Want to transform your endless phone scrolling into a successful social media career? If you possess the right ingredients, achieving social media fame might be within your grasp. Today, we’re highlighting 17 social media personalities who began their journeys just like us – ordinary people captivated by the digital world. Perhaps their stories will resonate with you, and who knows, maybe you’ll become the next big sensation (though I wouldn’t place any bets just yet, sorry).
Twitter-Born Social Media Careers
Twitter, a platform teeming with the frivolous, the ordinary, and celebrity updates, can also be a breeding ground for genuine talent to emerge. Indeed, some quick-witted individuals have leveraged Twitter’s potential to propel themselves into remarkable social media careers! From Dad’s Quirky Sayings to Sitcom Stardom: @ShitMyDadSays Back in 2009, Justin Halpern, a comedy writer facing a dry spell, decided to create a Twitter account where he would share amusing quotes from his endearingly grumpy father. One fateful day, after a friend shared a link to the account, comedian Rob Corddry stumbled upon it and retweeted it. This seemingly insignificant act triggered a chain reaction that would launch Halpern into the realm of social media fame. Within a month, @ShitMyDadSays were being quoted on prominent platforms like The Daily Show, Laughing Squid, and even by actress Kristen Bell (which, let’s face it, is the most impressive of the three). Here are some timeless gems from @ShitMyDadSays:
This unexpected success led to Halpern securing a book deal with Harper Collins. The book, aptly titled Sh*t My Dad Says, hit the shelves in 2009 and quickly climbed its way to the coveted #1 spot on The New York Times Best Seller list. Halpern’s incredible journey didn’t end there. CBS decided to adapt @ShitMyDadSays into a sitcom starring William Shatner. The show, which ran from 2010 to 2011, even snagged the People’s Choice Award for Best New Comedy. Today, @ShitMyDadSays boasts over 2.5 million followers – not bad for a bunch of jokes about a grumpy dad. @TheNardvark Tweets His Way to Late Night @TheNardvark, also known as Bryan Donaldson, embarked on his Twitter journey in 2010, sharing jokes and witty remarks. His distinctive brand of humor resonated with a growing audience, earning him close to 50,000 followers. After two decades in the IT field, Donaldson decided to bid farewell to his keyboard-bound existence and embrace a new path – as a writer for Late Night With Seth Meyers. Of course, he likely found himself in need of a keyboard in the late-night writing world as well.
Donaldson’s transition from IT professional to comedy writer proves that Twitter can indeed make dreams a reality. Megan Amram’s Twitter Humor Lands Her a Gig on Parks and Rec Megan Amram, better known by her Twitter handle @meganamram, is another comedic force on Twitter. With her clever 140-character quips, she amassed an impressive following of over 460,000 users. Her Twitter prowess caught the attention of the right people, leading to a writing position on the acclaimed NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. One can only imagine the pride Little Sebastian would feel.
Jenny Johnson’s Twitter Feud with Chris Brown Catapults Her to Fame Jenny Johnson (@JennyJohnsonHi5) achieved Twitter notoriety in an unconventional way – by engaging in a heated online exchange with a certain Hollywood celebrity. The infamous digital showdown took place in 2012. Chris Brown, in a moment of self-deprecation, tweeted, “I look old as f—ck! I am only 23…”. Jenny Johnson, never one to mince words, retorted with, “I know! Being a worthless piece of shirt can really age a person.” And so began a back-and-forth exchange that involved Brown resorting to vulgar and inappropriate language before ultimately deleting his Twitter account. While some might view name-calling on Twitter as immature, the altercation undeniably worked in Johnson’s favor. She gained widespread admiration (Brown not being the most popular figure at the time), amassed a staggering 400,000 followers, and solidified her status as a prominent humorist. Her newfound fame led to a book deal in 2013, and she is currently a contributing writer for renowned publications like GQ and Glamour, among other online magazines. From Parody Account to Publishing Deal: @HistoricalTweet Alan Beard and Alec McNayr took a humorous approach to history with their wildly popular @historicaltweet account. Their concept? Imagining the tweets historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi might have composed if Twitter had existed during their time.
The account became a viral sensation, ultimately catching the eye of Random House. In 2010, the duo signed a publishing deal, and their book, Historical Tweets, was met with widespread acclaim, garnering rave reviews from Amazon readers. McNayr has since gone on to write for popular sitcoms like Parks and Recreation and How I Met Your Mother. Together, Beard and McNayr established their own social media humor agency, McBeard Media, boasting an impressive client roster that includes industry giants like Disney, Sony, and 20th Century Fox. Their journey from a simple parody Twitter account to a successful media agency is a testament to the power of social media. The Twitter Fame Formula: If these stories are any indication, humor seems to be the key ingredient in achieving Twitter fame. So, all you class clowns out there, rejoice! Your time to shine has arrived.
