Social media influencers make money with sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, official network monetization programs, merchandising, and direct donation (tipping, subscriptions, etc.). If you have ever daydreamed about lying on a sunny yacht, peacefully floating over the Mediterranean, and paying for it all with a single social media post, that is how it’s done. Read on to solve the mystery of how much social media influencers make and how they do it!