For most people, making YouTube videos takes a lot of work and makes little money. What, do you think it's easy to write, produce, edit, upload and promote videos, releasing them at least once a week, plus maintain all of your camera equipment and consistently engage your audience on multiple social media platforms? If so, why don't you quit your job and do it, then? Yes, some types of content take more work than others - say, travel videos compared to beauty vlogs - but they all require effort, and it takes a certain jine se qua to stand out.

That said, there are some people who make a comfortable living producing YouTube videos, a career previous generations would find unthinkable. And just like other segments of the entertainment industry, the people at the top of the top make an obscene amount of money. Once content creators achieve such success, they can afford to hire employees to take over some of the work, which might not seem fair to struggling YouTubers, who are burning the candle at both ends just to break even. But hey, once you make it, you make it!

Forbes released a list of the ten highest-earning stars on the YouTube, their revenue coming come not just from in-video ads, but from merchandise and sponsorship deals. Half of the list are gaming channels, where personalities play a video game and provide running commentary. The odious, obnoxious vlogger Logan Paul made the list, despite his various controversies. But the highest earning star on the video streaming service is a seven year old boy.

The YouTube channel Ryan ToysReview made an estimated total of $22 million between June 2017 and June 2018, according to Forbes. Ryan does personal vlogs and unboxes toys, reviewing items like Lego, Play-Doh and a "Disney Pixar Lightning McQueen Easter egg surprise filled with cars and planes." His YouTube channel has more than 17 million subscribers and more than 26 billion views. Since last year, Ryan's earnings have doubled, and they will increase further next year, thanks to his own range of collectables, available at Walmart. So, yeah, he makes a ridiculous amount of money to play with toys. FML.

Ryan's parents created the channel in 2015, and his family has kept their identity secret. Forbes states that all but one million of their 22 million earnings came from the pre-video advertisements, which is pretty impressive. It shows that the toy market is incredibly lucrative, and Ryan does an excellent job of engaging his audience. It costs nothing to subscribe to a YouTube channel; you could have millions of subscribers, but if they're not watching your videos every week, you're not making anything. Ryan's audience keeps coming back.

“He is definitely the youngest YouTube star we’ve ever seen,” Josh Cohen, an industry analyst and founder of TubeFilter, told the Verge. “It’s the biggest of this genre of programming that is getting billions of views a week on YouTube. Really nobody is talking about it, but it’s crazy once you start scratching the surface." When asked by NBC why he thinks people enjoy watching his videos, Ryan said, "Because I'm entertaining and I'm funny."

Here's the full list of top-earners on YouTube, if you'd like to seethe with jealousy. (Better start that YouTube channel!)

10. Logan Paul - $14.5 million

9. PewDiePie - $15.5 million

8. Jacksepticeye - $16 million

7. Evan Fong - $17 million

6. Markiplier - $17.5 million

5. Jeffree Star - $18 million

4. Daniel Middleton - $18.5 million

3. Dude Perfect - $20 million

2. Jake Paul - $21.5 million

1. Ryan ToysReview - $22 million

For most people, making YouTube videos takes a lot of work and makes little money. What, do you think it's easy to write, produce, edit, upload and promote videos, releasing them at least once a week, plus maintain all of your camera equipment and consistently engage your audience on multiple social media platforms? If so, why don't you quit your job and do it, then? Yes, some types of content take more work than others - say, travel videos compared to beauty vlogs - but they all require effort, and it takes a certain jine se qua to stand out.

That said, there are some people who make a comfortable living producing YouTube videos, a career previous generations would find unthinkable. And just like other segments of the entertainment industry, the people at the top of the top make an obscene amount of money. Once content creators achieve such success, they can afford to hire employees to take over some of the work, which might not seem fair to struggling YouTubers, who are burning the candle at both ends just to break even. But hey, once you make it, you make it!

Forbes released a list of the ten highest-earning stars on the YouTube, their revenue coming come not just from in-video ads, but from merchandise and sponsorship deals. Half of the list are gaming channels, where personalities play a video game and provide running commentary. The odious, obnoxious vlogger Logan Paul made the list, despite his various controversies. But the highest earning star on the video streaming service is a seven year old boy.

The YouTube channel Ryan ToysReview made an estimated total of $22 million between June 2017 and June 2018, according to Forbes. Ryan does personal vlogs and unboxes toys, reviewing items like Lego, Play-Doh and a "Disney Pixar Lightning McQueen Easter egg surprise filled with cars and planes." His YouTube channel has more than 17 million subscribers and more than 26 billion views. Since last year, Ryan's earnings have doubled, and they will increase further next year, thanks to his own range of collectables, available at Walmart. So, yeah, he makes a ridiculous amount of money to play with toys. FML.

Ryan's parents created the channel in 2015, and his family has kept their identity secret. Forbes states that all but one million of their 22 million earnings came from the pre-video advertisements, which is pretty impressive. It shows that the toy market is incredibly lucrative, and Ryan does an excellent job of engaging his audience. It costs nothing to subscribe to a YouTube channel; you could have millions of subscribers, but if they're not watching your videos every week, you're not making anything. Ryan's audience keeps coming back.

“He is definitely the youngest YouTube star we’ve ever seen,” Josh Cohen, an industry analyst and founder of TubeFilter, told the Verge. “It’s the biggest of this genre of programming that is getting billions of views a week on YouTube. Really nobody is talking about it, but it’s crazy once you start scratching the surface." When asked by NBC why he thinks people enjoy watching his videos, Ryan said, "Because I'm entertaining and I'm funny."

Here's the full list of top-earners on YouTube, if you'd like to seethe with jealousy. (Better start that YouTube channel!)

10. Logan Paul - $14.5 million

9. PewDiePie - $15.5 million

8. Jacksepticeye - $16 million

7. Evan Fong - $17 million

6. Markiplier - $17.5 million

5. Jeffree Star - $18 million

4. Daniel Middleton - $18.5 million

3. Dude Perfect - $20 million

2. Jake Paul - $21.5 million

1. Ryan ToysReview - $22 million