YouTube reveals staggering amount it's paid creators in the last 4 years

YouTube has shelled out billions of dollars to creators, artists and media companies in just the last four years.

The reveal came at the platform's 'Made on YouTube' event in New York City on Tuesday (September 23), where it also unveiled a raft of new AI-powered tools aimed at helping creators pump out content more easily than ever.

According to the video giant, TVs connected to YouTube have been a big driver of the payout.

With more people watching YouTube on their actual televisions, the company says the number of channels making over $100,000 a year from TV screens alone has surged a staggering 45 percent compared to the previous year.

Johanna Voolich, YouTube’s Chief Product Officer, praised creators for reshaping culture as we know it, saying: "Creators shape culture and entertainment in ways we never thought possible."

YouTube has splashed out billions of dollars on its creators in the last four years (Getty stock)

The platform, owned by Google, has paid more than $100 billion to its creators in the last four years, with the announcement coming as YouTube marks its 20th anniversary and continues its mission to secure a place among the most powerful and profitable media companies in the world.

But it’s not just about the money - YouTube also used the event to show off a line-up of new AI features that could change the way content is made on the platform.

For Shorts - YouTube’s TikTok-style vertical video format - creators will now be able to use AI to turn raw clips into polished edits, complete with music, transitions and voiceovers.

There’s even a feature that can transform dialogue from eligible videos into a song, which can then be dropped straight into a Short.

Is now the best time to get into YouTube? With the company forking out $100 billion on its creators in four years (Getty stock)

On top of that, Google’s latest AI video generator, Veo 3, is being integrated into Shorts. The tech uses a slice of YouTube’s massive video library to train itself.

That is already something that has raised eyebrows - earlier this year many creators said they weren’t aware their content was being used for it, according to CNBC.

The numbers are eye-watering. Just last year, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan revealed that the platform had paid creators $70 billion between 2021 and 2024. Fast-forward to today, and that total has already jumped by another $30 billion.

YouTube has now exceeded more than 20 billion videos - uploaded across music, Shorts, podcasts and beyond.

Now could be the best time to get into vlogging - so if you're thinking of job prospects, purchase a mic and a camera and get grafting.