Devon Rodriguez started by sketching strangers on the New York subway—now he’s a global creator with 65 million followers. In this episode of Forbes Top Creator Show, Devon reveals how he went from graffiti in the Bronx to portrait commissions, viral TikToks, and interviews with icons like Oprah Winfrey. He walks us through his breakthrough moment, the algorithm hacks he studied, and how he built a sustainable business around his art. Devon shares how he blends storytelling, emotional connection, and visual talent to create viral content—while staying grounded in his passion for art. Whether he's filming in New York or Japan, Devon’s mission is the same: capture real people, share their stories, and make the world a little more connected. His journey is proof that even traditional artists can thrive in the digital age. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Haley Kalil went from studying biomedical science to walking the runway for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit—then became one of the most successful digital creators in the world. In this episode of Forbes Top Creators Show, she shares how a single apartment tour video went viral and launched a career now followed by over 30 million people across platforms. Haley opens up about building her brand from scratch, battling internet hate, and posting five videos a day to stay ahead of trends. She explains how her analytical mindset and love for "brain rot" culture help her thrive in an ever-shifting creator economy. We also dive into the business of content creation—from brand deals to equity and everything in between. Plus, Haley shares her dreams of acting, launching her own product, and why she thinks traditional media should embrace creators. This is one of the most honest and insightful interviews we've had—don’t miss it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Evangelina Petrakis (@evange) made the bold decision not to attend college after finishing high school. Instead, she went all in on growing her then-budding social media business. On this episode of the Forbes Top Creators Show, assistant managing editor Steven Bertoni delves deep in Evange Petrakis' career, and growing business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Forbes Top Creators Show, assistant managing editor Steven Bertoni sits down with Rebecca Zamolo to hear about how she was able to translate early success on Musical.ly a YouTube empire, and how she's leveraging her influence to launch new line of prenatal supplements. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Forbes Top Creators Show, assistant managing editor Steve Bertoni sits down with Kareem Rahma (@kareemrahma), host of  @SubwayTakes  and @keepthemeterrunning, to hear about how how his hit show went from humble beginnings to booking Cate Blanchett, Kamala Harris, and Tim Walz. We also dive into his past career, and how it influenced his success today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Forbes Top Creators Show, assistant managing editor Steven Bertoni sits down with Claudia Oshry (@girlwithnojob), host of The Toast, for a deep dive into how her daily show comes life, and how she's been able to leverage her deeply loyal audience to find financial success. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shawn Ryan, a former Navy Seal, has built a YouTube channel with more than 4 million fans with content focusing on military veterans, security, and defense. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After being bullied in high school, Rickey Thompson got his own sweet revenge posting over-the-top comedic videos on Vine and later, Instagram. The North Carolina native, who now has 3 million followers on TikTok, has made sponsored content for brands like YSL Beauty, Moncler, Marc Jacobs. He also has an exclusive deal with Spotify for his "We Said What We Said" podcast and is starring in his first feature film "Good Mourning" with Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Fox and Dove Cameron. Thompson was ranked No. 33 on the inaugural Forbes Top Creators List in 2022. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Justine Ezarik began her social media career in 2007, back when influencers were known as lifecasters. Over the years, she's built a tech-savvy brand by reviewing new gadgets and gear from Apple, Google, and Tesla. Her 7 million YouTube subscribers tune in to her Tech Tuesday videos to watch her review the latest smartphones, headphones, and EVs. Beyond reviews and unboxing, iJustine interviews the most prominent tech leaders. Her guests have included Apple's Tim Cook, Alphabet's Sunday Pichai, and Spotify's Daniel Ek. She has inked brand partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon, and BMW. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Moss is a creator of surreal worlds. The filmmaker shoots videos in a style she calls "fever dreams," using jump cuts, strange props, and wild costumes to build eerie and entertaining scenes. "I studied forensic psychology in college. I loved all things scary but didn't know what to do with it. When I started TikTok, I eventually found my niche." For Moss, scary is a family affair: her two sisters help shoot and edit each short film. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Boggs has built an 18 million subscriber channel on YouTube with comedic skits, challenges, and TikTok reviews. Says Boggs: “With TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, we can create short, condensed versions of movies that people can easily watch and consume.” The former National Geographic photographer has partnered with top streamers including Netflix, Google, Hulu, FX, and Prime Video. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vivian Tu mixes funny with money. The former J.P. Morgan equity trader brings financial knowledge to social media with her irreverent and straight-talking videos that teach her followers (2.4 million on TikTok, 1.8 million on Instagram) how to build an investment portfolio, manage their careers, and negotiate a raise. Her relatable lessons, think honest big sister giving tough-love money advice, have scored Tu lucrative partnerships with companies like Marshalls and SoFi. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adam Waheed is a comedy actor and filmmaker who delivers skits to 55 million fans across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. In 2024, Waheed’s funny takes on everyday events—like Googling symptoms when sick and using a public restroom—have attracted 10 billion views across his social media platforms. He’s collaborated with celebs including Kevin Hart, Will Smith, and Paris Hilton. Brand partnerships include Old Spice, The NFL, and Paramount Pictures. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Austin has turned content covering fashion, family, and faith into a social media juggernaut. The Dallas native began posting on YouTube in 2012 and now has over 3 million followers across her accounts. Meanwhile, her haircare brand Divi offers serums, shampoos, and conditioners to combat hair loss. Other brand deals include Stanley, Walmart, Abercrombie, and QVC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brownlee is social media's gadget guru. Nearly 21 million folks subscribe to his YouTube channel to watch his reviews on all things tech: the latest iPhone, Tesla, or VW's new electric bus. The New Jersey native began making YouTube videos in high school and now attracts 750 million views annually. "It was steady growth. I think it's a good thing that no one video propelled the whole thing. I think going viral is overrated. It's the best thing that never happened to me." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This podcast phenom started creating content with one goal: to make money. Althoff tested countless angles, including life as a nanny and house cleaning videos, before embarking on the style that would ultimately skyrocket her to success: parody videos about being a "bad mom." In 2021 she posted her first viral video on TikTok, where she joked about naming her daughter Richard because she wanted a son. She hit 3 million followers in early 2023 (she now counts 13 million) and that same year launched "The Really Good Podcast," which became known for her deadpan and sarcastic interviews with folks such as Mark Cuban, Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Derulo. In 2024, Althoff signed a year-long deal with Studio71, a Beverly Hills-based content shop that helps digital creators sell ads and otherwise monetize their output. Over the 12 months ending in August 2024, she earned approximately $2.9 million between this deal and brand partnerships. "I don't know how it keeps working for me," she says. "I'm just taking it one interview at a time." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Known for her offbeat laugh and women-focused content, TikTok creator Afualo earned an estimated $2.9 million last year from a mix of brand deals and her two podcasts: The Comment Section, a weekly show on which guests like actor Rainn Wilson and singer-songwriter Kehlani talk about how to deal with internet hate, and Two Idiot Girls, where she and her sister, Deison, share embarrassing stories and funny life experiences. With a 9 million strong audience consisting mostly of women under 35, Afualo's social platforms appeal to sponsors like Elf Cosmetics and the NBA. In April 2023, she signed a two-year deal with Spotify, which Forbes estimates earns her $450,000 a year. Fresh off the success of LOUD, her best-selling memoir, Afualo is setting her focus on mainstream media. "Traditional Hollywood now must be a lot more open to the idea of including internet people," she says. "TV and movies-that's my new venture." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.