CMOtech UK - Technology news for CMOs & marketing decision-makers
Story image
Content creators earn $700m across social media platforms in 2023
Sat, 16th Dec 2023

The world of social media has undoubtedly created a new realm of wealth and influence. In 2023, the top 50 content creators, harnessing the platforms of TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, accumulated earnings of around $700 million and amassed a following that exceeded 2.92 billion, according to a study compiled by wealthofgeeks.com.

The research discovered that the likable Jimmy Donaldson, who is better known as MrBeast, topped the list as the wealthiest creator, harvesting a considerable $82 million. MrBeast, integral for his engaging stunts and philanthropy, boasts an astonishing following of 377.1 million. The study also shed light on the remarkable achievements of content creator Dani Austin. Despite having a comparatively small following of 2.9 million, Austin leads the pack with earnings per 1,000 followers, netting an incredible $4,302.93 per 1K followers.

The report discloses intriguing insights into the content strategies, follower engagement, and platform preferences that fuel this thriving creator economy. The interactive content landscape is shown to be an intriguing narrative for both creators and their followers, with top creators successfully transforming digital content and social influence into substantial income.

The top 10 highest-earning content creators were listed in the study. Following MrBeast were Rhett & Link, creators of 'Good Mythical Morning', who earned $35 million from their 51 million followers. Preston Arsement and Ryan Kaji, both gaming content creators, were next, each garnering $35 million and assemblies of 39 million and 36 million followers respectively. Jake Paul, Elliot Tebele, Mark Edward Fischbach, Sean McLoughlin, Matt Rife, and Olajide Olatunji (KSI) completed the list, all with earnings ranging between $24 and $34 million.

In terms of earnings efficiency per 1,000 followers, Dani Austin Ramirez unsurprisingly topped the charts, followed by Alexandra Cooper, Christina Najjar (Tinx), Rhett & Link, and Kaitlyn Siragusa (Amouranth). Elliot Tebele, Ryan Kaji, Preston Arsement, Matt Rife and Monet McMichael also made the cut. These figures denote how effective these stars have been in monetising their fan base.

The report is an eye-opening exploration into the phenomenal earnings and influence of social media creators, obtaining an extraordinary wealth from digital platforms and demonstrating the depths of the 'creator economy'. The achieving power of the creators and their proficiency in monetising their fan base even further signifies the accelerating shift toward the digital era.