MrBeast Tops Forbes 2025 Creator Rich List with $85M Windfall
Fantastic—just when you thought scrolling through your feed was harmless, Forbes serves up a side of envy with the Top 50 creators of 2025 and their absurd paydays. Look, I don’t want to be the one to break it to you, but content creation is now officially more lucrative than most corner offices. Forbes reports these digital celebs collectively hauled in $853 million across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube last year. I told you so: nobody’s watching puppy videos for free.
Leading the charge is MrBeast, who racked up a jaw-dropping $85 million thanks to viral stunts and brand partnerships. He’s followed by motivational mogul Dhar Mann at $56 million and boxer-turned-influencer Jake Paul with $50 million, based on data from Forbes and corroborated by interviews. Comedy duo Rhett & Link snagged $36 million through their podcast empire and merch lines. If you’re wondering whether your morning coffee is worth that much, the answer is no.
On the women’s leaderboard, Alex Cooper, aka the “Daddy Gang” ringmaster from her Call Her Daddy podcast, secured $32 million. She even confessed on Harry Jowsey’s Boyfriend Material podcast to turning down an $8 million deal because she “didn’t believe in putting my face next to it,” according to a transcript shared with E! Online. That’s called selective integrity, folks.
Meanwhile, children’s educator Ms. Rachel (Rachel Accurso) cleared $23 million with her YouTube lessons now streaming on Netflix, proving that teaching the ABCs can indeed pay the bills. In beauty and lifestyle land, Alix Earle charm-bombed her way to $8 million, Nara Smith—expecting baby number four—banked $9 million, and makeup guru Mikayla Nogueira pulled in $7.8 million through sponsored content.
Even niche creators get a slice: food critic Jake Shane grossed $9 million after pivoting from octopus dish reviews to his Therapuss podcast and live comedy tour. “I owe it all to my community,” he told Forbes, as if we didn’t already know fans buy merch to keep YouTubers caffeinated.
Turning to reality TV, Dancing With the Stars pros start at roughly $1,200 to $1,600 per episode—up to $100,000 a season if you stick around—while celebrity partners kick off at $125,000. Semifinalists and finalists pocket bonuses as high as $50,000, according to multiple reports (ABC hasn’t confirmed the exact figures).
And let’s not pretend Hollywood salaries are quaint: Jennifer Lawrence took home $25 million for Don’t Look Up, only to find Leonardo DiCaprio earned $30 million for the same film. “Look, Leo brings in more box office,” Lawrence told Vanity Fair, dragging us into the timeless gender pay gap drama.
Did anyone expect creators or stars to work for peanuts? No? Thought so. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Forbes, E! Online, Vanity Fair
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
