In late 2025, a viral report stunned many, it ranked comedian–turned–YouTuber Tanmay Bhat as India’s richest YouTuber with a purported ₹665 crore net worth. Tanmay himself chuckled at the claim, quipping, “Bhai itne paise hote toh main YouTube membership nahi bech raha hota” (If I had that much money, I wouldn’t be selling YouTube memberships).
Behind the clickbait headlines, however, lies a real creator–economy story.
This post breaks down his income streams, from ad revenue to brand deals, live shows to startup investments, with examples and data to show how (and why) he and others monetise their influence.
From AIB to YouTube: Tanmay Bhat’s Career Arc
Tanmay Bhat’s YouTube Channel
Tanmay Bhat has long been a fixture in Indian comedy. He co‑founded the edgy sketch comedy group All India Bakchod (AIB) in 2012. AIB’s viral roasts and sketches (like the famous “AIB Knockout” roast) made the collective a household name.
After AIB dissolved amid controversy, Tanmay rebranded himself as a solo creator. In 2019, he launched the “Tanmay Bhat” YouTube channel, featuring vlogs, comedy bits, reaction videos and gaming streams.
His channel quickly amassed millions of subscribers; as of 2025, it boasts over 5.2 million subscribers (with a secondary “Honestly by Tanmay Bhat” channel alongside).
How Tanmay Bhatt Earns Money?
With a large, engaged audience in place, he unlocked many ways to monetise beyond just jokes on camera.
YouTube Ad Revenue
The first and most obvious income source for any YouTuber is AdSense (ad) revenue. YouTube splits ad income with creators based on views and ad engagement. For a rough estimate, Indian channels often earn on the order of INR 50–INR 200 per 1,000 monetised views (CPM), varying by niche and season. With Tanmay’s videos collectively garnering billions of views (his channels have well over 1.6 billion total views and counting), even a modest CPM translates to crores of rupees over time.
Analyst profiles of top creators list “YouTube ads” as a core revenue stream for Tanmay. In other words, ads running on his videos generate a steady baseline income. On high‑view days, a popular video can earn lakhs of rupees from ads alone.
Memberships & Fan Monetisation
Beyond ads, creators can earn recurring revenue from fans via memberships or subscriptions. On YouTube, this takes the form of channel memberships (monthly tiers), while other platforms offer Patreon or paid newsletter options. Tanmay explicitly sells channel memberships; he even joked that without enough income, he’d still be pushing memberships! In practice, a YouTube membership (priced anywhere from INR 49 to INR 499 per month) gives fans perks like exclusive badges, emojis, and members‑only videos.
If Tanmay has even a few thousand members paying, say, INR 100–200 per month, that adds up nicely. For example, 5,000 members paying INR 100/month is INR 5 lakh/month (~INR 60 lakh/year).
Tanmay also co-hosted/featured in several livestreams and online shows with other creators. Some were charity streams, but others likely generated donations and Super Chat revenue. Engaging fans directly is now a big part of a creator’s toolkit.
Brand Partnerships (Dedicated vs. Integrated)
A major chunk of income for top YouTubers comes from brand deals. These can be dedicated sponsored videos (the brand is the main theme) or integrated mentions (brief ads or product plugs within a regular video).
Fees vary widely: dedicated videos can pay lakhs (sometimes INR 1–10 lakh per video for big influencers) while a 30‑second mid-roll mention might be INR 50,000–INR 2 lakh depending on reach and niche.
Tanmay’s wide appeal (comedy + gaming + pop culture) makes him attractive to brands. For example, in mid-2025, he partnered with Infinix Mobile for the launch of a gaming smartphone. That collaboration, promoted across social media, shows how tech brands tap his audience. Even if the Infinix campaign was primarily via Instagram and gaming communities, it demonstrates that he does paid promotions.
He likely does many such brand tie-ups. In a dynamic creator market, every released video might include 1-2 brand integrations. Each sponsored video or segment adds tens of thousands to lakhs of rupees.
