With users spending more than 10 trillion minutes per month on YouTube videos, you can’t help but wonder, “Which YouTube channels are they watching to warrant such a staggering amount of viewership?”
Or maybe the right question to ask is, “Which YouTube influencers are commanding that amount of attention?”
Because let’s face it: People would rather follow people and brands they align with. Given how influencer marketing is expected to be worth $24 billion by the end of 2024, you’d do well to pay attention.
To help you out, we compiled a list of the top 10 most influential YouTube influencers in 2024.
Here’s a quick rundown:
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1. Lilly Singh
Few YouTube personalities have shot up to prominence as swiftly and profoundly as Lilly Singh, which is fitting, given that she appears under the pseudonym “Superwoman.”
With 14.4 million subscribers (and counting), the Canadian YouTuber, actress, comedian, and television host initially gained popularity through comedic skits, vlogs, and motivational content.
That said, Singh is not your typical YouTube sensation. She’s relatable and funny as all get out, but she does it in a way that incorporates her Punjabi heritage and cultural identity into her videos. Her ability to talk about serious issues like gender equality, workplace diversity, and women empowerment with humor and authenticity made her all the more endearing.
A woman of many talents, Singh hosted the late-night talk show “A Little Late with Lilly Singh” on NBC, making her the first woman of Indian and South Asian descent to host a late-night talk show on a major American network.
Lilly Singh is no doubt an accomplished woman. Still, her most significant contribution is Unicorn Island, an initiative she spearheaded to support various charitable causes and positively impact communities around the globe.
2. Emma Chamberlain
If there’s one YouTube star who can prove that honesty and authenticity are crucial to becoming successful as an influencer, it’s Emma Chamberlain. The best part is she’s also the funniest.
At just 22 years old, the American YouTuber, vlogger, and podcast host has garnered a net worth of over $22 million. Emma’s secret recipe? Her raw and unfiltered approach to vlogging.
Emma Chamberlain’s rise to prominence began when she launched her YouTube channel in June 2017. Initially, the channel focused on lifestyle vlogs and comedic content. Besides her quirky personality and humorous takes on everyday life, Emma is also known for her fast-paced, frenetic editing technique that includes frequent jump cuts, quirky transitions, and funny sound effects. Because of all that and more, her YouTube channel amassed 12 million subscribers and billions of views in a few years!
Like most successful YouTube influencers, Emma expanded her brand beyond YouTube, releasing the clothing line High-Key in 2018 and launching her coffee company, Chamberlain Coffee, in 2019. Her podcast, “Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain,” also launched in 2019 and became popular with the young demographic for being equal parts relaxing, therapeutic, humorous, and fun.
3. Adam Neely
For most of us, music theory sounds as complicated and fun as performing heart surgery. Watch an Adam Neely video, and that will change. You see, Neely is the only YouTube influencer who can claim to make music theory sound simple and fun. If you aren’t a music nerd, watching his videos will make you want to be one.
Neely, an American musician, composer, and educator, launched his self-titled YouTube channel in 2011. Since then, he has achieved fame for his thought-provoking insights into music theory and various aspects of music. It’s not all explanations, though, as Adam is known for including mesmerizing musical performances between insightful explanations of, say, how language influences music rhythms.
His range as a musician is also amazing. After all, Neely is the type of musician who can fuse jazz and J-pop together and make it work.
4. Marques Brownlee
Marques Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, is a towering figure in the tech world on YouTube. Brownlee launched his YouTube channel in 2008 by shooting tech reviews in his bedroom. More than a decade later, Brownlee’s YouTube channel boasts 18.7 million subscribers. He’s now considered a household name in the tech industry.
MKBHD’s popularity can be attributed to his commitment to delivering thorough, honest, and visually stunning reviews of the latest gadgets and technology. Unlike most tech reviewers, he isn’t about showcasing “flashy” products. Marques’s only interest is to give you the knowledge you need to make informed decisions when buying tech products.
