Internet giant YouTube: That’s how blatant the numbers are.

Originally launched in 2005, YouTube is now the largest free platform for videos online. These are created, uploaded and shared by users. Users also have the opportunity to rate and comment on them. In the meantime, the Californian company has become a trillion dollar global player that not only influences the current generation, but also those who will follow ours.

YouTube has revolutionized the Internet. Never before in the history of the Internet has there been a platform that enabled its users to configure a monthly income through brand deals and advertising revenues.

If you have never dealt with the world of YouTube madness, you might find these statistics interesting:

• Monthly active YouTube users: 2 Mil.
• Daily active YouTube users: 30 mil.
• Videos shared so far: 5+ mil.
• Users who have created shared content so far: 50 mil
• Average viewing session: 40 minutes
• Videos viewed per day: 5 Mil.
• Uploaded video material per minute: 500 hours

So with these numbers it’s no wonder that each one of us at least once in our lives is drawn into the colorful world of YouTube videos. However, if you think it’s easy to become a content creator, you obviously haven’t dealt with the biggest YouTubers in the world yet. With the growing popularity of the online portal, the competition is also increasing. And the road to the first one million subscribers is often rocky – only those who show staying power will make it into the ranks of YouTube icons.

Tip! Find out how you too can become the new star of the YouTube universe at the end of this article!

Largest YouTube channels of all times

The YouTube landscape is subject to constant change. And as colourful as our world outside is, so is the shrill world of video icons. From music to comedy, there’s plenty to be found in the Top 10 most-subscribed YouTube channels of all time:

1. T-Series
2. PewDiePie
3. 5-Minute Crafts
4. Cocomelon
5. SET India
6. Canal Kondzilla
7. WWE
8. Justin Bieber
9. Dude Perfect
10. Zee Music Company

The number of those who one day want to use YouTube to collect their monthly paychecks is increasing every day. But there are a handful of YouTubers who have managed to build up and maintain their fanbase in recent years despite tough competition. After this video we will explain how many of them have managed to do so. We’ll also tell you about the biggest online competition between two YouTube rivals ever!

Largest Channels on YouTube – Video

Around the world the South Korean Gangnam Style is danced and the American Liza Koshy has been making people laugh with her Dollar Store Comedy for ages. The dream job of “professional YouTubers” has since also found its way into the rooms of adolescent teenagers. But who are these great YouTube icons we always talk about?

Check out the most popular YoutTube channels from 2012-2019 here:

T-Series: A Legend of Bollywood

Contrary to what some would expect, the biggest YouTube channel of all time has nothing to do with online games, make-up or pranks á la Logan Paul. With a total of 138 million subscribers and lots of charm from faraway Bollywood, T-Series tops our list. The YouTube Channel of India’s most successful music label quickly became a multi-channel network and now has 29 channels. The label’s main channel mainly publishes music videos as well as movie trailers of Indian films. Thus, most of the videos are in Hindi, although sometimes English, Portuguese and Spanish translations are also available. Since 2017, the YouTube channel T-Series also holds the title of the most respected channel of all time.

Quick Facts: Never before have there been so many subscribers

• Name: T-Series
• Active since: 13.03.2006
• Subscribers: 138 million
• Calls: 108 billion

With nearly a billion views, Guru Randhawa’s indie pop song is the most respected and popular video on the channel:

Largest music label in India: From fruit seller to millionaire

The history of T-Series started rather small – with a big dream, a long breath and lots of pirate copies.

• More about the history of T-Series can be found here

PewDiePie – A young Swede writes internet history

The second YouTube channel on our list called ‘PewDiePie’ was created by the Swede Felix Kjellberg. Here he posted since 2010 mainly Let’s Play videos of horror and action games. It took only two years and PewDiePie reached 1 million subscribers. Shortly after that he also started posting vlogs and short comedy clips. It only took another twelve months and in 2013 PewDiePie officially became the biggest YouTube channel of all time. He kept it until early 2019 when the aforementioned Indian record label came dangerously close to its throne as the most popular YouTube channel.

