What started as a platform for sharing videos is now home to some of the richest individuals in the world. YouTube has opened gateways for global fame and allowed creators to generate massive revenues through ad revenue, brand deals, and much more. Many such YouTubers who have capitalized on global fame have made it to this list of the top 10 richest YouTubers.
10. Markiplier - $35 Million
Mark Edward Fischbach, known as Markiplier, is a YouTuber, gamer, and internet personality. With an estimated net worth of $35 million as of 2024, Markiplier has diversified his portfolio to allow for multiple revenue streams. Markiplier’s primary source of income is from his YouTube career, which includes ad revenue, sponsorships, and brand deals. According to Forbes, Fischbach earned $30 million in 2023. As for his business ventures, Markiplier also has a lucrative merchandise line and a content creation company called "Cloak," which he co-founded with fellow YouTuber Jacksepticeye.
9. Ninja - $40 Million
Richard Tyler Blevins, known as Ninja, has created a fortune from his career as a streamer and internet personality. Mostly associated with the game Fortnite, Ninja is said to have an estimated net worth of $40 million as of 2024. Most of his net worth comes from his live streams on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, which include advertisem*nts, subscriptions, and donations from his viewers. According to Forbes, Ninja earned $10 million in 2023. Ninja also made around $30 million after his contract with Mixer fell through since the site got shut down. Ninja’s other business ventures that contribute to his wealth include merchandise sales, book deals, and public appearances.
8. PewDiePie- $40 Million
Considered to be one of the most influential YouTubers in the world, Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, has an estimated net worth of around $40 million as of 2024. With a massive subscriber count of 111 million, PewDiePie was the richest YouTuber in the world in 2015 and 2016. As for his earnings, PewDiePie’s major source of income comes from YouTube, which includes sponsorships, brand deals, and ad revenue. However, much like any smart YouTuber, PewDiePie has also diversified his portfolio, creating revenue sources from merchandise sales, sales of his bestseller book “This Book Loves You,” and investments in other projects.
7. Jake Paul - $70 Million
With an estimated net worth of $70 million as of 2024, Jake Paul has a wide range of business ventures that contribute to his wealth. According to Forbes, Jake earned $34 million in 2023, which made him the third highest-earning creator in 2023. While initially starting as an actor on the Disney Channel show "Bizaardvark," Paul found great success as a YouTuber, which ultimately became his major source of revenue and fame. Over the years, Paul has significantly diversified his revenue streams, venturing into merchandising, the music industry, and book sales. Transitioning to a boxing career, Paul has also generated significant revenue from his high-profile matches that draw large pay-per-view audiences. Paul generated close to $40 million from his boxing career.
6. Vlad and Niki - $105 Million
Managed by their parents, Vlad and Niki are child YouTubers who have an estimated net worth of around $105 million as of 2024. Their YouTube channel, which includes skits, challenges, and toy reviews, forms their main source of income. According to Social Blade, they earn anywhere from $302.3K to $4.8 million in a month. With lucrative brand deals from toy companies, children's products, and other family-friendly brands, Vald and Niki have also produced their line of merchandise to further diversify their portfolio. Other business ventures by the YouTubers include mobile games like Smart Games and appearances in TV shows and commercials.
5. Like Nastya - $106 Million
Another child YouTuber on the list, Anastasia Radzinskaya, better known as Like Nastya, has amassed a massive fortune of $106 million as a YouTuber. Targeted at toddlers and young children, the YouTube channel boasts family vlogging, toy reviews, and educational videos. Nastya is also active on TikTok, which generates close to $18K in posts. Given Nastya’s massive subscriber count of 120 million, NFT collection, and a lucrative brand deal from toy manufacturer IMG, the YouTuber is expected to earn at least $30 million a year.
4. Ryan Kaji - $110 Million
The kid behind the channel “Ryan’s World," Ryan Kaji, is a child YouTuber with an estimated net worth of around $110 million. With an annual earning of $22 million, $26 million, and $29 million in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively, Kaji also held the title of the highest-paid YouTuber. Kaji’s YouTube channel, which started in 2014, has been the main source of income for Kaji. His channel mostly revolves around science experiments, DIY arts, and unboxing videos. His considerable success on YouTube has allowed him to sign deals with toy manufacturers like Hot Wheels and Paw Patrol. Moreover, Kaji also has his own line of merchandise, which is available both online and at retail stores like Target. Kaji also has his own business ventures, which include a gaming app called “Tag with Ryan," a show called “Ryan’s Mystery Playdate," and his own game, “Race with Ryan."
3. Logan Paul - $150 Million
With a current net worth of around $150 million, Paul initially gained fame on Vine before Logan Paul made a shift to YouTube. While Paul went on to amass huge revenues from his YouTube channels with prank videos and skits earlier, he has ventured into a bunch of businesses to further diversify his portfolio. To begin with, he has his own merchandise company, Maverick Apparel, and a boxing career with significant pay-per-view revenues. Logan Paul, along with fellow YouTuber KSI, is also involved in the sports drink brand PRIME, which currently has a valuation of $27 million. Additionally, Logan has made money from his contract with the WWE and from his high-profile boxing matches against KSI and Floyd Mayweather. As for annual earnings, Paul made close to $21 million in 2023, as per Forbes.
2. Jeffree Star - $200 Million
Jeffree Star, a prominent internet personality, entrepreneur, and makeup artist, is currently estimated to have a net worth of around $200 million. While his YouTube career is the primary source of his fame, Star makes most of his money from his cosmetic brand, Jeffree Star Cosmetics. Star leveraged his fame on YouTube to promote his cosmetic brand, which is estimated to bring in around $100 million annually. Apart from this, Star is also involved in a dozen side ventures, which include real estate, merchandising, sponsorships, etc.
1. MrBeast - $500 Million
Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, is the richest YouTuber in the world, with an estimated net worth of around $500 million. Currently the most subscribed channel on YouTube, with a subscriber count of over 400 million over all his channels, MrBeast has amassed massive fame and fortune, mostly because of his large-scale giveaway videos. With an average sponsored video earning somewhere between $2.5 and $3 million, MrBeast invests most of the earnings back into his YouTube channel. Capitalizing on the fame, MrBeast has also ventured into multiple businesses, including a chocolate company, Feastable, and an upcoming Amazon Prime series that is estimated to be worth $100 million. Overall, MrBeast’s massive empire brings him anywhere between $600-$700 every year, while Forbes estimated that Jimmy himself earned around $82 million in 2023.
