Ray William Johnson Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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Ray William Johnson – Exploring His Net Worth
An American comedian, Ray William Johnson has accumulated a net worth of $10 million mainly from his highly successful YouTube channel. Known as the “Ray William Johnson” channel, it boasts over 17 million subscribers and more than 13 billion video views. Johnson was recognized for holding six of the top twenty most-watched videos in February 2011.
His Background
Born on August 14, 1981, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ray William Johnson initially pursued a law career at Columbia University. However, his interest shifted towards YouTube, where he started creating video blogs on a now-deleted channel. Despite initially having a small following of around 30 people, his dedication paid off.
YouTube Ventures
A significant milestone for Johnson was starting the “Ray William Johnson” channel in April 2009. By the end of the year, it became the first YouTube channel to reach five million subscribers and had garnered nearly two billion views. Recognizing audience preferences for viral videos and blogger content, Johnson developed the series “Equals Three,” marking a successful blend. From producing in his NYC apartment, Johnson later collaborated with Maker Studios to create content in Culver City.
In January 2011, Johnson launched “YourFavoriteMartian,” a collaborative YouTube channel focusing on animated comedy music videos. Featuring fictional characters and creative music collaborations, the channel became another successful endeavor.
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Transition from Maker Studios
In October 2012, Johnson decided to depart from Maker Studios due to restrictions on his Google AdSense account and earnings from “Equals Three.” Establishing Equals Three Studio in November 2012, Johnson took full control of his content. While “Equals Three” continued independently, “Your Favorite Martian” came to an end.
In December 2013, Johnson announced his departure as the host of “Equals Three,” culminating in a final episode titled “Thank You for Everything” in March 2014. Following Johnson’s exit, the channel reached over 10 million subscribers and 2.6 billion views. The show later returned with a new host, Robby Motz, in July 2014.
In 2015, Kaja Martin took over, who was later replaced by Carlos Santos. The series, throughout its run, included various celebrity guests such as Robin Williams, Jason Biggs, and Sarah Silverman.
Facebook Series
December 2013 marked Johnson’s debut of his first scripted series, “Riley Rewind.” Initially premiering on Facebook before transitioning to YouTube, the series focused on a teenager with a unique time-shifting ability. Released in five parts totaling about 50 minutes, the series had garnered 10 million views on Facebook by 2015. Amidst this, Johnson continued creating comedic content for his primary channel “Ray William Johnson,” introducing new series like “Booze Lightyear,” “Top 6,” and “Comedians On.” Of these, “Top 6,” launched in February 2015, is a list-based show hosted and written by Kelly Landry, delving into six items related to a specific theme in each episode. “Comedians On” and “Booze Lightyear” were subsequently canceled.
Other Work
Commencing a daily video blog named “BreakingNYC,” Johnson regularly posted vlogs while residing in New York City until June 2010. Upon relocating to Los Angeles, he embarked on a new, higher-quality series following a similar concept, entitled “Breaking Los Angeles and the Adventures of Puff Puff.” Released weekly and filmed in Los Angeles, this series often featured notable guests like rappers Wax, Hoodie Allen, Dumbfounded, and slam poet George Watsky.
Beyond his YouTube endeavors, Johnson was associated with an indie film project, “Who’s Driving Doug,” in May 2017. Portraying a new driver for a disabled recluse played by former “Breaking Bad” star RJ Mitte, the film was scripted by Michael Carnick and featured Paloma Kwiatkowski. Johnson also made appearances in “Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie” and a series of advertisements for DiGiorno Pizza in January 2016. Moreover, he co-founded the film production company Mom & Pop Empire, which jointly produced “Manson Family Vacation” with Mark and Jay Duplass. Premiering at South by Southwest in 2015, the film’s distribution rights were soon acquired by Netflix.