$1,000/month · Realty Income (O — monthly REIT)
How much O for $1,000/month?
At O's current 5.48% yield, you'd need about $218,978 invested to generate $1,000/month ($12,000/year) in pre-tax dividends.
Generating $1,000/month from O requires roughly $218,978 at the current 5.48% yield — that's $219k working entirely in O before a single dollar of income arrives. The annual pre-tax total is $12,000, but O's dividends are classified as ordinary income, so after an estimated 24% federal rate the monthly take-home falls to roughly $760. O currently carries a 5.8/10 dividend safety score (Mixed) on our 0–10 scale — a moderate signal — the income is likely stable but worth monitoring. The best account for this strategy is Roth IRA / 401(k) — holding ordinary-income payers in a tax-sheltered account eliminates the tax drag shown above.
To put $218,978 in perspective: at a 10% annual total return, it would take 32 years to grow a $10,000 starting investment to this level without additional contributions. Most investors get there faster by combining capital appreciation with ongoing contributions rather than waiting for a single lump sum.
About the Realty Income (O — monthly REIT) strategy
Monthly dividends from a triple-net-lease REIT with a 25+ year track record. Stable income, modest growth.
Tax treatment: REIT distributions are taxed as ordinary income (no qualified rate).
Best account: Roth IRA / 401(k)
Same income from a different strategy
Different amount, same strategy
Frequently asked
How much do I need in O for $1000/month?
At O's current 5.48% yield, you'd need approximately $218,978 invested to generate $1,000/month ($12,000/year) in pre-tax dividends.
What about taxes?
REIT distributions are taxed as ordinary income (no qualified rate). At an estimated 24% effective rate, that's about $760/month after federal tax — though your actual bracket may differ. Holding this in a Roth IRA avoids the tax drag entirely.
Is O a safe dividend payer?
Our 0-10 dividend safety scale rates O at 5.8/10 (Mixed). See the full breakdown on the O safety page.
Should I diversify across multiple strategies?
Almost always yes. Concentrating $$218,978 in a single ticker — even one as established as O — concentrates dividend-cut risk. A 3-5 strategy mix smooths income across rate, credit, and equity cycles.
How much of that $1,000/month do YOU already generate?
Connect your brokerage in 60 seconds. Infnits projects monthly income from your actual holdings — at your tax bracket, in your accounts — and shows the gap to your target.