The biggest celebrity on YouTube – and perhaps the entire internet – Pewdiepie is truly a 21^stcentury phenomenon. Swedish Youtuber Felix Kjellberg, known to fans under his YouTube username Pewdiepie, is the platform’s most subscribed user, with 85 million followers regularly signing in to enjoy his signature mix of comedy, memes, vlogs and gaming commentary. His channel has collectively received over 20 billion views, putting him in the all-time Top 10 in YouTube history.

Kjellberg registered his YouTube account in early 2010, soon gathering an explosive online following that reached one million subscribers by 2012. By 2013, he was already the platform’s most-subscribed user, thanks to a zany, high-energy style of content that’s genuine and unfiltered, resonating with millions across the world. Watching his videos, you feel like you’re there in the room, hanging out with a friend: it’s this instant connection to viewers that has made his content so universally popular, helping to build a fan-base as broad and devoted as any rock star, actor or celebrity.

Kjellberg describes himself modestly as “just a guy from Sweden who likes to laugh and make other people laugh”, but his legions of fans would likely say otherwise. This internet sensation has become one of the world’s most visible figures, and one of the most influential names in 21^st-century internet culture: in 2016, he was included in Time Magazine’s list of The World’s 100 Most Influential People. Making an incredible journey from a kid in his bedroom uploading self-produced content, to one of the most-watched people on the planet, the rise of this goofy and irreverent YouTube star is truly 21^st-century success story.