Meet the Top 5 YouTubers in the World

Meet the Top 5 YouTubers in the World


YouTube was started in February 2005 and was acquired by Google in November 2006. The video sharing platform has become a giant in the industry and a go-to option for budding creators. There are many content creators who owe their celebrity status and their success to YouTube. It has become a great place for being discovered as entities looking for new talent scout the platform regularly. In fact, many content creators have made a full-fledged career as YouTubers. Today, we will count down the top 5 YouTubers in the world and look at what they do differently to achieve their current standing.


5. elrubiusOMG


Ruben Doblas Gunderson rubs a Spanish YouTube channel where he primarily streams gameplay. He occasionally publishes video interviews and regular vlogs. He is famous for his Pikachu references and amazing beat drops. He posts videos participating in challenges, sketch comedies, answers fan question among other things.


  • Number of videos: 804
  • Subscriber count: over 34.8 million
  • Total Views: over 7 billion
  • Estimated Revenue/Video: Up to $37K
  • Est. All-time Earnings: almost $30 million

4. whinderssonnunes


Whindersson Nunes is a Brazilian YouTuber famous for being shirtless in his vlogs. He keeps his audience engaged by regularly uploading rants which are charming enough to win you over. He uploads pop parodies like Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” and Adele’s “Hello” which are super fun to watch.


  • Number of videos: 363
  • Subscriber count: over 35.8 million
  • Total Views: 2.9 billion
  • Estimated Revenue/Video: Up to $32K
  • Est. All-time Earnings: almost $11 million


3. HolaSoyGerman


German Garmendia is a Chilean YouTuber who is known for his two YouTube channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman. His gaming channel, JuegaGerman would have been number 6 on this list with over 35 million subscribers. HolaSoyGerman is where he uploads all his non-gaming related content. On top of that, he sells books and also performs with a band named Ancud.


  • Number of videos: 137
  • Subscriber count: over 39 million
  • Total Views: 3.9 billion
  • Estimated Revenue/Video: Up to $114K
  • Est. All-time Earnings: almost $15 million


2. Dude Perfect


Dude Perfect is an extremely entertaining channel that started in 2009. It consists of a group of 5 people all of whom were former high school basketball players and alumni at Texas A&M University. The group members are Tyler Toney, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert and twin brothers Coby & Cory Cotton. They perform trick shots using basketball, frisbees, tennis balls, ping pong ball among other things. One of the more interesting things about their channel from a marketing standpoint is the way they integrate brands into their videos and participate in challenges.


  • Number of videos: 206
  • Subscriber count: over 42.5 million
  • Total Views: 8 billion
  • Estimated Revenue/Video: Up to $155K
  • Est. All-time Earnings: almost $32 million


1. PewDiePie


Felix Kjellberg is the reigning king of YouTubers so chances are you already know of him. With over 96 million subscribers, people were comparing his subscriber count with another content distributor channel, T-Series. There is no doubt that he is the most popular YouTuber on the face of this planet above and beyond any other. He is also quite controversial and problematic at times due to his anti-Semitic views and racial slurs. As a result, Disney broke off their partnership, YouTube cancelled one of his series and Google revoked his Preferred Premium Ad Tier Status. Yet, today he remains unscathed as his followers are loyal and appreciate the content the Swedish gamer and vlogger published on his channel.


  • Number of videos: 3854
  • Subscriber count: over 96 million
  • Total Views: 21 billion
  • Estimated Revenue/Video: Up to $22K
  • Est. All-time Earnings: almost $86 million

It is interesting to note that almost all of the most subscribed channels are gaming-related channels where users live stream the games they play. Something we came across in the writing of this article is that none of the most viewed videos is gaming videos. What sets these YouTubers apart is that they diversified their content beyond live streaming their gaming sessions. All of these YouTubers spend a lot of time creating content that appeals to their audience. They remain authentic to a fault despite facing widespread criticism.


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Live Streaming: The Next Big Shift in Influencer Marketing


3… 2… 1… You’re live now!


There was a time when video marketing was restricted to companies with big budgets. The amount of money required to implement video marketing and live streaming used to drain marketing budgets like water. The situation has evolved significantly since then. Live video is available to users and businesses alike since the advent of social media platforms.


Growth of Live Streaming


Since 2009, YouTube has tested live streaming on its platform with the support of third-party technology. They developed and launched their own live streaming platform in 2012. After being initially available to select users with 10000+ subscribers, it is now available to everyone. Since then, many new platforms have begun offering live streaming on their platform.


  • Periscope (owned by Twitter) was launched in March 2015
  • In January 2017, Facebook Live was made available to the users after being launched for selected users in August 2016.  
  • Twitch, the video game streaming platform saw a 197% growth in their user base in 2017.

The rise in the popularity of live streaming can be attributed to the decline in TV viewership among people who are on social media and the unprecedented easy access to technology. The attention media companies are paying to live streaming makes it a force to be reckoned with.


How Live Streaming is Revolutionizing Marketing


Now more than ever, live streaming is available to all businesses across the globe and users are gravitating towards this format. Social media channels are taking huge strides to improve their live streaming services and making them marketing friendly. Here’s why live streaming will be a game changer in the future:


Access on Multiple Channels: Earlier, YouTube used to be at the forefront of the live streaming space. Today, Instagram Live and Facebook Live offer neck to neck competition. Going live is possible at almost zero cost so it can easily fit into marketing budgets. There are many options for users and businesses to choose from when deciding to go live.


Cost-effective: Live streaming is now offered by all major social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Today, both the software and hardware required for the task is minimal which reduces the cost of going live. Users can now stream directly from their computers and mobile phones at any time and from anywhere.


Impact of Live Streaming on Influencer Marketing


Live streaming has had a major impact on influencer marketing ever since its inception. Influencer marketing has reached a point where social media channels are populated with sponsored content involving influencers. In such a scenario, live streaming offers a fresh avenue to collaborate with influencers for a campaign.


Live streaming with popular influencers gives the audience a new way to engage with their favourite celebrities. It adds a sense of anticipation and excitement which increases engagement levels more than pre-recorded videos. Moreover, live streams add a layer of transparency to the campaign as viewers get a chance to engage with the brand and influencers in an open conversation.


There are many brands who have successfully used influencer live streams for excellent results in terms of brand awareness and engagement levels. Some of the stellar examples include:


Make-a-wish: The Netherlands branch of Make-a-Wish collaborated with gaming vlogger Yarashy for a live telethon. In a 24-hour YouTube Live Video, the stream reached 6 million people and raised 10000 euros for the organization. This example is special unique it demonstrates how nonprofits can benefit from influencer live streaming.


Nestle Drumstick: Nestle used an already trending topic #FirstDayOfSummer and featured Drumstick in their Periscope live streams throughout the day. They collaborated with influencers stream their favourite summer activities while enjoying a Drumstick. This campaign is a good example of how brands can tap multiple influencers to go live for a single campaign.


Embrace Live Streaming


Live streaming brings with itself an exciting space for all involved. Many brands are successfully using live streaming to promote their products and events. It is an engaging way for brands to reach their target audience before their competition. It is prudent that brands leverage this opportunity and establish themselves. Live streaming is the next big avenue in influencer marketing because it thrives on authenticity and creativity which are the pillars of influencer marketing.