Believe it or not, there is no such thing as “overnight success,” especially for YouTuber stars enjoying all the perks and privileges of being in the spotlight. It only seems that way, but it took them many months and years, endless cycles of hit-and-miss before they finally mastered the formula of being a successful YouTuber. So exactly what makes them tick, you ask?
You’re about to find out because, in this post, we will discover who are the top 10 famous YouTubers and the things they have in common that catapulted them to fame and fortune. And in the process, we will see if the saying is true: luck is simply a combination of preparation and opportunity. Let’s get to it!
Try and check out some of the most famous YouTubers and their history, and you will notice a similar pattern. None of them started a YouTube channel wanting to become famous. They enjoyed what they were doing and were obsessed with creating content. Even MrBeast admitted that his earliest videos were horrible, silly, and even downright stupid. It took him over 100 tries to get the hang of it, and even then, they weren’t that great. But he kept on pushing, trying, and creating. Until one day, he became one of history’s most loved and famous YouTubers. Let’s see how his fellow YouTubers started their journey.
No. 10: Isaiah Photo (8.3 million subscribers)
This was a far cry from his work throughout his adolescent life- serving food, bussing tables, being a barista, and even selling bicycles. It wasn’t long before he realized he wanted to become something more and do something more significant with his life. And he did just that after discovering the magic of content creation. Today, Isaiah has 8.43 million YouTube subscribers and an estimated net worth of around $3 million.
No. 9: Luke Davidson (9.92 million subscribers)
He also has regular posts, vlogs, comedies, and even short-form videos on his YouTube channel. He also received the YouTube Golden Creator Award in 2022. As of writing, Luke has generated 9.92 million YouTube subscribers and an estimated net worth of around $5 million. Speaking of subscribers, start your YouTuber journey by using a social media management platform to help you manage your channel and bring them to a larger audience with higher engagement. Learn more from our SOCi review.
No. 8: Ian Boggs (10.1 million subscribers)
No. 7: Ryan Trahan (11.7 million subscribers)
This was a non-profit organization whose goal was to end hunger in the United States. The stunt opened him up to a bigger audience. However, his YouTube channel began long before that. Initially, his channel focused on helping fellow runners improve their training habits. Today, however, his YouTube channel mainly focuses on self-imposed challenges such as running a marathon in skinny jeans or surviving the quietest room in the world. He has 11.7 million subscribers and an estimated net worth of around $5.3 million.
No. 6: Airrack (12 million subscribers)
Born and raised in Singapore, Nick moved to Sweden in 2014. He often collaborates with fellow Instagrammer Zhongni Zhu and Australian social media star Jeffrey Yang, best known as Jefo. Nick has 12 million YouTube subscribers and an estimated net worth of around $4 million.
No 5: CoryxKenshin (15.6 million subscribers)
Initially, his channel was purely about comedy and vlogs. Then in 2014, he decided to add the gaming part to it. It is his wit and impressive gaming skills that made him a successful YouTuber, earning him a total of 15.6 million subscribers. He has an estimated net worth of over $2 million in 2020. Most of his income stems from brand deals, ad revenue, and sponsorships on his YouTube videos.
No. 4: Dan Rhodes (20.4 million subscribers)
He got widely recognized after being a contestant in Britain’s Got Talent in 2019, after simultaneously impressing and entertaining the judges and the crowd with his magic tricks. Aside from this, he also joined the Little Big Shots (US) and Little Big Shots (UK). Today, the 19-year-old magician has 20.4 million YouTube subscribers and an estimated net worth of around $5 million.
No. 3: Brent Rivera (25.2 million subscribers)
He also has his own clothing line called Relatable and began a pop-culture-centric podcast entitled So Relatable in 2021. Come 2015; he joined Coca-Cola’s #MakeItHappy campaign and Hollister Co. for their anti-bullying campaign in 2019. Rivera has 25.2 million subscribers and an estimated net worth of $6.5 million.
No. 2: PewDiePie (111 million subscribers)
PewDie pie is now semi-retired from YouTube and uploading mainly for fun. He also married his long-time Italian girlfriend and internet personality, Marzia. Felix has over 111 million subscribers and 28.8 billion views, making his channel one of the most viewed and subscribed on YouTube. Because of his online fame, he has been noted to rake in revenue for the video games he plays and helped him support charity fundraising drives. He was also named one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine in 2016. He has an estimated net worth of around $58 million.
No. 1: MrBeast (133 million subscribers)
More than his entertaining videos, his audience learned to love and respect him because of his extraordinary acts of philanthropy. He is the co-creator of Team Trees, a fundraiser for the Arbor Day Foundation, and raised $23 million. Consequently, Team Seas spawned from this endeavor, a fundraiser for the Ocean Conservancy and The Ocean Cleanup, which raised over $30 million. Jimmy won the Creator of the Year award for three consecutive years at the Streamy Awards in 2020, 2021, and 2022 and the Favorite Male Creator award during the 2022 Kid’s Choice Awards. He has an estimated net worth of around $105 million.
Famous YouTubers In The World: They Made It, So Can You!
How about you? Who are the top 20 most famous YouTubers on your list? Don’t they inspire you to jump on your feet and start doing the one thing you’ve been putting off for months? What is stopping you from becoming one of the most famous YouTubers in the world? There is no such thing as impossible.
Mr. Beast started with no money, equipment, or knowledge of shooting, creating, or editing videos. What he had, however, was sheer grit, passion, and determination to succeed in what he was doing. Moreover, he wasn’t afraid of failure, looking silly, or making tons of mistakes. He took them as learning opportunities to do better and improve at what he did every day.
In one of his earliest videos, you hear him being awestruck with PewDiePie for having over 7 million YouTube subscribers and earning so much money creating these videos. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would one day surpass his idol and land on top of the list of the most famous YouTubers in the world.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be included in the top 100 YouTubers one of these days. Five years from now, you will wish you started out your YouTube channel today. Thus, there’s no better time to start than now.
For more tips and tricks on how to become a YouTuber, check out our post, Separating Fact From Fiction: How Much Does YouTube Pay?