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Creator Economy Earnings Reach $1.02 Billion in 2026 Rankings
The 50 highest-earning social media creators collectively earned $1.02 billion in the past year. Forbes placed MrBeast first with $300 million and listed Rhett & Link fifth with $37 million.
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The 50 most-followed creators on YouTube, TikTok and other platforms earned a combined $1.02 billion over the past year, according to the annual Forbes Top Creators list published June 26, 2026. That total is 20 percent higher than the $853 million reported for the prior year and 80 percent above the $570 million recorded when the list began in 2022.
Top earners and output MrBeast, listed first, reported $300 million in earnings from 873 million followers across his channels. The company behind the brand, Beast Industries, purchased the personal-finance app Step in February 2026 and is producing a third season of the reality series Beast Games.
Rhett & Link ranked fifth with $37 million. The pair produces 240 episodes each year of the talk show Good Mythical Morning, which draws nearly 20 million viewers for segments on taste tests, product reviews and cultural commentary.
Industry context Forbes noted that several listed creators have moved into traditional entertainment. Mark Rober and Ms. Rachel placed shows on Netflix, while Dhar Mann, ranked second, signed an agreement with Fox Entertainment to produce 40 vertical dramas within 18 months.
The same report stated that employment in Los Angeles motion-picture jobs reached a historic low last year, citing U.S. labor statistics.
