It’s dizzying to think that millions can be made on YouTube, but if you hit all the right notes, you can be a millionaire thanks to online videos. Just ask 25-year-old Felix Kjellberg of Sweden. He made $12 million before taxes last year.
Who is Kjellberg? He is PewDiePie, the YouTube user famed for his video game commentary and has nearly 40 million subscribers. He topped Forbes’ first ever ranking of YouTube personalities.
The list is based on numbers from Nielsen, IMDb and interviews with agents, lawyers, insiders and the stars, Forbes said. To make the list, you have have to have made at least $2.5 million between June 1, 2014 and June 1, 2015.
The list also shows the versatility of YouTube stars. While Kjellberg is into video games, comedy duos Smosh and The Fine Brothers are also on the list. Those two teams made $8.5 million each. Rhett & Link made $4.5 million and even earned a deal with Gillette and Toyota.
Violinist Lindsey Stirling also made the list at No. 4 with $6 million.
Here’s the Top 10:
- PewDiePie - Felix Kjellberg ($12 million)
- Smosh - Ian Hecox & Anthony Padilla ($8.5 million)
- Fine Brothers - Benny & Rafi Fine ($8.5 million)
- Lindsey Stirling ($6 million)
- Rhett & Link - Rhett McLaughlin & Charles Lincoln Neal III ($4.5 million)
- KSI - Olajide Olatunji ($4.5 million)
- Michelle Phan ($3 million)
- Lilly Singh ($2.5 million)
- Roman Atwood ($2.5 million)
- Rosanna Pansino ($2.5 million)