Darren Watkins Jr., also known by his online aliases IShowSpeed or Speed, is an American internet personality, YouTuber, and streamer.
He has gained widespread recognition for his engaging live streams where he captivates audiences by playing various video games like Roblox, Fortnite, and FIFA.
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IShowSpeed Net Worth & Career Earnings
In the beginning, IShowSpeed started uploading videos on YouTube just for fun, as he wasn’t getting many views or earning any money from it.
But things changed in 2020 when his channel started growing, and it was estimated that he was making a few thousand dollars. In 2021, his popularity exploded, and IShowSpeed began earning over $200,000 per month through his YouTube channel and social media accounts.
He received sponsorships from well-known companies, and even Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, recognized and showcased his gameplay. All of these income sources have contributed to IShowSpeed accumulating an estimated net worth of $3.5 million.
IShowSpeed Early Years
Darren Watkins Jr., born on January 21, 2005, grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He started his YouTube channel when he was 11 years old, but it took a couple more years before he uploaded his first video.
In that video, he was playing NBA2k18 in late 2017. After that, he started uploading videos more frequently and also began live streaming. However, his channel didn’t gain much attention until the summer of 2020 when his number of subscribers started increasing. He was gaining more than 150 new subscribers every week.
IShowSpeed Career Success
By the end of 2020, IShowSpeed had gathered over 10,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. In the following months, this number skyrocketed, reaching an impressive 1 million subscribers by June 2021.
Just 13 months later, his subscriber count multiplied by ten, surpassing the remarkable milestone of 10 million subscribers. During the same month, his videos amassed a total of 30 million views.
Apart from YouTube, IShowSpeed also created a Twitch account where he achieved success through live streaming. However, his involvement in a controversy during an Adin Ross live dating stream led to his ban from the platform.
Despite this setback, he remains a prominent figure on social media, with millions of subscribers on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok. Throughout his YouTube career, IShowSpeed also released several rap singles and collaborated with notable personalities such as KSI and Kai Cenat.
IShowSpeed Personal Life
IShowSpeed grew up in Cincinnati with his parents and two siblings. He spent a lot of time playing video games during his childhood. Although he has never been married or had children, he is currently in a committed relationship.
In 2021, IShowSpeed introduced his girlfriend, Ermony Renee, who is also from Cincinnati. They both attended high school in the same city before Ermony went on to study at the University of Cincinnati.
IShowSpeed remains active on social media and frequently posts updates on his official YouTube Channel and Instagram account.
How Does IShowSpeed Spend His Money?
As one of the world’s wealthiest YouTubers, IShowSpeed has already begun exploring the lifestyle that comes with such wealth. After obtaining his driver’s license, he started shopping around for the most expensive cars in the world. In line with this, he bought himself a Lamborghini, estimated at $500,000.
IShowSpeed’s Awards & Achievements
IShowSpeed has amassed several notable awards and achievements in his young streaming career, including hitting subscriber milestones.
YouTube sends awards to those that hit specific landmarks, with IShowSpeed achieving most of these milestones in a matter of months.
Here are some of the more notable awards and achievements from IShowSpeed’s career:
- Nominated at the 2022 Streamy Awards for Streamer of the Year and Breakout Streamer.
- He received his Silver Creator Award from YouTube for reaching 100,000 subscribers in April 2021.
- He received the Gold Creator Award for 1 million subscribers two months later.
- He earned YouTube’s highest achievement in July 2022 for 10 million subscribers, receiving the Diamond Creator Award.
- In November 2022, IShowSpeed reached 1 billion total video views on YouTube.
Despite his youth, IShowSpeed continues to accrue subscribers and has plenty of time to accumulate more awards. He is also working on a music career that he hopes will take off and earn him more recognition.
IShowSpeed Facts
IShowSpeed started his YouTube channel at just 11 years old in 2016. In 2021, he saw a massive surge in popularity and garnered over 1 million followers.
As of 2023, he has over 18 million subscribers on YouTube with over 1,000 uploads. One of his most successful ventures was releasing his music video for the song “Shake,” which clocked over 150 million views shortly after its debut.
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