Crossword Genius

Almost sooner than expected, make millions out of title (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

earldom

'title' is the definition.
(title or rank of an earl)

'almost sooner than expected make millions' is the wordplay.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (almost the whole word is kept).
'sooner than expected' becomes 'early' (synonyms).
'make' becomes 'do' (do can mean to make or prepare).
'millions' becomes 'm' (abbreviation).
'early' with its final letter removed is 'earl'.
'earl'+'do'+'m'='EARLDOM'

'out of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for earldom that I've seen before include "What sort of noble has" , "A noble's lands or title" , "Essex?" , "Norfolk or Wessex, for example" , "Units" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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