Tyler Oakley Net Worth

What Is Tyler Oakley's Net Worth?

Tyler Oakley is an American YouTuber, author, podcaster, activist, television personality, and digital creator who has a net worth of $8 million. Tyler Oakley became one of the defining internet personalities of the first major YouTube celebrity era, building a huge audience through comedy videos, personal storytelling, pop culture commentary, LGBTQ advocacy, and collaborations with other online stars. His cheerful, fast-talking style helped make him one of the platform's most recognizable creators, and he eventually expanded far beyond YouTube into books, podcasts, documentaries, television, live touring, and charity work.

Oakley rose to prominence in the early 2010s, when YouTube creators began moving from online fame into mainstream entertainment. He interviewed celebrities and public figures, hosted major digital events, released the bestselling essay collection "Binge," starred in the documentary "Snervous," and competed twice on "The Amazing Race" with his longtime friend and collaborator Korey Kuhl. He also became one of the most visible LGBTQ creators of his generation, using his platform to support The Trevor Project and raise awareness around LGBTQ youth, mental health, suicide prevention, and equality. Although he later stepped back from the weekly YouTube schedule that made him famous, he remained active as a creator across podcasts, streaming, social media, and live appearances.

Early Life

Tyler Oakley was born Mathew Tyler Oakley on March 22, 1989, in Jackson, Michigan. He grew up in Michigan and later attended Michigan State University, where he studied communication, marketing, and social media.

Oakley began posting videos to YouTube in 2007 while he was a freshman in college. At first, the videos were a way to keep in touch with high school friends who had gone to different schools. Over time, his natural comfort on camera and interest in pop culture, humor, and personal storytelling helped him build a much larger audience.

YouTube Career

Oakley became one of YouTube's first major personality-driven stars. His channel mixed comedy, advice, pop culture reactions, celebrity interviews, LGBTQ topics, and collaborations with other creators. He became especially known for his enthusiasm for stars such as Lady Gaga and One Direction, as well as for his ability to speak directly to young viewers who felt underrepresented in traditional media.

During the peak of his YouTube career, Oakley amassed millions of subscribers and hundreds of millions of video views. He collaborated with creators such as Troye Sivan, Grace Helbig, Hannah Hart, Connor Franta, Joey Graceffa, Zoella, and many others. He was also part of the "YouTube golden age" when creators began touring, publishing books, launching podcasts, appearing on television, and building businesses around their online followings.

In 2014, Oakley launched a live tour called "Tyler Oakley's Slumber Party," which featured comedy, stories, audience interaction, and the pajama-themed branding that had become part of his online persona. The tour expanded internationally, reflecting how large his fanbase had become outside the internet.

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Books, Podcast, and Film

In 2014, Oakley launched the podcast "Psychobabble" with Korey Kuhl. The show became a major extension of his brand, mixing pop culture, personal stories, comedy, and commentary. It gave Oakley a format that was more conversational and long-form than his YouTube videos.

In 2015, he released "Binge," a collection of humorous and personal essays. The book covered his upbringing, relationships, fame, eating disorders, domestic violence, and other experiences behind his public persona. "Binge" became a bestseller and helped establish Oakley as one of the first YouTube personalities to successfully move into traditional publishing.

That same year, he starred in the documentary "Snervous," which followed his life during a sold-out tour and explored the pressures of online fame. The film gave fans a more behind-the-scenes look at the work, travel, and emotional intensity behind his cheerful public image.

Television and Mainstream Work

Oakley appeared on a variety of television and streaming projects as digital creators became more accepted by mainstream entertainment. He co-hosted the 2015 Streamy Awards with Grace Helbig and later hosted "The Tyler Oakley Show" on Ellen DeGeneres' ellentube platform.

He also competed on "The Amazing Race" with Korey Kuhl. The pair first appeared on season 28, a social media-themed season, and finished in third place. They later returned for season 31, which featured contestants from "The Amazing Race," "Survivor," and "Big Brother," and finished as runners-up.

Oakley also appeared in digital and reality-adjacent projects, including "Escape the Night," "RuPaul's Drag Race," and other creator-focused entertainment. His television work reflected a period when online stars were increasingly crossing into network, streaming, and unscripted programming.

LGBTQ Advocacy

Oakley has been one of the most prominent openly gay creators in internet culture. His videos often included discussions of coming out, identity, LGBTQ rights, relationships, and mental health. For many young viewers, he was one of the first openly gay personalities they followed regularly online.

His most important philanthropic work has been with The Trevor Project, the nonprofit focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth. Oakley interned with the organization before becoming famous and later used his platform to raise major donations and awareness for its work. His campaigns helped raise more than $1 million for the organization.

Oakley's advocacy earned him recognition from LGBTQ organizations and media groups, including a GLAAD Davidson/Valentini Award, which honors LGBTQ media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equality.

Later Career

In 2020, Oakley announced an indefinite break from regularly uploading YouTube videos, though he did not fully retire from the platform. He later remained active through Twitch, TikTok, podcasts, live appearances, and occasional video uploads. Rather than being tied only to YouTube, Oakley increasingly described himself as a content creator who could move between platforms as audiences and algorithms changed.

That adaptability has been central to his longevity. Many early YouTube stars faded as the platform evolved, but Oakley remained culturally relevant because his brand was built on personality, community, humor, and advocacy rather than one specific format.

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