This finally overtook him and after almost 7 years PewDiePie aka Felix Kjielberg became the second most popular YouTube Channel with 104 million subscribers. Nevertheless, this did not have a negative effect on the success of the Swedish channel. Quite the opposite: in 2020, it continues to rank as one of the most viewed YouTube channels of all time. Thanks to his long-standing popularity and extensive coverage of his person, he has become one of the most famous online personalities of the 21st century and has even been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by the renowned Time Magazine.

Quick Facts: Funny name with a lot of impact

• Name: PewDiepPie
• Active since: 29.04.2010
• Subscribers: 104 million
• Calls: 25.5 billion

With 250 million views, PewDiePies Dissrap called “Bitch Lasagna” is the most viewed video on his channel. This was created during the competition between him and the YouTube Channel T-Series. An online contest that we’ll explain in more detail below:

The competition with T-Series

As we all know, the YouTube world not only loves a lot of glitter, but also just as much Gossip. And this is where PewDiePie and T-Series poured a lot of oil on the fire when it came to the most blatant showdown in Internet history.

• We have summarized more about the fierce competition for subscriber numbers here

5-Minute Crafts: The all-rounder of the YouTube sphere

Our third channel in the bunch and therefore also the most popular DIY channel in history YouTubes is 5-Minute Crafts. The videos are mostly compilations of individual videos in the area of craft and life hacks. Easy to explain and descriptively designed they are mostly in how-to formats and sometimes also involve scientific experiments. The channel is part of a multi-channel network called “Channel Frederator”.

The name is slightly misleading, as most videos go far beyond the 5-minute mark. Nevertheless, the channel enjoys great popularity. Just one year after the channel was founded, its founders Pavel Radaev and Mara Mukhametov broke the 4 million subscriber mark. Further records were set in December 2018, when the channel was accessed more than 238 million times during just one week.

Quick Facts: Short story with much success

• Name: 5-Minute Crafts
• Active since: 15.11.2016
• Subscribers: 66.5 million
• Calls: 17.7 billion

Since finance is part of every adult’s life, it is no wonder that the 42 tips and tricks on saving are the channel’s most popular video:

Founders: Success rarely comes alone

The well-known YouTube channel belongs to the company TheSoul Publishing, also founded by Pavel Radaev and Marat Mukhametov. Originally, the Cyprus-based company was involved in the creation of social media content and operates successful sites such as AdMe.ru and BridghtSide.me. The success of the YouTube channel 5-Minute Crafts finally rounded off the success of the new media company. Other successful channels that TheSoul Publishing has built are Bright Side, 7-Second Riddles, Actually Happened and Doodland.

The professional YouTuber – facts and figures

So as our list of the biggest YouTube channels of all time shows: the road to becoming a YouTube star is different. In general, however, it is always worth knowing the exact facts and figures about the YouTube medium. Who uses the platform at all? How often do people actually watch YouTube? And how much do they actually earn?

Here are the most important statistics the YouTuber of tomorrow needs to know:

When YouTubes was founded in 2005, there was no fixed target group. Only one thing the founders knew: a platform that allows someone to give free rein to their creativity in this way is long overdue. Almost everyone who statistically has an Internet connection has been there at least once. You do not believe us?

Then take a look at these numbers:

• 62% of YouTube users are male.
• More than 19% of YouTube website traffic comes from the USA.
• 62% of companies use YouTube.
• The 35+ and 55+ age groups are the fastest growing YouTube age groups.
• 51% of YouTube users say they visit the site daily.
• 95% of the global Internet population watches YouTube.
• YouTube has 265 million active users in India.

Here you can also see which countries watch YouTube the most. Anyone surprised?

