I Got 1.3 Billion Views on YouTube—Here's How Much They Paid Me

‎Becoming a YouTuber has officially outpaced dreams of becoming an astronaut, doctor, or movie star among younger generations. According to a 2023 KidZania survey of 2,000 children aged 6 to 14, over 20% said they wanted to be YouTubers. The fantasy of fame, fortune, and millions of subscribers is strong—but few reveal what actually happens when that dream comes true.
YouTuber Kai Nemzer reveals he made $157K from 1.3B views—and why he left viral fame behind for a new mission helping entrepreneurs.
Kai Nemzer/YouTube
‎Kai Nemzer, a creator whose channel garnered a staggering 1.3 billion views, just pulled back the curtain on the numbers behind the views. In a recent video, he revealed that despite the massive traction, he earned a total of $157,386.45 across the lifetime of his channel.
‎Breaking it down, Nemzer highlighted his top-performing long-form and short-form content. One eight-minute video earned $9,000 in ad revenue and an additional $4,000 from a sponsor. His most-watched long-form video, which ran just 76 seconds, pulled in $4,400 from 6.3 million views, also boosted by a $4,000 sponsorship.
‎Short-form videos told a different story. A clip with 82.6 million views earned $4,112.20 and added 134,500 followers. Another, with 86.5 million views, brought in $2,925.78 but increased his subscriber count by 255,000. His biggest short, with 94.9 million views, generated just $3,395.65.
The total payout for 1.3 billion views? Just over $157K—paired with 16 million hours of watch time. While Nemzer acknowledges the sum is “not bad,” it wasn’t enough to keep him on the platform.
‎He explained that his passion for gaming content had faded and that he no longer wanted to chase algorithms. Instead, Nemzer has pivoted to helping entrepreneurs grow their brands on YouTube, using the lessons he learned firsthand from navigating viral success.
‎In a follow-up video, he also admitted to crafting “curiosity gap” videos—intentionally engineered to draw in clicks and increase watch time—claiming he "tricked" YouTube into delivering the massive view count.
‎The reaction to his transparency has been overwhelmingly positive. One commenter wrote: “Wow, Kai! How transparent! One of my all-time favorite YouTube videos. Creators always say they’ll show you how it’s done, but you actually did.” Another added: “From zero to 1.3 BILLION? Pure inspiration!”
‎Nemzer’s journey offers a powerful look into the creator economy’s underbelly. Viral fame doesn’t always translate into life-changing money—but it can open doors to reinvention, insight, and new opportunities beyond the spotlight.

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