PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, is a Swedish YouTuber known for his comedic videos.
He is one of the most noted online personalities and content creators due to his extensive media coverage and popularity on YouTube.
PewDiePie has been active on YouTube for many years, and he has a large following on various platforms, including TikTok and Twitch.
PewDiePie’s YouTube channel features a variety of content, including gaming videos, vlogs, and collaborations with other YouTubers.
He has also released his own mobile games, such as PewDiePie’s Tuber Simulator and PewDiePie’s Pixelings.
| Net worth | $45 million |
| Profession | YouTuber |
| Date of birth | October 24, 1989 |
| Nationality | Swedish |
Background
PewDiePie was born in Sweden to parents from a middle-class background.
His mother, Lotta Kristine Johanna, was the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Microsoft’s Swedish business, and his father, Ulf Christian Kjellberg, was the CEO of a marine engine manufacturer.
He has an elder sister named Fanny.
PewDiePie’s rise to fame was not due to a privileged upbringing but rather his relentless work ethic.
Before starting his own YouTube channel, he studied Industrial Economics and Technology Management at Chalmers University of Technology but dropped out, leading to his parents cutting off his support.
Net worth
PewDiePie has an estimated net worth of $45 million.
He amassed his fortune primarily through various streams of income related to his YouTube career.
His significant wealth, estimated to be around $30 million in 2019, $56 million in 2023, and $45 million in 2024, is a result of his success as a YouTuber, gamer and influencer.
PewDiePie’s earnings come from YouTube views, sponsorships, merchandise sales, advertising, and brand collaborations.
With over 22 billion views on his channel and estimated monthly earnings of $500,000, his YouTube content plays a major role in his income generation.
Additionally, he leverages sponsorships and partnerships to further boost his earnings, with some reports suggesting he earns around $3-5 million per month.
YouTube career
PewDiePie started his career on YouTube in 2010, primarily posting Let’s Play videos of horror and action video games.
Before his YouTube journey, PewDiePie gained notoriety for selling hotdogs on the streets in order to make ends meet.
He was born into a privileged family but faced significant challenges during his early years.
Despite his parents’ refusal to financially support him after he left college, PewDiePie pursued his passion for digital art and photo manipulation, eventually selling limited-edition pieces for a substantial sum.
This revenue allowed him to acquire the necessary equipment to start recording himself while playing games, marking the beginning of his extraordinary tale on YouTube.
PewDiePie’s career on YouTube has been marked by several milestones, including his rise to become one of the most-subscribed channels on the platform and his subsequent rivalry with T-Series, an Indian music label and Bollywood production studio.
He has faced controversy, such as allegations of anti-Semitism and the use of racial slurs, which resulted in his separation from Disney-owned Maker Studios and the removal of his content from YouTube’s Red platform and Google’s Preferred program.
Despite these challenges, PewDiePie’s channel has thrived, reportedly earning him a staggering $13 million in 2019 alone.
His content has expanded beyond gaming, incorporating satirical commentary, meme curation, and a popular weekly vlog series titled, Fridays with PewDiePie.
Success
PewDiePie gained popularity by playing and reacting to video games, popularizing the ‘Let’s Play format’ on YouTube.
His approachability and engagement with his audience have been instrumental in building a strong and dedicated community, which he refers to as the Bro Army or 9-Year-Old Army.
One of the key elements of PewDiePie’s success is his unique voice and authenticity, which make his content stand out in a sea of YouTubers.
He has a relatable, down-to-earth communication style that resonates with his audience and he is not afraid to make jokes about himself or use self-deprecating humor.
PewDiePie’s catchphrases and inside jokes also contribute to a sense of community and belonging among his fans.
Consistency is another important factor in PewDiePie’s success.
He has maintained a regular upload schedule, ensuring that his audience knows when to expect new content.
This consistency helps build strong relationships with his audience and keeps him at the top of their minds.
PewDiePie also shares glimpses of his personal life with his audience, which helps humanize him and make him more relatable.
By offering peeks behind the curtain, he shows his fans that he is a real person with a real life, which can foster strong connections and make him more relatable.
In addition to his YouTube channel, PewDiePie has explored other ventures, such as podcasting and merchandise sales, which have helped him diversify his content and monetize his brand.
He has also been involved in brand endorsements and sponsorships, which can be lucrative and mutually beneficial for both PewDiePie and the companies involved.
Career earnings
PewDiePie’s earnings over the years from his YouTube views are estimated to be $114 million.
This is primarily due to his massive viewership, which has allowed him to earn substantial income from YouTube’s AdSense program.