Statistics on revenue: This is how rich the stars really are

Even if it may quickly appear so, only a fraction of all channels that are on YouTube are monetized. However, the number of channels earning six-figure sums on YouTube each year is growing by 40% each year. Since YouTube introduced GoogleAdSense, any content creator with more than 1000 subscribers and more than 4000 hours of usage in the last 12 months can unlock GoogleAdSense and start making money. However, there are many more ways to achieve the goal of the YouTube icon. These include the sale of merchandise, sponsorships, crowd and fanfunding.

We have summarized more statistics on the topic of revenue for you:

• Total YouTube revenues: $15.1 mil.
• Total revenues of the highest paid YouTube stars: $127 million
• Sponsorship revenue per video with 500-5k subscribers: $315\
• Sponsorship revenue per video with 500,000+ subscribers: $3857
• Revenue per 1,000 ad views: $18

More tips about YouTuber will be and revenue, has also YouTube star Patricia Bright summarized here:

So YouTube has not only revolutionized our leisure activities, but also the job market, Hollywood and entire industries. How long the most popular YouTube channels of all time will stay on their seats is only a question of time. In the virtual world of diss tracks and make-up brushes, one trend after another is constantly being born. The fact is: never boring in the YouTube sphere.

YouTube: This is where makeup trends are born

Anyone who asked young girls ten years ago what they wanted to be when they grew up has usually heard the following: dancer, teacher and astronaut. Here and there the word “princess” was used frequently. The same applied to boys. The policeman and fireman were often mentioned. It is undisputed that the invention of the Internet has also made many new professions possible for us. But currently there is hardly a profession in the online world that no teenager has: YouTuber. Even more specifically: Beauty YouTuber. For those who are good with mascara and sponge, there seems to be no more exciting profession than dipping brushes in bright colors in front of a running camera and then skilfully applying them to cheeks and eyelids. But what exactly is YouTube?

YouTube is an American video portal that allows its users to upload, watch, rate and comment on videos. Furthermore, popular channels can also be subscribed to. The uploaded content is mostly clips from movies and TV, sound recordings, movie trailers, educational videos, vlogs and short, original clips.

Tip: Read on until the end, because then we’ll introduce you to the first Beauty YouTuberin ever!

History: How an Internet giant was born

Meanwhile there are millions of tutorials on the platform – from Smokey Eye to red lips you can find every make-up look. But this was not always the case. Like most stories, the one from YouTube starts out rather small. So it’s the year 2004.

Jawed Karim, Steve Chen and Chad Hurley work for the global player Pay Pal. Janet Jackson inadvertently exposes her nipples at the Super Bowl and a tsunami causes a riot. So the three employees get an idea: Why not develop a site where you can post videos?

So they launch YouTube. With an investment of around 11.5 million dollars they register the domain name in California. Nike is the first company to post a video in December of the following year. Less than a year later, Google buys the company for $1.65 billion. In 2007 the site goes live in more countries. The YouTube craze is spreading like wildfire – now there are HD videos available.

In 2011, YouTube sets a record for the first time: the Internet portal can record almost three billion hits a day. Thanks to rising advertising revenues, the job of a professional YouTuber is now the career aspiration of many adolescents. Another record is set: Korean singer Psy breaks all records with his hit “Gangnam Style”. With one billion views, the video becomes the most clicked YouTube video of all time.

In the meantime, the former small company from California has now become a multi-billion dollar company. About 5 billion videos are seen every day. More than 1.3 billion people use the website every day and every minute almost 300 hours of video material is uploaded.

Facts: A platform worth billions

• Foundation: 14 February 2005
• Founders: Jawed Karim, Steve Chen, Chad Hurley
• Headquarters: San Bruno, California, USA
• Umbrella organization: Google LLC
• CEO: Susan Wojcicki (2014)
• Turnover: USD 15 billion (2019)

Besides music videos and daily vlogs, videos about make-up, hair and skin care are among the favourites of the YouTube generation. Since we also deal with these topics on a daily basis, we have summarized an overview for you here.

