One of the world’s most successful tech YouTube channels has earned millions from advertising, yet its founder explains that YouTube ads are not the real business.
Linus Tech Tips is one of the most successful tech channels on YouTube. A look at the channel’s earnings shows that a career as a tech YouTuber can be extremely lucrative.
This Is How Much Linus Tech Tips Earns From YouTube Ads
The YouTuber Linus Sebastian, who runs the YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips, recently provided insight into his earnings from YouTube advertising. According to the Canadian creator, the channel has generated around 26 million US dollars in revenue from ads alone over its entire lifespan.
At the same time, the content creator emphasized that these earnings cannot be viewed in isolation. Operating the channel involves significant costs: products have to be financed, content is produced at a high level of complexity, and, above all, a large number of employees must be paid. According to Sebastian, the channel has already paid out more in salaries alone than it has earned through YouTube advertising.
On the other hand, Sebastian acknowledged that this amount accounts for only about ten percent of the channel’s total revenue. The majority of the income is therefore generated through sponsored videos.
YouTube Success Is No Sure Thing
These figures suggest to many viewers that YouTube is a business in which enormous sums of money can be earned quickly and seemingly effortlessly. In reality, however, the situation is far more complex than it appears at first glance. High revenues are not automatically synonymous with high profits, especially in the case of a highly professionalized channel like Linus Tech Tips. Such a project is no longer run by a single individual, but by an entire team responsible for planning, production, and execution of the content. In addition, there are substantial ongoing costs for technology, equipment, and materials, which can add up quickly, particularly for a tech-focused channel.
This insight into the channel’s earnings makes it clear that large YouTube channels are no longer hobby projects, but rather resemble fully fledged media companies. They have to plan economically, invest accordingly, and strategically align their content. Success at this level is not driven by reach alone, but by professional structures and long-term decision-making.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
