These are the 5 most popular YouTube stars in the world — and some are making millions
No. 5: VanossGaming — 20.2 million subscribers
YouTube/VanossGaming
Subscribers: 20.2 million
VanossGaming (or Vanoss) is the YouTube name of Evan Fong, a 24-year-old Canadian. While not much is known about Fong, he posts comedy videos that show him playing various video games. What sets his videos apart is the quality of his editing - he frequently posts montages that compress his hours of gaming into one compact video of funny moments.
No. 4: Smosh — 22.6 million subscribers
Melly Lee/Courtesy of DEFY Media
Subscribers: 22.6 million
2016 estimated salary: $7 million
Smosh is a comedy duo of YouTube veterans Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla. Smosh was one of the first YouTube sensations, well known for the duo's slapstick comedy videos that parody video games and pop culture. They have shown no signs of slowing down and now run seven channels.
No. 3: ElRubiusOMG — 23.5 million subscribers
YouTube/ElRubiusOMG
Subscribers: 23.5 million
Rubén Doblas Gundersen, better known on YouTube as ElRubiusOMG, is a 27-year-old Spanish YouTuber. He's the most followed Spanish YouTube star. Like other popular YouTubers, Doblas Gundersen is a gamer who does walk-throughs, reviews, and more, peppered with funny commentary. He published an interactive book called "Troll" in 2014.
No. 2: Germán Garmendia (HolaSoyGerman.) — 31.2 million subscribers
Getty/Frazer Harrison
Subscribers: 31.2 million
2016 estimated salary: $5.5 million
Chilean YouTuber Germán Garmendia is Latin America's biggest YouTube star. The comedian and musician has two channels in the top 20. He released a book in 2016 titled "#Chupaelperro." He became famous with his video "Las Cosas Obvias De La Vida" ("The Obvious Things of Life").
Besides HolaSoyGerman., Garmendia has another YouTube channel called JuegaGerman, which has 18 million subscribers and is focused on video games.
No. 1: PewDiePie — 54.1 million subscribers
YouTube/PewDiePie
Subscribers: 54.1 million
2016 estimated salary: $15 million
In his YouTube videos, PewDiePie is boisterous and goofy, playing video games and swearing up a storm. PewDiePie - the YouTube name of 27-year-old Swede Felix Kjellberg - has used his charisma and close relationship to subscribers (whom he calls "bros") to build a lucrative career around his YouTube output. But PewDiePie came into a negative spotlight recently after a Wall Street Journal report described anti-Semitic messages in his videos, leading Disney and YouTube to cut direct business ties with him (though he hasn't been barred from YouTube).
PewDiePie apologized for taking a joke too far, but he maintained his right to joke about any topic and flipped a middle finger to the media in a response video. Since then, PewDiePie's subscriber count has increased, and he has said he's excited about the new opportunities afforded him as an independent creator.