What is the most appropriate literal translation of 赚钱 In European languages the literal meaning of the verb that is used to describe earning money varies from language to language.
Some examples:
British:    earn money (money is something you harvest)

American:   make money (money is something you create)

German:     Geld verdienen (literal: deserve money)
(money is something you are entitled to have because of your work)

Spanish:    ganar dinero (literal: win money)
(money comes with luck)

French:     gagner de l'argent (literal: win money)
(money comes with luck)

What is the most appropriate literal translation of 赚钱 to English in that sense?
赚钱 has multiple context in mandarin.

工作赚钱 ； work for living

做生意赚钱 ： making/earning a living from the trade

这生意很赚钱 ： the business is profitable

买一送二， 这次赚了 ： buy 1 free 2, what a gain.

So which context you are referring to ? 

There are few more meaning as describe by zdnet on 赚, which carry specially meaning in various literature.