Marques Brownlee runs one of the most popular tech YouTube channels, an impressive feat considering how competitive the space is! MKBHD is known for unbiased reviews and opinions on tech gadgets. Brownlee is also a podcast host and professional ultimate frisbee player. As of 2023, Marques Brownlee has a net worth of $40 million.
Early Life
Marques Brownlee was born in Maple Wood, New Jersey on December 3, 1993. As a child, he became fascinated with technology. The techie attended Columbia High School and graduated in 2011.
Standing at 6 foot 2, Marques had the perfect physique to play sports. In 8th grade, he began playing frisbee and tried golf. He studied business and IT at Stevens Institute of Technology and finished his degree in 2015.
YouTube Career
While still in high school, MKBHD uploaded his first YouTube video in 2009. Initially, he made videos about golf and later moved to reviewing tech products.
He continued to make hundreds of videos that were mostly hardware demonstrations. The aspiring content creator was consistent with his uploads. After graduating from college, Brownlee worked full-time on YouTube.
Over time, he got exposure organically through major media outlets featuring his videos in articles. In 2014, his popular video series, “The Smartphone Awards” helped him break out.
As he built a large following, Marques got the opportunity to interview the likes of Bill Gates, Kobe Bryant, and Mark Zuckerberg. Now, his YouTube channel has a whopping 17.3 million subscribers.
Other Ventures
In 2019, MKBHD launched a tech podcast for gadget lovers called Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast. He hosts the podcast alongside Marques and Andrew Manganelli, covering consumer electronics, products and news.
Brownlee has another channel called “The Studio”, which covers the MKBHD team’s behind-the-scenes antics. The famous influencer was chosen by Vox Media Studios to star in the YouTube Original Series, “Retro Tech”.
Outside of YouTube, Marques Brownlee is a professional frisbee player for the New York Empire in the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL). The average salary of a pro frisbee player is $113,172 with top earners taking home $175,000 per year.
Net Worth and Earnings
Brownlee YouTube channels make over $100,000 per month in ad revenue. It’s estimated he makes around $1.2 to $1.6 million in annual earnings from his main channel.
The YouTuber has secured lucrative sponsorship deals with major brands such as Tesla, Apple, Nike, and Google. Given his loyal fanbase, brands are eager to partner with him but Marques is very selective about who he works with.
In addition, he earns extra money through adding affiliate links to product reviews and operating an online merch store. His store sells practical things such as t-shirts, candles, flasks, mugs and desk mats.
Podcasting and frisbee are nice side hustles which are more passion projects than money making ventures. This gives him a net worth of around $40 million.
Personal Life
Marques Brownlee is currently dating Nikki Hair, the cute couple began dating in 2016. Nikki is also an avid frisbee player and turns out for New York Gridlock Ultimate. Given that they’ve been dating for six years, wedding bells shouldn’t be far away! MKBHD lives in Kearny, New Jersey and drives a Tesla Model S Plaid.
