Top-Earning Real Estate Agents in the USA (2026 Ranked)

Who are the top-earning real estate agents in the U.S., and how did they build such large businesses? The answer depends on how you define success. Some agents rank at the top because they close billions in annual sales volume. Others are famous because they turned luxury real estate, media, and personal branding into national recognition.

This article breaks the topic into two groups: the highest-producing agents by sales volume and the most famous real estate agents in the U.S. The first group shows what extreme production looks like. The second shows how visibility, media, and branding can also create a powerful real estate business.

Measuring Success: What Makes an Agent “Top-Earning”?

Real estate rankings usually measure production in two ways: sales volume and transaction sides.

Sales volume is the combined dollar value of all properties an agent sold in a year. This favors luxury agents and agents who work in expensive markets because one ultra-high-end sale can represent tens of millions of dollars.

Transaction sides measure the number of deals closed. This can be a better signal of operational scale. An agent who closes 2,000 transactions in a year is running a very different business from an agent who closes 30 luxury deals.

That is why this article separates top-earning agents by production from famous real estate agents by public recognition. Ben Caballero is the clearest example of production dominance. Ryan Serhant is the clearest example of a media-first real estate brand.

How Much Money do Top-Earning Agents Make? 

A high sales volume does not mean the agent personally takes home that full amount. Real estate agents earn a commission or fee from each transaction, and that money may be reduced by brokerage splits, team expenses, marketing costs, staff, taxes, referral fees, and operating costs.

For a simple comparison, this article uses a 2.5% estimated gross commission on sales volume. This is not the agent’s confirmed personal income. It is only a rough estimate before expenses and splits.

For example, an agent with $1 billion in annual sales volume could generate about $25 million in estimated gross commission at 2.5%. The actual take-home amount may be much lower depending on the agent’s business model.

This clarification is important because Ben Caballero, for example, uses a builder-focused flat-fee model rather than a traditional luxury-agent commission model.

5 Top-Earning Real Estate Agents in the USA

The production list below focuses on individual agents, not teams, developers, investors, or brokerage companies. Rankings can change each year as RealTrends updates its verified production data. For context, the 2026 RealTrends program was released on June 5, 2026, and its ranking pages sort agents by volume and transaction sides.

Now that we have established how to measure success in the real estate world, let’s see what it looks like in real life. Who are those agents who are doing billionaire sales? This list only includes solo agents from the most recent rankings in Real Trends, so you have a better idea of how much a single person can make.

Unlike real estate developers or investors, these are practicing agents: people who actively represent buyers, sellers, or builder clients in real estate transactions.

1- Ben Caballero — HomesUSA.com, Inc

You probably have already heard of Ben Caballero from Dallas, Texas, founder and CEO of HomesUSA.com. After all, not every real estate agent manages to make annual sales of over 1 billion dollars and get multiple Guinness World Records. In 2024 alone, he made $3.92 billion in sales, with 7,722 transactions in total.  

Unlike traditional agents who earn a percentage of each sale, Caballero charges builders a flat fee per transaction, a scalable model that allows him to close thousands of deals without relying on the same commission structure as luxury agents. Using a 2.5% traditional commission estimate, his $3.92 billion in sales would equal about $98 million in gross commission before brokerage splits and operating costs, but his actual builder-focused model may produce a different number.

Notice that several of these top earners operate as managing brokers, not just agents. Becoming a broker opens the door to running your own team, office, and business. For a concrete look at what the broker path requires, see our guide on how to become a real estate broker in Texas, one of the largest markets in the country. Ben Caballero, the #1 agent in the USA, operates out of Texas for a reason.

2- Deborah Kern — Corcoran

In the ultra-luxury market of Manhattan, we will find our second most successful real estate agent. Deborah Kern represents an elite clientele and identifies more as a personal agent than a real estate agent. She’s been performing top high-value property transactions since 2006, and in 2024, her sales volume was $1.12 billion for only 122 transactions. 

Estimated gross commission: about $28 million, based on 2.5% of sales volume, before brokerage splits, taxes, marketing, staff, and other operating costs.

3- Christian Angle — Christian Angle Real Estate

In third place, we have another agent who specializes in some of the most prestigious properties in Florida. Christian Angle has a boutique firm in Palm Beach, and while he makes fewer deals each year, each one is well into the multimillion-dollar range, and his clients adore him for his reputation of discretion, exclusivity, and high-end dealmaking. In 2024, in only 35 transactions, he sold $792.35 million worth of incredible properties. 

Estimated gross commission: about $19.8 million, based on 2.5% of sales volume, before brokerage splits, taxes, marketing, staff, and other operating costs.

4- Jonathan Minerick — Homecoin

From San Diego, California, comes the fourth place in our list. Jonathan Minerick is a licensed broker in over 20 states and is also the founder of homecoin.com, a real estate platform that offers a range of services to help clients sell their homes without a traditional agent. In 2024 alone, he sold $764.81 million in 1,556 transactions. 

Estimated gross commission: about $19.1 million, based on 2.5% of sales volume, before brokerage splits, taxes, marketing, staff, and other operating costs.

