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The 20 Most Popular YouTubers Dominating Online Video Today

The 20 Most Popular YouTubers Dominating Online Video Today

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The Top 20 Most Popular YouTubers Boast An Astonishing 551+ Million Subscribers In Total

UPDATE December 21, 2018 — At over 551 million subscribers, the 20 most popular YouTubers have roughly 224 million more viewers than the entire U.S. population. If the top 20 are any indication, YouTube will continue to grow, reaching wider global audiences with each passing year. Brazil, Sweden, Spain, and Ireland are just a few of the countries represented by the world's most popular YouTubers.

Among these 20 most popular YouTubers, the gaming niche is well represented by nine influencers. While male channels continue to dominate, females have also climbed the ranks, with Yuya and Jenna Marbles holding spots 11 and 19 respectively. Here we’ve gathered the top 20 most popular YouTubers worldwide in descending order of current subscribers.

1.  PewDiePie - 78M Subscribers

Felix Kjellberg is the most followed influencer on all of YouTube. His channel PewDiePie has 78 million subscribers and includes Let’s Play videos and commentary videos addressing various topics. The Swedish gamer is one of the richest YouTube millionaires earning a reported $12 million each year. 

2. Dude Perfect - 37M Subscribers

A group of sports and comedy fanatics, Coby, Cory, Garrett, Cody, and Taylor launched Dude Perfect in 2009. The channel quickly shot to fame after routinely uploading trick shots and stunts to YouTube. With a viral video and a rapid increase in followers, the group caught the attention of professional athletes and sports organizations, which turned into a string of world records, endorsements, multiple apps, a published book, and a TV show.

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3. whinderssonnunes - 33M Subscribers

Brazilian comedian and singer Whindersson Nunes Batista is the mastermind behind whinderssonnunes, a channel consisting of parodies, vlogs, and songwriting. Batista maintains one of the fastest growing channels on YouTube and has amassed an audience of 32.9 million in the span of four years.

4. elrubiusOMG - 33M Subscribers

Spanish social media star Ruben Doblas Gundersen specializes in gaming and sketch comedy videos. The humorous entertainer posts videos multiple times each week and leverages YouTube to fuel his literary success. elrubiusOMG's writing accomplishments include a comic book series and a best-selling book of interactive challenges.

5. JuegaGerman - 31M Subscribers

German Garmendia is the multi-talented YouTube influencer behind the JuegaGerman channel. He started on YouTube in 2013 with his now inactive HolaSoyGerman channel and creates hilarious skits of all types. Garmendia also works as a comedian and a musician when not entertaining his 30.9 million subscribers.

Related Post: The Top Hispanic & Latino Social Media Influencers

6. Fernanfloo - 31M Subscribers

Luis Alvarado started the globally popular gaming channel Fernanfloo in 2011 and has accumulated nearly six billion video views. Though only 24-years-old, the Salvadoran YouTuber has transferred his gaming passion onto other mediums. His Fernanfloo mobile app received 2.3 million downloads in its first week.

7. Felipe Neto - 28M Subscribers

Felipe Vieira is the multi-talented influencer behind the Felipe Neto YouTube channel. He specializes in reaction videos focused on internet memes and popular events and also publishes vlogs and challenges. Off of YouTube, Neto stays busy acting and writing.

8. VEGETTA777 - 25M Subscribers

Samuel de Luque is a Spanish gamer producing some of the web's best Minecraft Let’s Play videos. Luque joined YouTube in 2008 and his VEGETTA777 channel boasts nearly eight billion video views. In addition to being one of Spain’s most popular YouTubers he has published five books.

9. VanossGaming - 24M Subscribers

Canadian gamer Evan Fong created the VanossGaming channel in 2011 and like PewDiePie is famous for his Let’s Play gaming videos. Fong also stars in the animated YouTube Red Series, The Paranormal Action Squad and is known for adapting the Let's Play format to create compilation videos that cut together funny gaming moments.

