Net Worth Ranker
What Is Shane Dawson’s Net Worth?
Shane Dawson, a prominent American YouTube personality, actor, musician, comedian, and director, has amassed a net worth of $12 million. This financial standing is primarily attributed to his multifaceted career, including his highly successful YouTube channels, music ventures, book sales, and collaborations, most notably with Jeffree Star Cosmetics.
Early Career and YouTube Success
Born Shane Lee Yaw on July 19, 1988, in Long Beach, California, Shane Dawson launched his main YouTube channel, ShaneDawsonTV, in 2008. Before achieving widespread fame, he experimented with video creation during his high school years for school projects. His early content mainly consisted of comedic videos, which he consistently uploaded weekly. In addition to his main channel, Dawson created two additional channels, including one dedicated to daily vlogs recorded on his phone. By 2010, just two years after starting his YouTube career, Dawson had already accumulated over 500 million views, showcasing his rapid rise to online stardom.
Dawson’s YouTube success has been marked by several key milestones. In 2010, Forbes Magazine recognized him as the 25th “Most Famous Web Celebrity,” further solidifying his position in the digital landscape. Over the years, his main YouTube channel has garnered over 22 million subscribers, and his videos have been viewed more than 5 billion times. These impressive statistics highlight his ability to consistently attract and engage a large audience.
One of the critical components of Shane Dawson’s YouTube success has been his transition from primarily comedic content to documentary-style series and conspiracy videos. His docu-series about Jeffree Star, TanaCon, and Jake Paul were particularly well-received, with the first part of his Jake Paul series amassing 10 million views in under seven hours. These series allowed him to showcase his storytelling abilities and engage in deeper, more nuanced discussions, leading to higher viewership and increased audience engagement.
Music Career and Book Sales
Shane Dawson’s career extends beyond YouTube to include music and writing. In 2012, he released a single titled “SUPERLUV!” While not a chart-topping hit, the song achieved some commercial success, reaching #87 in Ireland, #16 on the UK Indie Chart, and #163 on the UK Singles Chart. The financial impact of this musical endeavor is challenging to quantify without specific sales and streaming data, but it contributed to his overall income and public profile.
Dawson’s foray into writing has proven highly lucrative, with both of his books, “I Hate Myself” and “It Gets Worse,” becoming New York Times bestsellers. While the exact sales figures and royalties are not publicly available, becoming a New York Times bestseller typically results in significant revenue. Best-selling authors can earn anywhere from tens of thousands to millions of dollars in royalties, depending on the success of their books.
Podcast Ventures
In 2013, Shane Dawson launched a podcast called “Shane and Friends,” which ran until 2017, producing 140 episodes. At its peak, the average episode was downloaded 250,000 times. In 2014, it was reported that “Shane and Friends” was one of the highest-earning podcasts in the world, generating $15,000 per episode. This success highlights the podcast’s ability to generate substantial income through advertising, sponsorships, and other revenue streams.
Jeffree Star Cosmetics Collaboration
Shane Dawson’s collaboration with Jeffree Star Cosmetics in 2019 was a pivotal moment in his career, significantly impacting his net worth. The “Conspiracy” collection, which included an eyeshadow palette and six liquid lipstick colors, generated substantial buzz and high demand. In an October 2019 YouTube video, Jeffree Star estimated that the initial sell-out of the eyeshadow palette would generate $35 million in revenue, with $10 million going to Shane Dawson. Dawson himself noted that if he earned $10 million from the line, it would be more than he had earned in his entire YouTube career. While it is difficult to confirm the exact figures, reports suggest that the collaboration was extremely successful, potentially leading to higher earnings than initially projected due to subsequent re-orders and continued demand. This collaboration is a prime example of how high-profile collaborations can significantly boost a creator’s income.
Real Estate Investments
In November 2018, Shane Dawson purchased a 5,000-square-foot house in Calabasas for $3 million. The address of the property and other specific details are not publicly available. This investment represents a significant portion of his net worth being tied to real estate. As real estate values in Calabasas have generally increased since 2018, it is likely that the value of the property has appreciated, further contributing to Dawson’s overall financial standing.
Recognition and Awards
Shane Dawson’s achievements have been acknowledged through various awards and accolades. He won the 2018 People’s Choice Award for “The Social Star of 2018,” recognizing his influence and popularity in the digital space. While the award itself does not directly contribute to his net worth, it does increase his public profile and potentially lead to additional opportunities and partnerships.
Controversies and Their Impact
Shane Dawson’s career has also been marked by controversies, which have had varying impacts on his net worth and public image. He has openly admitted to using racist language in past videos and podcasts and has since apologized. However, these past actions have resulted in criticism and scrutiny, potentially affecting his brand partnerships and advertising revenue.
In 2018, he faced criticism for not addressing Jeffree Star’s history of racism in their video series. Additionally, his treatment of Jake Paul in his docu-series received backlash. Dawson’s “Conspiracy Series” has also been criticized for spreading misinformation and lacking factual accuracy, which has led to debates about the responsibility of content creators to provide accurate information. While the specific financial impact of these controversies is difficult to quantify, they likely resulted in some loss of revenue and reputation damage.
