Aside from tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, you may not have heard of many of the top 10 publicly traded companies that delivered the highest total returns to investors over 25 years.

Take Decker's Outdoor Corporation, a global footwear, apparel and accessories company. While you may not know Decker's by name, you're probably familiar with its portfolio of brands, which includes UGG, Hoka, and Teva shoes.

The company was founded in 1973 and made its public debut 20 years later in October 1993 under the ticker symbol “DECK” at a price of around $1 per share.

A few years later, on October 22, 1999, the share price had risen slightly to over $3. If you had invested $10,000 in the company at that time, your investment would be worth nearly $9 million as of October 22, according to CNBC calculations.

Nvidia has also seen meteoric growth in the value of its shares over the last quarter century. A $10,000 investment in Nvidia made 25 years ago would be worth just over $32 million today.

DON'T MISS: The ultimate guide to negotiating a higher salary

CNBC calculated how much a $10,000 investment made 25 years ago in the top 10 companies with the highest 25-year total returns would be worth today, based on those companies' closing prices on October 22. Here are the results:

• Total as of October 22nd: $32,003,017

• Total as of October 22nd: $11,125,621

• Total as of October 22nd: $8,962,901

• Total as of October 22nd: $3,893,711

• Total as of October 22nd: $3,701,395

• Total as of October 22nd: $2,884,374

• Total as of October 22nd: $2,188,602

• Total as of October 22nd: $2,067,319

• Total as of October 22nd: $1,467,718

• Total as of October 22nd: $1,378,494

Whether you want to invest $100 or $10,000, most financial experts would advise against putting that money into a single stock of your own choosing.

This is because the stock market is unpredictable. Any number of circumstances, from natural disasters to E. coli outbreaks, can cause unexpected declines in a company's stock price. If your portfolio is not diversified, there is a risk that a downturn in one company or sector will impact the overall performance of your portfolio.

Fortunately, a more practical approach tends to work well for people. Experts generally recommend investing in low-cost index funds: They aim to replicate a market index such as the S&P 500, which reflects the performance of around 500 large listed companies.

With this approach, you spread your money across a variety of stocks, including many of the companies mentioned like Nvidia, FICO, and Monster Beverage.

Do you want to make more money at work? Take CNBC's new online course How to negotiate a higher salary. Experienced instructors will teach you the skills you need to get a bigger paycheck, including preparing and building your confidence, the right approach, and how to formulate a counteroffer. Pre-register now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory 50% discount through November 26, 2024.