All the gold mined in the California gold rush
Between 1848 and 1855, an estimated 750 tons of gold were extracted in California — worth over $75 billion in today’s prices ($3,115.05/oz).
If you were to squish it all into a single rectangular chunk, it would come out to 2.8 meters tall × 2.5 meters wide × 2.5 meters long as visualized.
The Data:
This figure is based on historical estimates from sources including American Bullion Inc. and corroborated by U.S. Geological Survey archives. At the time, the gold was valued at ~$16 an ounce (around $423M in 1850s currency), but at modern market prices (averaging ~$2,000/oz in recent years), the total haul would exceed $75 billion USD (inflation adjusted).
Note here that purity differed between different mines and that the visual depicts the size of the chunk based on a 19,320 kg/m density (pure gold).
Related Facts:
⛏️ The gold rush began when James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California, in January 1848.
👥 It triggered one of the largest mass migrations in U.S. history — by 1855, over 300,000 people had arrived in California seeking fortune.
🌍 Prospectors came from Latin America, Europe, Australia, and China, permanently reshaping California’s demographics.
🛠️ While a few struck it rich, most miners earned modest or no returns, while suppliers and merchants often profited the most.
🏛️ The gold rush accelerated California's admission to the Union in 1850 and was a catalyst for U.S. westward expansion.