YouTube has become a hugely popular platform for creators to build audiences and generate income. With top YouTubers like MrBeast, Jake Paul and Ryan Kaji earning tens of millions per year, many aspiring creators wonder – just how much money can you really make on YouTube?
In this in-depth post, we’ll uncover the truth about YouTuber earnings, the income potential from ads, the top highest-paid stars, and how normal creators can find success.
Top Earning YouTubers of 2023
The highest paid YouTube stars make jaw-dropping amounts from their channels and related ventures. Here are some top earners and their estimated annual incomes:
- MrBeast – $54 million. Known for massive giveaways, extreme challenges and charitable initiatives.
- Jake Paul – $45 million. Controversial personality with boxing matches and merch.
- Markiplier – $38 million. Gaming content and livestreams. Major philanthropic efforts.
- Rhett and Link – $30 million. Hosts of the daily YouTube show Good Mythical Morning.
- Ryan Kaji – $27 million. Kid influencer with science experiments and Nickelodeon TV show.
These top creators have built massive audiences in the tens of millions. They make big money from a mix of YouTube ads, sponsorships, merchandise and other ventures outside of YouTube.
But for most people, this level of YouTube success is exceptionally rare. So how much does the average YouTuber really earn?
The Reality of YouTube Ad Revenue
For most creators, YouTube ad revenue represents a relatively small portion of income. Some key stats:
- Average earnings per 1,000 views (RPM) is $2-$5.
- Only channels with 1K+ subscribers and 4K watch hours can monetize.
- AdSense alone is not enough for a full-time income.
To earn ad revenue, creators have to meet YouTube’s monetization requirements. From there, earnings depend on CPM rates based on content type, audience demographic, seasonality and more. Rates are highest in the United States and other developed countries.
Without a massive viewer base, AdSense earnings will be relatively low. That’s why top earners have to utilize other income streams.
Alternate Paths to YouTube Success
For creators who won’t reach millions of subscribers, alternative income options include:
- Brand sponsorships – Promoting products in videos.
- Merchandise – Selling clothing, accessories and items with creator branding.
- Affiliate marketing – Earning commission promoting other companies’ products.
- Fan funding – Platforms like Patreon allow viewers to fund creators.
- Live events – Ticket sales, meetups, tours and conventions.
- Digital products – Online courses, ebooks, membership sites and more.
Diversifying with these options creates multiple income streams outside of just AdSense revenue.
Deep Dive on Top Earning YouTubers
Let’s take a closer look at a few of the highest earning creators and how they built their empires:
MrBeast – $54 Million
MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, is YouTube’s top earner. He’s best known for over-the-top donation videos like “Last to Remove Hand, Win $1,000,000 House” and “Anything You Can Fit In The Circle I’ll Pay For.”
He also operates multiple side channels, an online food delivery service, clothing and merchandise sales, brand partnerships, live events, and more. This diversification has grown his empire massively.
Jake Paul – $45 Million
The controversial Jake Paul rocketed to fame as a Vine star and YouTube vlogger before pivoting to boxing matches against athletes and celebrities.
Paul has leveraged his social following into massive merchandise sales, including clothing, accessories and collectibles that made $40 million in revenue in 2021 alone. Brand sponsorships also represent a significant income source.
Markiplier – $38 Million
Known for his goofy on-camera persona, Mark Fischbach (aka Markiplier) built a massive audience with gaming content and commentary.
Markiplier has 31 million YouTube subscribers and brings in income from YouTube ads, brand sponsorships, donations, and an active merchandise shop. He’s also known for his philanthropy focused on mental health.
Ryan Kaji – $27 Million
At just 11 years old, Ryan Kaji has grown into one of YouTube’s top earners by building multiple channels under his name and brand.
His main channel earns millions from ads on toy unboxings, science experiments, and kid-friendly games. Off-platform, he has Nickelodeon deals, clothing and toy lines, and a Hulu streaming show.
The Author’s Multi-Million Dollar Business
Unlike these top YouTuber earners, I took an alternative path to YouTube success by utilizing the platform to drive traffic and build an audience to sell digital courses and training programs.
This has allowed me to earn over $10 million online by pivoting my YouTube following into a high-ticket membership community and leveraging email marketing.
My journey proves that with the right strategy, it’s possible to build a massively profitable online business beyond just AdSense revenue.
Top Earners vs. Average YouTubers
To recap, while top YouTubers like MrBeast earn tens of millions yearly, the reality for most creators is much more modest earnings:
- YouTubers with 1 million subscribers can expect to earn ~$60,000 per year from ads.
- Those with 250,000 subscribers might only earn $28,000 from AdSense.
- Creators with smaller followings earn even less from ads and sponsorships.
The key takeaway – while YouTube success is possible, building a profitable business requires creativity and diversification beyond just AdSense.
FAQs on YouTuber Earnings
How much does a YouTuber with 1 million subscribers make? Approximately $3-5K per month or $60K per year from YouTube ad revenue alone. Total income depends on additional sponsors and revenue streams.
Who is the highest paid YouTuber? In 2023, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) tops the list of highest paid YouTube stars with $54 million in earnings.
Why do some YouTubers earn way more than others? Viewership and rapid audience growth enables top earners to leverage their following across multiple high-earning income streams. Most creators earn modestly in comparison.
What’s the monthly income of a YouTuber with 1 million subscribers? From ad revenue alone, around $3-5K per month. Those with additional income streams like sponsorships can earn $30-60K+ monthly.
Conclusion
While it’s possible to earn life-changing money on YouTube, ads alone are not enough for most creators to have a sustainable full-time income. But by diversifying with merchandise, affiliates, live events and leveraging their audience in creative ways, determined YouTubers can still build a lucrative business.
I hope this breakdown gave you a transparent look into how much money YouTubers really make! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.