FULL LIST: MrBeast tops 2026 Forbes list as top creators earn $1bn

MrBeast has retained his position as the world’s highest-earning digital creator after topping the 2026 Forbes Top Creators ranking.

This is as the industry’s 50 biggest influencers generated a combined $1.02 billion over the past year.

The annual ranking, released by Forbes on July 1 and sighted on Sunday by our correspondent, showed the top creators increased their combined earnings by 20 per cent from $853 million in 2025 and by 80 per cent from the inaugural list in 2022.

According to the publication, the creator economy has evolved into a mainstream entertainment industry, with social media personalities producing films, television content and large-scale business ventures that increasingly rival traditional Hollywood studios.

“The creator economy is no longer trying to break into show business—it is show business,” Forbes said in its report.

Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, topped the list with estimated earnings of $300 million, supported by a global social media following of 873 million.

His business empire spans YouTube, Beast Industries, Feastables, Lunchly, Viewstats and Amazon Prime’s reality competition series, Beast Games.

Dhar Mann ranked second with estimated earnings of $65 million, followed by British entrepreneur and podcast host Steven Bartlett with $52 million.

Gaming creator Markiplier placed fourth after earning $38 million, while comedy duo Rhett & Link completed the top five with $37 million.

The top 10 also featured Codie Sanchez, Mark Rober, IShowSpeed, Druski and Charli D’Amelio.

Forbes noted that leading creators are increasingly expanding beyond social media into streaming, publishing, advertising, technology and consumer products.

Forbes said the 2026 ranking was based on estimated gross earnings between March 2025 and March 2026, while also considering creators’ audience size, engagement levels and entrepreneurial activities.

Full list of Forbes Top 50 Creators 2026

MrBeast — $300 million — 873 million followers

Dhar Mann — $65 million — 171 million followers

Steven Bartlett — $52 million — 38.7 million followers

Markiplier — $38 million — 76.8 million followers

Rhett & Link — $37 million — 45.6 million followers

Charli D’Amelio — $18 million — 209.8 million followers

Druski — $20 million — 38.5 million followers

I Show Speed — $30 million — 184 million followers

Mark Rober — $30 million — 90.7 million followers

Codie Sanchez — $31 million — 10 million followers

Jake Shane — $14 million — 6 million followers

Brent Rivera — $13.7 million — 120.8 million followers

Adam W — $17.3 million — 67.2 million followers

Jesser — $25 million — 54.9 million followers

Khaby Lame — $9.9 million — 252.1 million followers

Alix Earle — $12 million — 14.5 million followers

Mikayla Nogueira — $9 million — 21.8 million followers

Stokes Twins — $12.4 million — 177.5 million followers

Nick DiGiovanni — $14 million — 65.4 million followers

Rebecca Zamolo — $15 million — 45.3 million followers

MrBallen — $24 million — 31.4 million followers

Drew Afualo — $2.7 million — 13.4 million followers

Haley Baylee — $9.6 million — 37.4 million followers

Ms. Rachel — $26 million — 34.2 million followers

Alan Chikin Chow — $10.5 million — 131.4 million followers

Typical Gamer — $13 million — 31.6 million followers

Marques Brownlee — $10.9 million — 33.6 million followers

Nurse John — $7.2 million — 19.2 million followers

Tana Mongeau — $8 million — 22.8 million followers

Josh Richards — $6 million — 34.7 million followers

Dixie D’Amelio — $7 million — 72.9 million followers

Dani Austin — $8.1 million — 3.8 million followers

Nara Smith — $7.5 million — 17.3 million followers

Lexi Rivera — $6.7 million — 56.3 million followers

Jacksepticeye — $18 million — 48.9 million followers

Tini Younger — $3 million — 16.3 million followers

James Dumoulin — $9.9 million — 23.2 million followers

Brooke Monk — $5.2 million — 72.2 million followers

Hannah Stocking — $5.8 million — 74.4 million followers

Erika Kullberg — $6.8 million — 21 million followers

Ashton Hall — $10 million — 38.1 million followers

Leah Kateb — $7.1 million — 11.4 million followers

Katie Fang — $5.4 million — 8.2 million followers

Anna Sitar — $4.4 million — 27.7 million followers

Vivian Tu — $8.2 million — 10.7 million followers

Jordan The Stallion — $12.4 million — 49.1 million followers

Anwar Jibawi — $5 million — 83.9 million followers

iJustine — $3.4 million — 12.9 million followers

Steven He — $2 million — 29.6 million followers

Logan Moffitt — $1.3 million — 10.6 million followers