YouTube Sensations: When Viral Videos Forge Legends
Michelle Phan: From Beauty Vlogger to Makeup Mogul Michelle Phan is a YouTube personality whose claim to fame lies in her passion for beauty products. Through her channel, she shares reviews, makeup tutorials, and more. With a staggering 7.5 million subscribers, Phan has no shortage of dedicated fans eager to absorb her beauty wisdom. Some of her most viewed videos are her Lady Gaga makeup tutorials, where she guides viewers on recreating the pop icon’s extravagant looks from her music videos. While undeniably cool, these looks aren’t exactly practical for everyday wear (unless you happen to work for Cirque Du Soleil).
Phan’s YouTube stardom has opened doors to incredible opportunities. She’s been hired as a personal makeup artist for celebrities, collaborated with Lancôme, and even launched her own successful venture, Ipsy, a company that provides personalized makeup advice and monthly subscription boxes. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, she also has her own makeup line in partnership with L’Oreal. Talk about turning a daily routine into a multi-million dollar empire! Jenna Marbles and Her Canine Companions Rake in the Cash Jenna Marbles holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorite YouTube personalities. Her videos never fail to crack me up. Marbles is among the platform’s most popular vloggers. With an astounding 14 million subscribers, she holds the title of most subscribed woman on YouTube. Her beloved dogs, Marbles and Kermit (a Chihuahua and an Italian Greyhound, respectively), frequently grace her videos with their adorable presence. Her most popular video to date, “How to Trick People Into Thinking You’re Good Looking,” has amassed an impressive 60 million views!
Marbles earns a pretty penny for her comedic endeavors, raking in over $4.3 million annually just from goofing around with her furry companions. Now that’s what I call living the dream! Smosh: The Pioneers of Online Comedy Smosh, the brainchild of comedic duo Ian and Anthony, is practically an institution in the online video sphere. These guys have been creating content since 2003 (at the tender age of 11!), proving that online video existed before YouTube, although it was a vastly different and arguably less user-friendly landscape. Their signature comedic style involves skits and animations, often revolving around video games. With nearly 20 million subscribers (19.9 million at the time of writing), their unique brand of humor continues to resonate with a massive audience.
Since its YouTube debut, Smosh has consistently ranked among the platform’s most subscribed channels, even claiming the coveted #1 spot on several occasions. But their success isn’t confined to YouTube; the Smosh team has expanded their reach into other realms. They’ve released a mobile game, four music albums, and rumor has it that a Smosh movie might be in the works. The Smosh channel reportedly generates an estimated $5.7 million annually. DisneyCollectorBR: The Enigmatic Queen of Toy Unboxing Next on our list is another YouTube sensation, though this one is a bit…different. DisneyCollectorBR specializes in unboxing videos featuring Disney toys, accompanied by incredibly detailed descriptions and even demonstrations of how to play with the toys. The mysterious individual behind the channel remains anonymous, never revealing their name or face. Viewers are only privy to the vlogger’s hands as they meticulously unbox various children’s toys.
Yes, it’s a bit peculiar, but it gets stranger. Much of the channel’s allure lies in the vlogger’s incredibly soft and soothing voice. Many parents have reported that their young children are mesmerized by the videos, with some even claiming that these videos are the only way they can get their kids to fall asleep. I also have a hunch that DisneyCollectorBR has a significant following within the ASMR (Autonomous sensory meridian response) community, who experience a distinct tingling sensation (often described as pleasurable) from soft, whispery voices. Bizarre? Absolutely. You can learn more about this strange phenomenon in a This American Life episode, “Tribes.” Don’t be too quick to dismiss it as mere oddity, though. DisneyCollectorBR reportedly earns an estimated $5 million per year from their channel. PewDiePie: YouTube Royalty and Social Media Megastar It’s time to talk about the reigning champion of YouTube, the one and only PewDiePie. He is, without a doubt, the biggest YouTube celebrity, and his follower count speaks for itself. Boasting a staggering 35 million subscribers, PewDiePie reigns supreme, leaving the competition in the dust. The closest contender, YouTube’s official channel, trails far behind with a mere 22 million subscribers. So, what’s the secret to PewDiePie’s unparalleled success? You’d have to ask his fans because I’m just as baffled as you are. Most of his content consists of Let’s Play videos (essentially video game walkthroughs) narrated by PewDiePie himself, often in a high-pitched, nonsensical, and undeniably entertaining manner. Despite this seemingly simple formula, his younger fan base can’t get enough of their beloved Swedish host. Check out PewDiePie’s most popular video, a montage of his most memorable moments (be warned: there’s a fair amount of strong language):
Whatever he’s doing, it’s clearly working. PewDiePie has achieved a level of fame that includes getting recognized on the street, signing autographs, and, of course, appearing in more selfies than a Starbucks cup. His influence is so pervasive that he’s even been the target of South Park jokes. In one running gag spanning several episodes, Cartman achieves online fame by narrating everyday events as “Cartman Brah,” a clear nod to PewDiePie’s signature style. Of course, PewDiePie takes it all in stride and even appears in the show, ultimately saving the world and banishing Cartman Brah to the abyss where washed-up YouTubers go. Part of PewDiePie’s appeal stems from his genuine interactions with his fans, frequently engaging with them on social media and affectionately referring to his subscribers as his “bros” in his videos. Is it all an act? I’d like to believe not, but even if it were, could you blame him? This YouTube mastermind earns an estimated $7 million annually just from playing video games for an adoring audience.
