20 Websites Making The Most Money
For 15 years in a row, we have examined the annual earnings of each of the world’s top websites.
This year, we put much more time and effort into finding the most up-to-date information, which most people wouldn’t even know!
The world’s biggest tech giants, including Amazon, Google, and Facebook, are on the list, each earning billions of dollars in revenue annually. The owners of these companies, including Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, and Mark Zuckerberg, are now among the wealthiest people in the world, with net worths that surpass those of many countries.
Even more impressive is that these tech giants started from humble beginnings, with Amazon starting in a garage and Facebook in a dorm room.
One of the keys to their success is their ability to create a great company culture and cool offices that attract top talent. They have also been able to innovate and disrupt traditional industries, such as retail and advertising. Many companies have tried to replicate their success but have failed.
The difference between the successful and the unsuccessful companies lies in their ability to adapt and innovate. The top-earning websites are constantly evolving and willing to take risks and invest in new technologies to stay ahead of the competition. The ones that fail are often too slow to adapt, risk-averse, or focused on short-term gains.
We hope you enjoy the list. Please let us know what you think in the comments.
How Much Money Does Amazon, Google, and Facebook Make?
1. Amazon
How much Amazon makes a year: $386 billion in revenue annually, which is $12,232.68 per second.
Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos (who is worth nearly $200 billion), is the largest online retailer in the world. Amazon earns approximately $386 billion in revenue annually, making around $12,232.68 per second. Amazon’s largest income sources are online retail sales, cloud computing, and advertising. Amazon’s online retail sales include a vast range of products, including books, electronics, and clothing. Their cloud computing service, Amazon Web Services (AWS), allows users to access cloud computing resources on demand, while their advertising service allows businesses to advertise their products on Amazon’s platform.
2. Google
How much Google makes a year: $182 billion in revenue annually, which is $5,785.95 per second.
Google, founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is a multinational technology company that provides internet-related services. It earns around $182 billion in revenue a year and makes approximately $5,785.95 per second. Google’s primary income sources are advertising and cloud computing. Google’s advertising service, Google Ads, allows businesses to advertise their products and services on Google’s platform. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) provides users with cloud computing resources on demand.
It’s not bad, considering they started the business in a garage.
3. Facebook
How much Facebook makes a year: $135 billion in revenue annually, which is $4,273.50 per second.
Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes, is a social media platform that connects people worldwide. It earns approximately $135 billion in revenue a year and makes around $4,273.50 per second. Facebook’s largest income sources are advertising and user data. Facebook’s advertising service allows businesses to advertise their products and services to its massive user base. Facebook also collects user data and provides businesses with insights into their target audience.
And to think, Facebook was started in a dorm room by a bunch of friends.
4. JD.com
How much JD.com makes a year: $114 billion in revenue annually, which is $3,615.92 per second.
JD.com, founded by Liu Qiangdong (Richard Liu), is an e-commerce platform and the largest online retailer in China. JD.com earns around $114 billion in revenue annually, making approximately $3,615.92 per second. Its primary income sources are online retail sales and logistics. JD.com’s online retail sales include a wide range of products, including electronics, home appliances, and clothing. Its logistics service, JD Logistics, provides delivery services to businesses across China.
5. Alibaba
How much Alibaba makes a year: $72 billion in revenue annually, which is $2,280.70 per second.
Alibaba, founded by Peng Lei and Jack Ma, is a multinational technology company that provides e-commerce, retail, and technology services. Alibaba earns around $72 billion in revenue annually and makes approximately $2,280.70 per second. Their primary income sources are online retail sales, cloud computing, and digital media. Alibaba’s online retail sales include a vast range of products, including electronics, clothing, and home appliances. Their cloud computing service, Alibaba Cloud, provides users with cloud computing resources on demand.
6. Tencent
How much Tencent makes a year: $66 billion in revenue annually, which is $2,092.84 per second.
Tencent, founded by Ma Huateng, is a multinational technology company that provides internet services, social networking, and gaming. Tencent earns approximately $66 billion in revenue annually, making around $2,092.84 per second. Its primary income sources are gaming, social media, and advertising. Tencent’s gaming service includes popular games like Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile. Its social media service, WeChat, allows users to connect with each other and businesses through messaging, payments, and other features.
7. eBay
How much eBay makes a year: $59 billion in revenue annually, which is $1,870.00 per second.
eBay, founded by Pierre Omidyar, is an e-commerce platform that connects buyers and sellers worldwide. It earns around $59 billion in revenue a year and makes approximately $1,870.00 per second. eBay’s primary income sources are online retail sales and advertising. These sales include a wide range of products, including electronics, clothing, and home appliances. eBay’s advertising service allows businesses to advertise their products and services on its platform.
