YouTube superstar PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg) has become the first individual creator and YouTuber to reach and surpass 100 million subscribers. The 29-year-old Swedish video game streamer also has the second-highest number of subscribers on YouTube. His subscribers consist mostly of young fans who enjoy watching his video game commentaries.
PewDiePie’s subscriber base on YouTube is surpassed only by the YouTube channel managed by the Indian entertainment company T-Series. The company has amassed a following composed mostly of users from south Asia. T-Series’ YouTube channel currently has nearly 110 million subscribers. The company’s subscribers increased rapidly after some Bollywood stars started a campaign to help the company overthrow PewDiePie’s channel as the most subscribed on YouTube.
Married to @marziapie ?
Revived our love of Minecraft ⛏️
Reached 100 million subscribers on YouTube ✔️
What a month to celebrate and congratulate @PewDiePie ? pic.twitter.com/4rGuNDDwyx— YouTube at ? (@YouTube) August 25, 2019
Congrats to @pewdiepie what an accomplishment https://t.co/dxeagdF0Sd @SocialBlade pic.twitter.com/pNKZ1AD1cP
— Social Blade (@SocialBlade) August 25, 2019
PewDiePie vs. T-Series
PewDiePie responded to the challenge from T-Series. His supporters, including the YouTube personality Mr. Beast and Justin Roberts, purchased radio and billboard ads asking people to subscribe to PewDiePie. But T-Series eventually beat him to the 100 million-milestone.
PewDiePie currently has the most subscribers to a YouTube channel created by an individual. He is ahead of Canal KondZilla with 51 million, Justin Bieber with 46 million, Dude Perfect with 45 million, and HolaSoyGerman with nearly 40 million.
Tributes
Fellow YouTubers, social media personalities, celebrities, public figures, and companies have been paying tribute and posting congratulatory messages to PewDiePie.
I’m honestly so proud that @pewdiepie hit 100m subs, he works so hard and is literally one of the kindest youtubers I’ve ever met ? team sister fister for life
— James Charles (@jamescharles) August 25, 2019
Pewdiepie got married and hit 100,000,000 subscribers in the same week…
Absolute goals right there. Major congrats to him!
— Jack “CouRage” Dunlop (@CouRageJD) August 25, 2019
Congrats on 100M Subscribers @pewdiepie ? It’s hard to think of anyone more deserving!
— Vikkstar ★ (@Vikkstar123) August 25, 2019
We stan
— MrBeast (@MrBeastYT) August 25, 2019
Felix actually hit 100 million subs. That's absolute madness!
No one deserves it more. Consistently humble, incredibly hard working and one of the nicest guys I've met. Massive congrats!!— Jacksepticeye (@Jack_Septic_Eye) August 25, 2019
Reaching 100,000,000 subscribers is just an unfathomable idea to me. Then you want to tell me this guy married the love of his life in the same week? Absolutely incredible.
Congrats @pewdiepie.
— 100T Nadeshot (@Nadeshot) August 25, 2019
You've grown, Felix. In more ways than just your sub count.
Over the past 9 years, you've entertained so many of us. From your very 1st Minecraft upload in 2010 to your wedding ceremony in 2019, you've grown, Felix. You've grown. Cheers to 100 MILLION – @pewdiepie!!! ❤️? pic.twitter.com/iINPHvTPws
— G FUEL® (@GFuelEnergy) August 25, 2019
YouTube’s head of gaming Ryan Wyatt also posted a congratulatory message.
In 2019 alone, @pewdiepie has gained 20.4 million subscribers – more than double the population of his home country of Sweden. Congrats on 100 million subscribers, Felix! pic.twitter.com/HjxhiCIY2P
— Ryan Wyatt (@Fwiz) August 25, 2019
Forbes estimated PewDiePie’s earnings in 2018 at about $15.5 million at a time he had only 72.5 million subscribers. With more than 100 million subscribers, he’ll likely earn even more this year.
Controversies
PewDiePie has been at the center of controversies in recent years. He came under fire for saying the n-word while streaming and for posting videos containing crude antisemitic “jokes” and Nazi imagery. One of his most controversial videos showed two men holding up a sign that read, “Death to all Jews.”
YouTube responded in 2017 by canceling his YouTube Red Show and removing him from Google Preferred advertising.
He received an endorsement from the Christchurch shooter, who urged people to subscribe to his channel.
But he later issued a statement acknowledging that his antisemitic “jokes” were inappropriate and offensive.
Wedding
The latest milestone for PewDiePie comes after he married his longtime sweetheart Marzia Bisognin in a private wedding ceremony on Monday, August 19.
The wedding took place in London at the Temperate House and the Nash Conservatory in Kew Gardens.