The 2025–2026 Content Monetization Gold Rush: How Creators Are Cashing In Across Every Platform
The global creator economy is valued at about $156 billion today and is projected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, growing at roughly 22.5% annually. More than 50 million people worldwide identify as creators, with annual growth of about 10–20%. YouTube pays creators 55% of ad revenue, with ad RPMs typically ranging from $1.61 to $29 per 1,000 views depending on niche. Patreon has paid out over $1 billion to creators, while Substack now has over 5 million paying subscribers across its publications. TikTok’s Creator Rewards program pays RPMs from about $0.40 to $1.00+ per 1,000 views and includes Series
