In this guide
- The big number
- How many creators, and how many make a living
- Where the money comes from
- The platforms that pay
- Where adult creators fit
- The inequality problem
- What the numbers mean if you want to start
- My take
I am not a financial analyst. I am a performer with 14 years in the adult industry, and I have watched the money in my business move from studios to individual creators. This article puts that shift into the bigger picture, using publicly reported numbers only.
The big number
In April 2023, Goldman Sachs Research estimated that the global creator economy was worth about $250 billion and could roughly double to about $480 billion by 2027 (Goldman Sachs). The analysts said growth would come mainly from influencer marketing and platform payouts, especially as short-form video platforms find ways to make money from advertising.
That puts the creator economy in the same league as some traditional entertainment industries. And it is growing faster.
How many creators, and how many make a living
Goldman Sachs estimated about 50 million creators worldwide, growing 10% to 20% a year. But here is the number every aspiring creator should tattoo on their arm:
Only about 4% of creators are professionals earning more than $100,000 a year.
The other 96% earn less, and many earn nothing at all. Goldman expected that 4% share to stay roughly the same even as the industry grows. In other words: more creators, more money, but not more winners in proportion.
The creator economy is not a gold rush. It is a lottery with better odds for people who work hard and treat it like a business.
Where the money comes from
For mainstream creators, Goldman Sachs cited survey data showing that brand deals are the main source of income, about 70%. The rest comes from advertising revenue shares with platforms, and direct payments from fans: subscriptions, donations, tips and merchandise.
That model is important, because it is exactly the model adult creators cannot use. Most brands will not sponsor adult content. So adult creators rely almost entirely on direct fan payments, which is why platforms like OnlyFans exist.
The platforms that pay
A few publicly reported figures:
- YouTube said it paid more than $70 billion to creators, artists and media companies over the three years from 2021 to 2023 (YouTube Blog). That is roughly $23 billion a year on average, by my simple maths.
- OnlyFans said it paid creators $6.3 billion in the fiscal year to November 2025, and more than $30 billion in its first ten years. It also said 5,076 creators had earned more than $1 million on the platform since 2016 (Variety). I broke the accounts down in OnlyFans business numbers.
- Patreon, Fansly, Fanvue and others pay creators too, with different rules about adult content. I compared them in OnlyFans vs Fansly vs Fanvue and Patreon vs OnlyFans.
Where adult creators fit
Reports about the creator economy rarely mention adult content. But look at the numbers: a single platform best known for adult creators pays out more than $6 billion a year. That is an enormous amount of money moving directly from fans to creators.
Adult creators are also pioneers of things the mainstream later copied:
- Subscriptions and pay-per-view messaging.
- Direct relationships with fans instead of relying on algorithms.
- Multi-platform funnels, using free social media to drive paid subscriptions.
But they face problems mainstream creators do not: banks and payment processors that refuse them, social media accounts deleted without warning, piracy, and stigma. I explained the banking side in why banks and card networks fear porn, and the 2021 crisis when OnlyFans almost banned explicit content in the OnlyFans porn ban explained.
The inequality problem
Every creator platform has the same shape: a tiny number of stars earns most of the money, and the majority earns very little. On OnlyFans, 5,076 millionaires sounds like a lot until you compare it with millions of creator accounts. On YouTube, most channels never qualify for monetisation at all.
That inequality is not a bug. It is how attention works online. Algorithms reward what is already popular, and fans concentrate on a few names. I went deeper into the numbers in how much OnlyFans creators really make.
What the numbers mean if you want to start
If you are thinking about becoming a creator, adult or not, here is what the data suggests:
- Expect to earn little at first. Plan for months, not weeks.
- Diversify. Mainstream creators combine brand deals, ads and fan payments. Adult creators should combine platforms and keep their own audience lists.
- Own your audience. Platforms change rules overnight. A mailing list or a website you control is insurance.
- Treat it as a business. Track income, costs and taxes. See my OnlyFans taxes guide.
- Protect yourself. Privacy, contracts and mental health matter more than any growth hack. Read OnlyFans creator privacy and safety.
My take
When I started, almost all the money in porn went through studios. Performers were paid per scene, and the studio owned everything. Today, a performer with a phone and an audience can earn more than a studio would ever pay them, and keep the rights.
That is a real revolution, and the creator economy numbers show it is part of something much bigger. But I also see the other side: millions of people chasing a dream that pays only a few. The smartest creators I know treat their audience like a long-term relationship, invest their money, and build something that survives when a platform changes its rules.
Big numbers are exciting. Your own numbers are what matter.
For the human stories behind this industry, read my columns on House of Maximo. Follow my work at maximogarciaworld.com, and for the 18+ side, fuckingpornstars.net.
Sources
- Goldman Sachs Research (2023). The creator economy could approach half-a-trillion dollars by 2027.
- YouTube Blog (2024). Letter from the YouTube CEO: 4 big bets for 2024.
- Variety (2026). OnlyFans creators who earned more than $1 million.
- BBC News. OnlyFans results coverage.