5- Drew Fenton — Carolwood Estates

In fifth place, we have another incredible real estate agent who works in an elite area. Drew Fenton represents the most significant estates in Beverly Hills, Holmby Hills, and Bel Air. In his long career, he has listed and sold the Playboy Mansion, Frances Brody Estate, Owlwood, Doheny Estate, and Rosewood in Bel Air, amongst other legacy properties. In 2024, with only 31 deals, he sold $750.00 million worth of incredible properties. 

Estimated gross commission: about $18.75 million, based on 2.5% of sales volume, before brokerage splits, taxes, marketing, staff, and other operating costs.

6. Steven Koleno — Dream Town Real Estate

Steven Koleno is known for a high-volume business model rather than a pure luxury model. While many top agents reach the rankings through a small number of ultra-expensive deals, Koleno’s production comes from handling a large number of transactions at scale.

In recent top-agent roundups, Koleno has been listed with more than $700 million in sales volume and more than 2,000 transaction sides, showing how operational efficiency can compete with luxury dealmaking.

Estimated gross commission: approximately $17.6 million, based on 2.5% of $703.65 million in sales volume.

7. Thomas Ullrich — RE/MAX Professionals

Thomas Ullrich represents another high-volume model. Based in Colorado, his production shows how an agent can build a major business outside the traditional coastal luxury markets.

His success is a useful example for newer agents because it shows that top production does not always require Beverly Hills, Manhattan, or Palm Beach. Strong systems, local expertise, and consistent transaction volume can also create elite results.

Estimated gross commission: approximately $16.6 million, based on 2.5% of $665.07 million in sales volume.

8. David Roberts — Royal Palm Properties

David Roberts focuses on luxury real estate in Boca Raton and South Florida. His business is closer to the ultra-high-end model used by agents in Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, and Manhattan: fewer transactions, but very high average deal values.

This kind of career path depends heavily on market positioning, reputation, luxury marketing, and long-term relationships with affluent buyers and sellers.

Estimated gross commission: approximately $15.6 million, based on 2.5% of $623.88 million in sales volume.

9. Chris Cortazzo — Compass

Chris Cortazzo is one of Malibu’s most recognized luxury agents. His business is built around coastal estates, high-net-worth clients, and deep market knowledge in one of the most valuable real estate markets in the country.

His success shows the power of owning a niche. Instead of trying to serve every possible client, top luxury agents often become closely associated with one location, one property type, or one lifestyle.

Estimated gross commission: approximately $14.9 million, based on 2.5% of $596.93 million in sales volume.

10. Tracy Campion — Campion and Company

Tracy Campion is a leading luxury agent in the Boston market. Her production shows that top-earning agents are not limited to California, Florida, Texas, or New York. Strong local dominance in a high-value market can also create national-level results.

Her model is especially useful for agents who want to understand boutique luxury positioning: deep relationships, local authority, and a reputation for handling premium properties.

Estimated gross commission: approximately $13.2 million, based on 2.5% of $528.16 million in sales volume.

Most Famous Real Estate Agents in the USA

The highest-earning agents by sales volume are not always the most searched or most famous agents. Some real estate professionals become widely known because of television, streaming shows, social media, books, and personal branding.

That is why Ryan Serhant belongs in this article even if he does not appear in the top-five RealTrends sales-volume list. Readers searching for top real estate agents often want both categories: the agents who produce the most and the agents the public recognizes.

Ryan Serhant — SERHANT.

Ryan Serhant is one of the most famous real estate agents in the U.S. He became widely known through Million Dollar Listing New York and later expanded his media profile with Owning Manhattan on Netflix. He is also the founder of SERHANT., a brokerage built around luxury real estate, content, technology, and personal branding.

Public estimates often place Ryan Serhant’s net worth around $40 million, although net worth figures are unofficial estimates rather than verified financial statements. Fortune reported that Serhant has closed more than $15 billion in real estate over his career and built a brokerage with more than 1,100 agents across 14 states.

The lesson from Serhant is different from the lesson from Ben Caballero. Caballero shows the power of operational scale. Serhant shows the power of visibility. His business model turns media, social content, personal branding, and brokerage operations into a lead-generation engine.

Josh Altman — The Altman Brothers / Douglas Elliman

Josh Altman is another example of the media-driven luxury model. He became widely known through Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles and built his brand around high-end properties in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and other Los Angeles luxury markets.

Altman’s career also explains why Douglas Elliman appears in search data connected to this topic. Douglas Elliman is not an individual agent; it is a major brokerage brand associated with several high-profile luxury agents, including Josh Altman and Fredrik Eklund.

The lesson from Altman is positioning. He combines television visibility, luxury-market expertise, negotiation skills, and a strong team brand.

Fredrik Eklund — Eklund | Gomes

Fredrik Eklund became famous through Million Dollar Listing New York and later expanded his business through the Eklund | Gomes Team. His brand is closely tied to luxury real estate, international reach, and high-energy storytelling.

The Close lists Eklund among the most famous real estate agents and notes his expansion across major U.S. markets and internationally.

The lesson from Eklund is that luxury real estate is often about more than property facts. Storytelling, lifestyle marketing, international networks, and emotional presentation can make listings feel more valuable and memorable.

