If Kevin O'Leary woke up tomorrow with an empty bank account, he wouldn't stress about it. No panic, no pity party, no desperate scratch-off tickets. He'd grab his phone and get to work doing what millions are already attempting—turning screen time into actual income. But here's the twist: he wouldn't bother trying to become an influencer.

In a post shared to X on December 30, the Shark Tank investor laid out his game plan with trademark bluntness. "If I woke up with zero dollars and had to make $10,000 in 30 days, I'd do one thing: sell customer acquisition with social media." He paired the message with a video breaking down exactly how it works. The concept is straightforward: walk into any local business and offer to bring them paying customers for $100 a pop. Then start filming content that drives traffic through their door.

"Just with your phone—if you know how to edit video and you know how to post it on social media, you can acquire customers," O'Leary explained in the clip. "You'd be amazed at how many business owners have no idea how to use social media. And if you've grown up with a phone in your hand, you do."

He didn't mince words about the opportunity either, calling it "the number one source of income when you're really looking for something to make money" and declaring flatly that "it's the best side hustle there is."

Coming from someone whose day job involves evaluating other people's side hustles, that's worth noting. The appeal is obvious: zero startup capital, minimal overhead, and sky-high demand. If you can shoot a decent clip, add some background music, and get people through the door, you've got a sellable skill. While everyone else is chasing followers and trying to "build their personal brand," O'Leary is suggesting you skip the vanity metrics entirely and focus on delivering measurable results.

Beyond Social Media: Other Ways to Generate Income

Of course, not everyone wants to be a one-person digital marketing agency. If content creation sounds about as appealing as a root canal, there are plenty of other paths to earning extra cash each month—no ring light or trending audio required.

Fractional real estate investing lets you own pieces of rental properties without buying an entire house. You collect a portion of the rent without dealing with tenant calls at midnight or fixing leaky faucets. It's real estate investing with all the upside and none of the toilet emergencies.

Startup investing offers the chance to get in early on the next big thing. Amazon, Tesla, and Netflix all had their first investors. Putting even modest amounts into early-stage companies can deliver outsized returns if you pick the right ones—though obviously, plenty of startups also flame out spectacularly.

Digital products have become one of the easiest ways to build recurring revenue. Design a budgeting template, workout plan, resume kit, or planner once, then sell it indefinitely. There's no inventory, no shipping, and no limit to how many times you can sell the same file.

Print-on-demand merchandise lets you slap your designs on mugs, shirts, and tote bags without holding any inventory. The platform handles production and fulfillment while you collect the margin. If you've got a clever phrase or eye-catching design, you're in business.

Freelance services remain a reliable income source for anyone with marketable skills. Can you write compelling copy, design a clean logo, or polish someone's resume until it shines? Charge per project and build from there.

AI-powered tools have opened new doors for people who can't code but know how to leverage technology. You can use AI to write blog content, generate eBooks, create websites, or produce other deliverables—all about working smarter instead of harder.

The Real Lesson

O'Leary's broader point cuts through all the noise about passive income and get-rich-quick schemes. In today's economy, your smartphone represents genuine leverage. Whether you're filming content, freelancing your expertise, or investing in fractional assets, the best side hustles aren't flashy. They solve real problems that people will pay to fix.

Not sure what your $100 skill is? Start by thinking about what people already ask you for help with—then figure out how to charge for that. The opportunity is there. You just need to stop scrolling and start building.