The paper describes an approach to the typology of investment, depending on the content, assuming their division into creative and non-creative. The main goal of the research is to identify the place and role of the creative and non-creative investments in the Russian economy. The objectives of the study are as follows: 1) to synthesize modern approaches to the definition of creative and non-creative investments; 2) to carry out the typology of investment by specified groups; 3) to compile statistics to analyze the degree of participation of individual groups of investments in industrial production. The implementation of investment projects is aimed at obtaining profit by investors, and provides economic growth of society, increasing its overall welfare and quality of life of citizens. Non-creative investments focused only on the increase of income of investors, largely contributing to a more optimal allocation of property and assets. The main hypothesis of the study is the need to define clear boundaries for division of investments into creative and non-creative by the nature in the Russian economy. The division of investment into the creative and non-creative allows for better understanding of the reasons for success or failure of the state investment policy, and increase in its effectiveness.