Financecalendar_todayLast updated: Apr 2026

What is Passive Income?

/ˈpæsɪv ˈɪnkʌm/

Passive income is money earned with minimal ongoing effort — from investments, royalties, rental properties, or businesses that run without your direct involvement.
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Everyday Example

Writing a book once and earning royalties every year is passive income. Receiving dividends from shares you hold is passive income.

publicReal-World Application

Many financial independence movements are built entirely around building enough passive income streams to cover living expenses without needing a salary.
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Did you know?

Robert Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad Poor Dad" (1997) popularised the concept of passive income for a mass audience, triggering a cultural shift in how people think about wealth.

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Key Insight

True passive income takes significant upfront effort or capital. "Passive" means low ongoing effort, not zero effort — the work is front-loaded.

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