Tech expert Eric Schiffer on the value of web celebrity

Global Business

Being famous online not only brings fans, but also advertisers.

Forbes recently published a list of the top ten most highly paid Youtube stars. Top of the list is Felix Kjellberg, or better known as PewDiePie. He earns $12 million a year by playing video games online and making jokes.

Ranking second is Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla, whose channel is called smosh.

The duo racked in $8.5 million via live action comedy sketches. In a tie with them is another pair, Benny and Rafi Fine, known as Fine Brothers Entertainment.

Others include violin player Lindsey Sterling, Michelle Phan who provides makeup tutorials, and Roman Atwood Pranks.

The most highly-valued web celebrity in China is Papi Jiang. She just sold a commercial slot on her online videos for 22 million yuan, or nearly $3.5 million.

The 29-year-old graduate student uploads videos each week, in her trademark fast talking, high-pitched style.

They focus on the pressures facing young, urban women like herself about forging a career, dealing with families and finding a husband. She also recently received $1.8 million in investment from venture funds.

For insight into this phenomenon, CCTV America’s Michelle Makori spoke to Eric Schiffer, Tech expert and CEO of Patriarch Equity.