Every review is a deep dive that dissects everything from design and performance to user experience and value for money. If you love tech reviews with great attention to detail, you can count on Brownlee to deliver.
But MKBHD isn’t just about tech reviews. He also champions diversity and inclusion in the tech space, using his platform to advocate for more excellent representation of underrepresented groups.
5. MrBeast
At first glance, Jimmy Robinson, aka MrBeast, looks like a regular 25-year-old dude. In truth, he’s the most prominent YouTube influencer on the planet, and he’s much richer than we could ever hope to be.
MrBeast launched his YouTube channel in 2012. Jimmy started producing Minecraft videos before becoming a massive YouTube star. He eventually diversified his content by doing extravagant challenges and generous giveaways. In 2017, MrBeast amassed a subscriber count of 1 million. His fame has grown exponentially since then. In 2020, MrBeast gained 100 million subscribers, becoming the first YouTuber to do so.
MrBeast’s biggest video to date, with 603 million views, recreated the Squid Game in real life, in which he offered prize money worth $456,000.
That said, MrBeast isn’t all about video gaming and extravagant giveaways. He’s also known for his philanthropy. MrBeast has donated millions of dollars to multiple charities and has helped raise funds to fight deforestation.
MrBeast’s net worth is estimated to be $500 million. While most of his wealth comes from his YouTube videos, his fortune comes from a vast resource, from brand endorsements and donations to sponsorships.
6. Safiya Nygard
A former BuzzFeed video producer, Safiya gained attention for her role in BuzzFeed’s “Ladylike” series. That said, it was her foray into YouTube that propelled her into the limelight.
Her YouTube series “Bad Beauty Science,” where she shares her knack for mixing foundations multiple foundations, caught on with beauty junkies that it started a trend. Given her distinct style and engaging personality, it’s no wonder Nygaard amassed a dedicated following of over 10 million subscribers.
Part of Safiya’s charm is her willingness and boldness to push boundaries and explore the unexplored. She’s been known to test out strange beauty products and somehow pull them off. Nygaard does it with such flair that it keeps her viewers hooked.
To date, Safiya’s most popular video, where she melted every lipstick from Sephora together, amassed 30 million views.
Her down-to-earth approach and genuine interactions make her audience feel part of her journey, creating a loyal fanbase that eagerly anticipates each new upload.
7. Athlean X
Jeff Cavaliere, the mastermind behind the YouTube channel Athlean X, is different from your typical fitness influencer. A physical therapist and strength coach for the New York Mets, Cavaliere brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his YouTube channel.
Jeff stands out for his unique approach to training. He doesn’t focus on aesthetics alone. Instead, he emphasizes functional fitness and injury prevention — a direct result of deep expertise as a strength and conditioning coach. By blending science-based advice and practical application, his videos have resonated with millions of viewers seeking effective and sustainable workout routines.
Cavaliere’s breakdowns of exercises and techniques are so detailed that you want to take your time studying them. Because of this approach, viewers understand the “why” behind each exercise. This allows them to make informed decisions about their training and take ownership of it.
Visually, Athlean X is top-notch. Thanks to its high-quality production value, explicit demonstrations of exercises, and engaging editing, it’s hard not to get hooked. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gym-goer, it doesn’t matter – Cavaliere’s videos are accessible and easy to follow. Currently, Athlean X boasts 13.7 million subscribers and over 1.4k videos.
The impact of Athlean X extends beyond YouTube. Cavaliere has developed various training programs and supplements under the Athlean X brand.
8. Morgan Eckroth
Morgan Drinks Coffee’s Morgan Eckroth is a local barista turned YouTube Star. As you might have guessed, Morgan is a content creator who has built a massive following by sharing her love for coffee. And Morgan’s not only “Your Friendly Internet Barista,” she’s also the 2022 US Barista Champion and a multiple runner-up in the United States Barista Championships.
