News

1.1 million Twitch subs and a haircut from LeBron: Highlights from Kai Cenat’s Mafiathon 3

If Mafiathon 3 truly is the final chapter of Kai Cenat‘s streaming marathon series, then the 23-year-old Twitch star went out with a bang. Over a month-long period of continuous broadcasts, Cenat achieved an unprecedented goal by attracting more than one million active subscribers on his official Twitch account.

Cenat’s first two Mafiathons were record-setting affairs that vaulted the Bronx native to the top of the Twitch leaderboard. In August, a trailer featuring Michael B. Jordan informed viewers that Mafiathon 3 would be Cenat’s biggest month-long streaming bonanza yet — and his last. By going live throughout September, Cenat hoped to become the first Twitch streamer to push his active subscriber count into seven-digit territory.

With help from a parade of special guests — including fellow streamers, traditional media stars, and other members of the creator group AMP — Cenat achieved his lofty goal and then some. He reached the million-subscriber mark with a few days to spare, and by the end of September, he counted more than 1.1 million active subs. Even Cenat’s Twitch mod benefited, as it became one of the platform’s most-used extensions during its creator’s month-long run.

Subscribe for daily Tubefilter Top Stories

Subscribe

Some key celebrity cameos helped Cenat make it to the uncharted territory he sought. Rapper Ray J accused celebrities of profiting from Cenat’s platform without giving back, causing Snoop Dogg to fire back with 50,000 gifted subs. A Mafiathon-concluding team-up with LeBron James, in which the Los Angeles Lakers star shaved Cenat’s locs, pushed the concurrent audience into seven digits to match the subscriber count.

Cenat’s collab with actor Kevin Hart and fellow streamer Druski revealed one direction in which his career will head during the post-Mafiathon era. The three stars are joining forces for Livestream from Hell, a horror movie that will satirize Cenat and Druski’s chosen profession. Based on the film’s trailer, Cenat might actually become the Hollywood star he was prophesied to be.

Between that project, the impending return of Streamer University, and the other irons Cenat has in the fire, he will stay busy in 2026, even if he keeps his promise to retire Mafiathon. Given the growing concerns about marathon streams (and Mafiathon’s occasional contributions to that hysteria), the decision to sunset the concept is probably correct. However, if Cenat hungers for more recognition in the Twitch record books, he could always revive Mafiathon to take a run at some of Ibai’s marks.

Share
Published by
Sam Gutelle

Recent Posts

Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: A cashier for your thoughts?

'Tis the season for festive holiday beverages, and some of YouTube's biggest channels are raising…

14 hours ago

It’s time to Dual Stream: Twitch unites vertical and horizontal formats at TwitchCon Europe

The 2026 edition of TwitchCon Europe took place in Rotterdam during the last two days…

20 hours ago

‘The Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ are box office smashes. What’s next for creators in Hollywood?

It's official: Backrooms is a box office sensation, and a new era of creator filmmaking…

21 hours ago

Killer Dinner took the Try Guys into a new era–one where they’re producing “the best shows we’ve ever made”

"Not to be too on the nose, but we like trying new things." That's Zach…

22 hours ago

KSI’s 13-year run as a member of the Sidemen has come to an end

YouTube's most famous creator septet is becoming a sextet. In a video uploaded on May…

1 day ago

Jordan Matter, Michelle Khare, and Samir Chaudry are strategic advisors at a new creator education startup

As our industry becomes ever more populated by experts, and in the absence of collaborative…

4 days ago