PewDiePie Net Worth (Money & Salary)

PewDiePie’s Net Worth – How Much Does He Make?

With a net worth of $45 million, PewDiePie, the popular Swedish video game commentator, streamer, and internet sensation, has been a dominant figure on YouTube. He has held the record for the most-subscribed channel on multiple occasions and has been the top-earning YouTuber globally. His channel primarily showcases him playing various video games.

His content typically involves gameplay commentary, reactions, and interactions with his audience, whom he fondly calls the ‘Bro Army.’ His channel saw exponential growth since its inception in 2009. Notably, in October 2012, PewDiePie’s channel was ranked as the #1 YouTube channel by OpenSlate. His rise to fame continued, and by April 2013, he had amassed 6 million subscribers. Seeking better internet connectivity, he relocated to the United Kingdom in July 2013.

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PewDiePie – YouTube’s Top Earner

Besides being YouTube’s most-watched content creator, PewDiePie consistently ranks as one of the platform’s highest-paid personalities. His earnings over the years reflect this, with significant income milestones. For instance, in 2013, it was disclosed that he earned $12 million. Subsequent years saw his earnings soar: $14 million in 2014, $9 million in 2015, $15 million in 2016, $12 million in 2017, $15.5 million in 2018, and $13 million in 2019. Currently, his fee for a sponsored video is set at $450,000.

Calculating his earnings from 2013 onwards, PewDiePie’s total pre-tax income surpasses $73 million. In an interview, he hinted that his actual net worth far exceeds the reported $20 million.

Early Years

Born Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg on October 24, 1989, in Gothenburg, Sweden, PewDiePie is the son of Lotta Kristine Johanna and Ulf Christian Kjellberg. His mother is an accomplished Chief Information Officer, while his father holds a corporate executive position. He has an elder sister named Fanny. During his school days, Felix prioritized gaming over academics and eventually graduated from Göteborgs Högre Samskola. Initially pursuing a degree in Industrial Economics and Technology Management at Chalmers University of Technology, he dropped out due to disinterest in the curriculum. Contrary to popular belief, he didn’t leave to kickstart his YouTube journey but because of his lack of enthusiasm for the courses. Nonetheless, his knack for Photoshop and passion for gaming persisted. To buy a computer, he sold digitally altered images he created.

A Deeper Dive into YouTube

Having joined YouTube on December 19, 2006, PewDiePie’s original channel was named “Pewdie.” The choice of “pew” was inspired by the sound lasers make. Initially, his content featured Call of Duty gameplay and sporadic vlogs. Losing access to his Pewdie channel, he launched PewDiePie on April 29, 2010, focusing on Call of Duty, Minecraft, and horror/action games. For instance, his videos showcased notable CoD achievements coupled with engaging commentary. His Minecraft content included “Let’s Plays,” a popular gaming format.

Swift Rise to Fame

The turning point came when PewDiePie began playing Amnesia, which resonated strongly with viewers. Subsequently, his subscriber count surged, hitting 1 million in July 2012 and 2 million in September 2012. After signing with MCN Machinima and then moving to Maker Studios in October 2012, his channel’s growth trajectory accelerated.

Ruling the YouTube Realm

During 2012 and 2013, PewDiePie emerged as YouTube’s fastest-growing channel. In 2013 alone, his subscriber count catapulted from 3.5 million to 19 million. Notably, he was gaining one new subscriber every second throughout the year. By the end of 2013, he attained 1.3 billion video views and claimed the top spot as the most subscribed channel on YouTube.

Leveraging Maker Studios’ support, a PewDiePie iPhone app was developed. Despite expressing reservations about Maker Studios’ parent company, Disney, PewDiePie still managed to establish a successful website and online store to complement the app’s triumph.

In 2014, his channel attracted 14 million new subscribers and garnered a staggering 4.1 billion video views, surpassing all competitors. In 2015, monthly video views peaked at 300 million.

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Return To Twitch

On the heels of an exclusive deal with YouTube to stream in May of 2020, PewDiePie surprised many by making a return to Twitch in March of 2023, even after years of channel inactivity. His re-entry was marked by the introduction of a novel concept dubbed PewDiePie Infinity. He ingeniously leveraged the channel to create what he dubbed an “infinite money glitch in real life,” endlessly looping his past streams and videos. Currently, he enjoys a following of 1.5 million on the platform.

Controversies

In February 2017, PewDiePie’s YouTube Red show came to an end following revelations that several of his videos contained antisemitic references. PewDiePie insists that the videos were meant sarcastically to underscore how far people would go for money, regardless of the appropriateness or shock value. Notably, in one instance, he paid two individuals $5 via the platform Fiverr to display a sign saying “Death to all Jews.” Additionally, there was a viral “subscribe to PewDiePie” trend where individuals sought to spread the phrase in public, leading to misuse by at least two mass murderers who referenced it in their actions or manifestos. PewDiePie distanced himself from the meme and condemned those perpetrators.

Personal Life

In 2011, PewDiePie crossed paths with Italian Marzia Bisognin, initially forming an online friendship that blossomed into a romantic relationship. The subsequent year, he facilitated the launch of her YouTube channel named CutiePieMarzia, focusing on fashion, makeup, books, movies, and beauty. Her channel eventually became one of YouTube’s most popular in the beauty segment. Their relationship saw them shuttling between Sweden and Italy until eventually settling in Brighton and Hove, England. The couple tied the knot in August 2019 and now resides quietly in the seaside town with their pugs, Edgar and Maya. In February 2023, Marzia announced her pregnancy.

In 2019, the couple acquired a home in Japan that unfortunately fell victim to a robbery later in the year, delaying their move due to COVID-19-related relocation restrictions. In May 2022, they successfully relocated to Japan, holding a five-year business visa.