Content creators are taking over.
Entertainment is entering a new era as attention shifts away from traditional cable TV, streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Peacock, and even movie theaters. More people are seeking fresh, innovative ways to engage their time and dollars.
And the creators are certainly delivering with engaging content that circulates the web and is also attracting countless celebrities and companies who are looking to capitalize in a new territory. Forbes notes the creator economy is currently valued at $250 billion, and that number is projected to nearly double by 2027.
Three top Black creators are not just participating in this revolution — they’re leading it.
Kai Cenat
Kai Cenat currently holds the crown as Twitch’s most-subscribed streamer, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. The New Yorker, who once lived in a shelter, recently concluded his month-long November 2024 “Mafiathon 2.” Users tuned in to his 24/7 Twitch livestream throughout the month, which featured guests such as Bill Nye the Science Guy; the cast of Disney’s “Good Luck Charlie”; artists such as Lil Uzi Vert, SZA, Lizzo, and Lil Yachty; as well as current and former athletes, including Kyrie Irving and Andre Iguodala.
Corporations seized the opportunity for promotions, with DoorDash among them. This was on display during a Thanksgiving-themed broadcast, which kicked off on Nov. 27, 2024, at 9 p.m. EST and featured Druski and Kevin Hart.
“How do you tell the world that DoorDash has more than restaurants and is the go-to place for holiday shopping? Show up on the biggest stage in culture,” Emery Barnes of DoorDash’s marketing, brand, and creative team commented on LinkedIn. “Shoutout to my partner in crime Adam Ornelas on this and to Renaldo A. Chapman for giving us the runway to make this happen. When the internet moves fast, you move faster. The power of what you can do in less than 48 hours.”
According to NBC Los Angeles, Cenat could have earned around $3.6 million from the subathon, although it was not confirmed by Cenat’s team how much he actually made. Twitch would also take a portion of that revenue.
Cenat is currently No. 24 among Forbes‘ Top Creators for 2024, with $8.5 million in revenue. He has secured partnerships with McDonald’s and T-Mobile and is also the first streamer to sign with Nike.
The sky’s the limit for Cenat heading into the new year.
Khaby Lame
Khaby Lame currently is the highest earning Black creator at No. 10, as AFROTECH™ previously told you. The Senegalese native has made substantial earnings without saying a word.
It all dates back to taking a chance on content creation after being let go from his job as a factory worker in Chivasso, Italy.
“When I started making videos, people told me to get a proper job,” he mentioned to Forbes in 2023. “But I continued to make videos because that’s what I like doing, even though no one was watching them.”
- Fortnight
- Sony Pictures
- Walmart
- Nex Playground
Overall, Lame amassed $20 million in earnings over the past year, per Forbes.
Marques Brownlee
Marques Brownlee is a tech guru who began recording YouTube videos as a teenager in high school, mentions Forbes. He shared his first video when he was 15 years old and had just purchased his first laptop.
Today, he is a respected authority in the tech space, known for his impactful and influential tech reviews. In fact, following his review of electric vehicle maker Fisker’s 2022 Ocean model in a video titled, “The Worst Car I Ever Reviewed,” the company reportedly saw a major decline in the stock market, Fortune notes.
In June 2024, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
“I know everyone’s commenting that I killed them, but truth is they were doomed long before any of my videos,” Brownlee wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “It’s sad news because we (always) need more competition in the EV space.”
Brownlee has gone on to share numerous reviews of various tech gadgets. Most recently he reviewed the following:
- Apple Intelligence
- M4 Max MacBook Pro
- AirPods 4
- Android 15
- Tesla Cybertruck
He currently has 1,600 videos on his Youtube Channel that boasts 19.7 million subscribers.
“It was steady growth. I think it’s a good thing that no one video propelled the whole thing. I think going viral is overrated. It’s the best thing that never happened to me,” Brownlee said, per Forbes.
According to the outlet, at No. 17 on its Top Creators list he earned $10 million in the last year.
