YouTube now ranks as the world’s largest video
media company -- beating out Disney, Paramount, NBC and Warner Bros. Discovery in total ad revenue intake for 2025, according to a new report from financial research firm MoffettNathanson.
Based on the findings of MoffettNathanson, the 21-year-old video-sharing company made an estimated $62 billion in 2025 in total revenue and over $40.4 billion in advertising revenue, including
$11.4 billion in ad revenue in the final quarter.
These numbers place the Alphabet-owned company far ahead of its media competitors such as Disney, NBC, Paramount and WBD, which brought in a
combined ad revenue of $37.8 billion, according to MoffettNathanson.
The findings show a substantial shift in media consumption, subscription uptake and advertiser strategies over the course
of a year, as YouTube’s 2025 ad revenue intake jumped almost $4 billion compared to 2024, while major Hollywood studios Disney, Paramount, NBC and Warner Bros. Discovery saw a $3 billion drop in
collective ad revenue year-over-year.
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“Over the next few years, unlike almost any other asset we cover, we strongly believe that YouTube will be a major beneficiary of both the
structural tailwinds and headwinds facing technology and media companies,” Michael Nathanson, co-founder of MoffettNathanson writes.
Paid subscriptions made up a large portion of
YouTube's total revenue in 2025 and include services such as YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, NFL Sunday Ticket, and YouTube TV, which has about 10 million subscribers alone.
As subscription
numbers rise, Alphabet continues to attract advertisers to YouTube's various media offerings with interactive ads and shoppable content.
For example, last month Google's Demand Gen began powering Shoppable CTV, which allows viewers to browse and purchase
products while watching YouTube ads on TV.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan has said in recent months that Google will continue to invest in YouTube's CTV shoppable ads, video ad features, content
creation and creators as the company attempts to “reinvent entertainment.”
While YouTube's ad revenue still pales in comparison to social media giant Meta, which brought in $196.2
billion in ad revenue in 2025, the video sharing platform continues to become more popular with younger viewers.
A new study from The Harris Poll shows that U.S.-based Gen Z audiences are becoming more
dissatisfied with TikTok following its ownership change.
YouTube scored a 78% favorability score among these younger users compared to Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram, which are not popular
among Gen Z users.
To date, YouTube has paid out over $100 billion to creators, music companies, and media partners.