Top YouTube stars in NSW: Lazarbeam, Muselk, Alex Apollonov

YouTube stars in NSW are raking in thousands of dollars per video but it’s what they do in their clips that will drive traditional workers mad. Check out the rich list.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, social media was one of the few industries that had significant economic growth.

From gamers to beauty vloggers and wellness influencers, YouTubers around the world began cashing in on the online boom, with many pocketing millions overnight.

As of June last year, in Australia the number of YouTube channels making $10,000 or more in revenue rose by 40 per cent, year over year, according to the Google-owned platform.

Additionally, users watch over a billion hours of video on their smartphones, iPads and other devices daily.

Over 90 per cent of watch time on content produced by channels in Australia comes from international viewers.

Here are the top 5 YouTubers in New South Wales according to their subscriber count and estimated income.

1. Lannan Eacott (aka Lazarbeam), 27

Lannan Neville Eacott is a professional gamer from the Central Coast.

Subscribers: 19.7 million

Known for: Professional gamer

Years active: 7

Estimated earnings per video: $14,000

Central Coast resident, Lannan Eacott, first started his YouTube channel in 2015 while working in construction. Within three years, his popularity skyrocketed thanks to his video commentary of Fortnite Battle Royale. Last year, he marked 7 billion views and is now the third biggest YouTuber in Australia.

2. Elliott Watkins (aka Muselk), 27

Another hardworking creator is Elliott Watkins aka Muselk — one of Australia’s most watched gamers.

Subscribers: 9.4 million

Known for: Professional gamer

Years active: 10

Estimated earnings per video: $4,000

Former Law student, Elliot Watkins, was just 19 when he dropped out of university to pursue a social media career. The following year, he began growing his YouTube channel by uploading videos of himself playing games like Team Fortress 2 and Fortnite. Today he has nearly 10 million subscribers and is a multi-millionaire with several luxury properties across Sydney’s east including a $9 million mansion on Tamarama Beach.

3. The Norris Nuts

The Norris family (aka The Norris Nuts) are a huge hit on YouTube.

Subscribers: 5.88 million

Known for: Family-oriented content

Years active: 8

Estimated earnings per video: $15,000

The Norris family are a family-of-eight from Newcastle, who film their everyday lives for social media. Former Olympian Justin Norris and his wife Brooke share kids Sabre, Sockie, Naz, Charm, Biggy and Disco who are all featured in the playful clips. In 2014, Sabre, a young surfer, went viral after a hilarious interview in which she mocked her father Justin’s weight on the Today show. They later launched their own YouTube channel, which has close to 6 million subscribers.

4. Alex Apollonov (I did a thing)

Subscribers: 2.87 million

Known for: Comedy, commentary

Years active: 4

Estimated earnings per video: $10,000

Newtown duo Alex Appollonov and Aleksa Vulovic first made their mark on YouTube in 2016, via their Boy Boy channel. The pair’s humorous take on hot button issues like climate change and racism catapulted them to social media prominence and two years later, Appollonov created his own channel I did a thing which has 2.87 million subscribers. His content includes comical mythbusting claims, at-home science experiments and more.

5. Sarah Stevenson (Sarah’s Day)

Double Bay health and wellness influencer Sarah Stevenson. Picture: Instagram

Subscribers: 1.53 million

Known for: Lifestyle content

Years active: 9

Estimated earnings per video: $2000

Double Bay mum-of-two Sarah Stevenson, 29, has built a large following by documenting her daily life including health and well-being. From food and fitness to her wedding and pregnancy, Stevenson is often hailed by fans for her transparency and public vulnerability. The self-described “holistic health princess” first launched her channel in 2013 and has nearly 2 million followers.