Is there a 30 million play button?
In one word: no. As of 2023, YouTube does not award creators an official plaque for reaching 30 million channel subscribers.
YouTube Play Button Tiers
YouTube sends creators specialized awards in the form of metal "play buttons" at major milestones:
| Award Name | Minimum Subscribers |
| Silver Play Button | 100,000 subscribers |
| Gold Play Button | 1 million subscribers |
| Diamond Play Button | 10 million subscribers |
| Custom Creator Award | 50 million subscribers |
| Red Diamond Play Button | 100 million subscribers |
As you can see, there are no defined tiers between 10 million and 50 million subscribers, meaning 30 million falls into that gap.
Unboxing the Diamond Play Button
Since 30 million is closest to the Diamond Play Button level, what does achieving that coveted award mean?
As a gamer, I love watching popular Twitch streamers and YouTubers unbox their new Diamond Play Buttons. The shiny silver plaque features an embedded diamond and personalized channel name engraving.
Based on close inspection, I estimate the resale value of a Diamond Play Button to be $10,000 to $30,000 USD. Brands or dedicated fans may pay even more for an iconic piece of YouTube history.
Speculating on Possible Future Awards
YouTube is always evolving its partner programs and creator incentives. While they likely want to retain the exclusivity of 100M+ tiers, I speculate that they could introduce new awards:
- 25 Million: Silver & Diamond Hybrid
- 30 Million: Obsidian Play Button with Onyx gem
- 75 Million: Encrusted Ruby Play Button
As an aspiring gamer creator myself, conceptualizing these flags in the sand gives me creative joy and motivation to keep grinding!
The 30 Million Onyx concept maintaining YouTube‘s signature metals while integrating a shiny black gem would perfectly fit into the existing system. Sign me up!
Now for a true dive into upper echelon rarities…
The Exclusive Red Diamond Play Button
In 2019, YouTube introduced a new achievement to honor channels reaching 100 million subscribers. The aptly named Red Diamond Play Button sets the bar for creators everywhere.
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki along with the product and design teams handcraft each red diamond award to perfection. The placard features a precisely cut dark red crystal representing YouTube‘s iconic play button logo.
As of April 2023, only 5 channels have gained enough global influence across YouTube to earn this high honor:
- T-Series: 239 million subscribers
- MrBeast: 140 million subscribers
- PewDiePie: 111 million subscribers
- Cocomelon: 116 million subscribers
- SET India: 106 million subscribers
I applaud these creators for achieving such a staggering milestone. If any individual or brand can continue delighting audiences at that scale, they deserve the personalized recognition.
The Custom Creator Award – Gamers in Elite Company
The current ceiling for predefined YouTube plaques tops out at 10 Million (Diamond). But for channels who far surpass even the Red Diamond with over 50 million subscribers, an even more exclusive honor awaits:
The Custom Creator Award
There are no strict guidelines around these awards except they must integrate something unique to the brand whether in the plaque design, material choices or both.
Gaming personalities such as PewDiePie, JuegaGerman, and Fernanfloo have earned Custom Awards. This puts them in rarified air amongst filmmakers, musicians and children‘s channels who also gained over 50 million dedicated subscribers.
I admire these gamers for building such vast communities who enjoy watching them follow their passion. It‘s the ultimate creator dream!
Envisioning My Custom Gamer Award
Can you imagine having a Custom Creator Award designed just for your YouTube channel? Talk about a hallmark achievement!
If I ever surpass 50 million subscribers, I envision a tall silver trophy cup engraved with my channel‘s sniper-crosshair logo. The base would feature inset LEDs that glow bright gold and illuminate esports figurines of my favorite heroes. I‘d give it a name too – The Victory Cup.
Now that would feel so sweet lifting high above my head in front of the camera! A gamer can dream, right?
In closing, while no 30 Million Play Button currently exists, the unique awards YouTube does bestow allow creators to quantify their success. The road is long but undeniably exciting. Just stay skilled, passionate and most importantly – genuine with your fans!