8. LinkedIn
How much LinkedIn makes a year: $26 billion in revenue annually, which is $823.33 per second.
LinkedIn, founded by Reid Hoffman, Konstantin Guericke, Jean-Luc Valliant, Allen Blue, and Eric Ly, is a professional networking platform that connects professionals worldwide. LinkedIn earns around $26 billion in revenue annually and makes around $823.33 per second. Their primary income sources are premium subscriptions, talent solutions, and advertising. LinkedIn’s premium subscriptions provide additional features to users, while their talent solutions help businesses find and hire the right talent. Their advertising service allows businesses to advertise their products and services on LinkedIn’s platform.
9. PayPal
How much PayPal makes a year: $21.45 billion in revenue annually, which is $678.93 per second.
PayPal, founded by Peter Thiel, Yu Pan, Luke Nosek, Elon Musk, Ken Howery, and Max Levchin, is a multinational technology company that provides online payment services. PayPal earns around $21.45 billion in revenue annually and approximately $678.93 per second. Its primary income sources are transaction fees and interest on deposits. PayPal’s online payment services allow users to make and receive payments online, while its interest on deposits service allows users to earn interest.
10. Booking.com
How much Booking. com makes a year: $21.3 billion in revenue annually, which is $674.25 per second.
Booking, founded by Geert-Jan Bruinsma, is an online travel agency that allows users to book flights, hotels, and car rentals. Booking earns around $21.3 billion in revenue a year and makes approximately $674.25 per second. Its primary income sources are hotel and travel bookings. Booking’s online travel booking service allows users to search and book flights, hotels, and car rentals worldwide.
11. Salesforce
How much Salesforce makes a year: $21 billion in revenue annually, which is $665.78 per second.
Salesforce, founded by Marc Benioff (worth nearly $10 billion) and Parker Harris, is a customer relationship management software company that provides sales, marketing, and customer service solutions. It earns around $21 billion in revenue a year and makes approximately $665.78 per second. Salesforce’s primary income sources are subscription fees and professional services. Salesforce’s subscription-based services provide businesses with sales, marketing, and customer service solutions, while its professional services help businesses implement and customize their solutions.
12. TikTok
How much TikTok makes a year: $18.5 billion in revenue annually, which is $585.00 per second.
TikTok, founded by Zhang Yiming (worth $43.4 billion), is a social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos. It earns around $18.5 billion in revenue a year and makes approximately $585.00 per second. Its primary income sources are in-app advertising and virtual gifts. TikTok’s in-app advertising allows businesses to advertise their products and services to its massive user base. In contrast, its virtual gifts feature allows users to purchase virtual gifts for their favourite content creators.
13. Stripe
How much Stripe makes a year: $16 billion in revenue annually, which is $506.74 per second.
Stripe, founded by John Collison and Patrick Collison, is a financial technology company that provides an online payment processing platform. It earns around $16 billion in revenue a year and makes approximately $506.74 per second. Its primary income sources are transaction fees and interest on deposits. Stripe’s online payment processing platform allows businesses to accept payments online, while its interest on deposits service allows users to earn interest on their deposits.
14. Rakuten
How much Rakuten makes a year: $15 billion in revenue annually, which is $474.68 per second.
Rakuten, founded by Hiroshi Mikitani, is a Japanese e-commerce platform that provides online retail sales and services. Rakuten earns around $15 billion in revenue annually and makes approximately $474.68 per second. Their primary income sources are from online retail sales and digital content. Rakuten’s online retail sales include various products, including electronics, clothing, and home appliances. Their digital content service includes e-books, music, and video streaming.
15. Reuters
How much Reuters makes a year: $12.6 billion in revenue annually, which is $399.54 per second.
Reuters, founded by Paul Reuter, is a multinational news agency that provides news and financial information worldwide. Reuters earns around $12.6 billion in revenue annually and makes approximately $399.54 per second. Their primary income sources are from media subscriptions and financial data services. Reuters’ media subscriptions provide businesses with access to news and information, while their financial data services provide businesses with financial information and data.
16. Priceline
How much Priceline makes a year: $9.22 billion in revenue annually, which is $292.36 per second.
Priceline, founded by Jesse Fink, Jay S. Walker, and Scott Case, is an online travel agency that allows users to book flights, hotels, and car rentals. Priceline earns around $9.22 billion in revenue annually and makes approximately $292.36 per second. Their primary income sources are from hotel and travel bookings. Priceline’s online travel booking service allows users to search and book flights, hotels, and car rentals worldwide.
17. Spotify
How much Shopify makes a year: $7.1 billion in revenue annually, which is $225.00 per second.
