Can the kings and queens of YouTube become dethroned? Sure! It happens all the time! Hot today… Gone tomorrow!
When I did the original research for the first edition of my bestseller “The Social Media Bible”, back in 2007, I interviewed George Strompolos, Content Partnerships Manager for YouTube (1 of 50 interviews), he was astonished that a 14 year old kid from Nebraska could earn as he put it “7-figures” from PPC ads by sounding like a chipmunk.
https://www.thesocialmediabible.com/experts-2/
Here are two of the first people to break 1m views and generate a substantial income from YouTube PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising.
YouTube’s Fred Figglehorn, the screechy, chipmunk-voiced Internet star, who became the first person in the history of online video to amass 1 million views in 2006 and 1m subscribers in 2009.
FЯED Figlehorn (Lucas Cruikshank )
FЯED’s First Movie: “Fred on Halloween” Repost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DL7zP7Da1o
(Originaly Post, October 30, 2006, video not available) Approximately 22.3m Views To Date.
FЯED’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKEXu8aCjrudFNx2jq9FfQw
YouTube’s Fred is first online video star to break 1M subscribers…
Fred has a current estimated net worth as of April 20, 2019, of $600,000. Creator of the character Fred Figglehorn..
The other “first” phenomenon was Judson Judson Laipply, with his “Evolution of Dance” video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Uploaded To YouTube: Apr 6, 2006, now with 306,706,210 views
Judson was the second to person to reach 1m views on YouTube and earn 7-figure revenue from advertising.
Fun Fact: The 14 year olds that are making today’s new YouTube Stars rich and famous were BORN in that year!
FRED’s Fans Comments
Ash H posted: “there are so many people commenting that they were born the year the first fred video came out wtf i feel old.” And,
Anna McCrory posted “I just realized that this video was posted on my birthday………..”
Today, there are many people making some serious scratch through YouTube PPC advertising.
In addition to Rayan’s World, a toy-loving 7-year-old boy earning $22m, there are other high-paid YouTubers, according to Forbes.
Just like being a movie star or a famous musician, there are two truths; YouTube fame requires 1.) preparation meeting opportunity (timing), including a lightning strike of exceptional luck and… 2) it will be short-lived.
Billy Joel said it best I his 1974 song the Entertainer:
Today I am your champion
I may have won your hearts
But I know the game, you’ll forget my name
And I won’t be here in another year
If I don’t stay on the charts
With 5 billion YouTube users and approximately 1.5 billion are registered users, your chances of making it big on YouTube are about a handful in 5 billion. There is a significantly higher probability you will get rich by buying a lottery ticket. The odds are much better. There’s a reason why the YouTube Stars are called “phenomenons”.
My advice to all you young YouTuber Wannabes, don’t quit your day jobs… or school for that matter! And, if you are one of the lucky few who has accidentally become a YouTube phenomenon, enjoy it while you can… because it won’t last.
Lon Safko… Author, Speaker, Trainer