It is estimated that MrBeast pulls in more than $3 million in YouTube ad revenue per month. And that’s just from ads! He also earns millions of dollars from brand partnerships and sponsorships—which isn’t surprising, given his whopping 360 million subscribers on YouTube.
While he’s certainly an anomaly, there are plenty of creators on the platform who make a full-time living and then some. Let’s examine the different revenue streams available to YouTube personalities, as well as a sample of earnings from small creators to top influencers.
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YouTubers make just under $70,000 per year on average, according to ZipRecruiter.
YouTubers usually earn $4–$25 per 1,000 views using YouTube’s AdSense payment model. This fee structure is primarily based on advertising revenue, which is shared between YouTube and creators who are part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Two key things influence how much YouTubers earn from ads: CPM (cost per mille) and RPM (revenue per mille). CPM refers to the amount advertisers are willing to pay per 1,000 ad impressions, which varies based on factors such as audience demographics, niche, and seasonality. RPM represents how much a creator earns per 1,000 views, following the platform’s 45% ad revenue cut.
Long story short, there are a ton of factors influencing how much money you make, only some of which you have any control over.
- Small channels with 1,000 to 10,000 subscribers might earn $100–$1,000 per month.
- Mid-tier channels with 10,000 to 100,000 subscribers could pull in a decent income of $1,000–$10,000 per month.
- Large channels with 100,000 to 1 million subscribers often rake in serious dough to the tune of $10,000–$50,000 per month.
- Mega influencers with over 1 million subscribers are the big winners, scoring $50,000 and more per month.
How To Become a YouTube InfluencerHow much does YouTube pay per view?
YouTube pays its creators between 1 cent and 3 cents per view on average. It’s important to note that what both the platform and the creator earn depends on multiple factors that change seasonally, as well as niche and audience engagement.
How much do YouTubers make per subscriber?
YouTubers don’t earn money based on their subscriber count; instead, they earn money based on how many people actually watch their videos. However, more subscribers means more ways to earn money on the platform through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, merch, and additional revenue paths.
Other ways YouTubers make money
While AdSense payouts are a major income source for YouTubers, many creators supplement their earnings by diversifying their revenue streams. Creators often find that these are even more lucrative than ad revenue, depending on audience engagement and niche.
Sponsorships and brand deals are some of the most profitable ways YouTubers make money. Brands pay creators to promote their products or services in videos, often through dedicated shoutouts or integrated segments.
Affiliate marketing allows YouTubers to earn commissions by recommending products and sharing unique tracking links in their video descriptions. If a viewer makes a purchase using the link, the creator earns a percentage of the sale.
Merchandising ranging from T-shirts, hoodies, and mugs to digital products like e-books and courses can be sold directly to subscribers.
YouTube memberships and super chats allow fans to directly support creators through built-in monetization options.
Crowdfunding platforms offer some YouTubers consistent, fan-supported income, often in exchange for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, or early video releases.
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The top YouTubers rake in millions of dollars every year through ads, sponsorships, merch, and other business opportunities. They have multiple income streams, such as AdSense revenue, brand deals, exclusive content, and their own products. Gaming, tech, finance, and lifestyle are the top niches, as these categories attract high CPM rates and awesome sponsorship deals. Here are the top-paid YouTubers of the last year:
MrBeast boasts over 500 million followers across his social media platforms, making him the most-followed creator in the world. According to Forbes, he earned more than $85 million, including ad revenue from his nearly 9 billion YouTube views, in 2024. He’s been able to turn his channel content into the Prime Video show “Beast Games,” in which contestants compete to win $5 million.
Jeffree Star has an estimated net worth of over $200 million and nearly 16 million subscribers on YouTube. Star is a makeup artist and cosmetics creator who has used his channel to launch his own brand of products.
Logan Paul has earned nearly 24 million subscribers and an estimated net worth of $150 million. He started his career on Vine, focusing largely on comedy sketches and prank-based content, before making the move to YouTube.
Ryan’s World began nearly a decade ago, when now-13-year-old Ryan Kaji’s parents uploaded footage of him opening new toys—a simple concept that turned out to be a million-dollar idea. He’ll earn about $30 million this year, not including his line of toys available in mainstream stores.
Like Nastya is another hugely successful children’s content creator whose account started with family vlogging. More than 125 million subscribers are fans of the YouTuber’s toddler-focused videos, which feature songs, toys, and games.
The remainder of the top 10 highest-paid YouTubers include Logan Paul’s brother, Jake Paul; gameplay and reaction video superstar PewDiePie; and video game streamer Ninja. This list goes to show the huge variety of content that can rake in millions of dollars on YouTube.