It's no secret that being a successful YouTuber can be a profitable career.
And while they might not be making as much as the A-list actors that grace our movie
screens, they're still rolling in more dough than most of us.
Here are the YouTube chefs who make a ton of money.
"You suck at cooking yeah you totally suck.”
Perhaps one of the funniest cooking channels on the 'Tube is You Suck At Cooking, featuring
an anonymous, faceless chef — with his cynical, satirical approach to the platform's cooking
show formula.
"I tried to make a scuffin cause where do you draw the line between all these pastries,
like what's what.”
He often insults the viewers, throws ingredients across the kitchen, and goes on strange tangents.
And given his simple recipes — like coleslaw, tomato sauce, and a breakfast sandwich — he
relies mostly on hilarious narration to keep his 1.6 million subscribers happy.
"Cabbage doesn't need to be humbled since many people already look down on it.
You wanna lift up its spirits a bit before you eat it.
Don't you worry I love you very very much.”
If you don't like the enthusiastic and bubbly nature of most TV and YouTube chefs, this
is clearly the channel for you.
Chef uploaded his first video in 2015, so it's quite impressive that his estimated annual
income has been listed as high as almost $199K, per Social Blade.
Sounds like You Suck At Cooking doesn't suck at YouTubing.
Perhaps one of the most well-known of this bunch, Binging with Babish, hosted by Andrew
Rea, has over 3.8 million subscribers — and recreates dishes from your favorite movies
and TV shows.
"I decided I'm just gonna set up my kitchen, see if I can come up with an interesting lighting
setup for a cooking show, I found something that I liked, and I was like I'm just gonna
make one just for fun.”
Using his signature style of layering narration over shots of food prep, Rea creates dishes
like "the grey stuff" from Disney's Beauty and the Beast and the dire wolf bread from
Game of Thrones.
Considering that Rea's channel only started to gain traction in early 2017, this relative
newcomer has done an incredible job of making his mark on an ever-changing platform.
According to Social Blade, the channel has raked in up to an estimated $1.6M per year.
Considering he uploaded just 93 videos in 2018, that's a significant amount of cheese.
Next up is Rosanna Pansino's Nerdy Nummies show, hosted by the energetic chef herself.
"I love you.
I love you!”
A frequent collaborator, Pansino has made videos with other YouTube heavy-hitters like
The Try Guys and Joey Graceffa.
Her channel leans toward baking rather than cooking — featuring everything from New
Year's cookie pops to a Captain Marvel princess cake.
With her Instagram-ready finished products and on-trend themes, she's a pro at keeping
her nearly 11 million subscribers hungry for more.
"Can we just eat it now…”
“Mfff.”
“Oh, you did it!”
“Mfff.”
“Yes we can eat it now.”
But considering her impressive number of fans, it may come as a surprise that her annual
income is only estimated to be as high as $1.5M per year, per Social Blade.
No worries though — her day job's still pretty sweet.
You might think that based on the name "Brothers Green Eats," these two brothers cook recipes
that involve veggies or sustainable cooking.
But you'd be wrong.
The "Green" in the name refers to the last name of the two hosts, brothers Josh and Mike
Greenfield, who officially launched their channel in 2014 after filming two seasons
of a similar concept for MTV International.
"About ten years ago, we started watching cooking shows.”
“But now they kinda suck.”
“That's why we made our own!”
Since many cooking shows typically feature expensive, complicated recipes, the Greenfield
brothers created a concept that not only highlights affordable recipes, but also teaches cooking
newbies that the kitchen isn't such a scary place after all.
"It doesn't really matter the size of your kitchen, you're still gonna be able to cook
like a badass as long as you organize it well.”
With over 1.3 million subscribers, Social Blade estimates the two could be raking in
up to $120.8K per year.
Kinda makes you wonder if you should quit your day job and start cooking up some YouTube
content.
The second bubbly baker to make this list is London-based Jemma Wilson, host of Cupcake
Jemma.
