Two‑Thirds of Creators Earn Under $10K, and Followers Still Trump Engagement
CreatorIQ’s 2026 State of Creators study of 5,095 creators across 100 regions finds 67% make less than $10,000 a year. Earnings correlate with follower count and view totals, not engagement rates, a direct challenge to the year‑long industry mantra that engagement drives revenue. The gap pushes creators toward brand ownership and highlights tension between audience wishes and brand demands.