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KSI (born Olajide Williams Olatunji) first climbed to the top of British YouTube after posting FIFA video game commentary to his channel. The 26-year old has since mixed in comedic and blog-styled videos as well as raps. Last year he signed a record deal and his first album featured a track with American rapper Rick Ross. (His Youtube channel includes weekly posts and some 20 million subscribers).
With so much viewer and subscriber success, you might wonder just how much the 26-year-old rakes in through YouTube, i.e., his day job. His first paycheck, he sayswhich came from Machinima, a now-defunct online entertainment networkwas $100, which he spent on an Armani blazer. Theres a track called Game Over by Tinchy Stryder, and hes wearing this Armani blazer, KSI remembers. And I thought: SO. SICK. I was like: I have to get that Armani Blazer.
Since then KSIs subscriber base has exploded. The YouTuber reportedly nets around $5 million a year , more than enough to drop on ridiculous impulse buyslike a $500,000 Dragon Ball Z chain. No regrets. KSI also says he owns $10 million worth of real-estate in England. Money cant buy you happiness, he jokes, but it can definitely rent happiness.
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KSIs most financially savvy move he conducted last year when he challenged the Paul brothers to an amateur boxing event. I knew that from a business point o f view, me calling out one of the Paul brothers made sense, KSI explains. I wanted to fight Jake first so I could beat Jake in England and fight Logan in America. But Jake Paul, hes a pussy. He didnt come anywhere near me. And Logan was man enough to say yes.
KSI says the main goal for him to capture the Paul brothers American audience. Already a smash in England, KSI wanted to familiarize American audiences with his name.
But the fight did even more for the Brit.
According to Forbes , both KSI and Paul earned $900,000 each from the fight. KSI also points out that the fight earned more pay-per-view buyers than the majority of non-Mayweather HBO and Showtime fights. His second fight with Paul sold more views than Anthony Joshuas recent bout with Andy Ruiz Jr. For two YouTubers to come out of the woodwork and just smash the boxing scene like we did, yeah, unbelievable, KSI says.
He now has hopes of turning pro.