Top Earning YouTube Channels and Their Success Secrets

YouTube earned a revenue of $7.95 billion in the third quarter of 2023. Creators who have monetized their channels will get a share of this money through the YouTube ad revenue partnership.

To make money on YouTube, your content must attract more eyes and clicks to YouTube ads. This means creators with a smaller number of subscribers can get paid more than those with more subscribers if their content is viewed more times.

Besides YouTube ad revenue, creators can partner with brands, create promotional content, and do affiliate marketing to boost their earnings.

In this guide, I explore the highest YouTube channel earnings. I’ll cover 20 of the highest-paid YouTubers, their number of subscribers, and their niche. I’ll also share the brand partnerships these creators have earned as a result of their popularity.

Get inspired by these success stories and supercharge your YouTube marketing so you too can earn income from the platform.

Top Earning YouTube Channels in 2024

In the next section, we’ll look at the top YouTube earners in 2024 based on YouTube earning statistics and other reports.

1. Mr Beast

Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as Mr Beast, started his YouTube channel in February 2012. As of January 2024, Mr Beast’s YouTube channel has the second-highest number of subscribers, totaling 231 million. 

His content often involves large-scale challenges, shows extreme generosity to other people and unique social experiments. He is famous for giving away large sums of money or fulfilling extravagant wishes for people.

Mr Beast is among the highest-paid YouTubers, earning  $82 million from YouTube in 2023. He also collaborates with brands like Surf Shark and others for sponsored content.

He uses his YouTube channel to promote his own merchandise and chocolate bars known as Feastables.

If you’re looking to target just 1 million views among your own subscribers, check out how much YouTube pays for 1 million views.

2. Kids Diana Show

The “Kids Diana Show” YouTube channel was launched on May 12, 2015. The channel revolves around the daily life of little girl Diana, engaging in educational skits, toy unboxing, challenges, and family-friendly entertainment.

“Kids Diana Show” has 118 million subscribers. The channel is on top of YouTube revenue rankings, making an estimated $69.4 million in ad revenue annually. 

This is one of the most successful monetized YouTube channels because it led to over 20 other channels to provide the same content in different languages.

Besides YouTube earnings, “The Kids Diana Show,” earns from sponsored content, which often involves promoting toys, video games, and kids-related merchandise. They’ve partnered with companies like Headstart, Far Out Toys, KidKraft US, and more.

3. Like Natsya

“Like Nastya” is a YouTube channel very similar to “ Kids Diana Show.” The channel was created in December 2016.

It features a young girl named Nastya and her parents. The content includes kid-friendly adventures, toy unboxing videos, educational videos, and various challenges.

“Like Nastya” has over 112 million subscribers on YouTube. There are also other versions of the channel in different languages with millions of subscribers.

“Like Nastya” generates revenue through YouTube's ad platform, earning an estimated $56.96 million annually. The channel also collaborates with family-friendly tourist attractions like Yas Island and Mermaids of Arabia for paid partnerships.

Pro tip: To replicate these YouTube success stories, choose a niche you love and are good at, create high-quality content, and schedule it with YouTube management tools like Sprout Social.

4. PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg)

PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, started his YouTube channel in April 2010. He is one of the richest YouTube creators with a subscriber base of 111 million.

PewDiePie’s content includes playing video games, vlogs, humorous sketches, reactions, and comedic commentary.

He makes an estimated $12 million annually from his YouTube channel. He has also made $2 million from selling his merchandise throughout his YouTube career.

Besides earning YouTube revenue, he uses his channel for sponsored content by promoting brands like NordVPN, The Ridge, Opera, and World of Tanks.

5. Vlad and Niki

“Vlad and Niki” is another kid’s channel on the top YouTube earners list. It is a children's YouTube channel featuring two Russian brothers, Vladislav and Nikita.

The channel was created in April 2018 and has 108 million subscribers as of January 2024.

Their content involves child-friendly educational and entertainment videos, such as toy unboxing videos, challenges, adventures, and imaginative play.

The “Vlad and Niki” channel makes an estimated $129 million annually from YouTube ad revenue. They also do paid promotion videos for brands like PAW Patrol, WWE, Hot Wheels, and more.

6. Dude Perfect

Next on our YouTube income leaders list is the “Dude Perfect” YouTube channel. It was created in March 2009 by a group of six friends known together as Dude Perfect.

Their content involves attempting trick shots, comedic challenges, and athletic stunts. They often collaborate with celebrities, athletes, and other influencers in their content.