The most popular Beauty YouTuber of all times

The beauty community is growing every day. It is constantly changing, setting new trends and regularly providing food for new gossip. Of the 200 most viewed beauty videos on YouTube, around 86 percent were uploaded by professional YouTubers in 2019. Only 14 percent were uploaded by big make-up brands like Chanel, Lancome & Co.

To give you a short overview, we have created a short list of the most popular Beauty YouTubers of all times:

1. James Charles
2. Jeffree Star
3. RCLBeauty1010
4. NikkieTutorials
5. Zoella
6. SaraBeautyCorner
7. Tati
8. grav3yardgirl
9. Safiya Nygaard
10. Kylie Jenner

The most popular Beauty YouTuber ever – Video

You can also see the latest developments of the beauty community over the last 7 years:

James Charles: The first male ambassador for CoverGirl

Leader of our list and therefore the most popular Beauty YouTuber of all times is James Charles. At just 17 years old, he made history as the first male ambassador for CoverGirl. But first let’s rewind a few years. Let’s go back to the year 1999 – on May 23rd, James Charles Dickinson, born in Bethlehem, New York, saw the light of day.

At the tender age of only twelve years he came out as gay. To further support his love for make-up, his father built him a glam room in the basement of the house. The official launch of his YouTube channel followed in 2015. He received worldwide attention when he spread the word on Twitter that he had a ring light with him during his prom so that the highlight on his face would look good in the photos. This was followed by his collaboration with Covergirl and his famous appearance on the US-American Ellen Show.

We have summarized for you the three most blatant controversies about James Charles. Here you can find one of his most popular videos of the beauty icon:

Quick Facts: So many subscribers he has

• Name: James Charles
• Born: 23 May 1999
• Active since: 02.12.2015
• Subscribers: 18.8 million
• Total hits: 2.16 billion
• Net worth: $12 million dollars

Loss of 1. million subscribers

How did James Charles 1. lose millions of subscriptions on his channel? Crime scene: The infamous Coachella Festival in California. Involved perpetrator: YouTube star Tati Westbrook. Trigger: A pair of gummy bears.

• Read the story here: James Charles

Jeffree Star: Loved and hated at the same time

Among them is Jeffree Star. The icon of the beauty community saw the light of day in Los Angeles in 1985 as Jeffree Lynn Steininger Jr. After the suicide of his father, it was mainly his mother Marra Shubyann Lindstrom Steininger who raised him. Already at school Jeffree Star had a lot of fun with make-up and earned his money as a musician, model and also if necessary as an unknown make-up artist for the stars of Hollywood. He got to know them on weekends in the hippest clubs in the city, which he visited regularly despite his young age and thanks to a fake ID.

Looking closely at his career, you wouldn’t expect that the shrill Jeffree Star would one day become a make-up mogul. In the beginning, working with brush and powder was simply a secondary income. His real dream? To become a musician. So in 2009 Star released his first and so far only studio album. Although he was signed by the label Konvict Muzik shortly afterwards, he left the label a few years later.

In November 2014 the former musician and now famous YouTuber officially became a businessman: The company Jeffree Star Cosmetics was born. He is currently considered one of the best-paid YouTubers of all time and, according to Forbes, he recently earned a whopping 18 million dollars – and that through YouTube alone.

You can see how the beauty icon lives today here in the video:

Quick Facts: Crass Net Assets

• Name: Jeffree Star
• Born: 15 November 1985
• Active since: 15.02.2006
• Subscribers: 18.1 million
• Total hits: 2.16 billion
• Net worth: $75 million dollars

Greatest controversies

Jeffree Star has been involved in the most blatant scandals in the YouTube world from the very beginning. From racism to drug abuse to online bullying, he has left nothing out.

• Check out the fiercest controversies around Jeffrey Star

Rclbeauty101 – Beauty meets Comedy

In third place of the undisputedly most popular Beauty YouTuber of all time is Rachel Claire Levin, better known by her YouTube name RCLBeauty101. She was born on February 24, 1995 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As the daughter of a doctor and a lawyer, she began posting videos of her daily makeup routines on YouTube when she was 15 years old. One million subscribers and 5 years later, her channel officially became the fastest growing YouTube channel in the world. Her 2016 video ‘Disney Princess Pool Party’ received over 337 million hits.

