When markets get choppy and headlines fill with geopolitical drama, dividend stocks suddenly look a lot more attractive. They're the financial equivalent of comfort food: reliable, steady, and they tend to hold up when everything else is falling apart.

That appeal certainly isn't lost on one investor who recently shared some eye-popping numbers with the dividend investing community on Reddit. This 49-year-old has built a portfolio that generates $10,097 in monthly dividend income. Yes, that's over $120,000 per year in passive income.

The investor posted screenshots of his portfolio to r/Dividends, a community with 220,000 members who share a common passion for income-generating investments. What makes his story particularly interesting is how he got there: AI stocks were the rocket fuel that helped him reach his income goals.

"Over 90% still in growth stocks," he explained. "Tempted to just go ahead and retire."

That's quite the position to be in at 49. Let's break down the eight holdings that are generating this impressive income stream.

The Heavyweight Champion: Broadcom

With a $581,000 stake, Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) is the clear heavyweight in this portfolio. The stock has climbed 48% over the past year and currently yields about 0.8%. That's not a spectacular yield on its face, but when you're sitting on half a million dollars in the stock, you're looking at consistent dividend growth combined with serious capital appreciation. The investor specifically cited Broadcom's dividend growth history and stock price gains as key reasons for the oversized position.

The Safe Harbor: Fidelity Government Money Market Fund

Coming in as the second-largest holding is a $200,000 position in the Fidelity Government Money Market Fund (SPAXX). This is essentially the portfolio's cash cushion, invested in short-term government securities. It's not exciting, but it serves a purpose: liquidity and stability while still earning something in this higher-rate environment.

The AI Powerhouse: Nvidia

The investor holds an $85,000 position in Nvidia Corp. (NVDA), the chip maker that's become synonymous with AI computing. The stock is up 36% over the past year, though that understates Nvidia's explosive growth over a longer timeframe. While Nvidia isn't known for its dividend yield, it's clearly part of the growth engine that helped build this portfolio's value.

The Income Boosters: YieldMax Option Income ETFs

Here's where things get interesting from a pure income perspective. The YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF (NVDY) generates income by selling call options on Nvidia, sporting a distribution rate of about 38%. Its sibling, the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (MSTY), does the same thing with Strategy Inc. (MSTR) and has an even higher distribution rate of about 64%.

These aren't your grandfather's dividend stocks. Option income strategies can produce eye-popping yields, but they come with trade-offs. You're essentially capping your upside in exchange for premium income. When the underlying stocks are volatile, these funds can throw off serious cash, which clearly fits this investor's income goals.

The High-Yield REIT: PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (PMT) brings a mortgage REIT into the mix, offering a dividend yield of over 12%. The stock has gained 9% over the past year. Mortgage REITs are interest rate sensitive and can be volatile, but they're popular among income investors who can stomach the ups and downs in exchange for those hefty yields.

The Sector Play: iShares Semiconductor ETF

The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) provides broad exposure to U.S. semiconductor manufacturers. With a dividend yield of about 0.5%, it's not an income powerhouse, but it offers diversified exposure to the chip sector. The fund's top holdings include Nvidia, Micron Technology Inc. (MU), Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), Broadcom, and Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT). Notice a theme? This portfolio is heavily tilted toward semiconductors.

The Global Chip Leader: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Rounding out the portfolio is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM), which has surged about 60% over the past year. With a dividend yield of about 1%, it's another low-yield growth stock that's clearly been a major contributor to the portfolio's overall value appreciation.

The Big Picture

What's fascinating about this portfolio is the apparent contradiction: it's generating substantial dividend income, but it's overwhelmingly composed of growth stocks, particularly in the AI and semiconductor space. The investor found a way to have his cake and eat it too, riding the AI wave for capital appreciation while using option income strategies and select high-yield positions to generate monthly cash flow.

The semiconductor concentration is notable and somewhat risky. If chip stocks hit a rough patch, this portfolio would feel it. But for now, the strategy is clearly working. Generating over $10,000 monthly in dividend income is no small feat, and doing it while maintaining significant exposure to growth stocks is even more impressive.

Whether he decides to pull the trigger on early retirement remains to be seen. But with numbers like these, it's certainly tempting to think about it.