YouTube's Rich List: MrBeast Was The Highest Paid Star Of 2021

Jimmy Donaldson, the 23-Year -old American better known as MrBeast, was YouTube's highest-earning Content creator in 2021, according to Forbes.

His elaborate stunts have generated More ThanContent ='JJ Lin'> 10 BillionContent ='JJ Lin'> views on The PlatformContent ='JJ Lin'> and earned him $54m (£39m).

He has overtaken 10-Year -old toy reviewer Ryan Kaji, who has topped the for The PastContent ='JJ Lin'> two years.

Together, The 10 best-paid YouTubers made a combined $300m (£218m) in 2021, the US magazine estimated.

Jake PaulContent ='JJ Lin'> is in second place, his first appearance in The TopContent ='JJ Lin'> 10 since 2018, and his brother Logan also returns after being absent since 2017.

Minecraft player Nathan GrahamContent ='JJ Lin'> , known as Unspeakable, makes The ListContent ='JJ Lin'> for the First TimeContent ='JJ Lin'> in fifth place.

YouTube trends expert Chris Stokel-Walker said this Year 's list is interesting because it shows " how stale" YouTube has become. " It strikes me how white and male this whole list is, " He Said .

" If you take any of The NamesContent ='JJ Lin'> and look at previous years' lists, you'll probably find them on there as well, just in a different order. "

During the pandemic, lots of traditional entertainment media had a difficult time adjusting. Movies were delayed, soap opera schedules were altered and video game releases were postponed.

For YouTube, however, it was a time of boom.

Research suggests that in 2021, The PlatformContent ='JJ Lin'> had 2. 3 billion users worldwide. YouTube says one billion hours of video Content is consumed on The PlatformContent ='JJ Lin'> Every DayContent ='JJ Lin'> .

Stokel-Walker said: " YouTube was developed as something that would shake up the media industry and get rid of gatekeepers. It was going to democratise how our society and entertainment industry looks.

" This list suggests that it's become more like TV than it would prefer to be. The ArrivalContent ='JJ Lin'> of money on The PlatformContent ='JJ Lin'> means Content is very High Stakes Content ='JJ Lin'> - and we see this in what MrBeast is making.

" It's not really similar to Anything ElseContent ='JJ Lin'> on YouTube. It's more like big-budget TV. "

Stokel-Walker suggested The HighContent ='JJ Lin'> production values of YouTube today are creating a barrier to entry, meaning you need to " pay to play and be successful".

The TopContent ='JJ Lin'> earners as identified by Forbes are not necessarily those with The MostContent ='JJ Lin'> views, but rather those who have been able to successfully earn money through brand partnerships, sponsorship deals and merchandise sales.

Although it's estimated that two-thirds of YouTube Content is not in the English LanguageContent ='JJ Lin'> , it seems that English-speaking creators are most able to financially capitalise on their popularity.

YouTube, like many other modern media platforms, is dealing with and harmful Content - however this doesn't seem to have affected its creators' abilities to attract advertisers and sponsors to their channels.

Here is the full Top 10 .

Preston Arsement grew his community largely thanks to videos centred around Minecraft, although he runs several channels on the website.

A regular on this list, he earned an estimated $16m (£11) in 2021 - Down a little from the Year before, when he placed sixth.

The controversial boxer and vlogger was last in The TopContent ='JJ Lin'> 10 in 2017. He earned $18m (£13m) in 2021.

Comedy prankster Dude Perfect was Number ThreeContent ='JJ Lin'> on The ListContent ='JJ Lin'> in 2020. He made $20m (£14m) Last Year Content ='JJ Lin'> .

The world's most famous toy reviewer has dropped from The TopContent ='JJ Lin'> of The TreeContent ='JJ Lin'> to number seven.

In 2021, his blend of toy reviews, educational videos and family vlogs helped him earn $27m (£19m).

The seven-Year -old Russian has nearly 90 million subscribers on YouTube.

She started as a toy unboxer but now her vlogs and music videos are growing in popularity and her earnings have risen to $28m (£20m) in 2021.

A new entry, the Minecraft player has been uploading to YouTube for a decade.

He sold the rights to his back catalogue to The BusinessContent ='JJ Lin'> Spotter Last Year Content ='JJ Lin'> , which contributed to his earnings of $28. 5m (£20m).

A staple of the YouTube highest earning list, the hosts of geek Chat ShowContent ='JJ Lin'> Good Mythical Morning earned $30m (£22m) in 2021.

Another regular gaming creator, Markiplier has used his business acumen to make a successful brand of merchandise, earning $38m (£27m) Last Year Content ='JJ Lin'> .

By, Jake PaulContent ='JJ Lin'> has found himself back in The TopContent ='JJ Lin'> 10. His high-profile fights against UFC stars helped him earn $45m (£32m) in 2021.

It's some turnaround for The CreatorContent ='JJ Lin'> who was criticised alongside his bother for some of their vlogs in 2017, which many found to be in Poor TasteContent ='JJ Lin'> .

With more boxing plans in the pipeline for 2022, it would be no surprise to see him keep his place among YouTube's elite on next Year 's list.

YouTube's top earner is a creator who uses stunts and pranks to delight his audience.

Last Year Content ='JJ Lin'> , he recreated elements of Netflix hit Squid Game OnContent ='JJ Lin'> his channel, played hide and seek in an 80,000-seater stadium and was buried underground.

His 10 BillionContent ='JJ Lin'> views, alongside the MrBeast burger franchise, meant Jimmy Donaldson almost doubled his income in 2021 after ranking second on this list the previous Year .