Felix “PewDiePie” Kjellberg is one of the most popular people on the entire internet. While I personally can’t fathom why, he’s built up a dedicated audience of people who love to watch other people play games and be an idiot on camera.
As you’re all well aware, it’s a lucrative endeavour for the popular Swede, bringing him a fortune in YouTube revenue and sponsorship deals. But just how much money is the affable, if annoying chap making?
In 2012, his production company Pewdie Productions AB made a profit of 7.2 million Swedish Krona, which right now is 10, 532, 042 South African Rands, or 848,805 US Dollars. Profit increased significantly the next year, with the YouTube sensation raking in 29.6 million SEK; $3,488,404 or R43, 298, 398 South African Rands.
Last year? Profit has more than doubled. Pewdie productions has turned over 63 million SEK (7.45 million USD or 92 million ZAR) in profit before taxes (Gamereactor Via NeoGAF). For being a clown on camera while playing games. And I rather suspect it might increase exponentially.
Now it’s worth noting that Sweden has one of the planet’s highest taxation systems, where very nearly 50% of income is handed straight over to the government. It means PewDiePie walks away with over 3 million USD for his on-camera shenanigans.
And while there may be vitriol directed at the chap, I think it’s pretty admirable that he found his voice (shrill and annoying as it may be) and exploited the hell out of it. He may not make sense to grumpy, cynical old bastards like me, but if his legions of fans are anything to go by, he has to be doing something right.
Here is he screeching about current flavour of the month, Ark: Survival Evolved.
Last Updated: July 6, 2015
Ottokie
July 6, 2015 at 12:02
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/but-why.gif
RinceThis
July 6, 2015 at 13:55
HAHA
Lollies the Laughing Lollipop
July 6, 2015 at 12:08
Pewdiepie is the reason there is Turmoil in the mIddle east..
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 6, 2015 at 12:25
xD
Lollies the Laughing Lollipop
July 6, 2015 at 12:11
I’d sooner watch jacob Zuma and Julius Malema in a Arthouse Porno than watch that swedish twat on youtube..
Hammersteyn
July 8, 2015 at 07:53
ditto
kuuu(UMAR)rrrr
July 6, 2015 at 12:12
Let the saltiness begin.
Ottokie
July 6, 2015 at 12:17
I am jumping on that train first xD
kuuu(UMAR)rrrr
July 6, 2015 at 12:26
LOLOLOL It is pretty crazy though when you think about it.
oVg "Signs of a Troll" -Geralt
July 6, 2015 at 12:15
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/what.gif
kuuu(UMAR)rrrr
July 6, 2015 at 12:24
XD
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 6, 2015 at 12:25
^This
Ottokie
July 6, 2015 at 12:27
http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/past_this_part_spaceballs.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 6, 2015 at 12:38
HAHAHAHA DAT PAINTING!
I love the trolls so much.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 6, 2015 at 12:51
Likewise, I was super impressed by NOT killing THAT troll
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 6, 2015 at 12:59
I haven’t swish-a-swash-a-swunked any of them if I could help it.
Kromas,powered by windows 10.
July 6, 2015 at 12:15
If I wasn’t waiting for Mass Effect Andromeda I most likely would have killed myself after reading this.
Mass Effect saved my life.
#PowerofN7
Matt Merks
July 6, 2015 at 12:17
Incredible to grow a brand like his, especially when he caters for 12-16 year olds. Absolutely mind-blowing.
Witcher Bob
July 6, 2015 at 12:19
Well good for him. I don’t like him and I don’t like the content he puts out but he needs to milk that train for all it’s worth before Youtube does what Youtube does and he becomes yesterday’s news.
CiNiMoD
July 6, 2015 at 12:19
Interesting how tides have changed. Now people on the internet are making more money with their clothes on than with them off!
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 6, 2015 at 12:25
WUT?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
July 6, 2015 at 12:27
You mean to tell me he can now buy a Titan X? Wow…
Captain JJ Browmehn
July 6, 2015 at 12:28
PewDew who?
Nahuel Graziani
July 6, 2015 at 12:35
Good for you, PewDewPie.
Everyone’s jelly because they’re being douchebags on the internet for free while he’s making bank doing so.
Jonah Cash
July 6, 2015 at 12:52
Good on him! If that is how he makes his living then so be it. I am definitely too old to understand how he makes his money, but I am glad if it works for him. There is more than enough sun for all of us, just get your bit and don’t buy an umbrella…
Spy Master Tokashi
July 6, 2015 at 12:54
Well, he might be the most annoying online celeb but kudos to him for making so much money out of stupid people.
He makes more than the average CEO who stresses his ass off everyday to please the investors and the board.
Ranting Raptor
July 6, 2015 at 13:03
I really want to try out Ark
Ranting Raptor
July 6, 2015 at 13:03
I really want to try out Ark
Galbedir
July 8, 2015 at 12:17
If you have a group of friends to play with, I HIGHLY recommend it. The devs are incredible aswell, bringing new content and updates faster then I can keep track. If you don’t have a group of friends to play with though…I only greatly reccommend it, join a server, speak to some randoms and join a tribe.
Ranting Raptor
July 8, 2015 at 12:35
Lol glad to hear it so highly recommended 🙂
SmurFyZA
July 6, 2015 at 13:11
Jealous? Maybe, but he is still annoying as hell. You most probably have a boring and sad life if you sit and watch him play games and make a fool of himself. I have much better things to do than to watch him.
Nikola
July 6, 2015 at 13:36
Wow just what!!! and how? I don’t understand…
Hammersteyn
July 8, 2015 at 07:52
Either Zombies or bieber panty sniffers that watches his shit
Captain JJ Browmehn
July 6, 2015 at 13:40
Money
-check
Proper beard
-still working on it
RinceThis
July 6, 2015 at 13:55
God he is annoying…
BurninZ
July 6, 2015 at 15:18
HAHAHA you putting it politely
RinceThis
July 6, 2015 at 13:58
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j316/liz_marcs/Reaction%20Gifs/X8Ufi_zps62cda975.gif
BurninZ
July 6, 2015 at 15:17
ya my thoughts exactly!
Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)
July 6, 2015 at 14:06
Haha NICE!
*puts gun in mouth*
V@mp
July 6, 2015 at 14:48
Clown? Hardly. Clowns (as much as I hate the bastards) at least do something mildly amusing SOME of the times.
SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5
July 6, 2015 at 16:36
Every royal court needs a Jester. In England they just roll out Russell Brand every now and again. 😛
And YouTube, the undeniable King of the Internet (at least in terms of online videos), has PewDiePie (EVEN HIS NAME IS STUPID! URRRRGH!).
*Edit: Buuuuuuut. To be fair. It is really fun to watch him play seriously scary titles. 🙂
Sovereign
July 6, 2015 at 20:08
Good for him. I find him amusing most of the time, and the added bonus that he was on south park. 😀
Darren Peach
July 7, 2015 at 04:15
We live in a world where we have Justin Bieber, The Twighlight films and Idols and co…… Really, This should not suprise you.
Peter Pan
July 7, 2015 at 08:22
I too am stumped! I’ve watched some videos on his channel, and for the life of me I can’t find anything different that he does in comparison to other well-known Youtubers! This one is quite the conundrum.
Hammersteyn
July 8, 2015 at 07:51
Fuck this planet