Shopify, founded by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake, is a multinational e-commerce company that provides online retail sales and services. Shopify earns around $7.1 billion in revenue annually and makes approximately $225.00 per second. Its primary income sources are subscription fees and online retail sales. Shopify’s subscription-based services provide businesses with an online platform to sell their products, while its online retail sales service allows businesses to sell their products to customers worldwide.
18. Spotify
How much Spotify makes a year: $7 billion in revenue annually, which is $221.68 per second.
Spotify, founded by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, is a music streaming service that allows users to listen to music online. Spotify earns around $7 billion in revenue annually and makes approximately $221.68 per second. Its primary income sources are subscription fees and advertising. Spotify’s subscription-based services allow users to listen to their favorite music without ads, while its advertising service allows businesses to advertise their products and services on Spotify’s platform.
19. Expedia
How much Expedia makes a year: $6.67 billion in revenue annually, which is $211.50.
Expedia, founded by Richard Barton, is an online travel agency that allows users to book flights, hotels, and car rentals. Expedia earns around $6.67 billion in revenue annually, making approximately $211.50 per second. Their primary income sources are from hotel and travel bookings. Expedia’s online travel booking service allows users to search and book flights, hotels, and car rentals worldwide.
20. AirBnB
How much Airbnb makes a year: $6 billion in revenue annually, which is $190.00 per second.
Airbnb, founded by Joe Gebbia, Brian Chesky, and Nathan Blecharczyk, is an online marketplace that allows users to rent out their homes or apartments to travellers. Airbnb earns around $6 billion in revenue annually and makes approximately $190.00 per second. Its primary income sources are booking fees and advertising. Airbnb’s booking service allows travellers to book unique accommodations worldwide, while its advertising service allows businesses to advertise their products and services on Airbnb’s platform.
What is the most popular way large websites make money online?
The data shows that there are only two main sources of income: online retail sales and advertising. So, if you want to make more money online, either sell something or advertise something.
Breakdown of income sources:
1. Online retail sales – Amazon, JD.com, Alibaba, Rakuten, Shopify
2. Advertising – Amazon, Google, Facebook, Tencent, eBay, LinkedIn, TikTok, Spotify
3. Cloud computing – Amazon, Google, Alibaba
4. User data – Facebook
5. Other – Logistics (JD.com), Digital media (Alibaba), Professional services (Salesforce), Online payment processing (PayPal and Stripe), Travel bookings (Booking.com, Priceline, Expedia, Airbnb), News and financial information (Reuters)
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Hey Josh,
This is a detailed report with the impressive figures, calculated as I complete this comment, they also earn a hefty profit, respectively./.
Smart post!, I like the break down per second!… I’ll tweet the link out…
(@asittingduck)
;]
Interesting list, thanks for sharing! I knew they were huge but had no idea some of these companies made the type of money they do. Amazon at over $1000 per second is unreal!
Michael, you are providing very interesting metrics here. Keep it up!
🙂
Never thought that Amazon is bigger than Google!!!!
Brilliant idea to make it so granular Josh… and I presume Michael perhaps as well. I reckon this post has link bait written all over it… 😉
Thanks guys for this great insight into these power-houses of the internet.
B
wow ! I knew these guyz made money but I didnt think it was that much.
Thanx for the info. Great post.
it’s Gonna be a Featured post in Income diary , Wonderful Post Michael! I will Tweet this……
Thanks for this informative list. Although the list contains some of the very well known publicly about having earnings in Billions and Million sof dollars, the list is refreshing. But some figures seem to be bloated. For example Amazon reported quarterly earnings of only USD 201 Million as their net income for the quarter ended March 2011.
So, how can you claim Amazon earns in Billions of dollars. Please correct your figures and represent. Anyways nice effort.
Thanks
These figures are based on revenue, rather than profit, as those details are much more widely available. Thanks, Josh
Hold yer horses! $1000 a second is nuts, however I thought Alibaba was growing faster than Ebay.
And that Baidu doubled its income is downright amazing! All in all great post. Thanx
What I found most amazing was that Yandex index over 13 times the amount of sites that Baidu do, and make over 9 times the amount of money per person in the country, than Baidu do!
Wow, Amazon makes more than Google? I had no idea. I always thought that Google was the Biggest Dawg out there, lol. Very interesting list. Thanks for sharing!
Fascinating reading, Michael! I remember when Jeff Bezos was on “Regis & Kathie Lee” back in 1998. After Regis asked Jeff about Amazon’s multi-million dollar loss that first year, Jeff said, “We’re not worried about making money right now. The money will come later. Right now, we’re building our brand.” Smart man, that Jeff. $1084/second. Wow! Thanks for doing the research and putting this together for us!
