How YouTubers Earn Beyond Ads with Brands, Products & More

YouTube has grown into the largest platform for creators, offering huge opportunities to earn a living. In fact, in June, the company reported that its creative ecosystem added over $55 billion to the U.S. economy and created more than 490,000 full-time jobs.

But today, many YouTubers aren’t relying only on ads and brand deals anymore. Ad revenue can be unpredictable, and YouTube’s frequent policy changes sometimes make it harder to get ads approved. For creators, this means earnings can suddenly drop.

Because of this, top YouTubers are now turning their channels into full media companies. They launch product lines, food brands, clothing, apps, and even brick-and-mortar stores.

These businesses give them income that doesn’t depend on algorithms or ad policies—and in many cases, these side ventures are growing even faster than their YouTube channels.

MrBeast

Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, is YouTube’s biggest star with over 442 million subscribers. But he’s also become one of its most ambitious entrepreneurs.

He started selling merch in 2018 through ShopMrBeast. From there, he launched Feastables, a snack brand that debuted with the “MrBeast Bar” chocolate. Within its first 72 hours, it sold more than 1 million bars and earned over $10 million.

Today, Feastables makes more money than his YouTube content. In 2024 alone, it generated about $250 million in revenue and more than $20 million in profit, while its media projects lost around $80 million.

Other projects include:

Lunchly, a packaged food brand co-founded with Logan Paul and KSI
MrBeast Lab, a toy line
MrBeast Burger, a food chain
Viewstats, an analytics platform

MrBeast even tried to join an investor group to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations. Now, he’s planning a mobile network company (MVNO) that could partner with AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile.

Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain rose to fame as a vlogger in 2016 and now has over 12 million subscribers. In 2019, she launched Chamberlain Coffee, which sells cold brew, beans, pods, tea, and matcha.

The brand exploded in 2023 when it launched canned lattes, hitting $20 million in revenue. In 2024, Emma opened her first physical coffee shop, expanding beyond online sales and retailers like Target and Walmart.

While she faced supply chain issues last year, Chamberlain Coffee is expected to rebound, with projected revenue of $33 million by 2025 and profitability by 2026.

Logan Paul

Logan Paul, with 23.6 million subscribers, shifted from controversy into wrestling and entrepreneurship.

He co-founded the viral energy drink Prime with KSI in 2022. By 2023, it had $1.2 billion in sales. But recently, sales slowed due to regulatory scrutiny, lawsuits, and a 70% revenue drop in the U.K. from 2023 to 2024.

Other ventures include

Maverick Apparel, which earned $30–40 million in 2020
His brother Jake Paul’s investments through Anti Fund (including OpenAI and Anduril)
Jake’s grooming line W and betting app Betr

Ryan’s World

Ryan Kaji, the 13-year-old star of Ryan’s World, has nearly 40 million subscribers. He became famous for toy unboxings and reviews.

His brand expanded into toys and apparel, which brought in $250 million in 2020. Ryan has also launched a TV show and an educational app for kids.

Rosanna Pansino

Rosanna Pansino, with 14.8 million subscribers, is loved for her baking tutorials. She built the Nerdy Nummies brand, wrote best-selling cookbooks, and sells baking tools online and in stores.

Other YouTubers followed her path—like Andrew Rea (Babish) with Babish Cookware, and Rhett & Link, who launched MishMash Cereal.

Michelle Phan

Michelle Phan was one of YouTube’s first beauty influencers, starting in 2007. She co-founded Ipsy, a huge makeup subscription service, and launched her own brand, EM Cosmetics.

Huda Kattan

Huda Kattan founded Huda Beauty in 2013, now one of the most famous global makeup brands. Though she sold part of it in 2017, she bought it back in 2024 to regain control. The brand brings in hundreds of millions in yearly sales.

Other YouTube beauty moguls include Jeffree Star and Tati Westbrook with their own lines.

FAQs

1. Why are YouTubers creating businesses outside of YouTube?

Because ad revenue is unstable. Businesses give them more reliable income and long-term growth.

2. Who is the most successful YouTuber entrepreneur?

MrBeast is currently the biggest, with his snack brand Feastables earning $250M in 2024 alone.

3. What types of businesses do YouTubers start?

They launch food brands, clothing lines, coffee companies, tech platforms, and even mobile networks.

4. Are these businesses more profitable than YouTube channels?

Yes, in many cases. For example, Emma Chamberlain’s coffee brand and MrBeast’s Feastables make more money than their channels.

5. Will more creators follow this path?

Most likely. As platforms change policies, creators are turning into entrepreneurs to secure their future.

How YouTubers Can Earn More Money with Brands, Products & More Beyond Ads