PewDiePie Net Worth (Money & Salary)

PewDiePie’s Net Worth: What Is It?

With a net worth of $45 million, PewDiePie is a Swedish internet celebrity, streamer, and video game commentator. His YouTube channel has held the title of the most-subscribed channel at various times and he has ranked as the highest-earning YouTuber globally. Typically, the channel features videos where he plays different video games.

In his videos, he often comments on his experiences and observations while reacting to the game content. PewDiePie affectionately calls his supporters the ‘Bro Army,’ consisting of his ‘Bros,’ and usually concludes his videos with a signature ‘Brofist.’ Since launching his channel in 2009, subscriptions have skyrocketed. He was a speaker at the Nonick Conference in 2012. Later, in October 2012, OpenSlate rated the PewDiePie channel as the number one YouTube channel based on “SlateScore.” By April 2013, the channel had achieved 6 million subscribers and in July of the same year, he relocated to the United Kingdom for better internet access.

The Highest-Paid Star on YouTube

PewDiePie holds the title not only for the number of video views but also for his consistent earnings, making him one of the top-paid figures on the platform. In 2013, CelebrityNetWorth reported his earnings at $12 million, which increased to $14 million in 2014. He earned $9 million in 2015, followed by $15 million in 2016, and $12 million in 2017. His earnings rose to $15.5 million in 2018 and $13 million in 2019. As of now, PewDiePie commands $450,000 for a sponsored video.

When totaled, PewDiePie has earned over $73 million in pre-tax income from his YouTube career since 2013. He has stated in interviews that his net worth is “much much” greater than $20 million.

Background and Upbringing

PewDiePie, born Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, hails from Gothenburg, Sweden, and was born on October 24, 1989. He is the son of Lotta Kristine Johanna and Ulf Christian Kjellberg; his father works as a corporate executive and his mother is an award-winning Chief Information Officer. He also has an older sister named Fanny. During high school, Felix often skipped classes to play video games and graduated from Göteborgs Högre Samskola. Initially, he aimed to study Industrial Economics and Technology Management at Chalmers University of Technology, but he soon found himself disengaged with the subjects and dropped out. It’s worth noting that he did not leave school to pursue a career on YouTube, as is commonly believed. Even though he lacked interest in academic courses, he had a keen interest in Photoshop and video games, selling edited images to save money for a computer.

YouTube

PewDiePie joined YouTube on December 19, 2006. Initially, his channel was named “Pewdie,” which Felix explained was inspired by the sound a laser makes, “pew.” His early content featured him playing Call of Duty, along with some vlogging videos. At one point, he forgot the password to his original Pewdie channel, prompting him to create a new channel, PewDiePie, on April 29, 2010. On this new channel, he concentrated on games like Call of Duty, Minecraft, and various horror/action titles. He often showcased short clips of his best moments in Call of Duty, complemented by amusing commentary and edits. In his Minecraft content, he typically presented “Let’s Plays,” where he simply played the game.

Early Success

Eventually, PewDiePie started playing Amnesia, and for reasons unknown, his Let’s Plays of this game resonated with a broader YouTube audience, leading to a rapid increase in subscribers. His channel soared, achieving 1 million subscribers by July 2012 and 2 million by September 2012. This success facilitated a representation deal with MCN Machinima, and in October 2012, he transitioned to Maker Studios.

The Biggest YouTube Star On The Planet

During 2012 and 2013, PewDiePie experienced explosive growth, becoming the fastest-growing channel on YouTube. From 3.5 million subscribers at the beginning of 2013, his subscriber count skyrocketed to 19 million by year-end. He attracted approximately 1.037 new subscribers every second throughout that year, amassing 1.3 billion video views, ultimately leading to him being the most subscribed channel on YouTube.

With the assistance of Maker Studios, an app for iPhone named PewDiePie was launched. Although he voiced discomfort with Maker Studio’s parent company, Disney, he later created a website and online store associated with the highly successful app.

In 2014, his channel gained an impressive 14 million subscribers and tallied 4.1 billion video views, far exceeding any other channel. By 2015, he maintained an average of 300 million video views each month.

Return To Twitch

In May 2020, after signing an exclusive streaming deal with YouTube, PewDiePie surprised fans by making a comeback to Twitch in March 2023 following a long inactivity period on that channel. He introduced an innovative format he called PewDiePie Infinity, which involves broadcasting an endless loop of his past streams and videos—what he describes as an “infinite money glitch in real life.” He currently boasts 1.5 million followers on the platform.

Controversies

In February 2017, PewDiePie faced the cancellation of his YouTube Red show when it came to light that several of his videos contained antisemitic references. He argues that the videos were intended as sarcasm to showcase how far people will go for money, regardless of how inappropriate or shocking it may be. One notable instance involved him paying two individuals $5 via the site Fiver to hold up a sign reading “Death to all Jews.” Additionally, a viral challenge called “subscribe to PewDiePie” emerged, with people attempting to spread that phrase publicly. At least two mass murderersDuring their massacres or in their manifestos, some have uttered “subscribe to PewDiePie.” PewDiePie has disavowed the meme and condemned the murderers.

Personal Life

In 2011, PewDiePie met Marzia Bisognin from Italy. They began as online friends, which eventually blossomed into a romance. In 2012, he helped her launch a YouTube channel named CutiePieMarzia. Her content revolved around fashion, makeup, books, movies, and beauty, and it became one of YouTube’s most popular beauty channels. She stepped back from YouTube in 2018. The couple spent several years moving between Sweden and Italy before finally making Brighton and Hove in England their home. They tied the knot in August 2019 and lead a relatively private life in their small seaside town with two pugs named Edgar and Maya. In February 2023, his wife announced they were expecting a baby.

In 2019, they purchased a home in Japan, which was later burglarized, and their relocation was postponed due to the country’s COVID-19 regulations. By May 2022, they settled into their Japanese home with a five-year business visa.