There’s no official ranking of the richest freelancer. Among earnings checked by reporters, résumé writer Richard Lambert stands out: he told Business Insider he grossed $1.1 million in 2024, mostly through Fiverr.
Below are the freelancers with publicly verified seven-figure earnings, what they sell, and the habits you can copy.
Key takeaways
- No official list: Upwork and Fiverr don’t publish a richest-freelancer ranking.
- Richard Lambert (résumés, mostly Fiverr): $2 million in lifetime sales by January 2021, then $1.1 million gross in 2024 alone.
- Courtney Allen (presentation design, Upwork): more than $2 million with her company, reported in 2023.
- Evan Fisher (pitch decks, Upwork): more than $1.6 million in payments, verified by Insider in 2022.
- Fiverr’s platinum award goes to freelancers who passed $5 million on the platform. It doesn’t name a top earner.
- Common thread: one niche, rising prices and strong reviews.
Who is the richest freelancer right now?
Nobody can say for sure. Platforms keep individual earnings private, and most top earners never share theirs.
So this list only includes people whose earnings a news outlet checked or reported. Claims on personal websites are left out.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Freelancer | What they sell | Platform | Reported earnings | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Lambert | Résumé writing | Mostly Fiverr | $1.1M gross in 2024; $2M lifetime sales by Jan 2021 | Business Insider, CNBC |
| Courtney Allen | Presentation design | Upwork | More than $2M with her company (2023) | CNBC |
| Evan Fisher | Pitch decks | Upwork | More than $1.6M in payments (2022) | Business Insider |
Fiverr says some of its sellers have passed $5 million, but it hasn’t said who earns the most.
Who are the top-earning freelancers with verified income?
Here’s how each one got there, based only on what the sources report.
Richard Lambert: résumé writing on Fiverr
Lambert was a teacher when he opened his Fiverr account in October 2014. He went full time in 2016, CNBC Make It reported.
By January 2021, his business had generated $2 million in lifetime sales. He’d raised his rates twice and charged $75 to $130 per service.
In a 2025 Business Insider essay he wrote: “In 2024, I grossed $1.1 million by writing résumés.” He also says he has more than 25,000 five-star reviews.
Courtney Allen: presentation design on Upwork
Allen started finding projects on Upwork in 2015 and founded her presentation company, 16X9, in May 2017, CNBC Make It reported.
Her personal contracts and those of her company have brought in more than $2 million on Upwork. In 2023, she said she worked about 25 to 30 hours a week.
Evan Fisher: pitch decks on Upwork
Fisher was an investment banker for six years before losing his job in 2017. On Upwork, he first charged $300 for a PowerPoint presentation, Business Insider reported.
Insider verified more than $1.6 million in Upwork payments with documentation. By then, he didn’t take any jobs under $15,000.
His own website now claims higher totals. Those are self-reported, so I haven’t used them here.
How much do Fiverr’s top sellers earn?
Some have earned more than anyone named above. In July 2024, Fiverr launched awards for top sellers: gold for passing $1 million in lifetime Fiverr earnings and platinum for over $5 million.
Fiverr said platinum recipients came from North America, Europe and Asia. The 2024 recipients came from 35 countries.
The top categories were graphics and design, digital marketing, and writing and translation. Fiverr didn’t publish individual totals.
What do the top-earning freelancers have in common?
Their skills differ, but the pattern repeats.
They picked one niche
Fisher sells pitch decks, Allen sells presentations and Lambert writes résumés. Business Insider says establishing a niche helped Fisher grow.
They raised their rates over time
Fisher went from $300 a presentation to no jobs under $15,000. Lambert raised his rates twice in his first six years.
They collected strong reviews
Lambert has more than 25,000 five-star reviews. Fisher says five-star ratings bring clients to you, so you pitch less.
That matches how I hire. When I hire freelancers, ratings, recent reviews and past work drive about 80% of my decision.
They kept clients coming back
Allen told CNBC: “70% of our clients are long term.” Repeat clients mean less time spent finding new ones.
They built a team once demand grew
Allen hit 80-hour weeks before bringing in contractors. She started with five people she knew and added four more.
Are the richest freelancers still working alone?
Often not. Allen runs a company, and Fiverr named Ravi Sharma from Australia, whose SEO business has more than 100 employees.
Working solo, your hours set the limit. A team adds capacity, but you also become a manager.
Which freelance skills pay the most now?
Expert, business-facing work. Upwork’s Future Workforce Index 2026 says freelancers doing AI work earn 34% more per hour.
It also found earnings for complex AI work rose 45% in Q1 2026. Per-contract earnings for generative AI creative production fell 13%.
In short, skilled work that uses AI pays more, while simple AI output gets cheaper. If you design decks like Allen and Fisher, see our freelance PowerPoint designer guide.
Can you become a millionaire freelancer?
It’s possible, but it takes years. Lambert started in 2014 and says he was a millionaire by 2020.
Fisher’s $1.6 million came about five years after he lost his banking job. Treat these stories as the top end, not what a typical freelancer makes.
Starting out? Read how to start freelancing with no experience, then set your price with our guide on how much to charge.
FAQ
Who is the richest freelancer on Upwork?
Upwork doesn’t name one. Reported examples include Courtney Allen (more than $2 million with her company) and Evan Fisher (more than $1.6 million).
Who is the richest freelancer on Fiverr?
Fiverr doesn’t name one either. Its platinum award goes to sellers past $5 million. New to the platform? Read what Fiverr is.
Is Upwork or Fiverr better for high earners?
Both have seven-figure freelancers. See whether Upwork is worth it for your skill before you pick.
How long did it take them to earn a million?
Lambert took about six years, from 2014 to 2020. Fisher’s $1.6 million was reported about five years after he started.
Sources (checked 28 October 2026)
- Business Insider: Richard Lambert as told to (January 2025) ($1.1M gross in 2024, 25,000+ five-star reviews, millionaire by 2020)
- CNBC Make It: Richard Lambert (February 2021) ($2M lifetime sales, Fiverr since October 2014, $75-$130 rates)
- CNBC Make It: Courtney Allen (April 2023) (more than $2M on Upwork, 16X9, 70% long-term clients)
- Business Insider: Evan Fisher (May 2022) (more than $1.6M verified, $300 to $15,000 minimum)
- Fiverr: Breakthrough Achievement recognition (July 2024) ($1M gold, $5M platinum, 35 countries)
- Upwork: Future Workforce Index 2026 (July 2026) (34% AI premium, +45% complex AI work, -13% gen AI creative)
What to do next
Pick one niche you can be known for, and price your first jobs to win reviews. Raise your rate each time demand outgrows your hours.