“Dude Perfect” has over 60 million subscribers. They make approximately $6.09 million annually.

They use their channel to post promotional content for Samsung, Bass Pro Shops, and many other lifestyle and sports-related brands.

7. A4

Vladislav Andreyevich Bumaga also known as A4 is one of the big-earning YouTube influencers with a subscriber base of 50 million.

A4 launched his channel in April 2014. His content includes vlogs, challenge videos, pranks, and life hacks.

A4 earns an estimated $25.58 million annually from YouTube ad revenue. Additionally, he earns from brand partnerships with LG, JBL, Razer, HyperX, MSI, and many others.

8. Fernanfloo

“Fernanfloo” is a  gaming channel created by Luis Fernando Flores Alvarado in May 2011. The channel is dedicated to gaming content, like plays, funny commentary, and video game reviews.

Fernanfloo earns approximately $1.78 million annually from YouTube.  He has brand partnerships with major brands like Samsung, Xbox, and PlayStation.

9. Kimberly Loiaza

Kimberly Loaiza launched her YouTube channel in October 2016. The channel has since grown amassing over 44 million subscribers.

Kimberly Loiaza shares her daily life, family vlogs, and lifestyle videos on her YouTube channel. She uses the channel to promote her Latin pop and reggaeton music. 

Loaiza earns an estimated $8.8 million yearly from YouTube. She also uses the platform to create promotional content for brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Bang Energy, Samsung, and more.

10. Shfa

Shfa is an 11-year-old from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with one of the most profitable YouTube channels. Her channel, which is managed by her mother, was launched in March 2015.

As of January 2024, Shfa has over 40 million subscribers and counting. She gained fame after doing challenges involving the Disney characters Anna and Elsa from the movie “Frozen.”

In addition to the “Frozen” challenges, her content includes vlogs and fun challenges with friends.

Shfa earns approximately $13.49 million annually from YouTube. She also promotes toys and other kid-related merchandise.

11. Ryan's World (Ryan Kaji)

The “Ryan's World” channel is one of the initial stories of YouTube financial success. It was created in March 2015 by Ryan Kaji’s parents. The channel has over 36 million subscribers.

Initially, they shared unboxing videos of various toys. Over time, the channel evolved to include a wide range of family-friendly content, such as toy reviews, challenges, science experiments, educational videos, and vlogs.

Ryan’s World earns $16.6 million annually. He has many paid partnership videos to promote toys and kids’ merchandise. He works with brands like Skechers, Just Play Products, Jada Toys, Walmart, and many others.

12. KSI (Olajide Olatunji).

KSI created his YouTube channel in July 2008. He is one of the top YouTube success stories with 16.3 million subscribers.

KSI began with gaming-related content and later expanded to vlogs, challenges, and reaction videos. His infectious laughter is one of the highlights of his successful reaction videos.

KSI collaborated with YouTuber Logan Paul to create a drinks brand known as Prime Hydration which is taking over the energy drink market. They used their platforms to promote Prime and amassed $1.2 billion in sales in 2023.

In addition to the success with Prime, KSI does promotional videos for brands like Wasserman Boxing, MYPROTEIN, ESPN, and many others. KSI is also estimated to earn $4.5 million annually from YouTube ad revenue.

13. Logan Paul

Logan Paul launched his YouTube channel in September 2015. He’s a successful YouTuber with 23.5 million subscribers.

Logan creates content around travel vlogs, reaction videos, and challenges.

As mentioned, Logan Paul collaborated with KSI to launch Prime Hydration. They also do occasional joint videos to promote the drink.

Logan Paul collaborates for paid partnerships with various brands like Nike, Hanes, Dunkin’ Donuts, and more.

14. Blippi

“Blippi” is Stevin John's stage name. He is an American children's entertainer, educator, and YouTuber. 

He launched his YouTube channel in December 2013 and has a massive following of 19.2 million. He creates content aimed at preschool-aged children. The videos often feature him exploring various topics, locations, and activities in a fun and playful way.

Blippi earns an estimated $11 million a year from YouTube. He has brand partnerships to promote toys and kids' clothing with companies like Jazwares and others.

15. Unspeakable (Nathan Graham)

Nathan Graham created his popular YouTube channel “Unspeakable” in May 2012. The channel has 16.8 million subscribers.

The channel’s content features Minecraft-related content, including gameplay, challenges, and mods. He also creates vlogs, real-life challenges, and other entertaining videos.

