WAVES 2025: YouTube Reveals INR 21,000 Crore Earned by Indian Creators in 3 Years

At the inaugural WAVES 2025 summit in Mumbai, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan revealed a staggering milestone that firmly puts India on the global creator map—over INR 21,000 crore has been paid out to Indian creators, artists, and media companies over the last three years.

Indian Creators Make Global Mark

At the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (Waves 2025), Mohan shared how Indian content creators have driven YouTube’s global ecosystem. The sheer scale of activity in the country is remarkable. In the past year alone, more than 100 million Indian channels uploaded videos, and at least 15,000 of them crossed the one-million-subscriber mark—a massive leap that few other nations can match.

Also read: WAVES 2025: YouTube Unveils INR 850 Crore Investment to Boost India’s Creator Economy

Earnings Reflect Real Impact

As Mohan explained, the INR 21,000 crore payout reflects just how much value Indian creators are generating, not just in terms of content volume but actual earnings. Whether it’s regional storytelling, tech content, music, comedy, or educational channels, Indian creators are making a profound impact creatively and economically.

He noted that Indian content isn’t just staying within borders—it’s going global in a big way. In 2023 alone, international audiences watched videos from India for over 45 billion hours. That’s a massive cultural export, and it shows how Indian creators are shaping conversations and capturing attention worldwide.

YouTube’s Journey and India’s Rise

While Mohan briefly mentioned YouTube’s plans to further support India’s creator economy, his keynote primarily celebrated what had already been achieved, especially the financial success and sustainability many Indian creators have found on the platform.

Marking YouTube’s 20th anniversary, he reflected on how the platform had evolved from a single video at a zoo to becoming a launchpad for creators worldwide. And nowhere, he said, was this transformation more visible than in India.

At WAVES 2025, as the spotlight turned to the future of digital storytelling, YouTube’s INR 21,000 crore payout served as a powerful reminder that India’s creators aren’t just finding a voice—they’re building entire careers, communities, and industries online.