Similar to Rosanna Pansino, she also creates Instagram-worthy treats, and features several
vegan recipes, as well as general baking tips and tricks.
In 2014, she even opened up her own bakery in London called Crumbs and Doilies — and
her channel was picked up by Jamie Oliver's FoodTube Network.
“I'm really excited to introduce a new bit of Food Tube talent, the lovely Jemma Wilson.”
But hands down, her tutorial on how to make the "Best Ever Rainbow Cake" remains her most
popular video, with over 4.6 million views.
"For you to eat, or share, or just eat.”
According to Social Blade, Jemma frosts up to an estimated $116.2K in income each year.
While she may not be the highest paid YouTuber on the list, she gets to make cupcakes for
a living — not too shabby.
The genius behind JunsKitchen is the Japanese cook and YouTube personality, Jun Yoshizuki.
Along with another channel he hosts with his wife, Rachel, their posts frequently feature
one or more of the couple's cats.
Since the duo live in Japan, they frequently use their platform to discuss Japanese culture
— and especially, its vibrant food scene.
With over 3.3 million subscribers, it doesn't take long to see why the channel is so popular
in both Japan and America.
"So fresh…
I wanna eat everything here.”
Having created their first video all the way back in 2012, Social Blade estimates JunsKitchen
has earned up to $296.8K per year.
It would be easy to say that Yolanda Gampp, host of How To Cake It, is just another upbeat
baker who makes pretty treats.
Yes, she might be bubbly, but Gampp isn't doing anything basic with her baking.
"She didn't know I made cakes that look realistic, I was like…”
Gampp is busy creating delicious cakes that look like everything from Star Wars' BB-8
to a jar of vegemite, and even a piggy bank.
And thanks to the channel's massive success she's released a line of baking tools and
a "cakebook" by the same name.
According to Social Blade estimations, Gampp's channel makes up to $248K per year.
"I said I wanted to be the Queen B. Not a queen bee.”
With over 3.9 million subscribers and growing, this cake queen doesn't seems to be slowing
down anytime soon.
How To Cook That, hosted by Australian Ann Reardon, strikes a balance between Instagram-able
cakes, cakes that don't look like cakes, and Australia-inspired treats.
She bakes recipes that are 200 years old, and even conquered a Star Wars themed cake.
With over 3.5 million subscribers, she charms her viewers with her creativity and soothing
voice.
While she is similar to a few other bakers on this list, she's managed to stand out from
the rest — ever since her first video in 2011.
"We weren't allowed many lollies unless it was a birthday, so to satisfy my sweet tooth
I loved to make cookies and cakes and desserts.”
According to Social Blade, it's estimated that Reardon has made up to $160.6K per year
with her fantastical bakes.
Hosted by John Mitzewich — better known as Chef John — Food Wishes sticks to a more
traditional cooking show structure.
But similar to his peers, for each recipe, he provides an instructional video and then
a written recipe on his blog, so his viewers can watch him cook, and then follow along
at their own pace with the readable version.
He also makes a point of excluding himself from the videos — for the most part filming
the utensils and the food, set to his narration.
"By not having to pay a chef to appear in the videos, we keep our overhead low, and
we pass the savings on to you!”
With over 2.8 million subscribers and posts dating back to 2007, Chef John clearly has
no trouble staying up with trends and keeping his younger viewers interested — an especially
impressive feat considering he is the oldest chef on this list, at 55.
According to Social Blade, Food Wishes has likely brought in up to an estimated $473.3K
per year.
Considering Chef John's channel has been around since way before YouTube chefs were even really
a thing, we expect this veteran to be cranking out the hits for a long time to come.
“(intro)…
Hi, everybody!
Today we are going to make delicious, delicious snack.”
Maangchi is hosted by Emily Kim, a Korean-American YouTube personality, chef, and author.
Inspired by her heritage, almost every one of her videos features a Korean recipe, or
is inspired by one.
Her skills and charisma have gained her so much notoriety that The New York Times dubbed
her "YouTube's Korean Julia Child."
