Most adults recall summer jobs at ice cream parlors or grocery stores — not six-figure crypto portfolios. But apparently it’s a hot hustle summer for some teens who are cashing in on remote work.
Air Mail recently spoke to:
- A 15-year-old Australian boy who makes $10k+ a month editing short-form videos.
- A 14-year-old French personal-brand developer who’s already cleared his first $100k.
Where’d they get the gumption?
Some follow Young Wealth, a community for teen entrepreneurs. Founder Maurits Neo claims that, at 12, he was a candy kingpin across a network of nearby schools in South Africa. Now, at 18, he trades crypto and offers business advice to his 165k+ TikTok followers.
Yet he’s not always online, preferring routines and dedication to mindless scrolling. It’s called “Monk Mode” — essentially, these kids are waking up at dawn to take ice baths like they’re Silicon Valley CEOs.
Is this weird?
In the grand scheme of things that teenagers throughout the ages have done? It’s probably more productive, if perhaps a bit hyperfocused on money.
What’s perhaps more interesting is how the internet has changed teens’ ability to work.
Instead of taking minimum-wage jobs at brick-and-mortar locations they can bike or walk to, teens can find and complete work online, or use online platforms to find new opportunities.
On a lark, one Australian teen made ~$700+ in a week by finding free firewood on Facebook Marketplace and reselling it.
Bella Lin, a 17-year-old Californian, launched GuineaLoft, a small pet enclosure brand that sells on Amazon. In 2023, the company made $410k+.
That said…
… these teens are outliers. Side hustles require time and, often, existing resources and connections. Lin won $10k from a pitching competition and her father connected her with the Chinese factory that makes her products.
Experts say many teens may be better off with the steady paycheck, training, and social development a traditional job can provide.
