From June 2022 to June 2023, the 50 richest content creators earned a total of $700 million, with a collective following of 2.92 billion. The study by WealthofGeeks.com made use of data from Forbes’ annual list of the top 50 digital content creators spanning the period from June 2022 to June 2023.
TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram emerged as the go-to platforms for these creators, with TikTok leading the charge with 40 percent of the total followers (1.2 billion), followed by YouTube at 24.8 percent (724.8 million) and Instagram at 22 percent (642.2 million).
Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) secured the number one spot as the “Richest Content Creator” in the list, boasting an income of $82.3 million and an impressive following of 377 million. Rhett & Link, Preston Arsement, and Ryan Kaji follow closely, each earning $35 million with respective follower counts of 51 million, 39 million, and 36 million. Olajide Olatunji (KSI), born of Nigerian parents, made the list of top 10 with an income of $24 million.
Olatunji, according to findings, was born on June 19 1993 in London and was raised in Watford, Hertfordshire. His father, Olajide Olatunji Sr, was born in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Key findings of the study by WealthofGeeks.com shows the following:
Generational influence: Among the top 50 creators, Millennials continue to dominate with 56 percent, followed by Gen Z at 40 percent and Gen X at 4 percent.
Industry Landscape: The content creation industry remains largely dominated by the United States, representing 80 percent of the top 50 creators.
Looking at the big shots in social media, the top 20 money-making creators pulled in a whopping $529 million last year. That’s about 75.6 percent of the massive $700 million earned by the top 50 creators.
The top 10 highest-earning content creators for 2023 are:
- Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) – Income: $82M
Jimmy Donaldson, famously known as MrBeast, has secured his place as a top American YouTuber and philanthropist. With over 206M followers on YouTube and a notable presence on other platforms, including TikTok with 88M followers, he has taken a decade to rise to the top.
Across all his platforms, MrBeast commands a total of 377.1M followers, with an earning of $82.3M, making 11.7% of the total $700M earnings by all top creators.
Content Industry: Stunts
Total followers: 377M
Facebook: 15M
Instagram: 43M
YouTube: 206M
Tiktok: 88M
X(Twitter): 24M
- Rhett & Link (Good Mythical Morning) – Income: $35M
Rhett James McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln “Link” Neal III, the dynamic duo behind Rhett and Link, have made a mark in the comedy industry. With a substantial presence on platforms like YouTube (23.5M followers) and TikTok (4.5M followers), their comedic shows, podcasts, and sketches have earned them an income of $35M.
Rhett and Link’s diverse content has garnered a 51M follower base, with impressive earnings per 1,000 followers of $686.27.
Content Industry: Comedy
Total Followers: 51M
Facebook: 5.7M
Instagram: 3.4M
YouTube: 23.5M
TikTok: 4.5M
X (Twitter): 924.4K
Other platforms: 13M
- Preston Arsement (PrestonPlayz) – Income: $35M
Preston Arsement, a gaming industry influencer, started creating videos after high school, amassing 25.2M YouTube followers and 10.2M on TikTok. With a total of 39M followers across platforms, he’s achieved milestones like a role in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and creating a graphic novel.
His earnings per 1,000 followers of $897.44 demonstrated effective monetization of his follower base.
Content Industry: Gaming
Total Followers: 39M
Instagram: 1.8M
YouTube: 25.2M
TikTok: 10.2M
X (Twitter): 1.8M
Earnings per 1k followers: $897
- Ryan Kaji – Income: $35M
Ten-year-old sensation Ryan Kaji, known for his YouTube channel Ryan’s World, has 35.8M followers and has turned his unboxing videos into a successful toys and games business.
With a total of 36M followers across platforms, he contributed almost 5% to the combined earnings of $700M, and his earnings per 1,000 followers stand at an impressive $972.22, well above the average.
Content Industry: Reviewer
Total Followers: 36M
Facebook: 24K
Instagram: 162K
YouTube: 35.8M
Other platforms: 14K
- Jake Paul – Income: $34M
Jake Paul, known for his music, boxing, and content creation ventures, has navigated the online space since his Vine days. With a significant following on platforms like Instagram (25M followers) and TikTok (17.3M followers), Jake Paul’s diverse endeavors have earned him $34M.
Across all platforms, he commands a total of 73.1M followers, with an Earnings per 1,000 followers of $465.12.
Content Industry: Music and Boxing
Total Followers: 73.1M
Facebook: 5.7M
Instagram: 25M
YouTube: 20.5M
TikTok: 17.3M
X (Twitter): 4.6M
- Elliot Tebele (FJerry) – Income: $30M
Elliot Tebele, the meme culture maestro and FJerry LLC founder, extends his ventures into a board game and Jaja tequila.
Despite having 25.6M followers across platforms, his noteworthy earnings per 1,000 followers at $1,172.20 reflects a substantial dollar value, as evidenced by his impressive $30M earnings in 2023.
Content Industry: Comedy
Total Followers: 25.6M
Facebook: 3.8M
Instagram: 16.9M
YouTube: 416K
TikTok: 4.4M
X (Twitter): 77K
- Mark Edward Fischbach (Markiplier)– Income: $30M
Mark Edward, popularly known as Markiplier, has carved a niche in the gaming world and extended his influence to the fashion realm with his clothing brand Cloak.
With 35.7M YouTube followers and a diverse presence on other platforms, Markiplier commanded a total of 74.6M followers, and his earnings per 1,000 followers are $402.19.
Content Industry: Gaming
Total Followers: 74.6M
Facebook: 3.6M
Instagram: 12M
YouTube: 35.7M
TikTok: 6.9M
X (Twitter): 13.9M
Twitch: 2.49M
- Sean McLoughlin (Jacksepticeye)– Income: $27M
Jacksepticeye, the co-founder of Cloak, has amassed a substantial gaming community with 30.5M YouTube followers and 2.8M on Twitch, totaling 54.5M across platforms.
His earnings per 1,000 followers at $495.56 underscore the engagement of his audience, and with only 54.5M followers, he earned an impressive $27M in 2023, highlighting the substantial value of his follower base.
Content Industry: Gaming
Total Followers: 54.5M
Facebook: 464K
Instagram: 7.9M
YouTube: 30.5M
TikTok: 5.1M
X (Twitter): 7.7M
Twitch: 2.8M
- Matt Rife – Income: $25M
Stand-up comedian turned online sensation Matt Rife gained popularity through a viral TikTok clip. Matt Rife achieved a total of 28.4M followers across platforms and a commendable Earnings per 1,000 followers of $881.68.
He has successfully translated his comedic presence into ticket sales for international shows and a stand-up special on Netflix.
Content Industry: Comedy
Total Followers: 28.4M
Facebook: 2.9M
Instagram: 5.8M
YouTube: 1.7M
TikTok: 17.7M
X (Twitter): 245K
- Olajide Olatunji (KSI) – Income: $24M
KSI, originally known for FIFA game reactions, has diversified into boxing and music.
With 112M followers across platforms, including YouTube (24.1M followers) and TikTok (11.8 M followers), KSI’s journey reflects his transition from gaming spectator to active participant, with an Earnings per 1,000 followers of $214.29.
Content Industry: Music and Boxing
Total Followers: 112M
Facebook: 5.5M
Instagram: 13.3M
YouTube: 24.1M
TikTok: 11.8M
X (Twitter): 9M
Twitch: 48.3M.
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