One would think that Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift would hold the most number of views on YouTube, considering how their music videos instantly go viral.
However, this is not the case.
Felix Kjellberg, also known as PewDiePie, is officially the first person to hit YouTube's 10 billion-view mark.
"Today we made history! 10 billion views! THIS IS INSANE. Thank you all so much! Kisses," said the Swedish web-based comedian and producer, who happens to celebrate his 26th birthday today.
Today we made history! 10 billion views! THIS IS INSANE. Thank you all so much! Kisses pic.twitter.com/L3Td2HMX4N
— Felix Kjellberg (@pewdiepie) September 6, 2015
Kjellberg started his YouTube channel in 2010. His videos gained a significant fan base through vlogs and Let's Play uploads.
Since then, he has rounded up over 40 million subscribers.
This means if Kjellberg had a dollar for every person who subscribed to his channel, he would have $40 million (an amount he has likely surpassed, considering his revenue from YouTube).
"I started doing YouTube videos and that's what I want to keep doing. It seems like maybe some traditional or old media feel intimidated by YouTube being a new medium," said Kjellberg.
In 2014, his earnings amounted up to $7.4 million, according to documents filed in his homeland.
Kjellberg has recently ventured into more traditional media, with the launch of his debut book, "This Book Loves You," with Penguin Random House. He also did a guesting on the high-profile CBS talk show, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."
More than a thousand fans showed up at Kjellberg's book signing in London, proving that his online fandom extends to the offline world. Following his book deal, Kjellberg has somewhat turned into an overnight ambassador for gamers worldwide, Jimmy Kimmel making a reference to the PewDiePie craze in his show.
Kjellberg is busy with his upcoming projects, including exploring new formats for his "Let's Play" videos, creating a new horror series slated for YouTube Red and channeling his influence to advance good causes.
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