- A recent study identified the top ten solopreneurs (entrepreneurs running their business alone), by considering factors such as their net worth, field of work, Twitter/X and IG followers, as well as their key products/projects.
- Tim Ferriss tops the list with the highest net worth on the list, reaching $100 million, and the most Twitter/X followers at 1.9 million.
- Justin Welsh, who specializes in Digital Marketing & Consulting, stands out with his popularity on Twitter/X, having the second-most number of followers at 494.8K.
A study by Linkee, analyzed 16 solopreneurs to identify the top ten most popular ones. The study is based on factors such as their net worth, field of work, Twitter/X, and IG followers, as well as their key products/projects. To ensure fair comparisons, data normalization was applied, with Net Worth scaled relative to the highest value and social media influence adjusted for platform engagement differences. A min-max scaling approach was used, ranging from 1 to 100, to facilitate uniform comparisons. The composite score was scaled between 1 and 100, providing a clear and interpretable measure of each solopreneur’s overall success.
Name | Net Worth | Field of Work | Twitter/X | IG Followers | Key Products/Projects | Composite Score |
Tim Ferriss | $100M | Author & Podcasting | 1.9M | 1.6M | Bestselling book “The 4-Hour Workweek”, “The Tim Ferriss Show” podcast, and various investments in startups. | 77.69478419 |
Jay Shetty | $4M | Motivational Speaking & Content Creation | 393.9K | 15.7M | Bestselling book “Think Like a Monk”, “On Purpose” podcast, and digital content focused on mindfulness and self-improvement. | 58.1 |
Dan Koe | $50M | Digital Marketing & Productivity | 457.7K | 1.6M | “The Art of Focus” book, Kortex, digital marketing services, and productivity coaching programs. | 49.71073793 |
Marie Forleo | $14M | Motivational Speaking & Coaching | 212.3K | 874K | “B-School” online business course, “MarieTV” YouTube channel, and the book “Everything is Figureoutable”. | 35.79592593 |
Pieter Levels | $1M | SaaS & Digital Products | 457.8K | – | “12 startups in 12 months” project, Nomad List, Remote OK, and other digital nomad-related platforms. | 25.6645749 |
Justin Welsh | $5M | Digital Marketing & Consulting | 494.8K | 48.1K | Online courses on LinkedIn and personal branding, JW Strategic Advisory, and various startup investments. | 25.45535684 |
Pat Walls | N/A | Content Creation & Entrepreneurship | 98.7K | N/A | Founder of Starter Story, a platform that shares the stories behind successful businesses, and Pigeon, a CRM tool for Gmail. | 23.77263771 |
Elena Verna | N/A | Growth & Product Management Consulting | N/A | N/A | Growth advisor for SaaS companies, former executive roles at companies like SurveyMonkey and Miro. | 23 |
Farnoosh Torabi | $2M | Personal Finance & Media | 30.8K | 53.2K | “So Money” podcast, TV appearances, financial advice books like “You’re So Money”, and online financial workshops. | 22.48304754 |
Vladyslav Podoliako | N/A | SaaS & Email Deliverability | 1.8K | N/A | Founder of Folderly, a SaaS platform focused on improving email deliverability for businesses. | 21.00497212 |
Tim Ferriss ranks first with a composite score of 77.69, standing out as the most successful solopreneur on the list. With a net worth of $100 million, Ferriss has made a significant impact through his bestselling book “The 4-Hour Workweek” and his popular podcast “The Tim Ferriss Show.” His social media following, including 1.9 million Twitter/X followers and 1.6 million Instagram followers, reflects his influential presence in the fields of authorship, podcasting, and investing in various startups.
Jay Shetty takes the second spot with a composite score of 58.1. As a motivational speaker and content creator, Shetty has a net worth of $4 million. His influence is further strengthened by his bestselling book “Think Like a Monk” and his widely popular “On Purpose” podcast. Shetty has the most Instagram following on the list, at 15.7 million, and has 393.9K followers on Twitter/X.
Dan Koe ranks third with a composite score of 49.71. Koe has built a net worth of $50 million thanks to his expertise in digital marketing and productivity. He is recognized for his book “The Art of Focus,” his digital marketing services, and his productivity coaching programs. His social media influence includes 457.7K followers on Twitter/X and 1.6 million followers on Instagram.
Marie Forleo comes in fourth with a composite score of 35.80. With a net worth of $14 million, Forleo has made a name for herself as a motivational speaker and coach. She is best known for her “B-School” online business course, her “MarieTV” YouTube channel, and her book “Everything is Figureoutable.” Her influence extends to 212.3K followers on Twitter/X and 874K on Instagram, indicating her impact in the world of business coaching and personal development.
Pieter Levels ranks fifth with a composite score of 25.66. Specializing in SaaS and digital products, Levels has a net worth of $1 million and is well-known for his ambitious “12 startups in 12 months” project, including platforms like Nomad List and Remote OK. His popularity on social media is evident, with 457.8K followers on Twitter/X, despite not having an Instagram presence, reflecting his niche appeal within the digital nomad community.
Justin Welsh is ranked sixth with a composite score of 25.46. Specializing in digital marketing and consulting, Welsh has a net worth of $5 million. His success is fueled by online courses focused on LinkedIn and personal branding, along with strategic advisory services and various startup investments. He boasts a substantial social media following with 494.8K followers on Twitter/X and 48.1K on Instagram, making him a notable figure in the consulting space.
Pat Walls ranks seventh with a composite score of 23.77. As the founder of Starter Story and Pigeon, Walls has carved a niche in content creation and entrepreneurship. Although he has the fourth-most Twitter/X followers at 98.7K, his innovative ventures contribute significantly to his influence within the entrepreneurial community.
Elena Verna ranks eighth with a composite score of 23. Known for her expertise in growth and product management consulting, Verna has advised numerous SaaS companies and held executive roles at SurveyMonkey and Miro. Although her social media presence is not prominent, her impact in the SaaS industry highlights her influence among solopreneurs.
Farnoosh Torabi takes the ninth spot with a composite score of 22.48. As a personal finance expert and media personality, Torabi has a net worth of $2 million and is known for her “So Money” podcast and financial advice books. She has a modest but engaged social media presence with 30.8K followers on Twitter/X and 53.2K on Instagram.
Vladyslav Podoliako rounds out the top ten with a composite score of 21.00. As the founder of Folderly, a SaaS platform focused on improving email deliverability, Podoliako has made strides in the SaaS industry. Although his social media presence is relatively small, with 1.8K followers on Twitter/X, his niche expertise and successful venture emphasizes his position among the top solopreneurs.
A spokesperson from Linkee commented on the study: “From savvy digital marketing moves to launching impactful products, these entrepreneurs show that being solo doesn’t mean going small. Their paths mix creativity, hustle, and the power to connect with audiences online, proving that a strong personal brand and a smart strategy can take you far in today’s fast-paced digital scene.“
To access the complete research, please follow this link.