- YouTube has produced a new generation of celebrities and influencers that have turned posting videos online into lucrative full-time careers.
- The most popular YouTubers include video game commentators, makeup artists, and comedians.
- These are the most-subscribed YouTube channels from independent personalities who got their start on the video-sharing platform.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
YouTube has become the de-facto launchpad for the next generation of celebrities, personalities, and big stars.
Well-known names like PewDiePie, Shane Dawson, and Smosh have racked up millions of subscribers over the years by uploading videos on YouTube and forming seemingly personal relationships with their fans. From comedians to gamers to vloggers of all kinds, YouTubers have harnessed the video-sharing platform to build their followings and brands from nothing more than a video camera and a solid internet connection.
To get a closer look into which stars rule YouTube, we looked at the SocialBlade rankings to see which channels have the most subscribers. We focused on independent YouTube stars, disregarding YouTube channels from mainstream celebrities and music record labels.
These are the YouTube personalities with the most subscribers:
23. DanTDM — 21.6 million subscribers
Also known as: The Diamond Minecart, Daniel Middleton
Location: United Kingdom
Video type: DanTDM rose to popularity for his content focusing on the video game "Minecraft," but he's since expanded to daily game reviews and gameplay videos. In 2017, he created a short-lived web series for YouTube Red called "DanTDM Creates a Big Scene."
22. Shane Dawson — 21.8 million subscribers
AKA: Shane Yaw
Location: United States
Video type: Shane Dawson rose to popularity with his videos on conspiracy theories and docuseries about YouTubers like Jeffree Star and Jake Paul.
He recently got engaged to fellow YouTuber Ryland Adams, and was engrossed in a controversy about whether he participated in some disturbing behaviors with his cat, Cheeto.
21. Ninja — 22.1 million subscribers
AKA: Tyler Blevins
Location: United States
Video type: Ninja is a professional esports player, and the most-followed user on video game streaming platform Twitch. His YouTube channel features streams of him playing popular games like "Apex Legends" and "Fortnite Battle Royale," complete with his brand of high-energy and controversial commentary.
20. JackSepticEye — 22.2 million subscribers
AKA: Seán McLoughlin
Location: Ireland
Video type: JackSepticEye initially came to fame when PewDiePie mentioned him in a video in 2013. His channel is centered around the Let's Play-style of video gaming videos with accompanying swear-riddled commentary and charity livestreaming.
19. Yuya — 23.8 million subscribers
AKA: Mariand Castrejón Castañeda
Location: Mexico
Video type: Yuya is a beauty vlogger who has been posting hair, makeup, and style tutorials since she was 16. Between her YouTube and Instagram followings, Yuya is one of the highest-paid beauty influencers.
18. RezendeEvil — 23.9 million subscribers
AKA: Pedro Afonso Rezende
Location: Brazil
Video type: Rezende started out as a gaming channel where he posted videos of himself playing "Minecraft." Since then, he's moved that content over to another channel, and now focuses mainly on comedy videos and daily vlogs featuring his friends.
17. Markiplier — 23.9 million subscribers
AKA: Mark Fischbach
Location: United States
Video type: Markiplier is another YouTuber known for his video game commentary, but he's recently expanded into sketch comedy. He's known for his colorful commentary and oft-dyed hair - and he sometimes sports a pink mustache.
16. Luisito Comunica — 24.3 million subscribers
AKA: Luis Arturo Villar Sudek
Location: Mexico
Video type: Luisito Comunica makes travel vlogs documenting his experiences in cities around the world. In his videos, he focuses on showcasing the cultures and histories of the places he visits.
15. Smosh — 24.5 million subscribers
AKA: Ian Hecox and the Smosh cast
Location: United States
Video type: Smosh was started by comedy duo Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla, and the channel was one of the first YouTube sensations. The channel is known for its various written sketches and comedy series spinoffs. It's since expanded into other channels dedicated to video games and Spanish language content.
Smosh has been active since 2002, and has grown tremendously since then. One of the founders, Anthony Padilla, left the channel in June 2017. Smosh has expanded beyond Hecox to include other personalities that host the channel's series and appear on Smosh's spinoff channels. The Smosh brand was acquired in early 2019 by Mythical Entertainment, a company owned by YouTubers Rhett & Link.
14. VanossGaming — 24.6 million subscribers
AKA: Evan Fong
Location: Canada
Video type: VanossGaming is a gaming commentator, but what sets him apart are his compilations of funny moments while he's playing that are stitched together.
