Former Detective Paul Alex Reports $50,000 Annual Income Increase Through Side Hustle

Paul Alex, a former police detective, has announced a significant shift in his financial landscape, revealing he has replaced his previous $250,000 annual law enforcement salary with a $300,000 per year income generated from a "side hustle." This personal financial milestone, shared on social media, highlights his successful transition from public service to entrepreneurship.

Alex, who previously served as a detective in Oakland, California, earning a salary that, with benefits, reached up to $272,000 annually, cited long working hours and a desire for personal freedom as motivations for his career change. He began building his entrepreneurial ventures while still in law enforcement, eventually leaving the police force in March 2021 to dedicate himself fully to his businesses.

The entrepreneur emphasized that his lucrative side hustle does not involve common online ventures such as selling on Amazon, stock trading, or cryptocurrency investments. Instead, Alex built his wealth primarily through businesses focused on passive income streams, notably his ATM business, ATMTogether.com, and Merchant Task Force, which deals with credit card terminals. ATMTogether.com alone reported sales of $12 million and a net profit of approximately $3.5 million between January 2021 and April 2023.

In his tweet, Alex stated, > "I've replaced my $250k/yr cop salary with a $300k/yr side hustle. I don't sell on Amazon. I don't trade stocks. I don't buy crypto." He further indicated his intent to share what he considers the "simplest way" to build a $5,000-$10,000 per month side hustle in 2025.

Beyond his business operations, Alex is also the host of "The Level Up Podcast," a top-ranked business podcast. Through his platforms, he aims to empower individuals, particularly those in traditional 9-to-5 roles, to establish scalable businesses and achieve financial independence by leveraging strategies similar to his own.