<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001047112
<NAME> THE MARSICO INVESTMENT FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> 21ST CENTURY FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 122,310
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 136,162
<RECEIVABLES> 73
<ASSETS-OTHER> 11
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 136,246
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 5,708
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 365
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 6,073
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 146,210
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 11,982
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (65)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (29,824)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 13,852
<NET-ASSETS> 130,173
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 233
<INTEREST-INCOME> 281
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,335)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (821)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (29,825)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 13,852
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (16,794)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 17,114
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 5,132
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 130,173
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 756
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,516
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 134,598
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.93
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.86
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.50
</TABLE>
