Making a Million Dollars a Month: Then vs. Now (And Why It’s Not as Crazy as You Think)
Ever wondered what it would take to rake in a million bucks every month? I mean, who hasn’t? We’ve all seen the flashy YouTube ads, the gurus standing in front of rented Lamborghinis, and the "I made $1M in 30 days" case studies. But let’s cut through the nonsense—who actually did it, how did they do it, and is it even possible today?
I’m breaking this down in a way that actually makes sense, from the early days of money-making madness to the modern-day entrepreneurs stacking cash at breakneck speeds. Buckle up—this is gonna be a ride.
The “Then” Era: Who First Made a Million a Month?
Believe it or not, making a million a month wasn’t just reserved for the tech moguls of today. Back in the early 1900s, business giants and hustlers were pulling this off, too.
Take John D. Rockefeller for example—at his peak, he was bringing in around $1 million per DAY with his oil empire. But before you go out trying to monopolize an industry, keep in mind he built an entire infrastructure to get there (not to mention some ruthless business tactics that wouldn’t fly today).
Then there’s Charles Ponzi. You might recognize the name because, well… “Ponzi scheme.” Back in the 1920s, his shady operation pulled in over a million per day at its peak, convincing investors he had cracked the international postage trade. Spoiler alert: it crashed, burned, and he ended up in prison.
Moral of the story? There have always been ways to make big money, but sustainable wealth requires something real.
The “Now” Era: Who’s Actually Doing It Today?
Alright, now let’s fast-forward to today’s legitimate money-makers who are cashing in seven figures every month—without needing to run a scam or own a monopoly.
1️⃣ The Content Creators Making Bank
You’ve probably seen influencers on OnlyFans, YouTube, or Instagram flaunting their insane earnings. Some of them really are making over $1M per month through brand deals, sponsorships, and subscriber-based content. The top OnlyFans creators, for example, can clear $1M in a WEEK.
2️⃣ The Course Creators & Digital Entrepreneurs
People like Lisa Johnson have turned online education into a cash-printing machine. She made £1M (about $1.25M) in a SINGLE HOUR by selling her business courses. Talk about knowing your market!
3️⃣ The Real Estate Moguls & High-Ticket Closers
Guys like Grant Cardone? He’s been making millions per month for years through real estate investments and coaching programs. Same with other high-level consultants charging $50K+ per client for exclusive coaching or mentorship.
4️⃣ Affiliate Marketing Titans
Some super affiliates can hit $1M per month in commissions. We’re talking about high-ticket sales, massive traffic funnels, and years of optimization.
So yeah, it’s happening—but these folks aren’t just getting lucky. They’ve mastered marketing, branding, and high-value monetization.
Could YOU Make $1M a Month Today?
Let’s be real. Most people in affiliate marketing don’t make $1M per month. Hell, most don’t make $1,000 a month. But could someone still do it?
Absolutely. But here’s the reality check:
✅ It takes years of mastery. You don’t just stumble into million-dollar months. It takes scaling, hiring teams, and leveraging multiple income streams.
✅ The model matters. You won’t hit $1M/mo selling $10 commissions. You need high-ticket products, subscriptions, or scalable offers.
✅ Traffic is king. You need massive amounts of targeted traffic—whether it’s SEO, paid ads, or organic growth.
✅ Timing & trends play a role. Being an early adopter in a booming industry (like crypto, AI, or private communities) can put you years ahead of the game.
How Wealthy Affiliate Helps (Even If You Don’t Hit $1M a Month)
So here’s where I keep it real: if your goal is $1M per month, you’re going to need more than just WA training. You’ll need high-level business strategy, networking, and advanced marketing skills.
BUT… if your goal is financial freedom, quitting your 9-5, or earning a solid full-time income online, then WA is still one of the best platforms to start.
💡 WA gives you the foundation—building a niche site, mastering SEO, and learning the affiliate business.
💡 The community helps you refine—you’re surrounded by others actually doing it.
💡 The right niche can change everything—WA teaches you how to pick one that makes money.
Even if $1M per month isn’t the goal, hitting $5K, $10K, or $50K per month is still life-changing money for most people. And that’s 100% possible with the right execution.
Final Thoughts: Is This Even Worth Trying?
I know what you’re thinking—“Jeremy, this sounds like a LOT.”
And yeah, it is. But everything worth doing takes effort.
🚀 Some people will reach seven-figure months in the next few years.
🚀 Others will quit after a few months because it takes too long.
🚀 And most will land somewhere in between—hitting enough income to escape the 9-5, travel, and live life on their terms.
At the end of the day, it’s all about how big your vision is and how far you’re willing to go to make it happen.
If you’re serious about building wealth online, start where you are, master your craft, and keep leveling up. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be talking about YOUR million-dollar month.
Over to You…
👉 What’s your goal? Would you go all-in if you knew you could make $1M per month someday? Or is a more balanced approach better for you?
Drop a comment—let’s talk about this.
Recent Comments
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Of course it would be nice to make $1 million a month or even a year but it's not necessary, especially if it's at the expense of my sanity and serenity. I want to do what I need to do to be financially comfortable for the rest of my life and to have the time to enjoy what I make with the time I have left. I will probably never stop working but I want to NOT HAVE TO work if I don't want to.
Definite sounds interesting, need a goal and continue striving to get there. Shoot for the stars as he was just saying. Sometimes takes longer but can get there.
There are some kids in their 20s, that are in my city that are making over $300,000 a month selling Pokémon cards and playing games.
- A Livestream Podcast
- A Shopify Store
Granted, this is not 100% affiliate marketing, but it’s still intriguing.
I feel you mentioned that once somewhere. And I find that intriguing as well. I checked it out one day too....Not my cup of tea.
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Thank you so much for this post, Jeremy!
You said "that’s 100% possible with the right execution."
If you were just starting out, what would you recommend?
I’ve been here for a month, niche defined, site ready, 16 carefully written posts, what should I focus on next?
More posts? How do you generate more traffic?
Again, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!
There’s no correct answer and is something you’ll figure out the longer you’re within your business! What works for me might not work for you, and so on and so forth - but what does work- is sticking with the training! The longer you’re here the further things progress the wealthier you become.