The number 1 most popular YouTuber, in terms of subscribers for an individual creator, is MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), who has surpassed 450 million subscribers as of early 2026, making him the most-subscribed individual channel globally and the most-subscribed channel overall, having overtaken T-Series in 2024. He's known for extravagant stunts, massive cash giveaways, and large-scale philanthropic projects.
The top 3 YouTubers by subscriber count in early 2026 are MrBeast, followed by corporate/music channels like T-Series, and children's content creators such as Cocomelon or Kids Diana Show, with MrBeast being the leading individual creator by a significant margin, dominating the global rankings.
The Top 10 Australian YouTubers
The YouTube channel with the most subscribers is MrBeast, now surpassing 412 million subscribers. T-Series remains a major force in music and entertainment with 298 million, followed by Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes at 195 million.
The #1 richest YouTuber in the world is MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), consistently topping lists with an estimated net worth often cited over $500 million, potentially reaching $1 billion, driven by viral content, massive giveaways, and successful business ventures like Feastables and MrBeast Burger, making him the highest-earning creator globally.
Yes, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) became a billionaire in 2024 based on his business value, but he keeps very little cash, reinvesting almost everything into his videos and philanthropy, stating he often has less than $1 million in his personal bank account, per People.com and Forbes https://people.com/mrbeast-net-worth-11879997,. His net worth is estimated at over $1 billion, potentially reaching $2.6 billion by early 2026, but he has said his personal funds are minimal as his wealth is tied up in his media empire and he pays himself only personal expenses.
Ryan Kaji, known for his YouTube channel "Ryan's World," has become a household name with an astonishing 57 billion views and $1 billion in products sold. At just 12 years old, he has made waves in the online content creation scene and expanded his brand to include a dedicated team of 30 employees.
100 Million YouTube Subscribers was first achieved by Pewdiepie, one of YouTube's most legendary creators, and then by T-Series, a media company based in India.
You can make money on YouTube through the following features: Advertising revenue: Earn revenue from Watch Page ads and Shorts Feed ads. Shopping: Your fans can browse and buy products from your store, or products you tag from other brands through the YouTube Shopping affiliate program.
The first "YouTuber" was Jawed Karim, one of YouTube's co-founders, who uploaded the platform's first video, "Me at the zoo," on April 23, 2005, making him the first person to post content on the site, which marked the beginning of user-generated video sharing.
How much does a YouTuber earn in Australia? Earnings of YouTuber varies depending on their channels size and watch time they get. Most YouTubers make money through the YouTube Partner Program (explained later). Once they meet the requirements and get approved, they get paid based on each 1000 views, also known as CPM.
It gained fame through its early content focused on gaming, with PewDiePie providing humorous commentary. His energetic style appealed to a younger audience. What made PewDiePie one of the biggest YouTube channels? His ability to evolve and diversify his content over time.
The original "Baby Shark" video by Pinkfong is now the most viewed video on the site.
1. MrBeast – 459 million subscribers.
To make $2,000 a month on YouTube from ad revenue, you generally need 400,000 to 1 million monthly views, depending heavily on your niche's CPM (cost per mille/thousand views) and RPM (revenue per mille), but many creators report needing 500,000 to 1 million+ views for a comfortable living, with high-value niches like finance potentially reaching it with fewer views and lower-value niches needing significantly more, plus other income streams like sponsorships.
The "30-second rule" on YouTube refers to the critical first moments of a video, where creators must hook viewers within about 30 seconds to get them to keep watching, as YouTube registers meaningful engagement after this mark, impacting visibility and watch time. It's a key focus for audience retention, with strategies involving dynamic editing (B-roll, angles), emotional hooks, and clear value propositions, but it's distinct from copyright myths about using 30-second music clips.
The short answer to the question is: yes, YouTubers can still get paid if you skip ads. However, it's not that simple. There are different types of ads on YouTube and different factors that affect how much money a YouTuber earns from ads.
MrBeast recently celebrated reaching 100 million subscribers, prompting a reflection on his first subscriber, Roggan Minoggan, who subscribed in 2011. Minoggan created his YouTube account in 2006 and was the first to support MrBeast's initial channel, Beast5YT.
The most viewed video on YouTube, and generally online, is "Baby Shark Dance" by Pinkfong, with over 16 billion views, followed by music videos like "Despacito" and kids' content like "Johny Johny Yes Papa". While "hottest" can imply trending or mature content, the all-time most-viewed videos are dominated by children's songs due to high repeat viewership, with "Despacito" being the top non-kids' song.
Princess Charlotte, the daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton, is worth significantly more to the United Kingdom (UK) economy than even her older brother, Prince George, the future king. A video explaining that Princess Charlotte is the richest child in the world quickly went viral.
Becoming a millionaire at 15 years old might sound like a dream come true, but for Jaden Ashman, it led to an obsession with social media that impacted his physical and mental health. Jaden shot to fame by setting a Fortnite world record, earning him a million pounds.