13. Luccas Neto — 24.9 million subscribers
AKA: Lunes
Location: Brazil
Video type: Luccas Neto produces sketches featuring characters and stories aimed at children. He's the younger brother of comedic YouTuber Felipe Neto.
12. Voce Sabia? — 25.6 million subscribers
AKA: Lukas Marques and Daniel Molo
Location: Brazil
Video type: The channel "Você Sabia?", which translates to "Did You Know?", present videos with interesting facts and trivia from around the world.
11. Like Nastya Vlog — 27.5 million subscribers
Location: Russia
Video type: The "Like Nastya Vlog" channel posts regular vlogs of Nastya playing with toys and going on adventures with her family.
10. Vegetta777 — 26.8 million subscribers
Location: Spain
Video type: His channel, Vegetta777, is known for his gameplay videos for "Minecraft," "Saint's Row," and "Battlefield." His voiceover style differs from many other YouTube - he creates elaborate narratives and histories for the characters in his video games.
9. Kids Diana Show — 29.3 million subscribers
Location: United States
Video type: The "Kids Diana Show" follows the antics of Diana and her brother, Roma. The channel features the Russian-speaking kids unboxing toys and going on fantastical adventures.
8. Felipe Neto — 33.0 million subscribers
Location: Brazil
Video type: Felipe Neto makes comedic videos and vlogs about his daily life, current news, and celebrities. In 2012, his YouTube channel became the first Brazilian channel to hit 1 million subscribers. He released a Netflix original comedy special, "My Life Makes No Sense," in 2017.
He's the older brother of another prominant YouTube, Luccas Neto.
7. Fernanfloo — 33.1 million subscribers
AKA: Luis Fernando Flores
Location: El Salvador
Video type: Fernanfloo is known for his gameplay videos and wacky antics. His dogs sometimes make appearances in his videos.
6. El Rubius — 34.9 million subscribers
AKA: Rubén Doblas Gundersen
Location: Spain
Video type: El Rubius is a gamer who does walk-throughs, reviews, and more, peppered with funny commentary. He started making videos on his channel, ElRubiusOMG, at age 16, and made it a full-time career at 21.
5. JuegaGerman — 35.2 million subscribers
AKA: Germán Garmendia
Location: Chile
Video type: Garmendia is Latin America's biggest YouTube star. His channel, JuegaGerman, first focused solely on video games, but has expanded into other comedic content.
He has another channel with a bigger subscriber base - HolaSoyGerman., with 39.4 million subscribers - but he hasn't posted to it in two years.
4. Whinderssonnunes — 35.9 million subscribers
AKA: Whindersson Nunes
Location: Brazil
Video type: Whinderssonnunes has been making vlogs and comedic videos since he was 15. He uploads parodies, songs, movie reviews, and videos about his daily life.
3. Badabun — 40.3 million subscribers
Location: Mexico
Video type: Badabun has grown in popularity with its series "Exponiendo Infieles," where the host interviews couples to see if either person is cheating on the other. The network's team of Spanish-speaking influencers is also notable for its comedic on-the-street interviews, and a Big Brother-type reality series documenting influencers living in a mansion together.
2. Dude Perfect — 42.9 million subscribers
AKA: Cory and Coby Cotton, plus three college friends (Tyler Toney, Garrett Hilbert, and Cody Jones)
Location: United States
Video type: The Dude Perfect guys are known for their compilations of trick shots and their Rolodex of famous athletes that appear alongside them in their videos. The channel has expanded into comedy, and the crew is often joined in their videos by a giant Panda mascot.
1. PewDiePie — 96.6 million subscribers
AKA: Felix Kjellberg
Location: United Kingdom
Video type: PewDiePie is known for his popular videos where he gives commentary while playing video games. His content has expanded into coverage and commentary of interne memes and viral videos.
The Swedish gamer has been locked in a months-long battle for the title of most-subscribed-to YouTube channel with Bollywood music company T-Series. His devoted fanbase took action to ensure his No. 1 spot with an extensive "Subscribe to PewDiePie" campaign that's included hacking printers and buying billboard space. However, T-Series beat PewDiePie to the 100-million subscriber mark at the end of May.
Kjellberg has also attracted negative attention for a long history of offensive racist and anti-Semitic remarks, which YouTube has punished him for.
John Lynch, Nina Godlewski, Harrison Jacobs, Maya Kosoff, and Nathan McAlone contributed to earlier versions of this post.