Currently, @MorganDrinksCoffee has 1.38 million subscribers. Her YouTube channel offers a wide variety of coffee-themed content, including coffee-tasting sessions, brewing tutorials, and coffee reviews. She also chronicles her journey as a barista champion and barista competitor.
Morgan Eckroth is even more popular on TikTok, where she has garnered 6.2 million followers. If you’re into TikTok, you’ll get the same engaging coffee content in bite-sized videos (you can find her YouTube Shorts content there).
If you’re into coffee making or just plain love coffee, do yourself a favor and give Morgan Drinks Coffee a follow.
9. Mark Rober
Mark Rober is not your typical YouTuber. With over 21 million subscribers, his channel is a mix of science, engineering, and fun. Mark gained fame for his inventive and educational videos involving popular science and DIY projects.
Marked Rober worked as an engineer at NASA for nine years and on the Curiosity Rover for seven years. Mark left his job to pursue YouTube full-time. His videos range from building elaborate contraptions to conducting exciting science experiments, all with the aim of inspiring curiosity and learning.
In 2011, he recorded his first YouTube video, using a Halloween costume and two iPads to create a “gaping hole in the torso” illusion. The video received 1.5 million views in one day.
The follow-up video was even better. The former NASA engineer spent six months building a glitter bomb to trick thieves after they stole parcels from his doorstep. He caught it all on tape, and the video received 25 million views in a day.
Soon enough, Rober hit his stride, producing multiple curiosities from vortex cannons and underwater mazes to backyard squirrel mazes and, yes, more glitter bombs.
Beyond his YouTube channel, Mark has used his platform for good, raising awareness and funds for various charitable causes. Along with Jimmy Kimmel, Mark Rober hosted a three-hour livestream event to raise funds to support NEXT for AUTISM.
10. jacksepticeye
jacksepticeye is the online pseudonym of Seán William McLoughlin, an Irish YouTuber, streamer, and internet personality.
Initially, Jacksepticeye wanted to create a YouTube channel dedicated to making impressions (his first upload was a Metal Gear Solid 4 impression of Solid Snake in 2012).
His most significant break came in September 2013 when he won PewDieDie’s shout-out competition, earning him over 15,000 subscribers. His idol, Markiplier, took notice, resulting in their first collaboration in the video ‘Gmod Sandbox w/ Markiplier | DON’T WORRY….WE’RE SCIENTISTS.'”
A decade and 30.7 million subscribers later, jacksepticeye has become one of the most influential gaming YouTubers. The channel is now best known for its Let’s Play series, where he plays and comments on various video games, most notably Dark Souls, Bloodborne, God of War Ragnarok, and Spider-Man 2.
Thanks to his lively coverage and catchphrase, “Top of the morning to ya, laddies!” Jacksepticeye has garnered a dedicated fanbase and millions of viewers.
While gaming remains his primary focus, jacksepticeye also creates vlogs, challenges, and reaction videos.
Wrap up
YouTube influencers are a big market. As people gravitate towards YouTube personalities that resonate with them, brands must pay attention. After all, influencers can shape trends and influence millions of viewers worldwide. By partnering with influencers whose audience is similar to yours, you can expand your reach and delight your followers in ways you never thought possible.
Of course, there’s more to building an engaged audience than influencer marketing. Using NapoleonCat’s YouTube management tools for business, you can respond to YouTube comments in one dashboard, analyze the performance of your videos, and track your competition.
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Manage YouTube comments from multiple channels in one place
Organize your YouTube comments from multiple channels – with an all-in-one social media tool.
FAQs
How can I find YouTube influencers for my brand?
Start by searching relevant keywords on YouTube. Explore social media platforms where influencers who share your target audience are more likely to promote their content. One often overlooked but effective method is to network within your industry and seek referrals or recommendations.
What is the earning potential for YouTube influencers?
YouTube influencers have multiple income streams, including ads, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and merchandise sales. The amount they earn depends on audience size, engagement rate, niche, and monetization methods. The most successful influencers often generate revenue through a combination of these channels.
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