How to Become a Top-Earning Real Estate Agent 

Now that you know what a single person can achieve in the real estate world, let’s see how they got where they are now, what strategies they used, and what influenced their success. 

The Role of Team Structure

If there’s an important choice you need to make in your career, it’s deciding whether to work as a solo agent or lead a team. Both options can lead you to incredible success, but the path and abilities needed are not the same. 

•  Running a team: This can significantly multiply earnings by taking in more work and expanding into multiple markets simultaneously without stretching one person too thin. 

• Being a solo agent: The secret of these professionals to produce consistently high results is to focus on efficiency, a tight niche, and deep client relationships.
  

The Impact of Market and Niches

As you can imagine, where you live and practice plays a huge role in how much you can earn, and this factor is called the Geographic market. 

Location matters enormously in real estate earnings. In Florida alone, agent salaries vary dramatically by city, from high-volume markets like Miami and Palm Beach to more moderate markets inland. The top earners didn’t just pick a state; they strategically chose the most lucrative submarkets within that state.

• Areas with luxury-heavy inventory, high transaction activity, or rapid growth offer greater earning potential. Like Manhattan, Beverly Hills, or Miami, where agents can close fewer deals and still achieve massive annual sales.
  
• Specializing in high-end properties brings significant income potential due to larger commissions, and clients pay more for premium marketing, staging, and concierge-level service.

• Fast-growing metro areas with booming job markets bring consistent buyer demand and price appreciation. So properties sell for less, but there are plenty more deals each year.
  
• Beyond luxury, agents can niche down into unique segments like waterfront homes, equestrian estates, or historic properties. 

Strategies That Set Top-Earners Apart

To become a top-earning agent, you can’t rely on a single approach to grow your business; you will need to innovate constantly to stay on top of the game.

• Top-earning agents use multiple strategies, not just one, and constantly innovate.
  
• Many succeed by adopting unique business models or hyper-targeted marketing in specific neighborhoods or property types. 

As a newer real estate agent, brokerage affiliation also plays a role in success.

• Joining a well-known or luxury brokerage gives brand recognition, networks, and quality leads.
  
• Working with a boutique firm allows more personal branding and less internal competition.

Public Profile and Brand Building

If you already know some of the nation’s top agents, think for a moment. Where did you see them the very first time? There’s a chance that they appeared on television shows or were featured in a major publication. Visibility is a strong tool to build trust and attract high-value clients. Plus, a well-crafted public image can also open doors to new opportunities. 

Record-breaking achievements also significantly enhance an agent’s brand. Whether it’s holding a Guinness World Record for most homes sold in a year or setting a local sales record, these milestones create a marketing advantage that’s hard to ignore. 

Achieving all this can seem out of reach just now. But don’t worry, even the most successful agents started with only a solid education and zero experience.  

Start your career today with Lexawise

If you like reading this article, you will probably thrive as a real estate agent, and we are here to help you make your dream come true. If you start studying today, you can become a real estate agent in no time. 

Every agent on this list started the same way: by passing their state’s licensing exam. First-time pass rates range from 46% to over 75% depending on the state, which means the first hurdle on the path to top-earner status varies dramatically by geography. Ben Caballero got licensed in Texas; Drew Fenton in California. The difficulty of that first step depends entirely on where you start.

If you have flexibility on where to get licensed, some states have significantly easier exams than others, and getting licensed faster means you start earning sooner. Several of the agents on this list didn’t start in the states where they ultimately built their empires; they got licensed first and expanded from there.

The career structure also varies by state: in Tennessee, for example, all new licensees are called affiliate brokers, not agents, and they must work under a principal broker from day one. Understanding these differences matters if you’re planning which state to start in and how quickly you can build toward independence.

Your journey starts with the licensing exam. Try the free real estate practice exam to see where you stand, pick your state and start practicing.

Lexawise suits every learning style — whether you’re a total beginner or need a quick refresher. If you’re starting from scratch, our guide on how to become a real estate agent with no experience covers the full path from pre-licensing to your first closing. When you’re ready to study, the real estate exam prep has state-specific practice questions, simulated exams, and AI tutoring.

Final Takeaway

The top-earning real estate agents in the U.S. do not all follow the same path. Some dominate through volume. Some win through luxury relationships. Some build teams, platforms, or media brands. What they share is focus: each one found a model, market, or niche and built around it consistently.

Ben Caballero shows how powerful systems can create record-breaking production. Deborah Kern, Christian Angle, and Drew Fenton show how luxury specialization can generate massive volume from fewer transactions. Ryan Serhant shows how media and personal branding can turn visibility into a business advantage.

For new agents, the path starts smaller: get licensed, choose the right brokerage, learn your market, build trust, and pick a strategy you can repeat. Over time, consistent execution is what turns a license into a real business.

Success doesn’t happen overnight, but by learning from these industry leaders, any agent can start building the foundation for long-term earnings. Location matters: see where real estate agents earn the most for a breakdown by state and metro area. Several of the top earners on this list built their businesses in high-value markets like Beverly Hills and New York, where commission checks on a single transaction can exceed what agents in other markets earn in a year.