💰 What Can We Learn From YouTube’s All-Time Top Earners?

CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER


Top-earning YouTubers rake in millions of dollars each year from brand deals, merchandising, and launching product lines. 

While TikTok won the attention of many Gen Zers, the top earner on TikTok in 2021, Charli D’Amelio, only earned $17.5 million. That’s less than what the top nine YouTube monetizers made in 2021. 

With that monetization potential, YouTube will likely hold its stake and continue to grow in the new year. This week, Passionfruit contributor Rachel Kiley takes a look at the numbers behind YouTube’s top earners, assessing how they got there and what we can learn from their stories.


TOOLS REVIEW

10 of the top-earning YouTubers of all time—and what we can learn from them

Jake Paul, Markiplier, and Mr. Beast in front of green to blue gradient YouTube background Passionfruit Remix

The best gift for the mobile content creator

Love to shoot content with your phone? Capture more than quick snaps with high-quality mobile lights, lenses, mics, gimbals, and more with Moment gear. Get up to 60% off on holiday picks for mobile content creators to give to your family, friends, or even yourself.


ONE GREAT TIP


THE HIGHLIGHT

What the Sophia Rosing case reveals about racism and the viral economy of Black trauma

It is essential for creators to unpack how virality around an incident of hate is profitable for social media platforms.

By Prince Shakur, Passionfruit Contributor


TIPS AND TRICKS

Personality-driven content creator Sol Carlos discusses the importance of spontaneity

“You don’t need a fancy camera, an extensive, elaborate set, or a fancy outfit to go viral. You only need a memorable personality.”

By Grace Stanley, Newsletter Editor


IN THE BIZ


TIKTOK MADE ME DO IT

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • 🔥 VidCon: Internet OGs Share How They Fight Burnout

    🔥 VidCon: Internet OGs Share How They Fight Burnout

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 46 | June 28, 2022 Happy Tuesday! Beginning today, we’ll be bringing you two newsletters per week (although, as a programming note, we will be skipping July 5 to account for the holiday). This week, we’re sharing some of our dispatches from VidCon, which returned to Anaheim after three years away…

  • 💫 How Smosh Survived 16 Years of the Internet

    💫 How Smosh Survived 16 Years of the Internet

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 45 | June 23, 2022 Together with: … Yesterday marked the start of VidCon, and the Passionfruit team is here to give you the rundown of what’s going on in Anaheim. After nearly three years away due to the pandemic, the conference is back, and the energy is chaotic. From legendary…

  • 💰 YouTube Drama Leads to Demonetization

    💰 YouTube Drama Leads to Demonetization

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 44 | June 16, 2022 Creators have struggled against YouTube’s strike system and demonetization processes for years. Following the 2017 Adpocalypse, YouTube began vigilantly taking ads off of videos considered to be brand unsafe. This, coupled with a copyright strike system that can often be abused, has left creators extra cautious…