How old is Ryan‘s World?
Ryan‘s World centers around energetic kid YouTuber Ryan Kaji. So just how old is the pint-sized megastar? Ryan celebrated his 12th birthday on October 6th, 2022.
I‘ve analyzed Ryan‘s path to fame along with the latest updates on his channel‘s explosive growth. As a fellow gaming content creator, I‘ll provide unique insights into the strategies and decisions that turned a kid‘s toy reviews into a $200+ million media empire.
From toddler toy tester to YouTube titan
Ryan‘s rise to fame started innocuously in March 2015. His parents, Shion and Loann Kaji, filmed 3-year-old Ryan doing kid stuff – namely unboxing and testing out toys.
They uploaded these cute home videos to a new channel called Ryan ToysReview. At first, it was just a fun way to share moments with faraway grandparents.
But soon the videos started getting traction – and then snowballing viewership. By mid-2016, Ryan ToysReview was gaining millions of subscribers per quarter.
What was driving this insane growth? Let‘s look at the key stats:
Ryan ToysReview yearly subscribers:
| 2015 | 1.9 million |
| 2016 | 11 million |
| 2017 | 17 million |
Ryan‘s viewers were enchanted by his humor and authenticity. For kids, it was like watching a friend joyfully playing. For parents, it was a quick way to find great new toys.
The channel took off like wildfire. Soon it became the #1 subscribed YouTube channel globally.
Expanding beyond toys: the birth of Ryan‘s World
By mid-2017 it was clear Ryan ToysReview had outgrown its name. Ryan was pursuing all kinds of family-friendly content beyond just toys.
So in late 2017, the channel rebranded to "Ryan‘s World" to reflect its growing variety of videos about science, travel, music, and more kid-centric topics.
The expanded format helped unlock even more explosive growth:
Ryan‘s World yearly views:
| 2016 | 8 billion views |
| 2017 | 17 billion views |
| 2018 | 28 billion views |
| 2019 | 48 billion views |
Buoyed by the massive audience, Ryan soon signed high-profile partnerships with brands like Colgate, Walmart, and Nickelodeon. His family launched successful consumer products like toys and clothes under his Ryan‘s World brand.
According to Forbes estimates, Ryan‘s World earned a staggering $200+ million in the 3 years from 2018-2020 alone. All built on the simple premise of a kid following his passion for creating fun content.
Ryan today: branch out to TV…while still grounded in school
Fast forward to late 2022. Ryan is now 12 years old and in 6th grade…while still actively starring in YouTube videos for his 33+ million subscribers.
He attends a private school in Hawaii, where his family moved to in 2021. When not creating content, Ryan swims, plays sports, and generally enjoys island life with his parents, sisters, and friends.
Professionally, Ryan is expanding into traditional TV. He has shows like Super Spy Ryan confirmed for 2023 release as part of major deals with pocket MEDIA and pocket.watch.
I predict Ryan‘s media empire will continue growing for years to come. He clearly has an authentic love for creating family-friendly content. And the numbers don‘t lie – his whopping 50+ billion lifetime YouTube views showcase an incredibly strong connection with fans.
If I had to crown the current king of kids content, Ryan would undoubtedly take the throne. At just 12 years old, his influence is undeniable. Yet he still remains that same humble, fun-loving kid at heart – and that authenticity makes him truly special.
