YouTube's $60B revenue revealed amid paid subscriber push
bbc.com
February 11, 2026
4 min read
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48/100
Summary
YouTube generated over $60 billion in revenue in 2025, combining earnings from advertising and paid subscriptions. This revenue significantly exceeds Netflix's $45 billion and marks the first time Google has disclosed YouTube's annual revenue since its acquisition in 2006.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube generated over $60 billion in revenue in 2025, surpassing Netflix's $45 billion revenue.
- YouTube Premium subscriptions contributed to a total of more than 325 million paid subscriptions across Google consumer services in 2025.
- YouTube's Shorts feature averaged over 200 billion daily views, indicating significant engagement with short-form content.
- Over 70% of international consumers use YouTube weekly, with over 50% using it daily.
Coverage & discussions
Hacker News · bbc.com
Community discussions
Community Sentiment
Positives
- YouTube's acquisition by Google is seen as a brilliant move, significantly contributing to its impressive revenue growth and market position.
Concerns
- The reported figure of 325 million paid subscribers seems insignificant compared to YouTube's overall revenue, raising questions about the effectiveness of the subscription model.
- The lack of year-over-year numbers or profit details makes it challenging to assess YouTube's financial health accurately.
