You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

Here's How Much Money Elon Musk, Jack Dorsey & Other Billionaires Make In Their Sleep Every Night (Infographic) Build a company, and you'll monetize every last moment.

By Nick Wolny

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Brendan Smialowski | Getty Images

According to some quick math from the folks over at People Who Sleep, billionaires rake in the cash even when they're off in dreamland. Based on net worth counts from December 15, 2020:

  • Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey makes $5.6 million during one night of sleep,

  • Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett pulls in $2.9 million a night, and

  • Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' wild 2020 funneled an insane $62.1 million into his pockets whenever he slept.

And thanks to Tesla stock's absolutely bonkers year, the award for highest earnings-per-minute in 2020 goes to Elon Musk, who raked in an astonishing $88.3 million. Every night.

Here's a look at how the leaders stack up.

The numbers are eye-popping and even a little demoralizing at first glance. But they also bring up a good point: It's hard to make it into big bucks territory unless you build up a team that can grow at scale. According to data from Fundera, 86.3% of small business owners make less than $100,000 per year in revenue, making the millions above feel like a pipe dream.

It doesn't have to be that way. But you do need to work smarter and not harder if you want to move toward making money around the clock. To grow your company and reach your income goals, the time is now to start thinking about your team.

Related: 17 Passive Income Ideas for Increasing Your Cash Flow

Build a team that can take you higher

According to the Small Business Administration, 80% of small businesses in the U.S. are "nonemployers," meaning that they have an employee count of zero. If you're just getting started in business and don't have the cash to put someone on salary, that doesn't mean you should continue to wear all the hats yourself. Remember that money is a renewable resource, whereas time is not.

Virtual assistants, personal assistants and administrative support are common first hires for entrepreneurs, and the time you free up by outsourcing tasks can help to grow your earning potential. Calculate how valuable your time is per hour, then look at your schedule; if anything on your to-do list could be outsourced for less than your hourly rate, it's time to delegate.

Related: How to Delegate With Confidence

How to grow your business

In addition to asking for help, it helps to keep the overall big picture in mind. So here are a few other tips you'll want to take into consideration as you build out your money machine.

  • Know when to hire employees versus contractors. Splurge on employees who will care about your company and contribute to internal culture. Outsource to contractors when you have a specific task that requires a specialized tradesperson. Most successful entrepreneurs leverage both workforces.

  • Sell. A lot. According to the National Federation Of Small Business, 82% of businesses that fail cite cash flow as their primary reason for shuttering. Let sales lead operations, and everything else can fall into place from there.

  • Keep your mind sharp. CEOs sleep, and you should too. Despite hustle culture's prevalence in entrepreneurship, most of the CEOs listed still swing seven or eight hours a night of sleep in order to make the best decisions they can under pressure.

Related: 10 Ways to Make Money While You Sleep

"Make money while you sleep" is a favorite tagline for passive income entrepreneurs. But to do so, you'll need to go beyond trading dollars for hours and think bigger. Assemble your dream team, offer a product that can be delivered without you and you'll be well on your way to making sales even while you snooze.

Nick Wolny

Editor, Journalist, Consultant

A self-described “editorial mutt,” Nick Wolny is an editor, journalist and marketing consultant of seven years. He writes and edits about money, business, technology, LGBTQ life and how they intertwine. Learn more at nickwolny.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Solutions

Save an Extra 20% on the Ultimate Microsoft Bundle Featuring Windows 11 Pro, Office, and More

Pick up this package of popular Microsoft products for only a fraction of the price through April 16.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business Solutions

Visualize Data for Better Business: MS Visio is $23.99 Through April 16

Set your team up for success with a reliable tool for creating organizational charts, diagrams, and more.

Business Solutions

Scan Easier and More Affordably with This 20% Discount

iScanner is a mobile app that makes document management, editing, and sharing easier.

Business News

This Fan-Favorite Masters 2024 Item Is Still $1.50 as Tournament Menu Appears Unscathed by Inflation

The pimento cheese sandwich is a tradition almost as big as the tournament itself.

Making a Change

Learn to Play Guitar Even if You Have No Previous Training for Just $20

Start with the beginner's crash course and learn how to play guitar in no time.