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It’s been more than 170 years since California’s Gold Rush — but locals are once again finding gold dust, flakes and even nuggets glittering in the state’s rivers.
“Gold’s all around,” said Manny Goza, a prospector sifting through the Bear River, in an interview with FOX40 News. (1) The low water levels during the fall make it easier to reach stretches of the river that are usually inaccessible.
For Goza, a builder by trade, panning for gold has paid off.
“I did it every day. I’ve been here since 2005, bought a house in 2010 because I could pay my bills off the gold,” he said. “When I’m not contracting, I’m here digging gold.”
With gold prices up more than 50% over the past 12 months, the precious metal is drawing renewed attention from locals looking for opportunity in their own backyard.
Goza said an “amateur” prospector can expect to make around $50 a day, while a more serious one might bring in “anywhere from $100 to $15,000.”
Just like the original gold rush nearly two centuries ago, striking it big often comes down to luck. One prospector recalled a moment when a golden nugget “just rolled out — it was completely round like a baseball and it was half gold.”
Still, the work can be grueling. As another prospector put it, gold “doesn’t jump into the pan.”
And payday is never a sure thing.
“It’s emotional, some days you find $15,000, some days you don’t find anything,” Goza said.
Of course, not everyone has the time — or the back muscles — to dig for gold in a riverbed. But you don’t need a pan to get in on the action. Gold has long been prized as a store of value — and in 2025, some of the biggest names in finance are urging investors to make room for it in their portfolios.
Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has been pounding the table on gold’s importance.
“People don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC earlier this year. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
Gold has long been viewed as the ultimate safe haven. Unlike fiat currency, it can’t be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks — making it a natural hedge against inflation. It’s also not tied to any one country, currency or economy. When markets wobble or geopolitical tensions flare, investors often flock to gold, pushing prices higher.
Jeffrey Gundlach, founder of DoubleLine Capital and widely known as the “Bond King,” echoed that sentiment. He recently said that a 25% portfolio allocation to gold “is not excessive,” calling the metal “an insurance policy” that’s likely to remain “in a winning mode” amid ongoing dollar weakness.
Meanwhile, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said that in this environment, gold can “easily” rise to $10,000 an ounce.
For those looking to capitalize on gold’s potential while also securing tax advantages, one option is to open a gold IRA with the help of Goldco.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties. With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.
At the end of the day, gold’s rise is a reflection of the declining value of fiat currency — the U.S. dollar, in this case. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, $100 in 2025 has the same buying power as just $12.05 did in 1970. (2)
But gold isn’t the only asset that has helped investors preserve wealth. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.
When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.
It’s no surprise that Goza, the prospector, eventually bought a house after striking gold.
Over the past five years, the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by 49%, reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply. (3)
Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).
The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.
The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
Another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.
Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.
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@fox40 (1); Federal Rerve Bank of Minneapolis (2); S&P Global (3)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
