Ryan Trahan‘s penny challenge was the talk of YouTube this summer. The 24-year-old creator started with a single cent and made it all the way across the U.S. by accepting various odd jobs. Along the way, Trahan got more than 190 million views on his channel and raised over $1.3 million to support Feeding America.
Trahan’s 30-day journey is over, but his interest in the penny challenge is not. His latest video puts an accelerated spin on that concept: He set up shop in New York City’s Times Square and tried to turn a penny into as much money as possible in a single hour.
After seven failed tries, Trahan’s eighth attempt at the speedrun hit the jackpot. By using many of the methods that sustained him during his cross-country journey — such as water bottle sales and Uber Eats deliveries — Trahan made $20 off his starting penny in just 60 minutes. Along the way, the self-proclaimed small-town kid endured the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. “I feel like Casey Neistat,” Trahan said, “if he was really uncoordinated.”
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Honey served as the sponsor for Trahan’s penny speedrun. The browser extension helps its users find unexpected savings, which makes it the perfect brand partner for an economical creator like Trahan.
Are Trahan-style travel challenges the future of YouTube?
Since the Texas native first worked his penny wizardry about a year ago, other creators have put their spins on the concept. One channel even brought it to New York before Trahan did.
The combination between that challenge and the travel vlog has spawned a significant trend. In the wake of Trahan’s 30-day trip, other creators launched series that combine globetrotting adventures with unique challenges. DownieLive has vlogged his way across the U.S. train system, and the creators behind Wendover Productions and Half as Interesting went to Europe for a 72-hour game of tag.
Trahan’s penny speedrun through New York got more than 3.5 million views in its first day of activity, and it reached the top of YouTube’s trending tab. Clearly, viewers are still very interested in the travelogue/challenge hybrid format, which means creators should be, too. Given how competitive the YouTube community can be, I don’t think Trahan’s speedrun record will stand forever. Turning a penny into $20 in an hour is impressive, but I’d imagine a native New Yorker could make even more.
