KSI, the 32-year-old British YouTube star and entrepreneur, recently made headlines after his estimated earnings were accidentally revealed during an episode of Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. Known off-screen as Olajide Olatunji, he has amassed around 75 million followers across social media, making him one of the UK’s most influential online creators.
From his early FIFA 12 “Race to Division One” series, hailed as a “masterpiece” by fans, KSI has grown into a multi-faceted figure. He now has 17 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel, co-founded Misfits Boxing, and co-owns brands including Prime Hydration and Lunchly.
YouTube Earnings Revealed
During the BBC show, McIntyre’s popular ‘Send to All’ segment saw the comedian take control of KSI’s phone to message all his contacts. While scrolling through apps, McIntyre opened YouTube Studio, inadvertently revealing that KSI had earned an estimated $105,000 over the previous 28 days.
The host quickly apologized for the slip, calling the figure “very impressive.” KSI responded modestly: “Thank you, thank you. I’ve been working hard.”
Turning Down Jake Paul
KSI has also recently addressed his boxing career, revealing on a podcast with YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia that he turned down an eight-figure offer to fight American YouTuber Jake Paul. Over the years, KSI has repeatedly challenged Paul to a bout, but negotiations never materialized.
Olatunji explained that despite being offered $20 million and $30 million for a potential fight, he is “done” with boxing. He emphasized that his primary goal was to fight Paul while building Misfits Boxing, but “excuses” and shifting circumstances led him to eventually face Tommy Fury instead.
Prioritizing Passion Over Pay
KSI also shared that all his earnings from his fight against Tommy Fury went directly to his trainers, reflecting his focus on the sport itself rather than financial gain. He described his repeated attempts to arrange a fight with Paul as frustrating, with weight negotiations and delays making him reassess his priorities.
“I tried to build up again, to then try and fight Jake,” KSI said. “Then it got to the point where I was like, ‘What am I doing, man?’” His comments underline a shift from chasing high-profile bouts to focusing on projects and ventures he truly values.
