Given the recognition and brand partnerships that come their way, being a YouTube star today is equivalent to being a Hollywood A-Lister or a superstar athlete. And with millions of fans and hits on their videos, these YouTubers are minting money.
Forbes just released the list of 2018’s top-earning YouTube stars, and the moolah they earned will leave your jaws on the floor.
10. Logan Paul
Making $14.5 million in 2018, Logan Paul of the ‘Paul brothers’, features 10th on the list of the highest earning YouTube stars of 2018. Despite his exit from YouTube’s Google Preferred program wherein he was asked to leave due to his filming in Japan of apparent suicide, he still came out on top as loyal fans continued to subscribe to his page.
9. PewDiePie
Probably one of the most popular YouTubers in India, especially after his sarcastic ‘tiff’ with T-Series, this Swedish gamer is the most followed YouTuber with 72.5 Million followers. Making about $15.5 million a year, advertises shell out up to $450,000 for a sponsored video!
8. Jacksepticeye
Usually criticised for his use of foul language, this video gamer still rises to the top as the most popular YouTuber in Ireland. Earning $16 million this year, Seán McLoughlin even decided to do a series for Disney and is developing exclusive content for live-streaming platform Twitch.
7. Vanoss Gaming
Gamer Evan Fong uses his wit to keep his fans interested as they watch him play mainstream games like Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed. This Canadian YouTube Star made $17 million this year.
6. Markiplier
Mark Fischbach started his YouTube channel in 2012 when his life hit rock bottom. He broke up with his girlfriend, had been laid off from his desk job and had an adrenal-gland tumour removed, which surgeons discovered when they went to take out his appendix. He says:
“A whole bunch of things happened that made me feel like I didn’t have any control in my life, so I had to do something.”Markiplier
This PS4 gamer has 22.4 million YouTube subscribers and has earned $17.5 million this year.
5. Jeffree Star
Famous since the Myspace era and responsible for some of the greatest drag looks, Jeffree Star has reinvented himself as a beauty mogul. This make-up artist made $18 million this year and has now co-founded Jeffree Star Cosmetics - which sells an estimated $100 million-plus of eye shadow, lipstick and highlighters annually.
4. DanTDM
This British gamer who specialises in MineCraft has been playing on-camera since six years and earned $18.5 million this year. With a following of 20.7 million sbscribers , Daniel Middleton also sells merchandise and books out his tours.
3. Dude Perfect
Dude Perfect is a YouTube channel with a five man army- Coby and Cory Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, Cody Jones and Tyler Toney. This sports crew specialises in intricate trick shots and made $20 million in 2018.
2. Jake Paul
The other Paul brother earned a career-best income from his thriving merchandise business. He made $21.5 million this year alone. With over 3.5 billion views on his rap video, this YouTuber is riding on success.
1. Ryan ToysReview
Believe it or not, this seven-year-old is the highest earning YouTube star of 2018. Ryan is just your average kid who likes to review his toys. With 17 million followers, Ryan made $22 million this year! He will probably be one of the first seven-year-olds who is able to pay for a college education himself!
(Source: Forbes)
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