For the second year in a row, storied business title Forbes has released its list of the 10 highest-paid YouTube stars in the world. And it likely comes as no surprise that Felix Kjellberg — aka PewDiePie, YouTube’s most popular creator with almost 50 million subscribers — has topped the list for the second year in a row. In 2016, Forbes estimates Kjellberg’s earnings at a staggering $15 million — up 20% from his $12 million intake last year.
Forbes said it compiled the list based on data from Nielsen, IMDB, and interviews with agents, managers, lawyers, and digital stars. The magazine measured earnings before subtracting management fees and taxes.
Coming in at no. 2 is controversial prankster Roman Atwood, whose earnings in 2016 Forbes pegs at roughly half of Kjellberg’s: $8 million. Rounding out the top five are: Lilly ‘Superwoman’ Singh ($7.5 million); Smosh ($7 million); and both Rosanna Pansino and Tyler Oakley, who reportedly took home $6 million apiece. Forbes says that Atwood’s sizable earnings ramp-up (he placed eighth last year) was due to his tour with Yousef ‘FouseyTube’ Erakat, his feature film Natural Born Pranksters, and an advance for an upcoming book. Singh, for her part, happened to have a highly lucrative lipstick collaboration with beauty brand Smashbox.
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Other creators on this year’s list were Mark ‘Markiplier’ Fischbach and Chilean creator German ‘HolaSoyGerman’ Garmendia, who each pocketed $5.5 million; and Rhett And Link and Miranda Sings creator Colleen Ballinger, who each made $5 million in 2016, according to Forbes.
All told, Forbes says, the 12 creators on its list this year earned a combined $70.5 million in the 12 months ended in June — representing a 23% increase over what the publication’s highest paid creators earned last year. And everyone on the list this year made at least $5 million.
For additional findings, check out the report in full right here.
