YouTube Creators With Massive Followings
The world of online video has created a new kind of celebrity – the YouTube star. While mainstream fame still eludes many of them, these creators have managed to build enormous audiences on the platform through entertainment, education, comedy and more. From unboxing toys to pulling epic pranks and stunts, let’s look at some of the biggest YouTube stars and their impressive resumes.
Studying the upload patterns, meta data strategies, videos and thumbnails of top YouTubers can help you level up your YouTube career!
MrBeast – 231 Million Subscribers
Known for his expensive stunts and giving away insane amounts of money, MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson) has the most subscribers of any solo creator on YouTube. He first went viral in 2017 for counting to 100,000 and has since gained renown for videos like “Last to Remove Hand, Wins $100,000!” and “Anything You Can Fit In The Circle I’ll Pay For.” His videos require massive budgets but he makes it all back through lucrative brand deals and sponsors. He also owns several businesses including the MrBeast Burger ghost kitchen.
Markiplier – 36 Million Subscribers
Mark Fischbach or Markiplier is a big name in gaming and comedy content on YouTube. He established a loyal fanbase through his “Let’s Play” videos, playthroughs and reactions to horror games like Amnesia and Five Nights at Freddy’s. Markiplier expanded into sketch comedy and has starred in several series like A Heist with Markiplier that demonstrate his impressive acting abilities. His Charity Livestreams have raised over $30 million since 2012!
Jake Paul – 20 Million Subscribers
Originally gaining fame on Vine, Jake Paul has become one of YouTube’s bad boys, stirring up controversy across the platform. His vlogs and influencer lifestyle first earned him an audience of millions of adoring fans he dubbed “Jake Paulers.” While his antics have gotten him in hot water in the past, Jake continues to release rap songs and box other massive internet stars like KSI. Despite the scandals, his audience and bank account continue to grow.
Ryan’s World – 36 Million Subscribers
Ryan Kaji of Ryan’s World (formerly Ryan ToysReview) has become a viral phenomenon before he even turned 10 years old! Started by his parents in 2015 when he was only 3, Ryan reviews toys, performs science experiments and goes on fun adventures across his eight YouTube channels that have amassed over 50 billion views. In 2020 and 2021, Forbes declared Ryan the highest paid YouTube star under the age of 10!
Dude Perfect – 60 Million Subscribers
Dude Perfect is a sports and comedy collective on YouTube consisting of twins Cory and Coby Cotton along with three college friends. They established their trick shot videos as viral sensations that shattered Guinness World Records and led to collaborations with mega athletes across every major sport. The “Overtime” videos expand their intricate stunts and battles even further to impress their 60 million subscribers. Can’t get enough sports entertainment? Attend one of their nationwide live shows!
Emma Chamberlain – 12 Million Subscribers
Famous for her relatable personality and confessional videos about life as a young woman, Emma Chamberlain has become a leading member of YouTube’s new wave. Her vlogs and coffee obsession especially resonate with Gen Z. She even launched her own coffee company Chamberlain Coffee. Emma has leveraged her YouTube fame into partnerships with major brands like Louis Vuitton and a thriving podcast called Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain.
Epic Toy Channel – 2 Million Subscribers
While not yet hall-of-fame YouTube stars, Epic Toy Channel / the founders of CustomThumbnails.com have made an impact in their own right. CustomThumbnails.com (CT) is among the leading agencies for YouTube custom thumbnail design, serving over thousands creators since 2018. They also run a successful YouTube channel of their own called Epic Toy Channel. Featuring Nerf battles, sketch videos, toy reviews, gaming videos and more fun videos for families, it has over 2 million subscribers and 1+ billion views! CustomThumbnails definitely knows a thing or two about YouTube success and optimizing videos for maximum engagement.
These massively popular YouTube stars show how creators have turned content creation into lucrative careers, multimillion dollar businesses and even celebrity status. From gamers to pranksters to families making kid-friendly videos, the platform allows for diverse talents to be discovered and internationally famous. While going viral and gaining subscribers takes skill and effort, we’ve only scratched the surface of the biggest stars ruling YouTube currently. The opportunities for the next generation of creators to find an audience and leave their mark through online video are endless.
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