Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, born October 24, 1989, is a Swedish YouTuber, content creator, comedian, and author. Known worldwide by his online alias PewDiePie, he became the most-subscribed individual creator in YouTube history.
Who is PewDiePie?
PewDiePie is the online alias of Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, a Swedish internet personality, video game commentator, comedian, author, and content creator. He launched his YouTube channel in 2010 and became the platform’s most-subscribed creator for most of the decade.
His content originally centered on Let’s Play gaming videos, where he recorded himself playing games while delivering comedic, expletive-filled commentary. Over time, Felix expanded into meme reviews, commentary videos, and life vlogs.
Felix relocated to Japan in 2022 with his wife, Marzia Kjellberg. By 2026, he had shifted into semi-retirement, posting less frequently while focusing on family life and personal projects.
He is also known for his book “This Book Loves You,” published in 2015. Felix has appeared in multiple YouTube Rewind productions and has been featured by major outlets including Forbes, Rolling Stone, and The Wall Street Journal.
Early Life of PewDiePie
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg was born on October 24, 1989, in Gothenburg, Sweden. His mother, Lotta Kristine Johanna Kjellberg, is a former CIO who earned the title of Sweden’s 2010 CIO of the Year. His father, Ulf Christian Kjellberg, is a corporate executive of Finnish descent.
Felix grew up alongside his older sister, Fanny Lotta Märta Sylwander (née Kjellberg). As a child, he enjoyed art and video games, spending time gaming at internet cafes and in his bedroom.
During his last year of high school, Felix sold artwork through his grandmother’s gallery to fund the purchase of his first computer. Previous jobs before his YouTube career included working on a tennis court and working at a harbor as captain.
PewDiePie Age
PewDiePie is 36 years old as of June 11, 2026, born on October 24, 1989. His zodiac sign is Scorpio.
By 2026, Felix was living in Tokyo, Japan, in semi-retirement, raising his son Björn alongside wife Marzia and posting occasional content to his YouTube channel.
PewDiePie Ethnicity and Nationality
Felix Kjellberg holds Swedish nationality and was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. He is of Swedish and Finnish descent, with his father being of Finnish origin.
Felix later acquired British citizenship as well, giving him dual Swedish-British nationality. He currently resides in Japan with his family.
PewDiePie Height and Weight
PewDiePie stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall, which equals 180 centimeters or 1.80 meters.
His weight is not publicly confirmed. Felix has a lean build and a casual, understated personal style both on and off camera.
He maintains a low-key physical presence that contrasts with the high-energy content style of his peak years. His look is most associated with simple, understated clothing in his Japan-based vlogs.
PewDiePie Education
Felix attended Göteborgs Högre Samskola in Gothenburg, graduating in 2008. After high school, he enrolled at Chalmers University of Technology to study Industrial Economics and Technology Management.
He left Chalmers in 2011. Felix later clarified that he dropped out because he lost interest in the subject, not solely to pursue YouTube.
His decision to leave university coincided with his growing YouTube activity. By the time he departed Chalmers, his gaming channel was already gaining traction.
PewDiePie Career
Felix Kjellberg launched his first YouTube channel, named “PewDie,” on December 19, 2006. That early channel did not gain significant traction.
He created a new channel in 2010 under the name PewDiePie, which became the foundation of his career. Early content focused on horror and indie game commentary, with a natural and unscripted delivery style.
Early Career and Rise
Felix funded his early YouTube equipment by working at a hot dog stand. His gaming commentary quickly attracted a dedicated audience, particularly for horror titles like Amnesia: The Dark Descent.
By 2012, his subscriber count had reached several million. His raw, unfiltered style of commentary separated him from more polished gaming channels of the era.
On August 15, 2013, Felix surpassed Smosh to hold the most-subscribed channel on YouTube. That milestone marked a turning point in his public profile.
Breakthrough and YouTube Dominance
Felix held the top position on YouTube for years, becoming the first creator to reach 50 million subscribers in 2016. His fanbase, called the “Bro Army,” grew to span dozens of countries.
In October 2018, he released the music video for “Bitch Lasagna,” a diss track aimed at T-Series, the Indian entertainment channel competing with him for the top subscriber spot. The video became the most-viewed upload on his channel.
Felix ultimately lost the top subscriber position to T-Series in March 2019. Still, his individual creator ranking remained the highest in YouTube history for a solo creator.
He also authored the book “This Book Loves You,” published in 2015 by Penguin Books. The book debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list.
Felix faced significant controversy in 2017 when he posted videos containing anti-Semitic imagery. Disney-owned Maker Studios dropped him as a result. He also faced backlash after using a racial slur during a live stream in September 2017.
Recent Work
Felix and Marzia relocated to Japan in 2022, settling in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo. His YouTube content shifted to vlogs about life in Japan, cultural experiences, and family updates.
In February 2023, Felix announced he and Marzia were expecting their first child. Their son, Björn Kjellberg, was born on July 11, 2023.