Unspeakable promotes his merchandise which includes clothing and accessories on his channel.

He makes roughly $6,28 million annually from YouTube. In addition, he also has brand partnerships with Studio71, Spotter, and more.

16. VanossGaming

“VanossGaming” is one of the top gaming channels in YouTube financial rankings. It was created in September 2011 by Evan Fong, a Canadian YouTuber and social media personality.

“VanossGaming” has 25.9 million subscribers. All videos are gaming content that is edited with funny commentary.

The channel makes an estimated $2.12 million per year and has brand partnerships with Amazon and Ubisoft.

17. Good Mythical Morning

Rhett and Link started creating content together in 2006. Their channel, “Good Mythical Morning,” now has 18.6 million subscribers, with each video garnering 10s of millions in views.

On the channel, they engage in various challenges, taste tests, interviews, and explore pop culture. Their audience loves the duo for their unique chemistry and banter.

“Good Mythical Morning” channel makes $3.25 million annually. Rhett and Link do sponsored posts for various brands for example Gillette, BUIC, and Choice Hotels.

18. Markiplier (Mark Edward Fischbach)

Markiplier, whose real name is Mark Edward Fischbach, created his YouTube channel in March 2012. He has since amassed a massive subscriber base of 36.2 million.

Markiplier's content includes energetic and funny commentary during gameplay. He is also particularly known for specializing in horror games.

Markiplier earned $30 million from YouTube in 2023. He does promotional content for Google, Red Bull, and his own lifestyle apparel brand, CLOAK.

19. FGTeeV

FGTeeV represents a family gaming team, hence a family-friendly YouTube channel that was created in October 2012. It now has 22.9 million subscribers as of January 2024.

The channel's content includes gaming videos, challenges, skits, and vlogs. All the family members participate in the content creation.

FGTeeV makes approximately $3.71 million annually from YouTube. It often partners with brands to produce sponsored content for example Bonkers Toys, Studio71, and more.

20. Jake Paul

Jake Paul is the brother of Logan Paul and has one of the top YouTube channel incomes. He created his channel in May 2014.

Jake Paul’s content includes comedic sketches, pranks, and vlogs as he experiences his daily life. He has also released hip-hop music on his channel.

Jake does brand promotions on his YouTube channel for brands like boohooMAN, DraftKings, RNBO Clothing, and Celsius Clothing. Additionally, he earns roughly $1.13 million from his channel every year.

Quick Tips for Aspiring YouTubers

Every successful YouTuber started with zero subscribers. You need to stay dedicated, true to your vision, and enjoy the creative process.

Here are some YouTube tips and tricks to help you in your channel growth journey:

• Identify your passion or area of expertise and focus your content theme around it. 
• Invest in good equipment for video and audio recording because quality visuals and clear audio enhance the viewing experience. 
• Craft compelling video titles by using keywords in your video descriptions and tags to improve searchability.
• Create attention-grabbing thumbnails to attract clicks.
• Create memorable intros for your videos to hook viewers, and encourage them to subscribe or watch more content.
• Develop a content calendar and plan your videos in advance.
• Stick to a consistent posting schedule to build a loyal audience. For example, you can post once a week or more regularly.
• Share your videos on various social media platforms to increase visibility. For instance, sharing snippets of your videos on TikTok will help promote your content.
• Pay attention to audience feedback and adapt your content accordingly.
• Respond to comments and engage with your audience on social media. Building a community around your channel will help you get a loyal following of subscribers.
• Collaborations can expose your channel to a wider audience. Work with other YouTubers in your niche to cross-promote each other.
• Check your YouTube analytics to understand viewer demographics, watch time, and traffic sources. Use this data to refine your content strategy.
• Make the best use of YouTube SEO tools to optimize your videos for success.

Remember: Building a successful YouTube channel takes time. Be patient, stay authentic, and learn from both your mistakes and successes.

You may also like to check out my list of the top female YouTubers and how they have made it big.

Are You Inspired From These Most Profitable YouTube Channels? Start YouTubing!

YouTube continues to be the most prominent video streaming platform with endless potential for creators. These YouTube monetization champions listed above have mastered how to captivate their audiences and keep them coming back every time they release a new video.

You too can start a YouTube channel in your niche and become and work your way to being a top earner on YouTube. YouTube's success is not confined to a particular niche. All you need to do is choose your genre and follow the tips I’ve shared.

Happy YouTubing! And don’t forget to enhance your videos with editing apps like invideo.