In the final analysis the only thing that matters is total returns in constant dollars, for whatever period you are invested, relative to risk taken. The total returns of the S&P underwent a change from the 1970's on with the advent of fiat currency. If you omit dividends, and look at total returns in constant dollars, using the S&P as a benchmark, at best you can hope to get returns a little better than bonds, assuming bond returns are also expressed in constant dollars, AND you are taking on much more risk than had you invested in bonds only. At worst you lose money. That is why I always recommend to long term unsophisticated investors in 401K type plans that they take a modified index approach and only invest in dividend paying stocks, selected from only the best of those (meaning highest dividends with longest history of paying dividends and increasing those dividends) and then reinvest all dividends so that the returns can be compounded. If taxes rise on dividends this could have a very negative impact on total returns in constant dollars. Long term investing in stocks is not the sure path to wealth that Wall Street would have you believe. Inflation and taxes are taking an ever increasing bite, while risk has not decreased one iota..
Yes there will always be anecdotal stories, but these cases are the exceptions, and for the typical investor (not a Carnegie, Rockefeller, or Vanderbilt) highly unlikely.