Forbes ranked Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, first in its 2023 Top Creators list, with Brent Rivera at No. 10. The ranking was published September 26, 2023; its earnings estimates cover June 2022 through June 2023, not current or audited personal income.
Who were Forbes’ top 10 creators in 2023?
Here is the ranking in the order Forbes published it. The figures are the estimates and platform metrics reported with that 2023 list.
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| Rank | Creator | Estimated earnings | Total followers | Average engagement | Entrepreneurship score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) | $82 million | 312 million | 9.8% | 4 |
| 2 | Olajide Olatunji (KSI) | $24 million | 112 million | 6.5% | 4 |
| 3 | Jake Paul | $34 million | 66 million | 1.6% | 4 |
| 4 | Rhett & Link | $35 million | 32 million | 0.85% | 4 |
| 5 | Charli D’Amelio | $23 million | 213 million | 0.7% | 4 |
| 6 | Logan Paul | $21 million | 74 million | 1.25% | 4 |
| 7 | Elliot Tebele (F*ckJerry) | $30 million | 17 million | 1% | 4 |
| 8 | Emma Chamberlain | $20 million | 28 million | 6.25% | 4 |
| 9 | Matt Rife | $25 million | 22 million | 10.7% | 3 |
| 10 | Brent Rivera | $17.5 million | 96 million | 11.25% | 3 |
Forbes’ September 26, 2023 ranking reports estimated gross earnings for June 2022–June 2023. These are estimates, not audited statements or a guide to what any creator earns now. Forbes’ article does not state a country-specific earnings breakdown.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Why the ranking does not follow earnings alone
Forbes considered estimated earnings, follower counts, engagement rates and entrepreneurship. Its article does not publish the formula or weights used to combine those factors, so readers cannot reproduce each rank from the table.
#1 Best Overall
The distinction matters: Rhett & Link’s reported $35 million exceeds Jake Paul’s $34 million, although they rank below him. Matt Rife’s $25 million estimate also exceeds the amounts shown for Charli D’Amelio and Logan Paul, who rank above him. The list is therefore an overall ranking, not an earnings leaderboard.
What the measures say about the creators
Estimated earnings
Forbes estimated gross earnings over the stated 12-month period. The figures are not a measure of take-home pay: the article does not present them as audited personal income, nor does it provide a breakdown of each creator’s expenses or revenue sources.
Rank #2
Followers and engagement
Influential supplied follower counts across social platforms and engagement rates for the ranking. Forbes describes engagement as likes, comments and shares divided by total followers. These are different measures: a larger follower count does not automatically mean a higher engagement rate.
Entrepreneurship
Forbes scored entrepreneurship from one to four, with lower scores associated with earning most money through traditional advertising and higher scores associated with building companies, brands and services. Eight of the ten creators received a score of four; Matt Rife and Brent Rivera received three.
How the profiles connected creators to businesses
Forbes’ 2023 profiles show why the list covered more than social-media reach. These are descriptions from the article at publication time, not confirmation that a deal, product or business remains available or unchanged.
- MrBeast: Forbes highlighted high-production videos, digital advertising, Feastables snacks, MrBeast Burger and merchandise.
- KSI: The profile described his move from YouTube comedy into music and boxing, promotion of Prime Hydration with Logan Paul, and activity around Misfits Boxing.
- Jake Paul: Forbes noted a Celsius sponsorship, co-founding the sports-betting app Betr and a move into combat-sports events.
- Rhett & Link: Their Mythical entertainment company included Good Mythical Morning, Mythical Kitchen, Smosh, podcasts, live events and an online store selling merchandise and kitchen tools.
- Charli D’Amelio: Forbes cited partnerships and businesses across fashion, fragrance and footwear, along with a reality series.
- Logan Paul: The profile covered YouTube, wrestling, the Impaulsive podcast and Prime Hydration with KSI.
- Elliot Tebele: Forbes described social accounts and tequila brand Jaja alongside the What Do You Meme? board-game business, which it said was sold at Target, Walmart and Amazon.
- Emma Chamberlain: Forbes cited fashion partnerships, Chamberlain Coffee and a Spotify video deal for her podcast.
- Matt Rife: Forbes linked his social-media rise with live comedy and reported more than 750,000 tickets sold for his international tour over the prior year. It also noted that his Netflix special Natural Selection was then upcoming.
- Brent Rivera: Forbes mentioned platform growth, brand partnerships and Amp Studios, which Rivera started in 2017.
What Forbes reported about all 50 honorees
Forbes said the 50 creators on its 2023 list had a combined 2.6 billion followers and estimated earnings of $700 million. It compared the earnings estimate with $570 million in 2022 and described the increase as more than 20%. These are Forbes’ estimates for that group, not a measure of every creator or the creator economy as a whole.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Forbes’ source and context
The ranking and methodology appeared in Steven Bertoni’s Forbes article, published September 26, 2023: “Forbes Top Creators 2023.” In that article, Erin Lanuti, then identified as chief innovation officer at Omnicom PR Group, said: “Influencers are more trusted by their audiences than ads. They can sell out products in minutes. They can cause a flash mob that shuts down a major city,” That is Lanuti’s quoted view, not a finding independently demonstrated by the ranking.
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