Have you ever wondered how much money you would have made on a stock that has had incredible success? Below are ten stocks that represent some of the highest returns on initial investment ever. Take a look and see how much you could have made.

In Your Dreams...

1. Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN)

Who: Franklin Resources Inc. is a global investment management organization with offices in 29 countries around the world. They offer investment solutions for individuals, institutions, pensions, trusts, plans, partnerships and more.

Why: Franklin Resources credits its long term success to proven investment strategies. "The key guiding principle to our investment philosophy is - maximize the risk- adjusted returns for our investors in the respective asset classes, and create wealth for them over the long-term." - Franklin Resources Inc.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1984 would have resulted in a return of roughly $64,000 if sold at its peak in 2007.

2. Danaher Corp. (DHR)

Who: Danaher Corp. designs, manufactures, and markets consumer, professional, medical, and industrial tools. Although you probably have never heard of this company, you have most certainly seen or used one of their products. They are probably best known for manufacturing the Craftsman line of tools.

Why: Success has come from smart acquisitions in specialty niche businesses and by applying outstanding management principles over the long term. This conglomerate actually outperformed Warren Buffett's firm over the past 20 years.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1988 would have resulted in a return of roughly $48,000 if sold at its peak in 2007.

3. United Health Group (UNH)

Who: United Health Group is a managed health care company. They are the parent company of United Health Care, one of the largest health insurers in the United States.

Why: United Health Group has seen growth as health care costs have risen over time. Their growth has been propelled by individuals buying health insurance in an effort to mitigate the risks of these rising health care costs.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1990 would have resulted in a return of roughly $37,000 if sold at its peak in 2005.

4. Cisco Systems (CSCO)

Who: Cisco Systems is a large multinational corporation that designs and sells networking and communications technologies and services. They also own the brands Linksys, Webex, Ironport, and Scientific Atlanta.

Why: Cisco was an is an instrumental player in providing the technologies needed to power today's vast international communications networks. They have enjoyed enormous success as the Internet and global communication has ballooned over the past few decades.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1990 would have resulted in a return of roughly $33,000 if sold at its peak in 2000.

5. International Game Technology (IGT)

Who: International Game Technology is a maker of gaming products and slot machines. They have created many successful innovations in slot machines and other gaming technologies. They are pioneers in video based slot machines and the ticket based slot systems that have supplanted coins in casinos worldwide.
Why: IGT was a major player in bringing gaming technologies into the information age. Their innovations in slot machines and money management at casinos has brought them sustained success.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1990 would have resulted in a return of roughly $33,000 if sold at its peak in 2006.

6. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)

Who: As I'm sure you guessed, Microsoft is on the list. They are the worlds leader in providing operating systems and computer software to more than 90% of computers worldwide, Microsoft was and will continue to be a powerhouse.

Why: Microsoft was instrumental in creating and expanding home computing. Their operating systems and software offerings are ubiquitous around the world and continue to be dominant year after year.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1984 would have resulted in a return of roughly $29,000 if sold at its peak in 1999.

7. Best Buy (BBY)

Who: Best Buy is one of the largest retailers of consumer electronics in both the United States and Canada. They operate more than 1,150 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, China, Mexico and Turkey.

Why: Beginning as an audio specialty store in the mid 1960's, Best Buy has been adept at changing or modifying its offerings as technologies have improved giving them continued success as other electronics retailers have floudered.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1985 would have resulted in a return of roughly $28,000 if sold at its peak in 2006.

8. Stryker (SYK)

Who: Stryker is one of the largest medical device companies in the world. Since its inception in the 1940's it has pursued a mission of creating medical products that facilitate a better quality of life for patients.

Why: Stryker has consistently made significant innovations and advancements in the medical products they manufacture. These products have made vast improvements in the quality of life of millions of patients.The increasingly older population has spurred a growing demand for better and more sophisticated medical devices and have made Stryker a very profitable company.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1988 would have resulted in a return of roughly $25,000 if sold at its peak in 2007.

9. The Home Depot Inc. (HD)

Who: As the nations largest home improvement retailer, Home Depot was founded in 1978 and has grown since then to more than 2,000 stores.
Why: Home Depot set itself apart by building larger home improvement warehouses than any of the competition. By offering a broad selection of products during a time of increasingly robust housing market, they saw great success. It remains to be seen how they will fair through an extended downturn in the housing and home improvement markets.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1984 would have resulted in a return of roughly $24,000 if sold at its peak in 2000.

10. Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE)

Who: A computer software company founded in the early 80's, Adobe Systems Inc. produces software for a wide variety of needs, including web development, digital photo and video editing, and desktop publishing.
Why: Adobe has enjoyed success by creating innovative software that offers solutions that cannot be found elsewhere. They have also made wise decisions in their acquisitions by absorbing direct competitors like Macromedia.

How Much: An initial investment of $100 dollars in 1986 would have resulted in a return of roughly $20,000 if sold at its peak in 2007.