Forbes has released its 2026 Top Creators list, underscoring the explosive growth of the creator economy. The top 50 creators collectively earned $1.02 billion over the past year — the first time the ranking has crossed the billion-dollar threshold and a 20% increase from 2025.
MrBeast led the pack by a massive margin, earning an estimated $300 million. That figure alone accounts for nearly 30% of the entire list’s total earnings and is more than four times the income of the No. 2 creator.
Top 10 Highest-Earning Creators of 2026
- MrBeast — $300M
- Dhar Mann — $65M
- Steven Bartlett — $52M
- Markiplier — $38M
- Rhett & Link — $37M
- Druski — $20M
- IShowSpeed — $30M
- Mark Rober — $30M
- Codie Sanchez — $31M
- Charli D’Amelio — $18M
MrBeast’s business empire continues to expand rapidly. Beyond his YouTube channels (which boast over 640 million subscribers across properties and a staggering 873 million total followers), he owns Beast Industries, generates revenue from Feastables and Lunchly food brands, merchandise, licensing deals, the analytics platform ViewStats, and the Amazon streaming franchise Beast Games. In 2026, he also acquired the teen-finance app Step. Forbes reports that Beast Industries has been valued at around $5 billion.
Standout Stories from the Top 10
- Dhar Mann ($65M) runs one of the largest creator-built studios in the world, employing roughly 200 people. His scripted inspirational dramas, translated into 13 languages, generate hundreds of millions of weekly views. He recently signed a deal with Fox Entertainment to produce 40 vertical dramas.
- Steven Bartlett ($52M), host of the popular Diary of a CEO podcast, has built Steven.com into a $425 million holding company. His revenue streams include media, live events, books, investments, and partnerships.
- Gaming veterans Markiplier ($38M) and Rhett & Link ($37M) continue to thrive. The Good Mythical Morningduo has evolved into full-scale media executives with a production company, podcasts, and merchandise brands.
- IShowSpeed ($30M) cracked the Top 10 at just 21 years old, driven by explosive livestreaming numbers, a massive international audience, and football-related content.
- Mark Rober ($30M) and Codie Sanchez ($31M) demonstrate the rising power of educational and business-focused creators. Rober earns through YouTube, his CrunchLabs subscription kits, and brand deals, while Sanchez focuses on investing, entrepreneurship education, and small business acquisitions.
Notable Performers Further Down the List
Several creators outside the Top 10 posted impressive earnings:
- Ms. Rachel — $26M (successful children’s educational content with Netflix expansion)
- Jesser — $25M (top basketball creator)
- MrBallen — $24M (storytelling across YouTube, podcasts, and streaming)
- Jacksepticeye — $18M (longtime gaming star)
- Marques Brownlee — $10.9M (respected tech reviewer)
- Khaby Lame — $9.9M
Lower on the list, names like Brooke Monk ($5.2M), Leah Kateb ($7.1M), and others still earned millions, highlighting the broad earning potential in the space.
The Big Shift
The most significant trend in the 2026 list is how the highest earners generate income. Traditional YouTube advertising and sponsorships are no longer the primary drivers. Instead, top creators are building:
- Consumer product brands
- Subscription services
- Licensing deals
- Streaming projects
- Investment portfolios and full companies
This evolution explains the enormous gap between MrBeast and the rest of the field — and why creators with large audiences can still earn relatively modest sums compared to those who’ve built scalable businesses.
Forbes’ methodology focuses on verified earnings and business success rather than follower counts alone, providing a clearer picture of the maturing creator economy. What began as “people making videos” has transformed into a landscape of media conglomerates and entrepreneurial empires.
With the top 50 now clearing $1 billion collectively, 2026 marks a new milestone for individual creators operating at a scale once reserved for traditional Hollywood studios and Fortune 500 companies.