Decoding the YouTube Money-Making Machine
I know what you’re thinking: “Time to ditch this dead-end job and dedicate my life to making YouTube videos!” But before you do, remember that most of these successful YouTubers have invested years of hard work and dedication to building their audiences and producing high-quality content. It’s not exactly a get-rich-quick scheme. Still, let’s delve into the mechanics of how they manage to make those stacks of cash. The primary revenue stream for YouTube vloggers comes from advertisements. You know those pesky commercials you sometimes have to sit through before watching a YouTube video? Those are called pre-roll ads, and YouTube generates revenue by charging advertisers for these brief slots. For every 1,000 times a pre-roll ad is displayed, YouTube earns a certain amount (typically around $20-$25 per thousand ad views), which is known as CPM (cost per mille). Now, once a YouTuber has amassed a substantial following, they can approach YouTube and say, “Hey, I think I deserve a cut of those ad dollars.” This is where the YouTube Partner Program comes in. By joining this program, YouTubers become eligible to receive a percentage of the ad revenue generated from their videos. YouTube typically takes a 45% cut, and while CPMs can fluctuate, a YouTube Partner can generally expect to earn around $5-7 CPM. Essentially, for every 1,000 times an ad is shown on a YouTuber’s channel, they earn $7 while YouTube pockets $18. So, if a YouTuber has a video with one million views and every viewer watches the ad in its entirety, they would earn a cool $7,000 (1,000 views X $7). Of course, viewers don’t watch pre-roll ads before every single YouTube video (and those that are skipped generate significantly less revenue than fully-watched ads), but this example illustrates how a single video with millions of views can become quite lucrative over time. [[Credit to Celebrity Net Worth can explain this better than I can] But our exploration of social media stars doesn’t end here. Next, we venture into the realm of six-second stardom with Vine.
Vine Video Stars: Conquering the World Six Seconds at a Time
It might surprise you to learn that there are Vine stars who have forged successful careers from their concise six-second videos. Some have been thrust into the spotlight and achieved mainstream fame, while others have found financial success through brand partnerships. Shawn Mendes: From Vine Covers to Record Deal Sixteen-year-old Shawn Mendes is a Canadian singer-songwriter who used Vine as a platform to share his musical talents with the world. By posting original songs and covers of popular hits, Mendes caught the attention of Island Records and eventually signed a record deal. When his EP dropped, it soared to the top of the iTunes charts within a mere half hour! Andrew Bachelor: Raking in the Dough with Sponsored Vines Andrew Bachelor, better known by his Vine handle @KingBach, boasts an impressive 9.6 million followers. He’s managed to turn his comedic six-second videos into a lucrative career through brand partnerships. Bachelor reportedly earns anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 per sponsored Vine, with longer brand campaigns commanding even higher fees. Brittany Furlan: From Vine Star to Sketch Comedy Show Brittany Furlan is one of Vine’s most recognizable female personalities. With over 8 million followers, her humorous and often wacky Vines have garnered significant attention. In fact, her comedic talents recently landed her a deal for a new sketch comedy show, produced by none other than Seth Green. When collaborating with brands like Trident, Furlan can command up to $20,000 for a single sponsored Vine (and can even earn money simply by re-Vining a brand’s content). Us The Duo: From Vine to Musical Stardom Husband-and-wife folk-pop duo Michael and Carissa Alvarado, known collectively as Us The Duo, got their start on Vine. Their six-second covers caught the attention of a wider audience, and they haven’t looked back since. They’ve signed with Republic Records, embarked on world tours, and released two albums. Nash Grier: The World’s Most Popular Vine Star At just 16 years old, Nash Grier (@griernash) currently holds the title of most popular Vine star in the world. With over 10 million followers and endorsements from major brands like Virgin Mobile, Grier’s hilarious mini-videos are generating some serious cash. Feeling a twinge of envy yet? Hey, maybe your social media breakthrough is just around the corner! What are your thoughts on these social media masterminds and their journeys to success? Share your opinions in the comments below.