October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PCOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
DocumentaryTube
children’s media

The 10-Year-Old Millionaire: How Ryan Kaji Built a Children’s Media Business

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Ryan Kaji became a millionaire as a child, but there is no public, audited figure for his personal net worth. His fortune grew from a children’s entertainment business that expanded beyond YouTube into advertising, licensing, retail products, television, games and film. Forbes has estimated large annual earnings for Ryan, while reported merchandise sales measure what consumers spent—not what Ryan personally received.

Who is Ryan Kaji?

Ryan Kaji is the child performer and central figure behind Ryan’s World, the brand that grew out of his original YouTube channel, Ryan ToysReview. He began appearing in toy-review videos as a young child after asking why he could not be on YouTube like other children. The format was simple: Ryan opened, tested and reacted to toys for a young audience. It later broadened into educational videos, animated characters, family content and professionally produced entertainment. Forbes recounted that early story and the brand’s development in its 2024 profile of Ryan’s World.

Ryan is now a teenager, according to the official Ryan’s World site. “The 10-year-old millionaire” describes an earlier point in his life, not his current age.

How toy videos became a hit

Ryan’s early toy unboxings and reviews found a large audience among young children. One breakout was a video featuring a giant Lightning McQueen egg surprise. Forbes reported in 2024 that it had reached about 1.1 billion views. Those views helped turn a family-made channel into a recognizable children’s brand.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Elebase USB to USB C Adapter for iPhone 18 Pro Max,USBC Car Charger Adapter
  • Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
  • Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
  • Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
  • Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
  • 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.

Forbes reported that the channel had about 1 million subscribers by 2016 and more than 5 million by 2017. Its 2024 account cited 37.4 million subscribers for Ryan’s World. Subscriber counts change over time, and Ryan’s World operates across multiple channels, so a figure for one channel should not be treated as a total for the whole business.

In 2016, Ryan’s parents, Shion and Loann Kaji, left their previous careers to run the channel full time. That shift was an early sign that the project was becoming a business rather than a casual family activity.

How much money did Ryan earn?

Forbes estimates are the most visible public figures for Ryan’s creator earnings. They describe estimated income over particular periods, not his net worth or the amount he kept after expenses, taxes and business arrangements.

Figure What it measures How to read it
$11 million Forbes estimate for 2016–17 Historical estimated earnings, not a net-worth valuation.
$22 million Forbes estimate for 2018 Historical estimated earnings, not a net-worth valuation.
$26 million Forbes estimate for 2019 Historical estimated earnings, not a net-worth valuation.
$29.5 million Forbes estimate for June 1, 2019, through June 1, 2020 Pretax earnings for that period, not Ryan’s personal net worth.
$35 million Forbes’ 2025 Top Creators earnings figure, shown in a profile updated June 16, 2025 An earnings estimate, not a personal balance-sheet valuation.

Forbes’ 2020 ranking methodology says those earnings figures were estimates before tax and did not deduct fees for agents, managers or lawyers. Forbes said it based its calculations on data from Captiv8, Social Blade and Pollstar, along with industry interviews. The $35 million figure is displayed on Forbes’ Ryan Kaji profile under “2025 Top Creators Earnings”; it should not be read as a valuation of Ryan’s assets.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #2
Anker USB-C Hub, 5-in-1 USB Hub for Laptops, 4K HDMI Multiport Adapter
  • 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
  • 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
  • Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
  • 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
  • What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.

The figures are estimates from different periods, not audited accounts, and they should not be added together to calculate what Ryan has today. They also do not establish what portion went to Ryan personally, his family’s company or business partners.

Why merchandise and licensing mattered so much

YouTube helped Ryan’s World find an audience, but advertising on videos is only one part of the business. The brand licensed Ryan’s name, characters and likeness for thousands of products, while its family and partners expanded into retail and other media. This matters because child-directed video advertising is not the same economic engine as licensing a brand across products and platforms.

Forbes reported in 2020 that the business had roughly 5,000 Ryan-themed products and more than $200 million in annual retail sales. Bloomberg later reported that Ryan-branded products generated more than $250 million in sales during 2020, citing Pocket.watch executive Chris Williams. In 2024, Forbes reported that the Walmart product line had surpassed $1 billion in cumulative retail sales since its 2018 launch. These figures have different time frames and scopes, so they should not be summed as if they measured the same thing.

