YouTube – a treasure trove for viewers and a battlefield for creators. With one eye constantly on performance metrics, many YouTubers take the plunge and make content creation their careers. Is it worth it, though? How much can a YouTuber in Taiwan make? A new ranking sheds light on the matter.
Comedian Andy Tai’s career took him from acting to YouTube, and then back to the stage. You can see him at concerts with his YouTube group, Muyao 4 Super Playing. They even host major events like New Year’s Eve parties and have become one of the most popular YouTube channels in Taiwan. However, the group’s two million subscribers and over NT$400,000 in monthly income from YouTube ad revenue is not enough to get them into the top ten list of Taiwan’s top-earning YouTube channels.
Another recognizable personality, Holger Chen, follows closely behind Tai’s entourage at the 15th spot, with just below NT$400,000 of monthly income. So who are Taiwan’s most successful YouTubers? Well, the answer left many surprised.
Coming in at number one is a Korean artist who is married to a Taiwanese woman. He runs the channel Jay Lee Painting, through which he showcases his amazing abilities to paint using everyday objects. He is closing in on 5 million subscribers and raking in just under NT$4.7 million (US$168,700) every month.
In second place is the computer graphics-fueled parody channel Yes Ranger, which boasts over 3 million subscribers and a monthly income of NT$1.8 million (US$64,600).
Closing off the top three is Terry Films, a food channel showcasing traditional Taiwanese snacks and food. With one-and-a-half million subscribers, the channel nets just under NT$1.3 million a month.
It seems there is no shortage of talent among Taiwan’s YouTubers, representing a wide range of genres. With top earners bringing home millions, it’s no wonder more and more people in Taiwan dream of becoming internet celebrities.