Key Moments
How Much Money I Make as a YouTuber (2021)š°
Ali AbdaalKey Moments
YouTuber Ali Abdaal shares 15 income streams, totaling $4.79M in 2021, driven by courses.
Key Insights
Ali Abdaal generated $4.79 million in revenue in 2021 across 15 income streams.
The Part-Time YouTuber Academy was the largest contributor, generating $2.59 million.
Skillshare classes earned $716,691, followed by YouTube AdSense revenue ($391,135) and sponsorships ($432,000 after agency fees).
Personal investments in stocks and crypto also contributed significantly to his overall earnings.
Despite high revenue, Abdaal emphasizes that costs have also increased substantially, and profit is the true measure.
He reflects on the exponential growth of online businesses and the potential for new creators.
Abdaal expresses concern about the reliance on his personal brand and YouTube's algorithm, likening it to a 'house of cards'.
TRANSPARENCY AND CONTEXT FOR SHARING REVENUE
Ali Abdaal begins by emphasizing the transparency behind sharing his 2021 revenue, stating his aim is not to flex but to provide an honest insight for aspiring creators. He addresses potential criticisms, clarifying that this is not a get-rich-quick scheme, as he has been involved in online businesses since age 13 and now manages a team of 20. The figures represent business and personal income aggregated, not just his personal take-home pay.
DIVERSE INCOME STREAMS FROM LOWEST TO HIGHEST
The video meticulously details 15 income streams, starting from the lowest earners. These include minimal earnings from Twitch streaming ($92.27), day job as a doctor (Ā£640), a month as a mentor ($1,000), and real estate rental income ($3,680 for part of the year). Other sources like app revenue, podcast sponsorships, and stock/crypto gains show varying levels of contribution throughout the year.
MEDIA AND PUBLISHING VENTURES
Sponsorships and brand deals on his main YouTube channel generated a substantial $523,000, with his agency taking a 20% cut, netting $432,000. His book deals with Penguin UK and a US publisher were significant, each being six-figure deals totaling $200,000. Foreign translation rights for his book also added to this revenue stream, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of publishing.
THE POWER OF ONLINE COURSES AND PLATFORMS
Skillshare emerged as a major revenue driver, earning an astounding $716,691 from royalties and affiliate income from his multiple classes. However, the largest income source by far was the Part-Time YouTuber Academy, which, across its cohorts in 2021, generated approximately $2.59 million. This highlights the significant financial potential of cohort-based courses and educational platforms.
INVESTMENTS AND PERSONAL FINANCE
Abdaal details his personal investments, including gains from stocks and shares, primarily through index funds like the S&P 500, and cryptocurrency. While he experienced losses in individual stocks and early crypto investments, a significant rally in Ethereum in 2021 led to a substantial gain of $132,377 for the year. These personal investments are aggregated into the total revenue figure.
REFLECTIONS ON GROWTH, RISK, AND FUTURE
With a total revenue of $4.79 million, Abdaal notes a significant increase from the previous year's $1.339 million. He acknowledges that costs have risen proportionally, emphasizing that profit, not just revenue, truly matters. He expresses concerns about business sustainability, relying heavily on his personal brand and the YouTube algorithm, and discusses his long-term vision of building a profitable business that helps people while fostering a positive team environment.
Mentioned in This Episode
āSupplements
āProducts
āSoftware & Apps
āCompanies
āBooks
āConcepts
āPeople Referenced
Common Questions
The YouTuber detailed 15 different streams of income generated by his business in 2021, ranging from Twitch streaming to educational courses.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A platform for online courses, through which the speaker earns affiliate revenue for promoting courses like 'Building a Second Brain'.
A website platform and hosting service the speaker has used since 2015/2016 and has an affiliate deal with.
The world's largest affiliate program, used by the speaker for linking products in YouTube videos.
A stock the speaker has personally invested in.
A stock the speaker has personally invested in.
A book summary service mentioned as a comparison to Short Form.
A platform used by the speaker for investing in the S&P 500.
Publisher of the speaker's book deal in the UK.
An online learning platform where the speaker has multiple classes, earning revenue based on watch time and affiliate referrals.
An independent streaming platform owned by creators, built by Standard, where creators earn based on watch time.
A stock the speaker has personally invested in.
A stock the speaker invested in, which is not performing well.
Platform where the speaker announced the Part-Time YouTuber Academy for the first time.
Another platform the speaker uses for ISA investments.
A service providing music for the channel, with which the speaker has an affiliate partnership.
A stock the speaker has personally invested in.
A stock the speaker has personally invested in.
Streaming platform where the creator streamed World of Warcraft and earned $92.27.
A stock the speaker has personally invested in.
An index fund the speaker has personally invested in.
Cryptocurrency that the speaker invested in heavily, experienced a crash, and later saw a rise in value.
A cryptocurrency the speaker lost money on.
An index fund the speaker recommends for broad stock market investment.
A cryptocurrency the speaker bought in 2017 that has decreased in value.
Cryptocurrency held by the speaker since 2017 that significantly increased in value in 2021.
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