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YouTube star Felix “PewDiePie” Kjellberg has released a video (watch it below) in response to the uproar an article on Fusion caused, which claimed he earned €6.7 million from his YouTube channel last year.
The PewDiePie channel, in which Kjellberg discusses and commentates video games, has amassed more than 9 billion views and 37 million subscribers.
In a video titled “Let’s Talk About Money” released Tuesday, Kjellberg said: “Money is a topic I’ve purposely tried to avoid in the five years I’ve been making videos because I just feel like it’s not important to anyone.”
However, he goes on to address some of his “favourite” comments made by people on his channel about how much he earns in an attempt to set the record straight.
“What people don’t really think about until it’s in their face is that I have nine billion views, that translates to something. There’s ads on my videos. I make money on those. So whenever it comes out how much money I make in a certain year, people just get so shocked,” Kjellberg says.
And a lot of people which I saw were very, very angry. They thought it was unfair. They thought I just sit on my ass all day and just yell at the screen over here. Which is true. But there’s so much more to it than that, and I understand that people – haters gonna hate, right?
Here are some other choice quotes from the video:
On money not making him happy: ”I really think that money doesn’t make you happy. I am just as happy as I am now as I was five years ago. I am very happy that I don’t have to worry about paying rent because that was a huge issue when [we] came over from Sweden, we could barely afford it. I’m happy about that, but other than that, it doesn’t change much. And to see people being upset about this whole thing is just sad. I think it’s such a waste.”
Responding to a commenter who said anyone could do what PewDiePie does: ”I think that’s what’s cool about YouTube. That anyone could technically do it, right? Surely if I didn’t exist, there would be someone to fill my place. I do work a tremendous amount - ask my girlfriend.”
Responding to a commenter who said soldiers are more deserving of Kjellberg’s money: ”[Said in a sarcastic tone] I mean yeah, you’re right. War is such a better cause that needs more of our money and attention. It’s really worked out well throughout history. You make a really good point there.”
In response to a commenter that said another YouTuber was funnier: ”It really doesn’t matter what you think. Life is not fair, it’s just how it is. If you think someone else is funnier, go refresh their videos over and over because that’s how we get paid.”
On why people shouldn’t care about his earnings: ”In conclusion, it seems like the whole world cares more about how much money I make than I do myself. We did raise $1 million for charity and very few articles picked up on that. But here it is, everywhere, how much money I make. I don’t think there’s any good reason why anyone should care. And on top of that, I guess there’s no good reason why I should care either. So I’m just gonna end it there.”
Here’s the video:
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Good man! Enjoy your earnings!
Just watched 10secs of one of his videos (couldn’t watch anymore as it was a lot of screaming and also very odd). Fair play to him for doing so well regardless of the haters… Smart man!!
The guy personally isn’t my cup of tea, but fair play to him. Living the dream. If you could make even 10% of what he’s made per year for making YouTube videos, you’d jump at it.
Of course people are going to hate its because they are jealous.
You generally get that and Irish people are generally the worst….except everything for nothing while begrudge anyone success. “Ah 50 million is too much in the Euromillions…1 million be enough for anybody” – I have yet to meet another nationality who would declare this.
He found a way to make a living doing something that he enjoys. That’s not an easy thing to do in the world we live in. Most people are stuck doing what they have to do. Personally, I’m happy for him and think that his detractors are jealous and bitter. But he shows what’s possible with creativity. As he said, anyone can do what he does.
It doesn’t really show a use of creativity but it still doesn’t matter people enjoy it and watch it.
NCIS is the most popular TV show in the world but it doesn’t make it good. Popularity makes money shocker
*sigh* If only I could translate my Journal comments into cash.
You can keep your 2c
I have absolutely no idea who that guy is, and his earnings affect me in no way. I should still be angry about this though, right?
At least he’s humble.
The dawn of the age of GAMES, bye bye TV. This generation of kids are being subjected to actual original material on their screens. The old guard of media are either embracing or embarrassing themselves with regards to streamers/you tubers.
I for one welcome our tech savvy overlords
The idiots complaining about his money are the ones clicking on his videos.
As always I feel sad for the world when I look at anything that attracts popular attention. We share a planet with Kardashians and this idiot and that makes me sad. But those douches are all contributing to it!
Am definitely in the wrong job….
It’s funny, that people think he sits there all day and makes videos. At that kind of income a year, you can be sure he has a team to edit his videos, come up with content, even upload the stuff for him. The guy is on an absolute winner, and if the latest technology was around when I was younger, I’d make a pretty good stab at what he is doing too.
Except that he really doesnt. He does it all totally alone. He works seven days a week, recording and editing at least one video a day, reads and replies to messages from fans daily, runs charities, a website, an online shop, records a podcast with a friend, and does it all without a team with him.
I only know this guy from that South Park episode he did but fair play…I’d only be angry because I don’t earn that kind of money ha
Don’t hate the player, hate the game!
Tbh I don’t understand his popularity as there are far better and funnier youtube channels out there that play video games! Funhaus play the same games as pewdiepie and are a million times funnier in my opinion but they only have 600k subcribers!
In the past number of years has a more annoying phrase been coined? “haters gonna hate ” the catch-all phrase that can be used by any gink to deflect legitimate criticism. BTW I have no opinion one way or the other as to whether or not this particular gink is worth what he is paid.
my five year olds mad about a young guy who talks while playing a game online. I don’t see the attraction myself.
It’s more interesting than football what with the different content every time and funny or interesting commentary, but still the basic principle of watching someone else play a game.
9 billion viewers? Has the earths population suddenly shot up?
“Views” not “Viewers”. Big difference.
Views. Like he said keep refreshing the videos, that’s how we make money.
So, should I just keep refreshing my YouTube channel vids? How can I gain more subscribers?
refreshing the videos the videos does not work
Sorry typo, really wish comments could e edited
refreshing the videos for hits does not work, but a hit can be someone that clicked on a video by mistake which I’m sure happens alot,.
While sitting in front of a tech device made by a company that only made few billion last year.
have your say