At the age of only 16, she was quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her YouTube success and her open approach to body image was praised in countless magazines worldwide. Her public debates on the topics of bullying and suicide were also regularly praised, making her one of the most versatile and authentic YouTubers in the beauty community to this day.

Levin is also currently on the road as a musician. For example, she released her first single “Myself” on Sun & Sky Records on February 14, 2020. The song is about acceptance and love. It met with an excellent response from fans and critics.

Although Levin’s great love for make-up still dominates her channel, we don’t want to withhold her incredibly funny skits, which are currently even more popular on YouTube than the actual beauty videos:

Quick Facts – Over three billion hits

• Name: RCLBeauty101
• Born: 24 February 1995
• Active since: 14.12.2010
• Subscribers: 14.5 million
• Total hits: 3.6 billion
• Net worth: $5 million dollars

Compared to YouTube stars like James Charles and Jeffree Star, there is no controversy in Rachael’s career. And also a close look at the history of the beauty community makes it clear: scandals do not always belong in the CV of a beauty YouTuber – even if it may look like that today. After all, today’s glittering world of brand deals and ring lights was once a small retreat for the creative, the inspired and the misunderstood.

The evolution of the beauty community

Beauty pioneer Michelle Phan

The American Michelle Phan is still considered the first Beauty YouTuberin ever. Inspired by her art studies, she started her own channel in 2007, where she gave everyday make-up tips. Her first video received around 70,000 hits in the first two weeks. One million more views later and she was considered the first full-time beauty guru of all time. YouTube included her in its affiliate program and the French make-up empire Lancome became aware of her. The first YouTube cooperation was born.

Watch one of her first videos here:

Make Up as hobby – YouTube as career

After the purchase by Google and the implementation of AdSense, many hobby YouTubers became professional content creators. Through commercials on YouTube the creators could now generate official advertising revenue. Later, affiliate links and patron were added as lucrative sources of income.

Brands quickly realized how important the influence of YouTubers is to the make-up industry. All it took was a video of a YouTuber and a product would either be a success or a flop. Instead of financing in magazine and television advertising, companies now set aside extra budgets for YouTuber. Free PR packages turned into entire yacht cruises, a review video quickly cost the brands several thousand euros and with the growing influence of YouTubers, the number of copies was also increasing. Since 2017, for example, all video makers have had to mention in their postings whether or not they were paid by a brand.

Comet-like rise of the influencers

While the red carpet used to be reserved for faces from film and television, beauty gurus from the world of smokey-eyes and false eyelashes are now also cavorting here. A breakthrough here was above all an invitation from Anna Wintour to the American 19-year-old YoTuber James Charles, who had shortly before caused a stir on the net with his final photo. A Beauty YouTuber in a picture with the who’s who of Hollywood? That had never existed before.

In the meantime, the créme de la créme of social media is being signed by the first talent agencies. They are moving into studios, achieving increasingly lucrative brand deals and sometimes publishing their own brands. The number of gossip channels, which now turn their attention to the drama from the beauty community every day, is also growing. The result is ‘Cancel Culture’ – a phenomenon that is mainly due to the speed of the Internet.

With brush and powder to a millionaire – and the dark side

As fame rises, so do the scandals – perfect cannon fodder for the countless gossip channels. Advertising revenues and sponsorship money lead to ever-increasing competition among creators. There are public accusations, hurricanes and online bullying – reasons why established YouTube pioneers like Michelle Phan are now turning their attention to other business projects.

Audiences and their entertainers are getting younger and younger, and emerging platforms like TikTok are increasingly competing with YouTube. Society’s growing environmental awareness is leading to criticism of the brands’ glittering PR packaging. The authenticity of many YouTubers is also becoming a point of criticism.

It comes to an era in which it becomes clear not everything that glitters is gold.