His dance with Trump has already become a meme: here is the biography, rise, and net worth of Jake Paul, the YouTube boxer who is moving from challenging Mike Tyson to a political career.
Nowadays, all it takes is a viral video to become a meme. And that’s exactly what’s happening to Jake Paul, the YouTuber turned professional boxer who’s now literally launched into politics with the US president’s blessing. His improvised dance routine with Donald Trump during a rally in Kentucky—set to the tune of the Village People’s famous "YMCA"—is a portrait of the grotesque and disturbing political moment we’re living through, and one that, in fact, brings us even closer to one of the most famous (and rich) faces on the Internet.
According to Trump himself, Jake Paul could soon run for political office, publicly promising him his "complete and total support."
This isn’t just any endorsement. Paul is no longer "just" an influencer with millions of followers, but one of the most atypical and controversial figures in US-based entertainment, even if he’s still little known in Europe. But we’re talking about a true powerhouse: in just over ten years, he’s gone from viral videos on Vine and YouTube to million-dollar boxing matches, to becoming an entrepreneur with venture capital investments and an estimated net worth of around $200 million.
Between globally streamed boxing matches, a successful podcast, and a private life constantly in the spotlight—including his relationship with newly minted Olympic figure skating champion Jutta Leerdam—Jake Paul continues to reinvent himself today. But who is Jake Paul, really? How did he become one of the richest YouTubers in the world, and, most importantly, how much does he earn today?
Who is Jake Paul? Here’s how he became one of the richest YouTubers in the world
Jake Paul, born Jake Joseph Paul, was born on January 17, 1997, in Westlake, Ohio, USA. He grew up in a middle-class family with his older brother Logan Paul, who would later become one of the biggest stars on the internet. The two brothers would eventually become one of the most famous and talked-about couples on social media.
Jake Paul’s career began early. In 2013, he began posting videos on Vine, the short-video platform that was at the heart of viral online culture in the years before TikTok exploded. In just a few years, he amassed millions of followers: before the service shut down in 2017, he had already amassed approximately 5.5 million followers and over 2 billion views.
Social media fame quickly opened the doors to television. In 2016, he joined the cast of the Disney sitcom Bizaardvark, playing one of the protagonists of a series about two young online creators. However, the experience was short-lived: in 2017, Paul left the show after a series of controversies related to his lifestyle and off-screen behavior.
Meanwhile, his popularity on YouTube continued to grow. His personal channel quickly surpassed millions of subscribers thanks to prank videos, vlogs, and viral content aimed at a younger audience. Today, Paul has over 21 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 30 million Instagram followers, numbers that firmly place him among the most influential creators of his generation.
In 2017, he founded Team 10, a collective and influencer incubator designed to produce content and manage digital talent. The project, combining marketing and entertainment, marked the American creator’s first real entrepreneurial venture. Musical success also arrived at the same time: the single "It’s Everyday Bro" went viral, garnering tens of millions of views in just a few weeks.
But the real turning point in Jake Paul’s career came a few years later, when he decided to completely reinvent himself: from social media star to professional boxer. A move that was initially met with skepticism by the sports world, but which would ultimately transform him into one of the most media-rich and well-paid athletes in contemporary boxing.
His professional debut came in 2020 in Miami, with a TKO victory over YouTuber AnEsonGib. From then on, Paul began building a career in the ring, with increasingly popular and, above all, increasingly lucrative fights.
In short, Paul is an influencer, entrepreneur, and professional boxer, capable of transforming his digital fame into a veritable economic empire.
YouTube, podcast, boxing, and politics: how Jake Paul went from Mike Tyson to Tycoon
Jake Paul’s career has so far been divided into two phases: the first was dominated by social media, while the second is transforming into a true global media machine. His "personal brand" spans entertainment, sports, and business. In addition to his YouTube videos, he also hosts the podcast BS w/ Jake Paul, where he interviews entrepreneurs, athletes, and American celebrities. This format has launched him well beyond his role as an influencer.
But the real breakthrough came, as mentioned, with boxing. His most sensational moment came in November 2024, when he faced boxing legend Mike Tyson in the ring in a match streamed globally on Netflix. The match became one of the most-watched sporting events of the year and, according to various estimates, earned Paul a personal income of approximately $40 million.
In the following years, he continued to fight against high-profile names in international boxing. In December 2025, he faced heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, losing by knockout in the sixth round—with a fractured jaw—but still taking home a huge payday: reportedly over $92 million for the fight.
