enough to make the dream a reality. It can be done through equity mutual funds or stock market investments if you stay disciplined and invest for the long term.

Even if you want to 20x your money — for instance turn Rs 1 lakh into Rs 20 lakh — it’s not impossible. Over 20 years, you only need 16.2 percent a year. That’s ambitious but still more realistic.

Start early, stay steady

Time matters more than chasing high returns. You don’t have to beat the market every year or find the next hot stock. Just start early, be consistent, and stay invested. Even a basic 10 percent annual return over 15–20 years can turn your small investments into serious wealth.

So instead of stressing over how to double your money quickly, focus on the time you will stay invested because when it comes to building wealth, time is your real flex.