How Matt Paulson built a $40M email newsletter business

Matt Paulson

MarketBeat

Matt runs MarketBeat, one of the biggest financial newsletters in the world. It delivers daily stock news, analyst updates, and portfolio tools to millions of subscribers. His company now generates over $40 million a year in revenue through ads, sponsorships, and premium subscriptions.

He built an enormous email list early and focused on owning his audience instead of relying on social platforms. Every email offers value - stock ideas, price alerts, and data tools - so subscribers stay engaged. Matt monetizes that attention with ads and partner offers, creating consistent recurring revenue.

MarketBeat’s growth comes from content syndication, organic search, and paid lead generation on social platforms. New readers are funneled straight to the newsletter signup page, where daily emails convert them into loyal readers who see sponsored offers and MarketBeat’s own premium upgrades.

Yes - but do it with purpose. Pick one platform where your audience already hangs out (e.g. YouTube, TikTok, or LinkedIn) and post there consistently for 30-60 days. Don’t chase every channel - master one first.

But here’s the key: don’t build on rented land. Always drive people from that platform to an email opt-in page. That’s your real asset. Algorithms change; your list doesn’t. Every post should give value and lead to that next step.

Start building your email list today. Offer a simple freebie - a checklist, a guide, a mini course - and collect emails through a landing page. One hundred engaged subscribers are worth more than 10,000 random followers. Lists compound over time.