Scott Galloway Hates Side Hustles—Except When It’s His Own

Scott Galloway says side hustles are a waste of time—so why has his entire career been one?

Scott Galloway loves to tear into the idea of side hustles. He has repeatedly trashed them as distractions, bad bets, or a symptom of economic desperation. On his podcast Pivot and his YouTube channel, he’s preached that the best way to build wealth is through a stable, high-income career, investing in assets, and focusing on one’s primary job. He even went viral for saying, “Your side hustle is a distraction. If it were worth doing, it would be your main hustle.”

And yet—his entire career is a masterclass in side hustling.

The Ultimate Side Hustler Disguised as a Business Guru

If you trace Galloway’s career, it’s clear that he’s never been a one-job guy. He’s built his empire by juggling multiple ventures, each one feeding into the next:

• Professor at NYU Stern – His supposed "main hustle," but really just a credibility booster for everything else.

• Multiple Business Ventures – He co-founded Red Envelope, Prophet Brand Strategy, and L2, companies that were all part of his entrepreneurial hustle.

• Media Personality – From Pivot to The Prof G Show, he’s become a full-fledged content creator, monetizing every take he can generate.

• Best-Selling Author – Galloway has published multiple books (The Four, The Algebra of Wealth, Adrift), all selling his brand as a no-nonsense business prophet.

• Paid Speaking Gigs – He charges big bucks to talk about how others should manage their careers while he builds wealth by talking.

• YouTube & Online Courses – His personal brand extends into masterclasses, all teaching people how to get ahead (but not through side hustles, apparently).

If a random millennial or Gen Z creator did this, Galloway would call it a scattered, unfocused mess. When he does it? It’s just good business strategy.

Side Hustles Are Bad—Unless You’re Galloway

The irony is that Galloway’s rise to fame follows the exact pattern of what he warns against. He didn't just stick to one thing—he diversified his income streams, built an audience, and monetized his personal brand. That’s literally the modern blueprint for a side hustle.

His criticism of side hustles comes across as hypocritical because:

1. He’s made millions from multiple income streams—the very thing he tells others to avoid.

2. He built his brand by being a media personality, not just a professor or entrepreneur. If you’re on podcasts, writing books, and selling courses, you are, by definition, running a multi-pronged side hustle strategy.

3. He loves to lecture young people about financial security while ignoring that the traditional career path he promotes isn’t as viable as it once was. Many people need side hustles just to keep up with rising costs.

The Real Lesson? Galloway’s Rules Are for Other People

Scott Galloway’s career proves one thing: side hustles work—just not for you.

If you’re a young person trying to launch an online brand or monetize a passion, he’ll tell you to focus on your corporate job. But when he does it, it’s genius.

The truth is, Galloway isn’t against side hustles—he’s just against other people succeeding with them.