You could also buy a lot of patent rights at a low price. There would be plenty of companies you could buy shares in at a bargain price, and you’ll definitely know which ones survived.
As an aside. I know a family who made a fortune selling ice at the time. Seems kinda weird to me but there it is.
Buy IBM stock.
Similarly, my grandfather was an accountant who specialized in bankruptcy during the Great Depression. He did quite well and ended up buying a bunch of stock when it was super cheap, in companies like Coca Cola.
He did quite well.
Selling ANTI-depressants!
I’m here all the week.
Do what the Hiltons did. Manage to have a boatload of cash, by chance, when the stock market crashes. Wait till people are truly desperate, then buy up some fine real estate for pennies on the dollar.
Can’t miss!
See the OP – what will it be worth in 1939?
Board games were a big thing in the depression. It was a cheap form of entertainment when such was needed. Monopoly came out in 1935 from Parker Brothers though it was invented long before and not by Darrow as the Parker Brothers’ history tells us. Since Darrow essentially stole it, you should feel no qualms about bringing it to Parker Brothers before he did. Arrange for a low upfront payment and a big percentage deal.