Jimmy Donaldson aka MrBeast is ranked 1 on Forbes’ list of Top Creators 2023. The list, which is in its second year, ranks 50 of the world’s most followed digital creators. Everyone from magicians to musicians and beauty influencers to chefs are on it.
According to Forbes, the 50 names included in the list earned an estimated USD 700 million (INR 5,821 crore approx.) overall from a commanding following of 2.6 billion. The overall earnings in 2022 was USD 570 million (INR 4,740 crore approx.), which means that the digital influencers saw their paycheck increase by more than 20 per cent for the current year.
More about the Forbes list of the world’s top creators in 2023
Citing data from social media research firm, Influencer Marketing Hub, Forbes said that brands will be spending an estimated USD 21 billion on creator marketing in 2023. The figure is more than 10 times the USD 1.6 billion (INR 13,306 crore approx.) they spent seven years ago.
Apart from earnings and follower count, Forbes’ also assigned an entrepreneurship score to each creator and presented their average engagement (in percentage). The entrepreneurship score is on a scale of 1-4, “ranging from people who make most of their money from traditional advertising to folks building their own companies, brands, and services.”
The gross earnings reflect how much each of the 50 creators made between June 2022 and June 2023.
The top three on the list
At the top of the game is MrBeast, whose earnings for the period of the report comes to USD 82 million (INR 681 crore approx.) from his follower count of 312 million.
Forbes called him a “YouTube titan” and noted that his “power and popularity stem from his high production videos and stunts.” Donaldson also has Beast-based brands such as Feastables snack bars and the restaurant chain named MrBeast Burgers. He has an entrepreneurship score of 4 and average engagement of 9.8 per cent.
He is followed by controversial English influencer Olajide Olatunji, better known as KSI. Olatunji raked in USD 24 million (INR 199 crore approx.) from his music, boxing promotional company Misfits Boxing, and as the face of sports drink Prime Hydration, the official for football clubs FC Barcelona and Arsenal as well as mixed martial arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has a follower count of 112 million and an entrepreneurship score of 4.
American professional boxer Jake Paul completed the top three on the list. His earnings of USD 34 million (INR 282 crore approx.) and follower count of 66 million came on the back of his sponsorship with the energy drink Celsius, sports betting app Betr which he founded, and an MMA contract to fight in a new pay-per-view division. Paul rose to fame playing Dirk Mann on Bizaardvark — the Disney series starring Olivia Rodrigo as a protagonist. However, he is primarily known for the stunts he performed for his fans on YouTube.
Top 20 creators of 2023 as per Forbes
Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast)
Earnings: USD 82 million (INR 681 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 312 million
Olajide Olatunji (KSI)
Earnings: USD 24 million (INR 199 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 112 million
Jake Paul
Earnings: USD 34 million (INR 282 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 66 million
Rhett & Link
Earnings: USD 35 million (INR 291 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 51 million
Charli D’Amelio
Earnings: USD 23 million (INR 199 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 213 million
Logan Paul
Earnings: USD 21 million (INR 174 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 74 million
Emma Chamberlain
Earnings: USD 20 million (INR 166 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 28 million
Matt Rife
Earnings: USD 25 million (INR 207 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 22 million
Brent Rivera
Earnings: USD 17.5 million (INR 145 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 96 million
Khabane (Khaby) Lame
Earnings: USD 16.5 million (INR 137 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 244 million
Alexandra Cooper
Earnings: USD 20 million (INR 166 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 5 million
Mark Edward Fischbach (Markiplier)
Earnings: USD 30 million (INR 249 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 68 million
Sean McLoughlin (Jacksepticeye)
Earnings: USD 27 million (INR 224 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 26 million
Huda Kattan
Earnings: USD 13 million (INR 199 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 69 million
Preston Arsement (PrestonPlayz)
Earnings: USD 35 million (INR 108 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 26 million
Ryan Kaji
Earnings: USD 35 million (INR 291 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 36 million
Dixie D’Amelio
Earnings: USD 11.5 million (INR 95 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 91 million
Zach King
Earnings: USD 13 million (INR 108 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 125 million
Drew Desbordes (Druski)
Earnings: USD 10 million (INR 83 crore approx.)
Total Followers: 12 million
Click here to read the full list on Forbes.
Hero image: Courtesy Jake Paul/@jakepaul/Twitter; Featured image: Courtesy MrBeast/@mrbeast/Instagram
This story first appeared on Prestige Malaysia.
Manas Sen Gupta writes at the intersection of tech, entertainment and history. His works have appeared in publications such as The Statesman, Myanmar Matters, Hindustan Times and News18/ETV. In his spare time, Manas loves studying interactive charts and topographic maps. When not doing either, he prefers reading detective fiction. Spring is his favourite season and he can happily eat a bowl of noodles any time of the day.
