Car enthusiast Doug DeMuro has become an influential figure online and has turned his passion into big money! In addition to his car review YouTube channel, he owns an auction business called Cars & Bids. Currently, Doug DeMuro has an estimated net worth of $15 million.
Key Takeaways
- Doug DeMuro has made the majority of his wealth from selling an equity stake in Cars & Bids for $37 million. The deal valued the company at $80 million.
- His main YouTube channel makes $2,500 per day and $900,000 annually in ad revenue.
Background
Born in Denver, Colorado on May 22, 1988, DeMuro’s early life remains largely enigmatic, with the spotlight only shining on him after graduating from George Washington High School.
He later attended Emory University, earning a degree in Economics. A stint as an intern at Porsche in 2012 offered him an invaluable glimpse into dealer business development.
The experience left an impression, as DeMuro returned after graduation to assume the role of a vehicle allocation manager. Here he saved up enough money to buy one of his favorite rides, a 2006 Range Rover.
Writing Career
Parallel to his role at Porsche, DeMuro began freelance writing for Autotrader.com. Eventually, he left the job to devote himself fully to automotive journalism and contributed to other prominent car websites such as Jalopnik and The Truth About Cars.
In 2013, DeMuro launched his blog, PlaysWithCars, which inspired the title of his debut book. He also penned an e-book, “From My Perspective,” offering his viewpoints on subjects beyond the automotive sphere. Though these books did not make much money, they helped build his brand.
In 2016, DeMuro ascended to the role of editor for Autotrader’s new blog, Oversteer. This coincided with an increased focus on creating captivating car reviews, characterized by their quality content rather than extravagant editing like Supercar Blondie does.
YouTube Career
DeMuro’s foray into YouTube began in 2013 while still writing for Jalopnik. Despite initial challenges with views, he remained consistent with uploads, even purchasing cars to review based on fan recommendations.
His distinctive rating system, the DougScore (rating vehicles from 10 to 100), gained popularity, establishing him as a respected voice in the automotive review world. Doug’s channel has taken off and currently boasts 4.79 million subscribers. In 2019, he parted ways with Autotrader.com to launch Cars & Bids.
Net Worth and Earnings
According to Social Blade, Doug DeMuro’s YouTube channel receives around 600,000 views every day and makes an estimated $2,500 per day from ad revenue. That’s just over $900,000 annually from one channel. This doesn’t include his earnings from sponsorship deals and other accounts.
He also sells merch on DougDeMuro.com, it’s a simple store that only sells t-shirts. Doug’s auction website is his main source of income and his car collection is worth hundreds of thousands.
In early 2023, Doug sold equity in Cars & Bids for $37 million to the Chernin Group, valuing the company at $80 million! As of January 2023, Cars & Bids has held over 10,000 auctions and done over $230 million in gross sales. The auction business charges buyers 4.5% commission which is capped at $4,500 and sellers pay no fees. This is why Doug DeMuro’s wealth is estimated to be $15 million.
Personal Life
Doug is married to Joanna DeMuro and they have a son together. The couple reside in a Victorian-era home on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. His collection of 26 vehicles stands as a testament to his lifelong passion for cars, a passion that once led to him being pulled over twice in one night while driving his R32 Skyline GT-R.
