Lindsey Stirling, PewDiePie and KSI Among Top Earners on YouTube

Coming in fourth is Lindsey Stirling who performs online by playing the violin and dancing, often at the same time.

There was one Canadian YouTube sensation that made the list. However, in 2012, he reached over one million subscribers and, in September 2015, he excitedly tweeted about his channel receiving over 10 billion views.

Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla come in at the second place under their comedy act’s name “Smosh”, with earnings of US$8.5 million, tying with Benny and Rafi Fine, whose “React” series earned them the same amount.

Pewdiepie opened his YouTube channel in 2010 so he can upload and share his self-made video of commentaries and reactions as he plays video games. In April, he released a song, called: “Lamborghini” – something the YouTube star can certainly afford with his $4.5 million payday.

YouTube stars make their money by interacting with fans and viewers in numerous different ways. Comedians Rhett and Link (Rhett McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln Neal III); and video game commentator KSI (Olajide Olatunji) – $4.5 million5.

Using data from Nielsen and IMDB, “as well as on interviews with agents, managers, lawyers, industry insiders, and the stars themselves”, the publication estimated the creators’ pre-tax profits.

That’s because the vast majority of the money flowing into the pockets of YouTube celebrities comes from ads, with top earners charging premium dollars for ad placement during their multi-million view videos, as well as other on-air sponsorships. Being personable and young, therefore, seems to be a requirement in order to make it as a rich Youtuber. A few of them also got featured in movies, write books, made tours, sell music, or had endorsement deals.