If you’re going to be a travel icon these days, you need a strong gimmick. And if that gimmick is a nickname, it has to be memorable enough to cut through the noise.
Enter Bald and Bankrupt, better known as Benjamin Rich. He may be bald, but he definitely ain’t bankrupt. What started as a self-deprecating channel name has turned into a highly profitable media brand. Bald and Bankrupt’s estimated net worth is $3 million, driven largely by the sustained success of his YouTube channel, which regularly pulls 2–5 million views per upload.
Where the Money Comes From
Books and Publishing
Before YouTube took off, Rich published a book under the pen name Arthur Chichester, inspired by his travels in Belarus and areas affected by Chernobyl. While book sales are not his main income stream today, they added early credibility and likely continue to generate passive royalties.
YouTube Ad Revenue
The backbone of Rich’s income is YouTube advertising. With long-form travel videos often exceeding 30 minutes, his content is well suited to multiple ad placements. Conservative estimates put his monthly ad revenue anywhere from $80,000 to $150,000, depending on upload frequency and CPMs, which tend to be strong for travel and documentary-style content.
Brand Deals
While he keeps integrations subtle, Bald and Bankrupt benefits from sponsorships tied to travel gear, VPNs, and digital services. Even a handful of deals per year would comfortably add six figures annually, especially given his audience loyalty and global reach.
Getting Started on YouTube
The channel began almost accidentally. Rich named it “Bald and Bankrupt” after a failed business venture in the UK left him bankrupt and newly shaved. It wasn’t clever branding so much as blunt honesty – but that directness became part of the appeal.
His early videos stood out for their authenticity. Rather than resorts or influencer hotspots, Rich focused on everyday life in places most creators avoided. That approach drew attention from media outlets and built a loyal audience that valued curiosity.
His genuine interest in Eastern Europe, Russia, and India shapes the channel’s tone. He doesn’t present himself as an expert, just an observer. That perspective resonates, particularly in videos covering refugee camps in India, post-Soviet towns, and overlooked communities.
He’s exposed scams and helped those in need, and Rich seemingly has no fear about going into dangerous areas, including Patamanta in Bolivia, Serbia prior to the Covid lockdown (he contracted the virus there early on in the pandemic) and some fairly scary places in Russia.
Personal Life
Benjamin Rich keeps much of his private life out of the spotlight. While he was previously associated with Alina Adzika, the two are no longer together. Rich has not publicly discussed the reasons for the split, and in recent years he has made a clear effort to separate his personal relationships from his on-screen persona.
No one knows what Benjamin is going to do next, but it’s unlikely he’ll be living nearly as hand-to-mouth as the people he once portrayed in his show. He can easily live off the sponsorship deals and endorsements he earned while doing Bald and Bankrupt. It will definitely be interesting to see what nickname he comes up with for his next book or media venture. Bigger, Balder and Richer, maybe?