Most importantly, retail sales are not Ryan’s income. A product’s shelf price is shared across a chain that can include retailers, manufacturers, distributors, licensees and production partners. The public sales figures do not disclose Ryan’s royalty rate, the family company’s share, costs, taxes or other contractual terms. The billion-dollar figure describes reported cumulative Walmart-line retail sales, not Ryan’s personal earnings or the value of his fortune.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Sale
Anker USB C Hub, 7in1 Multi-Port USB Adapter, 4K@60Hz USBC to HDMI Splitter
  • Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
  • Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
  • Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
  • Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
  • What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.

For more on the product business and its scale, see Forbes’ 2020 profile, Bloomberg’s report on merchandise and advertising, and Forbes’ 2024 account.

From a YouTube channel to a production company

In 2017, the family established Sunlight Entertainment to produce Ryan’s World and related content. The official Sunlight Entertainment page describes a company managing eight YouTube channels and releasing about 25 videos a week with a 30-person team. Forbes reported a broader staffing figure of 30 to 40 full-time employees in 2024. These are snapshots from different sources and dates, but both show the operation had grown well beyond a child filming occasional videos at home.

The family-company structure supports a larger slate of content: production, editing, animation, writing and recurring characters, alongside Ryan’s on-camera appearances. It also lets the brand extend its reach without relying entirely on a single channel or format. The family’s precise ownership percentages and the division of rights and revenue among the people and companies involved are not publicly established.

Television, streaming, games and film

Ryan’s World expanded into television with programs including Ryan’s Mystery Playdate, as well as animated and live-action productions. The brand also developed games and other digital content. Forbes reported that Ryan’s Mystery Playdate received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2020, and that a Ryan’s World feature film opened in more than 2,100 theaters in 2024. These moves took the brand from short online videos into longer-form entertainment and theatrical distribution.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #4
Sale
UGREEN USB to USB C Adapter Combo 4-Pack, 10Gbps USB C Converter Space Gray
  • Dual Converters, Infinite Potential:Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
  • Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
  • Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
  • Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
  • Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft

Each new format can give a children’s brand more ways to reach audiences and license its characters, but it also involves partners, production costs and commercial terms that are not public. The existence of a television series or film does not reveal how much Ryan personally earned from it.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Why children’s advertising and privacy became part of the story

Children’s media operates under privacy and advertising constraints that do not apply in the same way to general-audience content. In 2019, YouTube and Google agreed to pay $170 million to settle allegations brought by the Federal Trade Commission and New York’s attorney general concerning children’s data and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The settlement was with YouTube and Google; it was not a finding that Ryan or his family was liable. TIME’s reporting on Ryan and YouTube explains the wider context.

YouTube subsequently required creators to identify whether videos were made for children and limited personalized advertising on child-directed content. Forbes reported that advertising rates for children’s programming were significantly lower than rates for leading adult programming. That environment helps explain why licensing, retail products and other media became important parts of Ryan’s World’s business; it does not, by itself, establish the exact effect on the family’s income.

Ryan’s success also drew criticism about how clearly young viewers could distinguish entertainment from sponsored content and how much control a child has over a commercial career. The Guardian’s 2020 coverage discusses that criticism. Complaints and public debate are not the same as a legal finding against Ryan or his family, and the available reporting does not establish such a finding.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What is Ryan Kaji’s net worth?

No public source cited here establishes an audited, precise figure for Ryan’s personal net worth. Net worth means assets minus liabilities. It cannot be calculated from an annual earnings estimate or the retail value of products bearing a person’s name.

Best Value
Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display
  • 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
  • Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
  • Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
  • HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
  • What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.

Ryan’s family has said that a substantial portion of YouTube and product revenue was invested under his name, and reporting says television earnings were placed in a trust. Those statements offer some insight into how the family says it handled money, but they do not disclose account balances, liabilities, taxes, expenses, ownership rights or the complete structure of the arrangements. Forbes reported the family’s account in its 2024 profile; TIME also covered the trust-related reporting in its 2021 article.

  • Well established: Forbes estimated tens of millions of dollars in earnings for particular periods, and Ryan became a millionaire during childhood, according to family statements reported by Forbes.
  • Well established: Ryan’s World generated very large retail sales, including the reported cumulative Walmart-line figure.
  • Not publicly established: Ryan’s current personal net worth, his precise share of the business, or the balance of any trust or investments.

A celebrity website’s precise “net worth” figure should therefore be treated as an unofficial estimate unless it explains what assets and liabilities it can verify. The strongest evidence describes Ryan’s earnings at specific times and the scale of the brand—not a current personal balance sheet.

What happens as Ryan grows up?

The official Ryan’s World site now describes Ryan as a teenager. The brand’s production company and wider character universe may continue to serve audiences even as his role or the content changes, but public sources do not establish a definite future plan. Nor do the available figures reveal how the business’s private finances or ownership will evolve.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Read next

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.