Introduction
Ksi, real name Olajide Olayinka Williams “JJ” Olatunji, is a popular English YouTube personality, rapper, actor, and boxer. He first gained fame through his YouTube channels, which have amassed over 30 million subscribers combined and over 6 billion views. Ksi has built an online empire and become one of the most influential internet stars.
Biography and Background
Ksi was born on June 19, 1993 in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. He has Nigerian heritage from his parents. Ksi studied at Berkhamsted School and later dropped out of university to pursue his YouTube career.
He created his main YouTube channel in 2009, originally posting FIFA video game commentaries. The name Ksi stands for Knowledge, Strength, Integrity. Over the years, his content expanded into comedy sketches, reactions, and music.
Some of Ksi’s most popular video series include his “Try Not To Laugh” challenges, celebrity roast parodies, and collaboration videos with his brother Deji, who is also a YouTube star.
YouTube Success
Ksi amassed a massive following on YouTube through his unique brand of loud, energetic, and sometimes controversial humor. At his peak, he was gaining over 300,000 subscribers per month.
His main channel has over 23 million subscribers and counting, making it one of the most subscribed YouTube channels in the UK. Across his 3 channels, he has over 30 million total subscribers.
Some of his most viewed videos include reacting to his cringey old videos (47 million views), reacting to weird kid’s shows (35 million), and his “Smell My Armpit” challenge (32 million).
According to Forbes, Ksi earned $16 million in 2019 alone primarily from his YouTube channels. This made him one of the top 10 highest paid YouTube stars in the world that year.
Music Career
In 2017, Ksi pursued a career in rap music by releasing his debut extended play “Keep Up”. It peaked at number 1 on the UK R&B Albums Chart.
His next single “Lamborghini” reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart, featuring rapper P Money. Ksi has released several more EPs and popular songs since then.
In 2020, he released his first studio album called “Dissimulation” which debuted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. He was the second YouTube personality ever to reach the UK album chart’s top 10.
Ksi’s music has shown his versatility across different rap styles and an ability to recruit high-profile collaborators like Rick Ross, Lil Baby, Offset, and Yungblud.
Boxing Career
In 2018, Ksi branched out into boxing, competing in two highly publicized white collar amateur matches against fellow YouTuber Joe Weller and Logan Paul.
The first fight against Joe Weller ended in a third round TKO victory for Ksi in front of over 15,000 fans in London. This set up the main event against Logan Paul which generated huge pay-per-view sales.
Their first match in August 2018 ended in a majority draw. The rematch in November 2019 saw Ksi defeat Logan Paul by split decision after 6 back-and-forth rounds.
The rematch reportedly sold over 1 million pay-per-view buys worldwide and is considered one of the largest white-collar boxing matches ever. Both fights showed Ksi’s dedication to training and developing as a boxer.
Since then, Ksi has expressed interest in turning professional and continuing boxing alongside his other projects. His competitive spirit and showmanship lends itself well to the sport.
Other Ventures
On top of his thriving entertainment career, Ksi is involved in various business ventures. This includes merchandise, merchandise partnerships with brands like MAD Makeup and Prime Hydration energy drink.
He also formed the music label and management company The Online Takeover (TOT) in 2020. Additionally, Ksi has acted in and produced some short films.
In 2022, he plans to hold a massive music festival called The Ksi Show at the OVO Arena Wembley.
Net Worth
Thanks to his massively popular YouTube channels, music career, boxing matches, and other business ventures, Ksi has amassed an estimated net worth of $25 million as of 2023.
He was the 5th highest paid YouTuber of 2020, earning $20 million that year according to Forbes. Ksi’s net worth will likely continue rising as he expands his entertainment empire.
Personal Life
Ksi keeps his personal life reasonably private. Over the years he has been romantically linked to several female YouTubers but generally does not publicly discuss relationships.
He owns several luxurious homes across England including a £5 million mansion in Kent. When not making videos, Ksi enjoys playing games, attending sporting events, and spending time with friends and family.
While his outrageous online persona has sometimes landed him in controversy, Ksi has matured in recent years and become an important British cultural figure.
Conclusion
In just over a decade, Ksi has risen from a teenage FIFA gamer in his parents’ home to a multi-talented entertainer with millions of fans worldwide. His net worth and influence continues to grow through his diverse revenue streams.
With his comedy, music, boxing, and entrepreneurial ventures, Ksi has proven he is much more than just another YouTube star. At only 29 years old, his career is still ascending as he aims to dominate entertainment and social media for years to come.
