Ryan Kaji: The Youngest YouTube Sensation

So, Just How Much is Ryan Kaji Worth?

Let’s talk about Ryan Kaji, the young YouTube sensation who’s made a name—and a whole lot of money—for himself. At just 13 years old, Ryan’s net worth is an impressive $100 million. He’s the star of the YouTube channel "Ryan's World," which originally started as "Ryan ToysReview" back in 2015. This channel features Ryan alongside his family, including his mom, dad, and twin sisters. With over 40 million subscribers and more than 75 billion views, Ryan is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. His influence extends beyond the screen, too. The family has licensed Ryan’s name to over 5,000 "Ryan's World" products, including toys, action figures, face masks, and even bedroom decor. In 2021, Ryan's World was nominated for the Streamy Awards in the Kids and Family category, and in 2022, Ryan himself was nominated as Favorite Male Creator at the Kids' Choice Awards.

Ryan keeps his fans engaged by releasing new videos almost every day. His most popular video, "Huge Eggs Surprise Toys Challenge," has over 2 billion views, placing it among the top 60 most-viewed videos on YouTube.

Nickelodeon even jumped on the Ryan bandwagon in 2019 by producing the show "Ryan's Mystery Playdate." Ryan's mom left her job as a high school teacher to focus on the channel full-time. The family has also expanded into over 100 self-produced toys, merchandise, and clothing items. They’ve even signed an original series deal with Hulu. And let’s not forget, in November 2020, there was a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade float based on Ryan’s superhero alter-ego. Talk about a meteoric rise!

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Making the Money: Ryan's Earnings

From 2016 to 2017, Ryan’s World brought in over $11 million in revenue. In 2018, Ryan topped the list as the highest-paid YouTuber, earning $22 million. The following year, in 2019, Ryan once again claimed the top spot with more than $26 million. In 2020, the Kaji family raked in $30 million, making them the highest-paid personalities on YouTube. As of now, Ryan and his parents have amassed over $100 million from their media empire. Not bad for a kid who started out just playing with toys, right?

Where It All Began: Ryan's Early Life

Ryan Kaji was born on October 6, 2011, in Texas to parents Shion and Loann. His father is Japanese, and his mother is of Vietnamese descent. The couple met while they were undergraduates at Texas Tech University. Ryan has twin sisters named Kate and Emma, and the family resides in Cypress, Texas. Ryan’s parents recognized his potential early on and decided to help him pursue his passion for YouTube.

The Rise of Ryan's World

Ryan first dipped his toes into YouTube in March 2015. He noticed the popularity of toy review channels and thought, "Why can’t I be part of this?" His mom saw the potential and quit her job as a high school chemistry teacher to work full-time on the channel. Initially, it was called "Ryan ToysReview," but it eventually evolved into "Ryan's World." With a new video almost every day, the channel showcases Ryan as he unboxes, plays with, and reviews a wide variety of toys, most of which come through sponsorship deals with toy companies. One of the channel’s most popular videos, "Huge Eggs Surprise Toys Challenge," has over 2 billion views and ranks among the top 60 most-viewed videos on YouTube.

Over the years, Ryan’s World has grown exponentially. By the end of 2020, it had over 28 million subscribers, with its videos accumulating more than 45 billion views. This success earned Ryan a spot on Forbes' list of the highest-paid YouTube stars. Despite criticisms about the channel’s consumerist nature, Ryan’s parents assure fans that most of the toys featured are donated to charity, while others are given to friends and family.

Expanding the Empire: Ryan's Product Line

Ryan’s World has built an empire beyond just YouTube. In 2017, Ryan’s parents partnered with PocketWatch, a startup children's media company, to handle marketing and merchandise for the brand. In 2018, they collaborated with WildWorks to create a children’s gaming app called "Tag with Ryan." The following year, Ryan’s World and PocketWatch produced a 20-episode preschooler television series called "Ryan’s Mystery Playdate," which aired on Nick Jr. They also released a video game called "Race with Ryan," a racing game available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and the Nintendo Switch.

In November 2020, Ryan’s World premiered a hybrid live-action/animated series on Amazon Kids+ called "Super Spy Ryan." The next month, it was announced that an official Ryan’s World game would launch on Roblox. The channel also boasts a line of toys made in collaboration with PocketWatch and Bonkers Toys. These toys, which include slime, action figures, stuffed animals, and T-shirts, were initially exclusive to Walmart in the summer of 2018. In March 2022, the second Ryan’s World licensed video game, "Ryan’s Rescue Squad," was released across all platforms.

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Controversies Along the Way

Of course, with such massive success comes controversy. Many critics have accused Ryan’s World and his parents of exploiting him for profit. Since YouTube doesn’t have the same production regulations as traditional film industries, Ryan could theoretically be working more hours than he should be allowed. Ryan’s mom insists she ensures her son controls his own schedule, but it’s unclear how much pressure he feels from the business side of things or if he’d have the freedom to step away if he wanted to.

In another controversy, Truth in Advertising and the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in 2019 alleging that Ryan’s World wasn’t properly disclosing its sponsored videos. The watchdog organization claimed that around 90% of the channel’s videos include at least one paid product advertisement aimed at viewers too young to distinguish between a review and a commercial. Additionally, many videos promote unhealthy foods. As a result, the FTC sued YouTube and Google for $170 million, prompting YouTube to change its rules to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.