A viral, controversial, and divisive figure in every sense of the word, rich but who, despite his young age, has already explored many different worlds. And how could he not also become the object of media attention from the Tycoon? “In the not-too-distant future, you’ll run for political office,” Donald Trump said of him. Well, given his character, perhaps the next step might not even be that surprising.
How much does Jake Paul earn? His incredible net worth
The question many are asking is inevitable: how much does Jake Paul earn?
According to the most up-to-date estimates as of 2026, the YouTuber-boxer’s total net worth would be around $200 million. An impressive figure that places him among the richest creators in the world.
His primary source of income remains boxing. Over the years, boxing matches have generated increasingly higher payouts thanks to television rights and streaming deals. In 2021, Paul reportedly earned around $40 million from fights against Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. In 2024, his fight against Mike Tyson is said to have earned him approximately $40 million, while his 2025 fight against Anthony Joshua became the most profitable of his career, with an estimated over $92 million.
Overall, according to various financial reports, Jake Paul has generated almost $300 million in gross earnings throughout his career across sports, social media, and business.
But the real driver of his long-term wealth is investments. In 2021, he founded Anti Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in technology startups. The fund has participated in the early stages of companies now valued at billions of dollars, including Ramp, Anduril, and Cognition.ai.
Specifically, defense technology company Anduril reached a valuation of approximately $60 billion in 2026, while fintech Ramp reached over $32 billion. Investments like these could further boost Paul’s wealth in the coming years.
In addition to these investments, he also has several entrepreneurial ventures. Among the most notable are:
- the boxing promotion company Most Valuable Promotions;
- the sports betting startup Betr;
- the personal care brand W by Jake Paul, launched in 2024 and valued at approximately $150 million.
Real estate also represents a significant portion of his wealth. After selling his Calabasas mansion for nearly $7 million in 2021, Paul purchased a spectacular Puerto Rico mansion two years later, worth approximately $15.75 million, a 1,100-square-meter property overlooking the ocean.
Despite the numerous controversies that have surrounded his career over the years, Jake Paul remains one of the highest-paid entertainers on the planet. According to Forbes, his annual earnings are projected to reach approximately $50 million by 2025. And if his investments continue to grow as they have in recent years, it’s not out of the question that he could approach an even more ambitious threshold: $1 billion by the end of the decade.
Jake Paul: Controversies and Private Life
We’ve already mentioned a "dark side" to Jake Paul. Alongside his successes and incredible fortunes, Paul’s career has also been marked by a long series of controversies that have fueled controversy and several legal issues over the years. Since his early years of YouTube popularity, the Ohio-born YouTuber has stood out for his provocative and often over-the-top style, based on extreme pranks, risky stunts, and content deemed by many observers inappropriate for the younger audiences who followed him online. But that’s not the point.
In addition to his outrageous behavior that internally undermined his deal with Disney (and his career on the small screen), Paul has received numerous complaints and reports over the years. These range from alleged trespassing and participation in unauthorized gatherings, to even two allegations of sexual assault that surfaced in 2021 from two different women. The boxer has always denied all charges, publicly declaring the accusations "100 percent false." The events have nevertheless had significant media coverage, especially for a figure of this caliber.
There have also been controversial incidents related to his public behavior. In Puerto Rico, for example, he was investigated by environmental authorities for driving a vehicle on the island’s beaches, an activity prohibited to protect ecosystems and marine life. Paul later apologized, claiming he was unaware of the consequences of his actions.
Despite this, Jake Paul has managed to maintain a huge fan base and constant media visibility. Indeed, in many cases, these controversies have contributed to fueling the public persona of “Problem Child”, the nickname he likes to use both inside and outside the ring.
Amid all this, his private life is also making headlines. Since 2023, he has been romantically linked to Dutch figure skater Jutta Leerdam, one of the stars of winter sports. In 2026, the champion won Olympic gold in the 1000 meters at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, also setting a world record.
Paul followed the competition closely in Italy and celebrated his partner’s success with gestures that made the rounds on social media, including private jets and luxury gifts. Among them was a Mercedes G-Class Brabus worth approximately €500,000, given to the athlete as a surprise after the Games. A luxurious gift for one of the most talked-about (and rich) couples on the web.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Chi è e quanto guadagna Jake Paul, lo youtuber pugile lanciato da Trump in politica
