Net Worth Ranker
What Is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg’s Net Worth?
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, has amassed a substantial net worth through his YouTube career. As of recent estimates, PewDiePie’s net worth is approximately $45 million. This figure reflects his earnings from YouTube ad revenue, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and other ventures since launching his channel.
Earnings and Income Streams Contributing to PewDiePie’s Net Worth
PewDiePie’s YouTube channel has been a primary source of income, featuring videos of him playing various video games with his commentary. His channel’s subscriptions have grown immensely since its launch in 2009, making him one of the highest-earning YouTubers globally. He often refers to his fans as the ‘Bro Army,’ and concludes his videos with a ‘Brofist.’
His financial success began to gain widespread attention around 2013 when CelebrityNetWorth reported that PewDiePie earned $12 million, marking him as the highest-paid YouTube star at the time. Subsequent years saw varying income levels: $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. These figures underscore his consistent presence at the top of the YouTube earnings hierarchy.
Beyond ad revenue, a significant portion of PewDiePie’s income comes from sponsorships. As of recent reports, he can charge upwards of $450,000 for a single sponsored video, reflecting his considerable influence and reach within the online video community. Since 2013, PewDiePie has earned over $73 million before taxes from his YouTube activities. In an interview, he confirmed that his net worth is “much much” higher than $20 million.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on October 24, 1989, in Gothenburg, Sweden, Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg is the son of Lotta Kristine Johanna and Ulf Christian Kjellberg. His father worked as a corporate executive, while his mother was an award-winning Chief Information Officer. He also has an older sister named Fanny. During his high school years at Göteborgs Högre Samskola, Felix occasionally skipped school to play video games. He initially pursued a degree in Industrial Economics and Technology Management at Chalmers University of Technology, but he found himself uninterested and dropped out.
Despite dropping out, his passion for Photoshop and video games persisted. He sold photoshopped images to earn enough to buy a computer, laying the foundation for his future career. His foray into the digital world began on December 19, 2006, when he created his first YouTube channel, “Pewdie.” He explained that the word “pew” represented the sound of a laser.
Initially, his videos featured gameplay of “Call of Duty” alongside vlogging content. After losing the password to his original channel, he launched PewDiePie on April 29, 2010. On this new channel, he focused on “Call of Duty,” “Minecraft,” and various horror/action games. His early content included short clips of “Call of Duty” kills with commentary and “Let’s Plays” of “Minecraft.”
Rise to YouTube Stardom
PewDiePie’s channel gained traction when he began playing the game “Amnesia.” His “Amnesia Let’s Plays” videos resonated with viewers, leading to a surge in subscribers. By July 2012, he reached 1 million subscribers, followed by 2 million in September 2012. He signed a representation deal with MCN Machinima and later joined Maker Studios in October 2012.
Between 2012 and 2013, PewDiePie’s channel experienced rapid growth, becoming the fastest-growing channel on YouTube. His subscriber count increased from 3.5 million to 19 million in 2013 alone, gaining approximately 1.037 new subscribers per second throughout the year. He amassed 1.3 billion video views that year and became the most subscribed channel on YouTube. With the help of Maker Studios, he released a PewDiePie iPhone app. He expressed reservations about Disney, Maker Studio’s parent company, but ultimately developed a website and online store to complement the highly successful app. In 2014, his channel added 14 million subscribers and earned 4.1 billion video views, surpassing all other channels. By 2015, he was averaging 300 million video views per month.
Return to Twitch
In May 2020, PewDiePie signed an exclusive deal with YouTube to stream on their platform. However, in March 2023, he made a return to Twitch after years of inactivity. He innovatively used the platform by broadcasting an endless loop of his old streams and videos, which he dubbed “PewDiePie Infinity.” This setup was referred to as an “infinite money glitch in real life.” He currently has 1.5 million followers on Twitch.
Controversies and Personal Life
In February 2017, PewDiePie faced controversy when his YouTube Red show was canceled due to antisemitic references in his videos. PewDiePie maintained that the videos were satirical and intended to highlight how people would do anything for money, regardless of the inappropriateness. One instance involved paying two individuals $5 through Fiverr to hold a sign reading “Death to all Jews.”
He also distanced himself from the “subscribe to PewDiePie” challenge, which gained traction in public spaces, sometimes with negative connotations. PewDiePie denounced murderers who referenced the meme during massacres or in manifestos.
In 2011, PewDiePie met Italian Marzia Bisognin, forming an online friendship that blossomed into a romance. In 2012, PewDiePie helped her create a YouTube channel called CutiePieMarzia, focusing on fashion, makeup, books, movies, and beauty. It became a popular beauty channel on YouTube, before she retired from the platform in 2018. After living in both Sweden and Italy, they settled in Brighton and Hove, England. They married in August 2019 and live in the seaside town with two pugs, Edgar and Maya. In February 2023, his wife announced they were expecting a baby. The couple bought a home in Japan in 2019, which was later robbed. They moved to Japan in May 2022 with a five-year business visa. These life events may have contributed to PewDiePie’s net worth.
Key Milestones in PewDiePie’s Net Worth Journey
Several key milestones have marked PewDiePie’s financial journey. In 2013, his earnings of $12 million positioned him as the highest-paid YouTube star. This figure grew to $14 million in 2014. Although his earnings decreased to $9 million in 2015, they rebounded to $15 million in 2016. Further peaks include $15.5 million in 2018, underscoring his financial success throughout the decade.
The ability to charge $450,000 for a single sponsored video also significantly boosts his income, illustrating his substantial influence and reach. These achievements solidify his status as a leading figure in online entertainment and continue to contribute significantly to his overall net worth.
PewDiePie’s Real Estate and Assets
PewDiePie and his wife, Marzia Bisognin, have made significant investments in real estate. For several years, they lived in Brighton and Hove, a small seaside town in England, before eventually relocating. In 2019, they purchased a home in Japan, which was later robbed. They eventually moved to their home in Japan in May 2022, obtaining a five-year business visa to reside there.
Additional Factors Influencing PewDiePie’s Net Worth
PewDiePie’s net worth is not solely based on his YouTube earnings. His entrepreneurial endeavors, such as merchandise sales, contribute significantly to his overall wealth. Additionally, his business acumen and strategic decision-making in navigating the digital landscape have played a vital role in maintaining and growing his financial success. PewDiePie’s ability to adapt to changes in the digital landscape, like his return to Twitch in March 2023, has also assisted in maintaining and growing his net worth.
