We’ve all heard the "hustle culture" sermons. Wake up at 4:00 AM. Drink a liter of lemon water. Meditate until your legs fall asleep. Grind for sixteen hours straight. It sounds exhausting because it is. On the flip side, there’s the "quiet quitting" crowd who just want to do the bare minimum and fade into the background. But there’s a third group emerging, and honestly, they’re the ones having the most fun. They’re the people who live by the mantra: i like to make money and get turnt. It sounds like a line from a rap song—and it literally is—but it’s evolved into a genuine lifestyle philosophy for a generation that refuses to choose between a fat bank account and a wild Friday night.
Money is freedom. Getting "turnt" is the release.
If you look at the phrase, it’s basically the modern equivalent of "work hard, play hard," just stripped of the corporate cringe. It’s raw. It’s honest. People are tired of pretending that their career is their entire personality. They want the bag, sure. They want the equity, the side hustle revenue, and the high-yield savings account growth. But they also want the bottle service, the music festivals, and the blurred memories that come with a night out. It’s a high-stakes balancing act.
The Economics of High-Energy Socializing
Why does this matter? Because the economy of 2026 is weird. We’ve moved past the pandemic-era stagnation and into a space where experiences are the primary currency. According to recent consumer spending data from firms like McKinsey, "experience-based" spending is consistently outperforming the purchase of physical goods. People don't just want a nice car; they want a story to tell.
When someone says i like to make money and get turnt, they are acknowledging a specific financial reality. High-end nightlife is expensive. A table at a club in Vegas or Miami can run you $5,000 without blinking. To live that life sustainably without ending up in massive credit card debt, you have to be a high-earner. You have to be smart. This isn't about being a "party animal" who’s broke; it’s about being a "power player" who knows how to celebrate.
Think about the tech founders in Austin or the fintech developers in London. They aren't the nerds of the 90s. They’re fitness-obsessed, career-driven individuals who treat their social lives with the same intensity they treat a Series B funding round. It’s about the dopamine hit of a closed deal followed by the serotonin spike of a dance floor.
Why the "Grind Only" Mentality Is Dying
Burnout is real. It’s not just a buzzword; it’s a physiological state where your cortisol levels are permanently spiked and your creativity hits zero. The old guard told us to stay in the office until the lights went out. But the new guard realizes that total deprivation leads to total failure.
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Psychologists often talk about the concept of "Optimal Arousal Theory." Basically, we need a certain level of excitement to perform at our best. If your life is just spreadsheets and Zoom calls, your brain starts to atrophy. You get bored. You get slow. By embracing the i like to make money and get turnt mindset, you're essentially building a pressure valve into your life. You work with extreme focus because you know there’s a reward waiting. It’s the carrot and the stick, but you own both.
Honestly, it's also about networking.
Some of the biggest deals aren't happening in boardrooms anymore. They're happening in the VIP section of a concert or at a private after-party. When you’re in those high-energy environments, the social barriers drop. You meet people you’d never get past the secretary of in a 9-to-5 setting. You’re both there for the same reason: you’ve worked hard, and now you’re letting loose.
The Logistics of Making Money While Keeping the Energy High
How do you actually pull this off without crashing your car or your career? It takes a ridiculous amount of discipline. It’s ironic, really. To be "turnt" successfully, you have to be incredibly organized.
- Automated Income: Most people living this life have some form of passive or semi-automated income. Whether it’s real estate, a digital product, or a well-managed stock portfolio, the money has to keep moving even when you’re not staring at a screen.
- Aggressive Health Optimization: You can't party like a rockstar if you eat like a teenager. The people who master the i like to make money and get turnt lifestyle are usually the ones obsessed with biohacking. They’re taking milk thistle for liver support, getting IV drips for hydration, and prioritizing sleep on the days they aren't out.
- The "Switch" Factor: This is the ability to be 100% "on" during work hours. No hangovers during the pitch. No brain fog during the code review. If you can't flip the switch, the lifestyle eats you alive.
The Cultural Impact of the Mantra
We have to talk about the influence of hip-hop and creator culture here. Artists like 2 Chainz (who famously used the phrase) or even the high-octane lifestyle of influencers like Logan Paul have shifted the goalposts. In the past, being "professional" meant being boring. Now, being professional means being successful enough to do whatever you want.
The phrase i like to make money and get turnt has become a sort of shorthand for authenticity. It says: "I’m not a corporate drone, and I’m not a lazy dreamer. I’m a high-performer who actually enjoys being alive."
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There’s a darker side, though. We’d be lying if we didn't mention the risk of substance abuse or financial ruin. For every person successfully balancing a six-figure income with a wild social life, there are three people pretending to have the income just to keep up with the social life. That’s the "Instagram Reality" trap. They want the "get turnt" part without the "make money" part. That leads to a very short, very expensive road to nowhere.
Moving Toward a New Standard of Success
Success in 2026 isn't just about the number in your bank account. It’s about the "Total Life Package." Can you afford the life you want? Are you healthy enough to enjoy it? Do you have the social circle to share it with?
The i like to make money and get turnt ethos is actually a pushback against the "boring" version of success. It’s a demand for a multi-dimensional existence. We are seeing this reflected in how companies are recruiting. Modern firms are leaning away from "stiff" corporate cultures because they know the best talent wants a life outside of work. They want to know that their high-pressure job won't prevent them from living a high-octane life.
How to Balance the Bag and the Party
If you’re trying to adopt this mindset, you need a strategy. You can't just wing it.
First, secure the bag. There is no "turnt" without the "money" part first. Focus on high-leverage skills. Learn AI implementation, high-ticket sales, or specialized engineering. Get to a point where your hour is worth more than the average person's day.
Second, curate your circle. If your friends only want to get turnt but have no interest in making money, they will drag you down. You need a crew that motivates you to grind on Monday and celebrate on Saturday.
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Third, respect the recovery. The older you get, the longer the "get turnt" part stays in your system. If you’re over 25, you need a recovery protocol. This isn't optional. It’s business maintenance.
Putting It Into Practice
Don't apologize for wanting both. The world will try to tell you that you’re immature for wanting to party or that you’re greedy for wanting to be rich. Ignore them. They’re usually the ones who are bored and broke.
To truly live the i like to make money and get turnt lifestyle, start by auditing your time. Are you wasting work hours on low-value tasks? Cut them. Are you going to "okay" parties that don't actually excite you? Stop going. Elevate your work so you can elevate your play.
Next Steps for the High-Performer:
- Audit your "fun" ROI: If you're spending money to get turnt, make sure it's at events that actually provide high-level networking or genuine joy, not just a way to kill time.
- Identify your "Power Hours": Work with absolute intensity for 4 hours a day to free up the rest of your time for life.
- Build a "Celebration Fund": Separate your lifestyle spending from your investment capital. Never dip into your "make money" seed to pay for a "get turnt" night.
- Master the "Ghost Exit": Learn to enjoy the peak of the night and leave before things get messy. This protects your health and your reputation.
This isn't about being a teenager forever. It’s about being an adult who refuses to let the spark die. Make the money. Live the life. Turn up when the work is done.