- YouTube has produced a new generation of celebrities and influencers that have turned posting videos online into lucrative full-time careers.
- The most popular YouTubers include video game commentators, makeup artists, and comedians.
- These are the most-subscribed YouTube channels from independent personalities who got their start on the video-sharing platform.
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YouTube has become the de-facto launchpad for the next generation of celebrities, personalities, and big stars.
Well-known names like PewDiePie, Shane Dawson, and Smosh have racked up millions of subscribers over the years by uploading videos on YouTube and forming seemingly personal relationships with their fans. From comedians to gamers to vloggers of all kinds, YouTubers have harnessed the video-sharing platform to build their followings and brands from nothing more than a video camera and a solid internet connection.
To get a closer look into which stars rule YouTube, we looked at the SocialBlade rankings to see which channels have the most subscribers. We focused on independent YouTube stars, disregarding YouTube channels from mainstream celebrities and music record labels.
These are the YouTube personalities with the most subscribers:
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23. DanTDM — 21.3 million subscribers
Also known as: The Diamond Minecart, Daniel Middleton
Location: United Kingdom
Video type: DanTDM rose to popularity for his content focusing on the video game "Minecraft," but he's since expanded to daily game reviews and gameplay videos. In 2017, he created a short-lived web series for YouTube Red called "DanTDM Creates a Big Scene."
22. Shane Dawson — 21.4 million subscribers
AKA: Shane Yaw
Location: United States
Video type: Shane Dawson rose to popularity with his videos on conspiracy theories and docuseries about YouTubers like Jeffree Star and Jake Paul.
He recently got engaged to fellow YouTuber Ryland Adams, and was engrossed in a controversy about whether he participated in some disturbing behaviors with his cat, Cheeto.
21. Like Nastya Vlog — 21.6 million subscribers
Location: Russia
Video type: The "Like Nastya Vlog" channel posts regular vlogs of Nastya playing with toys and going on adventures with her family.
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