Inaugural Forbes Top Creators List Reveals Highest-Earning Internet Celebrities
Forbes, renowned for its prestigious lists such as Forbes Billionaires and Forbes 30 Under 30, has introduced a new addition to its lineup – the Forbes Top Creators list. This list ranks the most successful content creators and internet celebrities based on their accomplishments throughout the year. It includes popular names from platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
Noteworthy Figures on the Forbes Top Creators List
#1 — Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson
YouTube phenomenon MrBeast secured the top spot on the list with earnings exceeding $54 million in 2021. Forbes attributed his success to his entrepreneurial ventures, particularly MrBeast Burger, which has achieved great acclaim.
#11 — Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach
Markiplier, though not earning as much as MrBeast, saw a doubling of his income from 2020 to 2021. This boost can be credited to his clothing line collaboration with Jacksepticeye, resulting in $38 million in earnings.
#12 — Felix “xQc” Lengyel
xQc, the highest-ranked Twitch streamer on the list, comes as no surprise given his status as the most-watched streamer on Twitch in 2020 and 2021. His earnings in 2021 amounted to $8 million.
#15 — Sean “Jacksepticeye” McLoughlin
Despite reduced Twitch streaming, Jacksepticeye still earned $16.8 million from his YouTube channel and his clothing line venture with Markiplier.
#18 — Marques Brownlee
Marques Brownlee runs the highly popular MKBHD YouTube channel, focusing on technology reviews. In addition to generating $6.5 million in 2021, he expanded his content by conducting interviews with notable figures like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg.
#19 — Tyler “Ninja” Blevins
Ninja may not have reached the peak of his career during the Fortnite craze in 2018, but he still earned an impressive $12.5 million in 2021, surpassing many other streamers including xQc.
#20 — Olajide “KSI” Olatunji
KSI has evolved from his early days of FIFA-focused content to become one of the biggest YouTube stars worldwide, earning $10 million in 2021. Forbes also commended him for establishing his own boxing promotion company, Misfits Boxing.
#29 — Bella Poarch
Bella Poarch is a multitalented individual who transitioned from working as a helicopter mechanic to becoming a popular influencer involved in modeling, singing, and occasional Twitch streaming. She reportedly earned $5 million in 2021.
#37 — Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek
Shroud, the third and final Twitch streamer on the list, had an eventful year. In addition to earning $2 million from his streams, he briefly returned to competitive esports, competing with Sentinels in VALORANT.
Overall, the Forbes Top Creators list showcases the most notable Twitch and YouTube stars, while including Instagram and TikTok influencers among its ranks.