People Laughed at the First YouTubers and TikTokers. Now They’re Millionaires.
Every major platform started with people making fun of it. And every time, the creators who ignored the jokes and showed up early are the ones making millions today.
What people said at the start
- YouTube, 2005: “It’s just cat videos and people’s home movies.”
- Instagram, 2010: “Who wants to look at filtered photos of someone’s lunch?”
- Snapchat, 2011: “Photos that disappear? That’s a fad.” Two years later it turned down a reported $3 billion buyout offer from Facebook.
- TikTok, 2018: “It’s a lip-sync dance app for kids.”
Each of those “jokes” became one of the biggest media platforms in the world.
What happened to the people who showed up early
According to Forbes’ 2025 Top Creators list, MrBeast earned an estimated $85 million, Charli D’Amelio about $23.5 million, and Khaby Lame about $20 million. MrBeast started uploading to YouTube as a kid in 2012. Charli D’Amelio joined TikTok in 2019, when most adults still thought it was a joke.
They weren’t lucky because they were first to a crowded party. They were early to a party that hadn’t started yet.
Why early works
- Less competition. When an app is new, every post reaches a bigger share of the people on it.
- You become “the” creator. The first well-known faces on an app get featured, shared and remembered.
- Your audience grows with the app. When the app blows up, your following comes with it.
- It’s the cheapest time to try. Nothing to lose, no big accounts in your way.
Where is “early” now?
You can’t be early on TikTok, YouTube or Instagram anymore. Those doors are crowded, and now they’re filling up with AI content too.
Portal just launched. It’s a camera-only social app with no AI allowed, real-time city feeds, and leaderboards for your city, college, state and the whole US. Right now, being the #1 creator in your city is a real possibility.
People will probably laugh at this one too. That’s usually the sign.
Next: Missed being early on TikTok? Here’s your second chance.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the highest-paid creators?
According to Forbes’ 2025 Top Creators list, MrBeast led with about $85 million, with creators like Charli D’Amelio (about $23.5 million) and Khaby Lame (about $20 million) also near the top.
Did early creators have an advantage?
Yes. Many of today’s biggest creators joined platforms early, when there was less competition and each post reached a larger share of users.
What new app can creators get in early on?
Portal just launched on iPhone with city, college, state and national leaderboards and no AI content allowed.
Real people. Real places. No AI.
Portal just launched. Free on iPhone, live everywhere in the US.