Earlier, I wrote an article about passive income ideas. After reading it, one of my colleagues came to me and said something that stuck in my mind. He said, “Honestly, salary alone is just not enough these days.” We started talking more about it. He asked me a simple question, “Are people really earning from this? Who are the top entrepreneurs doing it?”
That question gave me an idea. Why not write an article that shows real stories of real people? People who are not just talking about passive income, but actually making money from it. This article is a result of that conversation. These are the stories of 10 entrepreneurs who are making passive income. Their methods are simple and practical. Some of these may even inspire you to start your own journey.
Here are the Top 10 Entrepreneurs Who Are Making Passive Income
1. Pat Flynn: Guides and Affiliate Products
Pat Flynn was laid off from his architecture job in 2008. While job hunting, he realized that his blog for architecture exam prep was getting good traffic. He turned it into an online business by selling study guides and offering affiliate products. Later, he started Smart Passive Income, a blog and podcast where he teaches people how to earn money online. Today, he earns from affiliate marketing, online courses, books, and podcast sponsorships, all bringing in passive income even while he sleeps.
2. Toccara Karizma: Courses, Speaking, and Investments
Toccara Karizma is the CEO of Karizma Marketing. Being one of the top entrepreneurs who are making passive income, She earns money from many sources. She creates online courses on topics like email marketing and Facebook ads. People can buy these courses from her website anytime.
She also earns money as a speaker. She gives talks in offices and colleges. These talks help people learn. They also bring new business. Her words stay in people’s minds, so her talks keep bringing value.
She also puts money in real estate and stocks. She owns rental homes. Property managers take care of them. These homes give her rent every month. She also buys shares in companies that pay her money each year. These are called dividend stocks. All these sources give her a strong income. She earns between five figures to six figures every year from passive income.
3. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner: Blog Writing
Michelle started her blog Making Sense of Cents in 2011 to track her journey paying off student loans. Over time, her honest writing and practical advice attracted a huge audience. She began promoting financial products she used herself, earning affiliate commissions. She also launched a course teaching others how to monetize blogs. Today, she makes over $50,000 per month through affiliate income and course sales, all while traveling full-time in an RV.
4. Paul Chow: Affiliate Income from 3D Printing
Paul Chow loves 3D printing. He shares his knowledge online. He joined the Amazon Affiliate Program. He puts links to Amazon products on his website. When people click and buy, he earns money.
He writes about different printers. He tells people what works well and what does not. Because of his honest reviews, people trust him. He earns from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars each month. It depends on how many people visit his site and buy products.
5. Kevin Huffman: Day Trading with Focus
Kevin Huffman started day trading in 2006. He wanted to earn without doing a normal job. He spent time learning how markets work. He studied price charts and risk control.
Day trading is not easy. It takes time, effort, and smart decisions. But it can pay off. Kevin now earns from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a week. Some weeks are better than others. Being one of the top entrepreneurs who are making passive income, he warns others that it is not a quick way to get rich. But if done right, it can be a steady source of income.
6. Graham Stephan: Real Estate Investor and YouTube Creator
Graham Stephan started selling real estate at 18 to avoid a traditional 9-to-5 job. After a few years, he began investing in rental properties for monthly income. In 2016, he started a YouTube channel sharing financial advice and real estate tips. His older videos continue to generate ad revenue even today. Graham now earns from rentals, stock dividends, and YouTube, adding up to multiple six-figure passive income streams each year.
7. Matt Little: Renting a Room
Matt Little had a spare room. He made it clean and modern. He painted the walls, added new bedsheets, and fixed small problems. Then, he listed it on Airbnb and Booking.com.
He took nice photos and wrote a good description. He set a fair price. Now, he earns between eight hundred and one thousand five hundred dollars every month. This income depends on the season and demand. After the first setup, it takes little effort to keep the room ready.
8. Ali Abdaal: Doctor Turned Creator
Ali Abdaal was a full-time doctor in the UK when he started making YouTube videos about study techniques and productivity. He began earning ad revenue and affiliate income as his audience grew. Later, he created online courses on YouTube growth and productivity. Today, Ali has left medicine to focus full-time on his business, earning passive income through course sales, book royalties, and videos that continue to pay him even after they’re published.
9. James Oliver: Niche Websites and Digital Maps
James Oliver makes websites about hobbies. One of his websites is about rock collecting. He made a map that shows places where people can find rocks in the United States. He sells this map online.
He used writing tools to make five hundred seventy articles in one month. He did not add new content after that. But his website started to earn money. After five months, he made more than one thousand four hundred dollars in one month. He got an offer to sell the site for seventy thousand dollars. He said no. He believes it will be worth more in the future.
10. Robert Carnes: Writing Books
Robert Carnes writes books. He does not earn a lot from them. But he keeps writing. He says books give him joy. They also help him build trust. People respect authors. That can help in business too.
He says people should not chase only money. They should find something they enjoy. Passive income is helpful, but it should not be the only goal.
Final Thoughts
These 10 entrepreneurs who are making passive income show that passive income can come from many places. You can earn from writing, speaking, photos, rooms, land, and more. Start small. Use your skills. Keep learning. With time and effort, you can build your own passive income. These stories prove it is possible for anyone.
