How much did Hillary Clinton invest in commodities in 1978?

The White House said today that in 1978 Hillary Rodham Clinton invested $1,000 in commodities futures and that the investment grew in 10 months of trading in the notoriously volatile market into a gain of nearly $100,000.

What was the impact of the Clinton-Clinton trade?

In 1994, after Clinton had become First Lady of the United States, the trading became the subject of considerable controversy regarding the likelihood of such a spectacular rate of return, possible conflict of interest, and allegations of disguised bribery.

What are futures and how do they work?

Futures contracts lock in the current price of a commodity or stock and define the current fixed cost of the underlying asset and its expiry date. These contracts obligate the buyer to buy and the seller to sell, even if the price goes against the trade. As futures are leveraged, trades can become very profitable or incur a significant loss.

What was the most successful investment the Clintons ever made?

The commodities trades were the most successful investment the Clintons ever made. The nearly $100,000 profit enabled them to buy a house, invest in securities and real estate and provide a nest egg for their daughter, Chelsea.