What Is Marques Brownlee's Net Worth?
Marques Brownlee, an American social media personality, has an impressive net worth of $8 million. Known best for his influential YouTube channel "MKBHD," he boasts over 17 million subscribers and 3.5 billion views. Marques excels in producing technology-focused videos and hosts the popular podcast, "Waveform."
Former Google Senior Vice President Vic Gundotra once referred to Marques as "the best technology reviewer on the planet right now." Besides his successful online ventures, he initiated a Smartphone Award Series in 2014. Marques is also a professional ultimate frisbee player, having played for teams such as the Philadelphia Phoenix and the New York Empire in the American Ultimate Disc League.
Early Life
Born on December 3, 1993, in Maplewood, New Jersey, Marques Brownlee developed an early interest in technology, particularly the Internet. In 2008, while attending high school, he launched his YouTube channel. Upon graduating from Columbia High School in 2011, he pursued a bachelor's degree in business and information technology at Stevens Institute of Technology, graduating in 2015.
Career
Marques began his YouTube journey in January 2009, combining his initials and HD for high definition to create his channel name "MKBHD." His content initially focused on product reviews and tutorials about hardware and freeware. As his subscriber base grew, prominent tech sites promoted his videos. In 2012, Engadget featured his tour of Insync, a new cloud storage service. His 2013 review of the LG G Flex phone went viral, amassing a million views on the first day alone.
He transitioned to interviews in December 2013, starting with Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside, and followed up with tech insider Evan Blass. Marques's 2014 review of the iPhone 6 gained substantial traction, being featured on various platforms like "The Verge," "Forbes," "HuffPost," "CNET," and "Time." He launched his annual Smartphone Awards that year, sending physical awards to winning companies by 2017.
In his diverse career, Marques has interviewed a range of notable figures. In 2015, he discussed tech and shoes with NBA star Kobe Bryant. Engaging with politics, he questioned candidates during the 2016 Democratic primary debate on topics related to technology and security. He interviewed Apple’s Craig Federighi in both 2016 and 2020, and in 2018, he talked with Neil deGrasse Tyson and later Elon Musk, with a popular video tour of Tesla’s factory.
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Marques also interviewed Bill Gates in February 2019, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and actor Will Smith. By the end of 2019, his channel had over 10 million subscribers, making it one of the top technology YouTube channels.
In 2019, he co-created the podcast "Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast" with Andrew Manganelli, focusing on consumer electronics.
Marques's 2020 interviews included a second conversation with Bill Gates, and discussions with Mark Zuckerberg about virtual reality. He concluded the year by interviewing former President Barack Obama on tech and social media's role in government, earning him a spot on Forbes' "30 Under 30" in the social media category. In 2021, he interviewed Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Personal Life
Until 2016, Marques produced his content from his apartment in New Jersey before moving to a studio space in Kearny, New Jersey. Aside from technology, he has a passion for Tesla vehicles and professional ultimate frisbee. His skills in ultimate frisbee helped his team, the New York Empire, win the 2022 World Flying Disc Federation World Ultimate Club Championship.