And given the rise in popularity of Korean culture worldwide, it's no surprise that a
channel that highlights accessible Korean food has become extremely popular with Americans.
"OK, everybody today I made 16 kkwabaegi… good party food and good snack.”
Kim's professional skills and charming personality make her an ideal host.
And with over 3.2 million subscribers and an estimated salary of up to $377.2K, per
Social Blade, this is one YouTube personality who has earned her stripes on the internet.
Possibly one of the most distinctive channels on this list is Almazan Kitchen, hosted by
Serbian chef Alex Almazan and his uncle.
While the channel does feature some Serbian inspired dishes — like the Ultimate Serbian
Breakfast — Almazon's main focus is delightfully minimal.
Each of his episodes includes very little text and no narration — and simply comprises
a video of the food being prepared with minimal tools in the wilderness, accompanied only
by the sounds of nature, as a backdrop.
Many fans find this cooking style incredibly calming — and it's sure unlike any other
cooking channel we've come across.
Almazan explains on his site,
"We always wanted to create special experience for our viewers, so we are everything but
[the] usual cooking show.
Our videos are filmed in wild nature, food is prepared in special custom made cookware
using special kitchen tools, we use ancient cooking methods and some really rare ingredients,
though all of our recipes can be easily prepared at home."
According to Social Blade, Almazan Kitchen brings in up to an estimated $466.7K annually,
thanks to its unique spin on cooking.
Going as far back as 2010, Epic Meal Time, hosted by the always entertaining Harley Morenstein,
is by far one of the most popular and beloved food-focused YouTube channels.
“From now on, nothing goes down unless I'm involved.
No nuggets, no onion rings, no nothin’!”
With their most popular video — Fast Food Lasagna — earning nearly 31 million views,
the channel boasts over 7 million subscribers.
A typical vid features Morenstein and his friends creating the most absurd, over-the-top
recipes imaginable — like a candy pizza, a 100-pound cookie, and their version of the
Turducken.
And after the channel picked up some traction, they landed celebrity guests like James Franco
and Seth Rogen, Tony Hawk, and Arnold Schwarzenegger — and even inspired a TV spin-off on FYI
called Epic Meal Empire.
"Sushi's the best.
Problem is it's made with fish.
And who's got the time to go fishing.”
According to Social Blade estimations, Epic Meal Time brings in up to $187.9K in annual
income.
Morenstein might not be the wealthiest YouTuber on this list, but his content is epic indeed.
At first glance, it might seem like Byron Talbott's just like any other popular YouTube
chef who's gained a little notoriety because of their good looks.
"I mean off the top of my head, this is my most favorite kitchen utensil.”
But this chef isn't just a pretty face.
Not only is Talbott immensely talented in the kitchen, he also is an incredible filmmaker
and editor.
Some YouTube chefs use their bubbly personalities to set them apart from the pack, while others
try to give their channels a comedic twist, but Talbott's approach is a much more subtle
one.
Not only does he focus on the food — it is a cooking channel after all — he also
makes it look absolutely tantalizing.
He skillfully employs well-thought-out camera angles and calming narration to really bring
the art back to cooking.
"Right away it like bursts open…
I love this dessert.”
But despite his clear passion and talent, his salary is much lower than most of his
peers — with Social Blade estimating his yearly income at up to just $35.1K. Even though
those numbers can't compete with some of YouTube's cooking giants, Talbott's talent still earns
him a whole lot of credit.
Laura in the Kitchen, hosted by Italian-American chef Laura Vitale, is truly bringing home
the bacon.
The self-proclaimed "Jersey girl" is yet another chef who has gained popularity on YouTube,
even though she follows a similar formula to your typical TV chef.
"This pork is so insanely moist, I don't know what to do with myself.”
But despite her traditional approach, she cooks up a storm for over 3.3 million subscribers
— and according to Social Blade, makes up to an estimated $199.2K per year.
Of course, that's in addition to the money she rakes in from the Cooking Channel, where
her large YouTube following earned her a gig as host of her own show, Simply Laura, as
well as guest spots on many of their other shows.
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