Wow, that is some sick income man. Even to be last on this list at $7 per second is just nuts. It must have been a ton of work to get that high in income.
Hello Josh,
Sadie here in France, my goodness that’s not to shabby at n’est ce pas?!
Michael, great guest blog post from Josh 😉
Wishing you both a super sunny weekend
This is really great to hear!
I didn’t know Amazon makes that much money and I also didn’t know that Google’s revenue is less than Amazon’s
Sweet list!!! China owns!!! Lol
Skype has never reported a profit. As the service becomes more popular, the number of people that can call each other for free increases so the outlook of their current business model is pretty poor.
Would be interesting to see a post about most profitable websites.
Almost scary to think of the amount of money these very few websites have an affect on.
Hey Josh and Michael.
It’s these types of posts that make me come back to income diary.com every week. I love these posts, such great inspiration – thanks!
Very inspiring post Josh! Thanks!
Damn, I had no idea amazon would be on top. But like you said, which ones more profitable? Anyway, inspirational stuff…
Really a Awesome Post and I was shocked to see Facebook rank and Yahoo too
Hi Josh, very cool list post. It’s always nice seeing who’s doing what and just goes to show you how much money is moving around on the Internet.
As Internet marketers we have to remember the old idea that you have to go where the money is.
It would also be nice to see how they operate on the inside as well.. That’ll be Cool! 🙂
nice to see clickbank squeezed onto the list, love my clickbank paychecks!
List gave me a couple investment ideas too, thanks!
Nice post,but l dont think Google+ is a threat to Facebook.
Josh, Great info. Thanks.
That is some impressive list! Groupon being so new, I was shocked to see those numbers! There has been debate as to if their service actually works in the long run.
Amazon! The leader of the pack!! And Netflix just uped the ante on their service…
Clickbank, that was an eye opener…
Great post..I also thought Google is the King of all..
wow surprising numbers, how I would love to make $1000 a second
Those revenue figures are great but it would be interesting to see the profits, where available.
I agree. When I was scrolling through the list, I was thinking, “Yup, yup, yup.” Then Groupon showed up. I’d be very curious to the profits (or lack there of) of that site.
waw, nice sharing.
i hope so can make $1000/second
lol
so how do you get indexed on Baidu!
Im surprised AOL is on that list.
You and me both!
I remember a long time ago I used to go into chatrooms on AOL, and I would always get a TOS violation and they would lock out my account and I couldn’t go online.
AOL messed up because those kids they used give TOS violations too have grown up and refuse to use AOL browers, mail, or anything else. Lol.
So I still dont know how they are on this list. I think they are affiliated with Cable tv.
Hello Josh,
I’m of course impressed by all those figures.
It’s a good idea to evaluate how much money they make every second.
I tried to evaluate how much I earn myself … well, not even a cent.
It motivates me to improve my results.
Thank you
Daaang, amazon is pimpin it! lol
damn micheal you are very creative if i may say , very intresting list.
Impressive! No wonder why Google earns so much than Yahoo 🙂
Awesome posts. I thought Google is dominating…..
hey dude nice post, But how did you find this information?
Dang, left my website off the list again. I guess that’s the price of being #21 all the time;-) We’re #21 but we try harder.
It’s funny seeing Baidu and Yandex listed – those search engines that hammer our sites with their spiders… but never send any real traffic…
Amazon will retain the number 1 spot in the coming years as well. They are diversifying at such a fast space. Who would have though that an online retailer would be the leader in cloud computing as well?!
Great list thank you. Interesting to see who is succeding online.
Oli Hille
Author
wow, amazon making more then google, thats absoultely insane.
thanks for this nice post.
Thanks for giving such valuable information as usual. I’m having a “why didn’t I think of that moment.”
I am really surprised that PayPal wasn’t included on the list. They process so many transactions for big and small businesses alike.
i’m Chinese, and i think Tencent (qq.com) is more powerful and profit
Two things about this list:
1. There’s no recession online!
2. Join the Amazon affiliate program and start taking your cut of their massive income!
Great List guys. Well laid out as usual
Gary
I quite agree with you on this list, these sites are making a killing .
I agree with Gary, jump on the Amazon Associates wagon now, even eBay is still a great website to partner with.
Some great insights here, thanks for sharing!
Your list is missing alots of big earners from the gambling niche, party/bwin offical 2010 number where 500m$ fulltilt revenue was rumored to be around 1b and pokerstars is probably somewhere in the range of aol and facebook.
Wow, this is so sick! I barfing while I’m typing this. I must be doing something wrong because I’m not making money by the second!!
Amazon is pioneer in this industry, very interessant article.
Apple rakes in the dough
i wouldn’t mind being linkdin …..