Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/the-side-hustles-that-turned-into-billion-dollar-businesses/
The global side hustle economy was valued at $556.7 billion in 2024, and in 2024, 36% of American adults have a side hustle, with an average of $891 a month in earnings, a 10% increase from 2023 to 2024. These numbers tell a clear story, really. People everywhere are hustling for extra income. Most of them will pull in a few hundred bucks a month. Some will hit four figures.
Yet once in a while, someone’s weekend project explodes into something far bigger than they ever imagined. We’re talking about the kind of success where a simple idea, started on the side while working a full-time job, becomes a company worth billions. These stories aren’t just inspiring, they’re proof that massive success doesn’t always require venture capital or a fancy business school degree from day one.
What these founders did have was persistence, a willingness to fail, and the ability to spot an opportunity others missed. Let’s look at some of the most remarkable transformations from side hustle to billion-dollar empire.
Instagram Started as a Whiskey Check-In App
Originally created as “Burbn,” a location-based check-in app, Instagram’s transformation into the photo-sharing giant we know today was no accident. Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger weren’t trying to build a photo app initially. They were working on something completely different. They scrapped Burbn and started over. It seems obvious in…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-01-20 11:58:00
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