Answer: It would take 2,733 years...

[Playinghardball]

[HereSince1628]

1. Or less than 2 if you move extraordinarily undervalued stock into it

That suddenly and unexpectedly increase in value 1000 fold.

[PowerToThePeople]

2. this. n/t

[dems_rightnow]

3. Except IRA contributions must be made in cash

Which ruins any undervalued stock theory. You can't make IRA contributions of stock.

[renie408]

5. Apparently that is not so.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/24/us-usa-campaign-romney-ira-idUSTRE80N04E20120124

It looks like you can make IRA contributions of 'investment partnerships' and YOU get to set the value. So, if Mitt severely underestimated the value of his investment partnerships, then as the income came in it was significantly higher, THAT'S how he gets an $82,000,000 IRA account.

[tclambert]

9. Many stockbrokers offer IRAs, in which you can choose what to invest in.

You make cash contributions, then buy stock. My IRA is invested in 8 different stocks right now. Not worth $82M, though. Guess I'll have to keep working a while longer.

[jeff47]

15. It's really not that hard

1) Put cash in IRA
2) Sell stock for pennies on the dollar...the purchaser just so happens to be your IRA.

[dickthegrouch]

4. Exactly which stocks have increased 1000 fold in the last 10 years?

I want to short them heavily

[tclambert]

13. Good point. Not even Google did that.

Apple went up by a factor of 96. That's the best I could find.

[PowerToThePeople]

16. think dividend

i am sure most of his holding is bain.

[porphyrian]

6. . n/t

[lob1]

7. Obviously, Mitt's a lot older than he looks.

[maindawg]

10. thats what I was thinkin

dude is 2733 years old.

[oldbanjo]

8. The IRS needs to set an example with him and put him in jail.

[patrice]

11. K&R

[blur256]

12. The sad thing is

nobody makes him, or anyone else pay for this. The stock market is a man made institution, and they control it. It's not gambling for those in the know.

[On the Road]

14. The Only Solution