Related Post: Advertising On YouTube With Top Gaming Influencers [Case Study]

10. Smosh - 24M Subscribers

Commentary videos and pop culture skits are trademarks of the comedy YouTube channel Smosh, started by Andrew Hecox and Daniel Padilla in 2005. The channel turned network now includes several actors and three secondary YouTube channels: Smosh Pit, Smosh Games, and Shut Up! Cartoons. Multiple mobile apps and a full-length film, Smosh: The Movie, round out the channel's many accomplishments. 

11. Yuya - 23M Subscribers

Mariand Castrejon Castaneda has more subscribers than any other female YouTuber and was recently selected to participate in a United Nation's project empowering female creators. She is popularly known by her channel name Yuya and creates fashion and beauty videos for a dedicated audience of 22.9 million.

Related Post: The 10 Most Popular Types Of YouTube Makeup Videos

12. Markiplier - 23M Subscribers

Popular American YouTuber Mark Fischbach created his Markiplier YouTube channel in 2012 and rests steadily in the gaming niche. He also publishes comedic sketches and animated parodies and regularly leverages his internet fame to fund charitable causes through GoFundMe campaigns and merchandise sales.

13. nigahiga - 21M Subscribers

Asian-American creator Ryan Higa is the comedic genius behind the nigahiga YouTube channel. Higa published his first “How to be” comedy video in 2007, a hilarious skit teaching viewers how to be a ninja. The video format has become a cornerstone of his channel and led to successes that include a feature-length film.

Related Post: 10 Asian YouTubers Redefining Digital Media

14. Jacksepticeye - 21M Subscribers

Irish YouTuber Sean McLoughlin is the mastermind behind the renowned gaming channel Jacksepticeye. No matter the game, McLoughlin brings enthusiastic and humorous commentary, attributes that have helped him grow a devoted audience of 21 million. Vlogs are also a cornerstone of his ever-evolving channel.

15. DanTDM


Dan Middleton of the gaming channel DanTDM is an English creator with 14 billion video views. He is best known for his Let’s Play Minecraft videos. Middleton has also moved into the lifestyle niche and frequently posts challenges and vlogs.

16. Ninja - 20M Subscribers

Tyler Blevins goes by the online alias of Ninja, and runs Twitch’s third most followed channel with over 12 million followers. Blevins is arguably the most well-known professional livestreamer with a crop of brand deals through his success playing Fortnite. Major brands include Uber Eats, Red Bull, and Hershey's. In early 2018, Ninja confirmed he rakes in $500,000 a month.

Related Post: The 20 Top Gaming YouTubers

17. KSI - 20M Subscribers

Olajide Olatunji, more popularly known as KSI, is a YouTube personality, actor, and comedian. He got his start on the platform making gaming videos but has expanded to include challenges, reaction videos, and humorous skits. Olatunji is also well known for his vocal ability and released his debut EP Keep Up in 2016.

18. Shane Dawson - 19M Subscribers

Shane Lee Yaw, more widely known as Shane Dawson, is an American YouTuber, sketch comedian, media personality, film director, actor, author, and musician. As one of the first creators to gain a stronghold on YouTube, he has continued to maintain a strong presence. Most recently, he began an investigative docuseries inspecting the lives of other top YouTube stars.

Related Post: 11 YouTuber Statistics You Must See To Believe

19. JennaMarbles - 19M Subscribers

Jenna Mourey is one of YouTube’s most hilarious influencers. She started her JennaMarbles comedy channel in 2010 with a video featuring her dog Marbles. Eight years later, Marbles has his own dog toy line and Mourey has appeared on MTV’s Ridiculousness among other endeavors. Skits, parodies, and commentary are Mourey's trademark and continue to fuel her success today.

20. Logan Paul Vlogs - 19M Subscribers

Social media personality and former Vine star Logan Paul started his vlogging channel in 2015 and in just two years has accumulated 18.7 million subscribers. Paul posts a new video every day and surprises fans with equally extravagant and humorous content. No stranger to traditional acting, he also stars in two YouTube Red series, Foursome and The Thinning.

Also See Our Posts On:

Top 20 Female YouTubers Of All Time

Fashion Advertising On YouTube: How Nordstrom, Calvin Klein & More Partner With Top YouTubers

When Brands Sue Influencers: An Industry Wake-Up Call

YouTube Controversies That Shook The Influencer Marketing World

January 9, 2018 By Mediakix Team

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