Live Events & Tours
Stand-up and live shows remain a traditional cash cow for comedians. Tanmay took that route early with AIB, and he continues performing solo. In fact, ticketed events and tours are likely a huge income source. As one event site notes, Tanmay “has performed all over India, Dubai, The Comedy Store in London, the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland, and Singapore”. Selling tickets at a few thousand rupees each can quickly add up: a single large-city show might net lakhs. In short, live shows/tours amplify income, often comparable to or exceeding what they make on YouTube per year.
Podcasts and Streaming Series
Though primarily known for sketch and vlog content, Tanmay has branched into streamed talk formats that resemble podcasts. For example, Netflix India launched a series, “Tanmay Reacts” in 2020, where he humorously commented on films and shows.
While this is streaming video, it underscores that he’s getting paid to create content outside YouTube as well. He has also run long-form live streams and conversations on YouTube, often with fellow YouTubers.
Consulting & Production Work
Long before his YouTube fame, Tanmay co-created AIB’s branded-content business. As NDTV notes, by 2015, AIB had become a creative agency making sponsored sketches and campaigns for corporate clients.
That background means Tanmay has valuable skills in writing, production and brand strategy. Even today, he likely does freelance creative work or consulting for clients behind the scenes.
This suggests he earns by writing or producing content (maybe scripts or campaigns) for others, a form of consulting. It could be anything from crafting a video concept for a brand to helping plan a corporate event’s comedy segment.
Affiliate & Referral Revenue
Tanmay mentions products and digital courses on camera, and it’s likely he drops purchase links in his video descriptions. Every sale made through those links (for Amazon products, fitness gear, courses, etc.) nets a small commission. Alone, these sums are modest, but across millions of views, they add up.
For example, if a gaming streamer co-hosts a “game review” with Gearjuice advertising, over time, these referral revenues from Amazon Associates, Flipkart affiliates, or specialised affiliate networks become a passive component of the income mix.
Angel Investments
| Organization Name / Company Name | Founded Year | Headquarters | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alt Carbon | 2023 | Kolkata, India | Climate Tech / Carbon Removal |
| Infinyte.Club | 2021 | Bengaluru, India | Wealthtech / ESOP Liquidity |
| Unikon.ai | 2023 | Gurugram, India | AI & Productivity Software |
| Offline | 2018 | Boulogne-Billancourt, France | Community & Networking |
| EquityList | 2020 | New Delhi, India | Fintech / Cap Table & ESOP Management |
| Rep3 | 2022 | Singapore | Web3 / Community Infrastructure |
| Ultrahuman | 2019 | Bengaluru, India | Consumer |
| Rigi | 2021 | Bengaluru, India | Consumer |
| HYPD | 2020 | Delhi, India | Retail |
| Mainstreet | 2019 | Mumbai, India | Consumer |
| SuperShare | 2018 | Bengaluru, India | Enterprise Applications |
| Qoohoo | 2020 | Bengaluru, India | Media & Entertainment |
| SuperKalam | 2023 | Bengaluru, India | EdTech |
| SuperDM | 2023 | Bengaluru, India | Enterprise Applications |
| MeanFi | 2021 | Murcia, Spain | Blockchain Technology |
| Samudai | 2021 | Singapore | Business Services |
| CrowdPad | 2021 | London, UK | Gaming |
| Scenes | 2021 | Bengaluru, India | Consumer |
Aditya Sankaran
Conclusion
In summary, Tanmay Bhat’s wealth comes from layering many revenue tactics. His career teaches that a top creator treats content like a business, constantly adding new streams (ads, fans, brands, events, even investments) to stay profitable. As the Indian creator ecosystem explodes (with brands pouring crores into influencer marketing and millions of new creators joining every year, there’s room for smart hustlers. The lesson is to be entrepreneurial, adaptable, and engaged, just like Tanmay.
FAQs
What are Tanmay Bhat’s main income sources?
Tanmay’s income comes from multiple streams — YouTube ads, memberships, brand partnerships, live shows, consulting, affiliate marketing, and angel investments.
How does Tanmay Bhat earn money from YouTube?
Tanmay Bhat earns through YouTube ad revenue, paid memberships, and live stream donations. His main and secondary channels together have over 1.6 billion views.
Does Tanmay Bhat still do stand-up comedy shows?
Yes. Tanmay Bhat continues performing at live comedy events and international tours. He has performed in India, Dubai, Singapore, and even at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