His CPM (cost per thousand impressions) is estimated to be around $20, and with an average of 6.3 million views per video, he makes a significant amount of money from YouTube alone.
In addition to his YouTube earnings, PewDiePie also generates income from various other sources.
He earns over $6 million from his apparel line, video game releases, and online programming.
He has also made money through affiliate marketing, selling products like his gaming chair, keyboard and VPNs like NordVPN.
PewDiePie’s success has also extended beyond YouTube, as he has developed his brand through alliances, products and connections with other creators.
He has over 111 million subscribers on YouTube and over 21.9 million followers on Instagram, demonstrating his significant influence and reach.
Endorsement deals
Notably, PewDiePie’s brand sponsorships, including NordVPN, have been highly profitable, with estimates suggesting he made around $50 million from a single collaboration.
Additionally, his YouTube channel’s high average viewership has made him a sought-after influencer, leading to annual earnings exceeding $2 million from brand sponsorships alone.
Furthermore, PewDiePie has diversified his income streams through merchandise sales, exclusive live streaming deals with YouTube and partnerships with major brands like GFUEL, showcasing his ability to leverage his massive online presence for financial success.
Twitch ban and return
PewDiePie briefly returned to Twitch in March 2023, after an extended period of inactivity on the platform.
His channel began broadcasting an uninterrupted loop of his past videos, named PewDiePie Infinity, along with episodes of the Canadian sitcom Trailer Park Boys.
The purpose behind this move was to create a community space where people could come together, chat and watch videos as a collective.
However, on May 9, Twitch announced a ban on PewDiePie’s channel, leaving many puzzled about the reasons behind it.
PewDiePie himself remained silent about the purpose of his Twitch channel’s return and the rumors of a potential hack.
On May 25, he released a video on his YouTube channel, where he briefly touched upon these matters, revealing that he had intentionally brought back the channel as part of his PewDiePie Infinity experiment.
He admitted that he wasn’t entirely sure about the specific reason for his Twitch ban, but humorously suggested that streaming videos from 2017, which might have violated Twitch’s guidelines, could have been a contributing factor.
The positive news for PewDiePie’s devoted fan base is that Twitch has since lifted the ban on his channel, allowing them to once again have access to and enjoy his content.
Controversies
PewDiePie has been embroiled in several controversies over the years.
In 2017, he faced backlash for incorporating anti-Semitic jokes and imagery in his videos, such as paying actors to hold up a sign reading ‘Death to all Jews’ and using Nazi imagery, which led to consequences like losing a partnership with Disney.
Later that same year, PewDiePie used a racial slur during a live stream, which sparked outrage and led to public apologies and explanations from him.
His political views have also been a subject of controversy, with accusations of right-wing leanings and associations with the alt-right.
He faced criticism for inadvertently endorsing a YouTube channel with anti-Semitic content, which raised concerns about the influence he might have on his followers.
In September 2019, PewDiePie donated $50,000 to the Anti-Defamation League, but later rescinded the donation, stating it was a mistake.
Following the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, where the shooter mentioned PewDiePie’s name, the YouTuber expressed shock and condemned the act.
These controversies have significantly impacted PewDiePie’s reputation and have led to public scrutiny and debates about the content he produces and the messages he conveys to his audience.
Real estate
PewDiePie owns a luxury house in Japan, where he currently resides with his wife.
He also has a house in Brighton, England, which was previously burglarized, and the couple had to move some of their belongings to Japan.
PewDiePie has mentioned that he might not stay in Japan for a long time due to tax laws and visa requirements.
He has also shared his workout routine and diet changes, which he implemented to improve his physical fitness.
Personal life
PewDiePie is married to Marzia Bisognin, who was an active YouTuber but left the platform in October 2018 to concentrate on her mental health.
They met in 2011 when Marzia’s best friend recommended she watch “this idiot playing video games.”
Marzia found the humor of the “idiot” endearing and decided to reach out to him via email, leading to a long-distance relationship between Italy and Sweden.
Within months, Marzia moved to Sweden to be with Felix.
The couple got married on August 19, 2019, eight years after they first met.
Their wedding was a small affair with their closest friends and family in attendance, including several YouTubers.
The wedding cost around 75,000 GBP (nearly $92,000).
Marzia’s blush-colored wedding dress was made by a couture designer named Joanne Fleming, and the embroidery on the dress’ train was done by a British artist named Susan Kennewell.
Marzia also wore a second dress for the wedding reception, gifted to her by designer Beauté Comme Toi.
The couple lives in Brighton, a seaside city in the United Kingdom, with their two pugs, Edgar and Maya.
