Blogging has become a hugely popular and profitable industry. Some of the richest bloggers in the world earn millions yearly from their websites and brands.
Although blogging requires consistency and hard work, the financial rewards can be massive.
In 2023, the richest bloggers bring in higher incomes than many celebrities!
Brand sponsorships, digital products, affiliates, and ads are making fortunes for the elite bloggers dominating their niches.
If you want to get inspired by their success, we have curated a list of 15 of the top richest bloggers in the world today and how they’ve built their empires.
Their income stats will blow your mind!
15 Top Richest Bloggers in the world
The following are the top richest bloggers in the world and their net worth:
1. Michelle Phan – $50 million+
Michelle Phan is a makeup and beauty blogger who launched her blog in 2005.
She quickly gained a large following from viral makeup tutorials and was one of the first major YouTubers.
Phan co-founded subscription makeup box Ipsy in 2011, which achieved unicorn status with a $1 billion+ valuation.
She owns an estimated 10-50% share worth around $50 to $500 million! Phan also has a lucrative cosmetics company, EM Cosmetics.
2. Sean “Diddy” Combs – $40 million
Rapper and producer Sean Combs runs the popular blog Diddy.com, covering music, business, fashion, and more.
He earns massive income from his music, clothing, and vodka brands. Forbes estimates Diddy’s net worth at $885 million.
While not all from blogging, his blog and social media earn him tens of millions in sponsorships and endorsements as a top influencer.
3. Perez Hilton – $30 million
Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton has amassed a huge audience over his 16 years of blogging.
While hated by many celebs, Hilton earns big from relentless coverage of rumors and scandals.
His blog gets over 300 million views monthly, earning millions in advertising revenue.
Sponsored posts and other ventures also contribute to Hilton’s $30 million net worth.
4. Mark Zuckerberg – $29.7 billion
The Facebook CEO keeps an active personal blog called Notes. Although not a professional blogger, Zuckerberg uses his blog to make company announcements and discuss interests.
As the world’s 6th richest person, Zuckerberg is worth $29.7 billion, according to Forbes.
While Facebook remains his main source of wealth, Zuckerberg’s blog provides insider knowledge on one of tech’s most powerful figures.
5. Tumblr Founders – $20 million each
Microblogging site Tumblr was sold to Yahoo for $1.1 billion in 2013. Founders David Karp and Marco Arment ran personal Tumblr blogs sharing tech and business advice.
The buyout made the young founders instant millionaires, with Karp and Arment, estimated to receive $200 to 250 million each.
Although they no longer own Tumblr, their blogs helped ignite the concept and user base.
6. Gala Darling – $20 million
Gala Darling is a self-made blogger who publishes inspirational content on female empowerment and spirituality.
She leverages her blog to sell online courses, journal planners, workshops, and branded merch. Her business is worth over $20 million with 75+ employees.
Darling spends much of her time speaking, writing books, and growing her Radical Self Love brand as a thought leader.
7. Pat Flynn – $20 million
Pat Flynn of SmartPassiveIncome.com made his fortune by teaching others how to build successful online businesses.
He’s skilled at monetizing blogs through affiliate sales, courses, coaching, and more.
Flynn brings in over $200,000 monthly through his blog, podcast, YouTube, and books.
His personal net worth is estimated to be around $20 million and growing.
8. Darren Rowse – $18 million
ProBlogger founder Darren Rowse is considered one of the grandfathers of blogging.
He built an authority site on blogging tips, monetized through training products and events.
While ProBlogger has changed hands, Rowse has a personal worth of $18 million.
He’s invested wisely and built a portfolio of blogs and startups in the digital marketing space.
9. Jeff Bullas – $15 million
Digital marketer and blogger Jeff Bullas has built a small media empire covering social media, viral content, and growth strategies. His blog earns over $1 million annually on its own.
Combined with books, keynotes, training programs, and software tools, Bullas has accumulated a personal net worth of around $15 million.
His blogs and brand continue reaching new heights.
10. Michael Arrington – $15 million
TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington began the popular startup and tech blog in 2005.
Six years later, he sold TechCrunch to AOL for a reported $25-$40 million. Forbes put Arrington’s personal fortune at $15 million in 2012 when he left TechCrunch.
While no longer involved, the blog he created remains a top tech site and valuable media property.
11. Mashable – $15 million valuation
Founded in 2005 by Pete Cashmore in his bedroom, Mashable became a digital media monster covering social, tech, and digital culture.
At its peak traffic of 50+ million visitors monthly, it sold to Ziff Davis for $15 million.
While Mashable has seen declines, it propelled founder Cashmore’s net worth to over $15 million.
The site pioneered viral web content and remains popular under new ownership.
12. Heather B. Armstrong – $13 million
Heather Armstrong’s Dooce blog built an avid following with her raw, witty musings on life, motherhood, and mental health.
She spun her blog fame into speaking gigs, book deals, and partnerships. Armstrong even had a fan cruise called BlogHer.
Although she no longer blogs daily, her honesty and humor turned Dooce into a $1 million-a-year business at its height.
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13. Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg – $13 million
You may know him as PewDiePie, the controversial gaming YouTuber and vlogger.
His “Let’s Play” videos showing reactions while playing games draw up to 500 million views a month.
While YouTube pays many of his bills, sponsored reviews and appearances add to Kjellberg’s $13 million income.
His blog-style videos have made him the top solo YouTuber by subscribers.
14. Matthew Barby – $11.4 million
Matthew Barby went from struggling blogger to running a blogging agency called HubSpot.
He mastered inbound marketing, SEO, and automation to build his blog’s value. Barby sold HubSpot for $100 million in 2006.
While no longer blogging there daily, his skills turned HubSpot into a top marketing blog and $11.4 million personal fortune for himself.
15. Alexis Ohanian – $10 million
Alexis Ohanian co-founded a little Reddit site in 2005 as a fresh college grad.
He ran the platform like an early blog, sharing links, discussions, and news.
Reddit sold in 2006 for $10-$20 million, making Ohanian an instant multi-millionaire.
Although not a professional blogger per se, Ohanian’s use of Reddit as an online blog spotlights his pioneering of social news sites.
Conclusion
Blogging requires consistency and perseverance but can lead to amazing wealth at scale.
If you wish to be celebrated as one of the richest bloggers in the world, study what these veteran bloggers are doing right.
Find your blogging superpower, whether it’s entertainment, problem-solving, storytelling, or spreading inspiration.
Then, start building your blog into a money machine this year.