IShowSpeed Net Worth: Cristiano Ronaldo's Most Popular Fan

Darren Jason Watkins Jr., widely known as IShowSpeed, is a prominent American online streamer and YouTuber born on January 21, 2005.

As of this year, IShowSpeed's estimated net worth is around $10 million. 

Starting his YouTube journey in 2016, Watkins gained significant popularity through his engaging gaming content, particularly his live streams featuring games like FIFA, Fortnite, and Roblox. Over the years, he experienced a remarkable surge in subscribers, earning accolades such as the Breakout Streamer of the Year at the 12th Streamy Awards in 2022.

Early Beginnings and Gaming Fame of IShowSpeed

IShowSpeed initially joined YouTube in 2016, posting occasional gameplay videos. However, it wasn't until December 2017 that he ventured into livestreaming, initially struggling with an average of two viewers. His subscriber count experienced rapid growth, reaching milestones like 100,000 in April 2021, 1 million in June 2021, 10 million in July 2022, and an impressive 20 million in August 2023.

IShowSpeed's Football Ventures and Sidemen Charity Match

In September 2022, IShowSpeed expanded beyond gaming, participating in the Sidemen Charity Football Match. The match garnered attention when he expressed frustration at referee Mark Clattenburg, resulting in a yellow card for whipping him with his shirt during a goal celebration. His antics continued as he tossed aside a Messi jersey carried by a pitch invader. These moments added a new dimension to his public image.

Controversies of IShowSpeed

Despite his rising popularity, Watkins faced several controversies. In July 2022, he received a community guidelines strike and a one-week ban on YouTube for livestreaming explicit content in a Minecraft mod named "Jenny's Mod." In August 2022, he was swatted during a livestream, resulting in a temporary halt to his content creation. Later in November 2022, Sky Sports severed ties with Watkins following the emergence of past misogynistic and derogatory comments, leading to the removal of all content featuring him on their platform.

In December 2022, Watkins stirred controversy during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar when he exhibited what was interpreted as racist behavior towards a Chinese spectator. He later issued a public apology after a clip of the incident circulated online. Despite these controversies, Watkins demonstrated philanthropy by donating over $50,000 towards the victims of the Turkey–Syria earthquakes in February 2023. 

IShowMeat Meat Incident and YouTube's Response

In a notable incident on August 16, 2023, IShowSpeed accidentally exposed himself during a livestream, garnering attention on social media with the term "IShowMeat" trending. Despite the embarrassing incident, YouTube opted not to strike his channel or ban him due to the unintentional nature of the event.

Music Career of ShowSpeed and Festival Appearances

Aside from his gaming endeavors, IShowSpeed ventured into the music scene. He released his first single, "Dooty Booty," in August 2021, gaining popularity on YouTube and TikTok. Following this success, he released another single titled "Shake" in November, accompanied by a music video that garnered over 160 million views on YouTube. In June 2022, he released "Ronaldo (Sewey)" inspired by his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo. Watkins surprised fans at the 2023 Rolling Loud festival in Portugal, performing alongside American rapper Ski Mask the Slump God and producer DJ Scheme.

IShowSpeed's Popular Celebrity Encounters

IShowSpeed continued making headlines with encounters like meeting Daler Mehndi during his visit to India in October 2023. In May 2023, he announced an exclusive streaming deal with the platform Rumble, collaborating with Kai Cenat. However, in February 2023, Watkins faced backlash from his community after revealing his involvement with copyright companies Thumb Media Affiliate and Cardigan.

Net Worth of IShowSpeed

In December 2023, IShowSpeed engaged in a charity boxing sparring match against KSI, raising over £50,000 for the Anthony Walker Foundation. As of this year, IShowSpeed's net worth is estimated to be around $10 million, reflecting his diverse ventures and enduring popularity in the online entertainment scene.

IShowSpeed's journey is a testament to the dynamic nature of online content creation, marked by rapid growth, controversies, philanthropy, and diversification into music and sports. Despite facing challenges, IShowSpeed has remained a prominent figure, leaving an indelible mark on the online streaming and content creation landscape.