How OnlyFans Creators Outearned Every NBA Player Combined—And Why It Matters for the Future of Wealth
OK, if that thumbnail didn't catch your attention, idk what will.
You've probably seen this headline making waves recently, but if not, prepare to be blown away.
Let's put things into perspective:
- Steph Curry, the NBA's highest-paid player, earned $51.9M last year.
- LeBron James and Kevin Durant? Each made $47.6M. 🔥
Those numbers seem mind-boggling, right? But here’s the kicker:
OnlyFans creators made more money than ALL NBA players combined in 2023. 🤯
Yep, that’s not a typo.
📊 OnlyFans is the New Heavyweight Champion
Here's the breakdown:
- In 2023, OnlyFans creators earned $6.63B, which is $1.61B MORE than the combined salaries of every NBA player 🤑
- And they did this with a fraction of the overhead it takes to run an NBA franchise 🏗️
Now, compare the playing fields:
- The NBA? 550 elite players
- OnlyFans? Over 4.1M content creators with 305M subscribers 🌍
That’s 2,181x more people creating wealth through content. 2,181x! 💥
🚀 It’s Not Just Celebrities Winning Big
Sure, celebrities like Blac Chyna, Bella Thorne, and Cardi B are crushing it:
- Blac Chyna brings in a jaw-dropping $20M per month
- Bella Thorne? $11M monthly
- Cardi B pulls in $9.34M every month 🤯
But here's the real revolution—it’s happening behind the scenes. 💡
It's not just celebs. It's everyday people, lesser-known creators, building empires from the ground up:
- Gem101 created a $29.4M yearly empire from scratch.
- CapriceG92 went from zero to $4.3M per year. 💼
No Hollywood connections. No venture capital. Just smart content strategy and a deep understanding of digital value creation.
📈 The Real Game-Changer: Hyper-Engaged Communities
Take Monica Huldt, a successful creator who scaled her business to $750K in one year.
What's her secret? She says,
"It's not about cranking out massive amounts of content every day."
The key? Value creation.
These creators aren’t chasing vanity metrics like likes and followers. Instead, they build hyper-engaged communities that pay for value. 💡 They’re not trying to please the masses—they’re serving a loyal tribe of fans who are willing to pay for high-quality content.
Pat Flynn would call them SuperFans.
This is where the power of the creator economy really comes into play.
💡 Building a Digital Asset: More Than Just Content
Bryce Adams, another top creator, summed it up perfectly:
“People don’t understand the scale of the opportunity. You can make your own world.”
This goes beyond content creation. Bryce is talking about building a digital asset that:
- Generates revenue 24/7
- Scales without the physical limitations of traditional businesses
- Compounds in value over time 📈
While most jobs require you to be physically present to earn money, digital creators are making money while they sleep. 🌙💰
😷 How COVID-19 Accelerated This Shift
When COVID-19 hit, traditional businesses were rocked by supply chain issues and physical restrictions. 🚧 But for digital creators? Their revenues surged.
Why?
Because they owned their distribution. 🛠️
No supply chains to worry about, no physical locations to maintain. Their audience is online, their product is digital, and their opportunities are limitless.
🎯 The Big Takeaway for Everyone
So why does this matter to you, and why am I writing about this?
Because it highlights the power shift happening right now. We are entering a creator-dominated economy. 🎥🎙️
Social media followings are now seen as valuable assets, and content creators are more influential than massive brands. These creators don’t just work for someone else—they own their platforms, their content, and their audience.
Whether it’s influencers launching products, YouTubers commanding audiences, or OnlyFans creators pulling in millions, the rules of business are being rewritten.
🔥 The Real Power of the Creator Economy
Here's the key takeaway:
You don’t need decades of training or venture capital to become a successful creator. What you need is a platform, a clear message, and an audience.
With the right tools, you can:
- Build a community 🛠️
- Create a brand 📱
- And most importantly, own your content 💡
As a tech/business professionals, the possibilities are endless. Whether you want to build a side hustle, grow your audience, or start your own business, the tools are all at your fingertips.
💡 A Personal Insight
"Caleb, how do you know so much about this?" 😅
Well, at one point, I was building an OnlyFans competitor myself. I got pretty deep into the project, but in the end, I decided that path wasn’t for me.
However, it gave me invaluable insight into how the creator economy works and how it’s reshaping industries across the board.
I was going to call it unfiltered. Still might do it.
💰 So, What’s Next?
The creator economy is booming, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. The biggest brands in the world are turning to influencers and creators because they hold the power to connect with audiences. If you’ve ever thought about stepping into this space, now’s the time to do it.
Keep building, keep creating, and most importantly, own your platform. 🚀
Remember, Vine was a successful app, until the creators decided to abandon it. It's the creators who have the power. Take advantage.
💌 Subscribe to receive new articles every week!
🔗 Sign up for our newsletter to get updates 🤘
📺 Check out my YouTube channel for more in-depth content.
🚀 Follow my project I'm building in public: Professional.Dev
👨🏾💻 Connect with me on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Instagram. Been posting more on the 'gram lately!
Happy Thursday! See you soon,
Caleb "TechDad_" ✌🏾