Since
YouTube is so prevalent in most of our everyday lives, it seems hard to
believe that it’s been around for less than a decade. Lots of us use
YouTube on a daily basis, whether for songs, videos, or whatever may be
lurking in its darkest corners. Not to be able to access the latest
songs or viral videos at the touch of a button would be unthinkable for
many, since we have all of this and more via the world’s most popular
online video site. Since its beginnings, YouTube has helped to launch
countless careers, including that of
Justin Bieber, and an incredible seventy-two hours worth of video is uploaded all over the world every minute.
The
site was originally founded by three ex-PayPal employees, Chad Hurley,
Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, in 2005. Karim has said that his
inspiration for a site such as YouTube came from two well-publicised
events which occurred in 2004: the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and the
unfortunate Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction at the Superbowl.
YouTube’s first video, posted by Karim, was entitled “Me at the Zoo”,
and showed Karim at the San Diego zoo discussing elephants’ trunks
(thankfully, it was only nineteen seconds long…). In September of 2005,
the site hosted its first one-million hit video, a Nike advert starring
Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho that ‘went viral’ in the modern sense of
the word. Since then, YouTube has acquired various investors, and was
officially bought by Google for $1.65 billion in October of 2006 – a
price we now know to have been a
serious bargain. YouTube
brought in its Partner Program, which allows people to get paid for
their viral content, in 2007, and over the last seven years many people
have been ‘professional YouTubers’ – with an elite few making six
figures. This article profiles ten of the most successful — and thereby,
the richest — YouTubers the world over.
10. RealAnnoyingOrange — $3.4 million
At
two point one billion or so views, YouTuber RealAnnoyingOrange is at
number ten. Having amassed in and around three point four million
dollars over the course of the five years the channel has existed (the
first video aired in October 2009), there is clearly something about the
incredibly irritating format that appeals to the masses. The videos
originally followed the Annoying Orange and recorded its interactions
with other food items. Its creator, Dane Boedigheimer, says that the
idea for the very first video popped into his head while he was falling
asleep one night, when he began laughing in bed and was unable to
explain himself to his girlfriend since he was too embarrassed at the
idiocy of the idea. That set the tone for the show’s format fairly well,
although it has unarguably proved successful, so much so that the web
series is now a TV show on Cartoon Network.
9. UberHaxorNova – $3.5 million
UberHaxorNova,
with a net worth of in and around three point five million dollars, is
at number nine. With over one point three billion views, the simplicity
of UberHaxorNova’s channel seems to be the key to its success.
Relatively new onto the YouTube scene, UberHaxorNova, a.k.a. Nova,
specialises in videos of him and sometimes other friends playing video
games with added funny commentary. Nova has also participated in a few
charity funds, and has done several animations.
7. TobyGames – $4.2 million
TobyGames
is at number seven, with in and around one point seven billion views,
and an impressive net worth of around four point two million dollars.
TobyGames focuses on Toby Joe Turner as he tries — and usually fails —
to play various different games, such as
Minecraft and
Slender. Toby also has a few other channels, including the very successful Tobuscus, on which he showcases
Tobuscus Adventures, an animated series.
6. JennaMarbles – $4.3 million
The
first female YouTuber on this list is Jenna Marbles, with a net worth
of about four point three million dollars. With around one point five
billion views to her name, Jenna Mourey is the woman behind the channel.
Jenna stars in her own videos, sometimes with the help of her tiny and
enormous respective dogs, chihuahua Mr. Marbles and greyhound Kermit.
Her videos usually take the form of amusing commentary on social
situations, sometimes satirical, including videos “What Your Bra Means”
and “How To Mildly Annoy Other People”
5. BluCollection – $4.8 million
With
a net worth of four point eight million dollars, YouTuber BluCollection
is at number five. With close on two billion views (one point seven
eight to be exact), BluCollection is a toy channel which is run
presumably by a man, although this can only be gauged by the hands seen
in the videos and the disembodied voice which oohs and ahhs over various
different toys. It is a simplistic yet extremely effective approach to
YouTube videos, and has proved an enormous hit, especially with
children. Apparently numerous toy and branding companies would like to
work with and endorse BluCollection, but he remains infuriatingly
elusive.
4. DisneyCollectorBR – $5 million
via noticias.terra.com.ar
At
number four is sister channel to BluCollection, DisneyCollectorBR,
worth around five million dollars. This channel, with two point six
billion views, is presumed to be run by a woman, again gauging only by
the hands and the voice seen and heard in the channel’s videos.
Speculation suggests that the owner of this BluCollection and the owner
of DisneyCollectorBR are husband and wife, given that their channels are
linked both in presentation and on YouTube. Whatever their
relationship, their duo has certainly proved a lucrative one.
3. Smosh – $5.7 million
YouTuber
Smosh is at number three, with a net worth of about five point seven
million dollars. Smosh is a young web-based comedy duo of Anthony
Padilla and Ian Andrew Hecox, who do — as you might imagine — strange,
weird and amusing videos. Their niche might be described as skits of
typically “nerdy” pursuits or games. Their channel is one of the most
subscribed to on YouTube, which is no mean feat for two twenty-six year
olds.
2. Yogscast (formerly BlueXephos) – $6.7 million
via thegeekscrewfiles.wordpress.com
At
number two it’s BlueXephos, with has a net worth of about six point
seven million dollars. Now Yogscast, this channel is again run by a duo,
Lewis and Simon, who have achieved a staggering two point four billion
views since the channel was set up as BlueXephos. The channel describes
itself as “Minecraft and multiplayer comedy gaming with a drunken dwarf
and a handsome spaceman”, and if that doesn’t grab you, maybe the fact
that their aim is to play and make fun of/enjoy indie games, Minecraft
mods, adventure maps and mini-games will.
1. PewDiePie – $7 million
At
number one, with an impressive net worth of seven million dollars and a
staggering five point four billion views, is Swedish YouTuber
PewDiePie. Real name Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, PewDiePie’s success
arose from providing funny commentary on video games. In 2013, his
channel overtook Smosh to be the most subscribed-to channel on YouTube
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