This Gen Xer spent 28 years in a cubicle and never made more than $70,000. At 59, she made $500,000 in the creator economy

In her mid-50s, Eileen Munoz left her cubicle job in insurance after 28 years and made $500,000 in her first year as a content creator. After working in insurance for nearly three decades, Eileen Munoz found herself burnt out and crying on Sundays, knowing her days in the cubicle were just beginning. Her husband encouraged her to quit her job at the age of 59, and she did so without a plan.

Instead, a friend introduced her to user-generated content (UGC), where brands pay everyday creators to create social media content. Despite never editing a video or filming herself for a brand, Munoz quickly found success in the creator economy. In her first year, she earned $500,000 from UGC and TikTok Shop, promoting products for middle-aged consumers, including skincare, supplements, and menopause-related items.

Munoz believes that age is not a barrier to success in the creator economy, as brands increasingly rely on creators to sell products online. Recent research suggests that a creator's age can shape how credible they appear to consumers, but Munoz has found that her middle-aged status gives her credibility with her target audience.

Brands have a "sweet spot" for working with creators in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, and Munoz is one of many Gen Xers finding success in this industry.