It seems like everyone wants to be a YouTuber these days. And honestly, I can’t blame them. When you look at what some creators are making to tell people to “smash that like button”, it definitely can look like a promising path. For those curious about the income potential, you can click here to jump right into the YouTube Calculator section and get a glimpse of what you could make from YouTube ad revenue alone.
But as someone who actually makes an income from YouTube (my channel has 541k+ subscribers), I’ll show you just how much you can expect to earn with a pretty significant audience.
Ready to hear the truth about making money on YouTube? Let’s get started.
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Below are the top highest-paid YouTubers as of February 2024. While these numbers are significant, notice just how many subscribers they have to have to hit those income targets (spoiler alert: It’s a LOT!).
Notice that none of these top earners are making money exclusively with ad sense (YouTube’s ad revenue). That’s because doing so would only bring in $0.01 to $0.03 per view. That’s not much money.
If you really want to get rich from YouTube, not only will you need boatloads of subscribers (at least 1 million), but you’ll also need to spread yourself thin with multiple businesses and partnerships.
But that’s not the only path to take. That’s why I do things a bit differently with my YouTube channel which allows me to have a multi-million dollar business with only 541,000 subscribers (and dedicating only a small amount of time to my channel). I’ll share more about my approach, but first, let’s take a deeper look at how the top earners make money.
In 2024, Jimmy Donaldson, better known as Mr. Beast, isn’t just a YouTube sensation with his massive 258 million subscribers; he’s also a Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People lister. Known for his over-the-top stunts and heartwarming generosity, he first shot to fame back in 2017 with a quirky video where he counted to 100,000. Since then, his videos, often featuring mind-blowing giveaways, have only upped the ante. Let’s not forget his innovative burger joint launched in 2020 – not just a one-hit wonder, but a thriving venture that keeps pulling in crowds by flipping the script on fast food. Mr. Beast is making more than videos, he’s making waves, and he’s been at it since 2012.
Jake Paul, with over 20,5 million subscribers, gained fame for his extreme pranks and notable boxing matches. Since 2017, his controversial actions and collaborations with celebrities have propelled his online career. Despite generating devoted fans and fierce critics, Jake Paul remains a prominent figure in the digital realm. He’s been making videos since 2013.
Markiplier, boasting over 36,3 million subscribers, is a prominent YouTuber known for his engaging gaming content and charitable initiatives. His energetic and humorous approach to gaming has captivated audiences since his early days on the platform. Markiplier’s philanthropic efforts, including charity live streams and donations, have earned him widespread admiration, establishing him as a beloved figure in the YouTube community. He’s been making videos since 2012.
Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, known as Rhett and Link, host the daily YouTube show Good Mythical Morning. With over 5.08 million subscribers and 9 billion views since its launch in 2008, the duo’s channel features a comedic talk show format where they engage in quirky activities, such as eating unusual foods, experimenting, and playing games with celebrity guests. Their popular videos include eating a scorpion, consuming the world’s hottest pepper, and deep-frying peculiar objects like grass and toothpaste. They’ve been making videos since 2006.
With over 36,2 million subscribers, Ryan’s YouTube channel is managed by his parents to comply with the YouTube Partner Program guidelines. Starting at the age of 3, Ryan gained popularity by reviewing toys through unboxing and playing videos, but his content has since evolved to include science experiments. Additionally, his success on YouTube led to a Nickelodeon TV series called “Ryan’s Mystery Playdate,” and he even has his own line of clothing and toys.
While I don’t have millions of followers like these other creators, I do own a multi-million dollar business that YouTube helped me build. And I was able to do it without embarrassing myself with pranks, doing toy reviews, or spending millions of dollars rebuilding the Squid Games set. And the main way I was able to do this is by selling online courses. You see, each of my YouTube videos leads viewers to subscribe to my email list where I’m able to build a stronger connection with my audience and eventually offer digital products for sale.
My channel doesn’t require extreme production value. In fact, most of my YouTube content is just the video version of my podcast, which is just a screen recording of me talking with my guests. You can see an example below.
…but you don’t have to take the same path as everyone else. How would it look if you designed a Rich Life on your own terms? Take our quiz and find out:
I’ll get into more about how I use YouTube to do even cooler things (like be on TV), in a minute. But first, let’s take a look at what your typical YouTuber makes so that we have a fair comparison.
It’s fun to look at how much guys like Mr. Beast earn on YouTube. But you have to keep in mind that people like him are in the top 0.00001% of earners. The truth is, most YouTubers barely make a full-time income off the platform.
If you’re looking to make a substantial income from YouTube, you’ll likely need to have around 1 million subscribers. According to ZipRecruiter, the average YouTuber makes around $60,000 a year, which is slightly above $100 per day. And if you are just starting your journey, and need help on your way to become the highest paid creator, we got you covered here in 8 best types of YouTube Channels to start making money online and here – How to Become a YouTuber Checklist.
For those considering starting a YouTube channel, you’re likely curious about the income potential. While earnings can vary drastically, this interactive calculator offers a glimpse into what you could make strictly from YouTube’s AdSense ad revenue share based on your video views and CPM rates:
Estimated Daily Earnings
Estimated Monthly Earnings
Estimated Yearly Earnings
Keep in mind, this represents just one portion of a YouTuber’s potential income streams. The most successful creators diversify their revenue through sponsorships, merchandise, affiliates, and other opportunities we’ll covered in this article.
But since you’re here learning about YouTuber earnings, you’re probably wondering how your own channel could make money from advertising. Give the calculator a try to estimate the AdSense income you could earn while building an audience. Just know that consistent, engaging content is key before any revenue can follow.
The average YouTuber with 1 million subscribers typically makes roughly $936,000 a year. If you’re considering becoming a YouTuber as an easy way to earn some cash, you should check out these options first.
The highest-paid Youtuber is MrBeast, with nearly 300 million subscribers!
It varies widely depending on the YouTuber. Typically, 1 million views on YouTube will get you between $1200 and $6000.
The average YouTuber with a million subscribers makes about $5000 a month.
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Host of Netflix’s “How To Get Rich”, NYT Bestselling Author, & Host of the I Will Teach You To Be Rich Podcast. I've been writing this blog since 2004.
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