In some way, he did EXPLOIT his youtube audience to get that windfall? If you did not include his documentary that he sold to discovery waayyy before youtube.

He has a lot of subs during his few years in youtube. His content is flashy and mostly about living in NY, flying here and there and sometimes some equipment review like (the now defunct) Boosted boards.

Then he started BEME with a venture capitalist. Beme is a new social media app. He hyped it kaw kaw with new office and roadshows. Even managed to convince some youtubers to work with BEME.

Then after about 2 years in, he & partner nego a deal to sell BME to CNN. Reportedly that netted him 25 mil.

Then he stopped making videos and went to LA.

After a few years, LA is turning into shit place, he comes back to NY restarting it again.

So in someway Youtube did make him money. His assets are the user base of youtube that simultaneously used Beme app.