In June 2023, Felix uploaded a video titled “Saying bye for a while,” announcing a break from YouTube to focus on fatherhood. He returned to posting on a reduced schedule.
In late 2025, Felix trained his own AI model and used it to build a browser extension addressing what he described as “algo brain.” The tool redirected users to their YouTube subscriptions page rather than the algorithmic recommendation feed. He released it in March 2026, directing fans to a similar existing tool called Unhook.
In May 2026, Felix announced he would stop filming family vlogs to protect his son Björn’s privacy. He stated that Björn should decide for himself whether he wants a life on the internet.
PewDiePie Awards and Recognition
Felix earned a Guinness World Record in 2014 as the most-subscribed YouTube channel. He held that distinction continuously until T-Series overtook him in 2019.
Forbes ranked him the highest-earning YouTuber in 2016, with estimated earnings of $15 million that year. In 2020, Forbes estimated his earnings had reached $50 to $60 million.
Felix debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list with “This Book Loves You” in 2015. The book sold across multiple countries and remained on bestseller lists for several weeks.
He also ranked in the TIME 100 list of most influential people and appeared on the covers of major magazines. His influence on the “Let’s Play” video genre fundamentally shaped the gaming content industry.
PewDiePie Wife
Felix Kjellberg married Marzia Kjellberg (née Bisognin) in August 2019. The couple met through online communities in the early years of his YouTube career and began dating in 2011.
Felix and Marzia got engaged on April 27, 2018. Their wedding took place in the United Kingdom and was attended by close friends and family.
Marzia is an Italian former content creator and entrepreneur who ran her own successful YouTube channel before retiring from content creation. After retiring from YouTube in 2018, she launched a pottery business called Mai.
Together, Felix and Marzia relocated from the UK to Japan in 2022. As of 2026, the couple continues to live in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo.
PewDiePie Children
Felix and Marzia welcomed their son, Björn Kjellberg, on July 11, 2023. Felix announced the pregnancy publicly in February 2023, calling it a secret he had kept for about two months.
Björn’s arrival prompted Felix to step back from YouTube through mid-2023. His return to posting came with a noticeably more private approach to family content.
In May 2026, Felix announced he would stop including Björn in regular vlogs. He stated that his son’s growing presence in the videos made him want to give Björn the choice to decide his own relationship with the internet as he gets older.
PewDiePie Net Worth
PewDiePie’s estimated net worth is $40 million as of 2026.
Felix accumulated this wealth through over 15 years of YouTube ad revenue, sponsorship deals, merchandise sales, his published book, and investments. At his peak, Forbes estimated his annual earnings at $15.5 million in 2018.
Even in semi-retirement, his catalog of over 4,500 videos continues generating passive income through YouTube ad revenue. Estimated monthly ad earnings in 2026 range between $200,000 and $350,000.
PewDiePie Social Media
Felix Kjellberg remains active on his YouTube channel, where he posts occasional videos including commentary, gaming content, and life vlogs from Japan.
He also maintains an Instagram account under the handle @pewdiepie. The account features personal photos and updates shared with his followers.
Felix has a presence on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @pewdiepie. His activity across all platforms has reduced since his move to Japan and the birth of his son.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PewDiePie’s net worth?
PewDiePie’s estimated net worth is $40 million as of 2026, built through YouTube ad revenue, sponsorships, merchandise, and his published book over 15 years of content creation.
How old is PewDiePie?
PewDiePie is 36 years old as of June 11, 2026. He was born on October 24, 1989, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Who is PewDiePie married to?
PewDiePie is married to Marzia Kjellberg (née Bisognin), an Italian former content creator and entrepreneur. The couple married in August 2019 after getting engaged on April 27, 2018.
What is PewDiePie’s biggest hit song or video?
PewDiePie’s most-viewed upload is “Bitch Lasagna”, a music video released in October 2018 during his subscriber battle with T-Series. His book “This Book Loves You” debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list in 2015.
Where was PewDiePie born?
PewDiePie was born in Gothenburg, Sweden on October 24, 1989. He currently lives in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo, Japan, with his wife and son.
What is PewDiePie famous for?
PewDiePie is famous for being the most-subscribed individual creator in YouTube history, holding that title from 2013 until T-Series overtook him in March 2019. He built his audience through Let’s Play gaming videos and holds approximately 111 million subscribers as of 2026.
The Bottom Line
Felix Kjellberg surpassed Smosh on August 15, 2013, to become the most-subscribed creator on YouTube, a position he held for most of the next six years. His book “This Book Loves You” debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list in 2015.
Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, Felix built his career from a hot dog stand job and a secondhand camera into a $40 million fortune. He now lives quietly in Tokyo with wife Marzia and son Björn, prioritizing family over content schedules.
In March 2026, Felix released a browser extension to combat algorithm-driven content consumption. We hope you enjoyed reading about PewDiePie. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!